Investigation of Flexible Crosslinking Systems

The tensile strength of durable press finished cotton fabrics is significantly reduced as a result of the crosslinking process. In this research, we investigated the effects of acid degradation and crosslinking of cellulose on the mechanical strength of the cotton fabric crosslinked with polycarboxylic acids, and evaluated various factors influencing the mechanical strength of durable press finished cotton fabrics. The strength loss caused by acid degradation is irreversible. The magnitude of fabric strength loss is affected by the temperature and time of the exposure, the concentration of the acid applied to the fabric, the dissociation constant of the acid, and the pH of the acid solution applied to the fabric. Crosslinking of cellulose with a polycarboxylic acid causes a reversible loss in fabric strength. The magnitude of the fabric strength loss increases as the degree of crosslinking increases. In order to optimize the mechanical strength of crosslinked cotton fabrics, it is necessary to minimize the acid-catalyzed depolymerization by controlling the finish bath pH and the curing conditions.