Polyester durable press finish

The solution (pad bath) contains one or more of the amino resias described above, a catalyst, and other additives such as a softener, a stiffening agent, or a water repeUant. The catalyst may be an ammonium or metal salt, eg, magnesium chloride or ziac nitrate. Synthetic fabrics, such as nylon or polyester, are treated with amino resias to obtaia a stiff finish. Cotton (qv) or rayon fabrics or blends with synthetic fibers are treated with amino resias to obtain shrinkage control and a durable-press finish. 

Essentially nonionic soil-release agents comprise polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyepoxides and polyacetals. These have been used mainly on polyester and polyester/ cellulosic fabrics, either crosslinked to effect insolubilisation (if necessary) or by surface adsorption at relatively low temperature. Polyester soil-release finishes have been most important, particularly for polyester fibres and their blends with cellulosic fibres. These finishes, however, have much lower relative molecular mass (1000 to 100 000) than polyester fibres and hence contain a greater proportion of hydrophilic hydroxy groups. They have been particularly useful for application in laundering processes. These essentially nonionic polymers may be given anionic character by copolymerising with, for example, the carboxylated polymers mentioned earlier these hybrid types are generally applied with durable press finishes. 

Ruorocarbon treatment generally improves the penetration resistance of porous fabrics, both woven and nonwoven, to liquids and particles. The fluorocarbon reduces die differences between the resistances of 100% cotton and various cotton/polyester blends. Durable press finishes reduce penetration resistance to liquids. Studies of soil releasing treatments are inconclusive. Laundering reduces the effectiveness of finishes diey must be renewed periodically. 

The fabrics used in this study were prepared by the Southern Regional Lab especially for the 13 states involved in the S-163 Project. They Include 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend. Fabrics are print cloth, woven construction, with a thread count of 70W x 78F, 3.5 ounce per square yard. All fabrics were wet finished and heat set. A durable press finish (DMDHEU) was applied to cotton and cotton/polyester fabrics. A water repellent fluorocarbon finish (Corpel) and an acrylic acid soil-release finish were applied to all three types of fabrics. Our preliminary findings for the AATCC spray test are reported here. 

Recently, the Deering Milliken Corporation has announced the use of electron irradiation to provide a durable press finish to fabrics of a cotton-polyester blend. The process, details of which are not disclosed, is said to confer new soil-releasing properties to the fabric. The treatment applied to a blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton is said to last the life of the garment, with stains left by butter or grease eliminated by normal washing (20). 

The additional advantages of the hybrid soil-release polymers are increased dry soil resistance and good soil-release performance when coapplied with selected cross-linking formulations on polyester-cotton blends. In contrast, the soil-release performance of nonfluorinated acrylic polymers deteriorates when coapplied with a durable press finish. Disadvantages of the hybrid soil-release polymers are the higher cost of the fluorochemical moiety and a slower water sorption in cross-linking finishes. 

Two factors emerged to turn the focus of durable press the discovery that incorporation of a level of nylon or polyester in the fabric can substantially increase the garments abrasion resistance, and the reali2ation that the marketplace preferred cotton—polyester blends in delayed cure operations, even though 85% cotton—15% nylon fabric yields a suitable product. The 50% cotton—50% polyester fabric seemed particularly appropriate because it contained sufficient ceUulosic to benefit from a chemical finish and sufficient synthetic to provide strength and abrasion resistance. 

Ozone is being investigated for shrinkage prevention (182). Wool and blends of wool, cotton, and polyester have been finished to provide improved flame-retardant, durable-press, and shrinkage properties (183,184). Fabrics of these types are often used for uniforms or protective clothing (185). 

Flame relardanls are used in smolder-resistant upholstery fabric, combination flame retardant-durable press performance, flame-retardant treatments for wool, thermoplastic fibers (Tris. decabromodiphenyl oxide-polyacrylate finishes. Antihlu/e 19. nylon finishes), polyester-cotton fiber blends (THPOH-ummonju-Tris finish, decabromodiphenyl oxide-polyacrylate finish. THPC-amide-polytv illy I bromide) finish, THPOH-NHi and Fyrol 76. LRC-UX) finish, phusphonium salt-urea precondcn-satej. cotton-wool blends, and core-yam fabric,... 

For the plant trials which will be subsequently discussed, a 7% solids durable press, fabric stabilization conventional finish and a 14% solids foamable counterpart were applied to polyester/cotton fabrics of various weights. 

Table IX summarizes the results of a number of trials in which a durable press, fabric stabilization finish was applied to polyester cotton fabrics of various weights. The major conclusion to be drawn from this work is that while productivity (range speed) was significantly improved by switching to foam finishing, energy savings were less than predicted on the basis of a 54% reduction in amount of water applied to the fabric,...

Non-slip finishes are often used with under-constmcted fabrics to compensate for the reduced yam count and to achieve acceptable physical properties. Lining and pocketing fabrics made with smooth synthetic filaments are finished with friction enhancers combined with durable press agents, water repellents or hand modifiers to prevent seam slippage. Umbrella fabrics made from nylon or polyester filament yams are treated with friction enhancers and water repellents. The properties of any woven fabric with long floats can usually be improved with nonslip finishes. In particular, Jacquard upholstery fabrics with long floats are... 

Fiber content will also narrow the chemical finish applied. For example, cotton and cotton/polyester blends are those that might be durable-press resin finished. Fabrics with other fiber contents would not be finished in this way. 

Fluoropolymers are used for repellent finishing of fabrics made of synthetic and natural fibers. Formulations for cellulosic fabrics include cross-linking reactants to increase durability of fluoropolymer finishes, to impart wrinkle resistance, wash and wear, and durable press properties. Cross-linking reactants of the melamine, triazine or modified triazine, carbamate, or glyoxal type are used. Because fluoropolymers, unlike silicones, do not soften the fabric, softeners may be needed. Coapplication with cross-linking reactants may also require lubricants, such as nonionic polyethylene dispersions, to assure satisfactory sewing properties of the fabric. A typical formulation for polyester-cotton rainwear and outerwear is shown in Table 12.2 [148]. 

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