Investigation of Flexible Crosslinking Systems for the Retention of Mechanical Strength and Abrasion Resistance in Durable Press Cotton Fabrics Investigators:

N-methylol compounds, such as dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU), are the most commonly used durable press finishing agents for cotton fabrics by the industry. In this research, we have examined the effects of the catalyst systems used for DMDHEU on the mechanical strength of the crosslinked cotton fabric. The catalysts induce degradation of cellulose as indicated by the decrease in the tensile strength of cotton fabric. The magnitude of fabric strength loss is effected by the temperature, time, and concentration of the catalyst. The fabric strength loss also depends on the nature of the cation and the anion of the catalyst. An activated catalyst system, which includes an organic acid, causes more severe fabric tensile strength loss due to additional acid-catalyzed cellulose degradation. The tensile strength loss caused by the crosslinking and the degradation of cellulose for the cotton fabric treated with DMDHEU was measured. In the presence of DMDHEU, the catalyst causes less fabric tensile strength loss than that caused by the catalyst alone, possibly due to the formation of a complex with DMDHEU. Because a catalyst system plays such an important role in influencing the strength loss of cotton fabrics crosslinked by DMDHEU, the selection of the catalyst system and its concentration is crucial for optimizing the tensile strength retention of the finished fabrics.