Properties of cotton fabrics treated by etherification and esterification and esterification/addition crosslinking with an amino-functional silicon softener

摘要

Crosslinking cellulose imparts good wrinkle resistance but severely impairs mechanical properties of cotton fabrics. Herein, we report the investigation of the properties of cotton fabrics treated with dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU), butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), and maleic acid (MA) in presence of an amino functional silicon softener via etherification, esterification, and esterification/ addition crosslinking. Additionally, their specific effects on weight gain and wrinkle resistance, mechanical properties of treated fabrics and yarns pulled out from corresponding samples were thoroughly analyzed. The results indicated that esterification crosslinking by both MA and BTCA showed higher weight gain and tensile strength retention than etherification crosslinking by DMDHEU (3.72 %). Only one equivalence point (pKa'=6.45) for titration curve of the intermediate after completion of MA esterifcation in absence of crosslinks on fabrics provided evidence to support the first step of crosslinking/addition mechanism for MA. The bonding of addition intermediate of MA/cotton demonstrated higher weight gain compared to that by DMDHEU under the same level of wrinkle resistance. The crosslinking between cellulose significantly reduced mechanical properties of durable press (DP) finished samples independent of molecular structures and reactivity of finishing agents. The WRA (the highest of 289 degrees) and tearing strength (tearing retention of 160 %) were improved temporarily in the presence of softeners, and decreased to the same level of control after 10 home laundering cycles, therefore use of softeners in DP finishing proved to be a potential semi-durable method (5 laundering cycles normally).