Improvements in the treatment of cotton, linen and rayon fabrics

摘要

The wet and dry crease recovery properties of a fabric consisting wholly or partly of cotton linen or viscose rayon are improved by (1) impregnating the fabric with 50-150% by weight of an aqueous solution containing at least one nitrogenous cellulose reactant resin and an acid suitably buffered so that the solution has a pH of 0.5-3. (2) partially drying it to a residual moisture content of above 6% by weight, (3) holding it in a smooth crease-free condition for at least 2 hours at a temperature of 10 DEG -50 DEG C during which time reaction takes place while the fibres are still in a swollen state, (4) heating it at 90 DEG -150 DEG C. for 1-5 minutes either with or without intermediate drying, (5) washing it in aqueous alkali e.g. sodium carbonate and then water to remove the acid and any unreacted material and (6) drying it. The nitrogenous cellulose reactant resin may be dimethylol cyclicethylene urea, dimethylol-1, 3-propylene urea, dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea, dimethylol 4-methoxy, 5-dimethyl propylene urea, dimethylol hydroxy propylene urea or dimethylol methoxyethyl carbamate. Suitable buffer systems are mixtures of sulphuric acid and sodium dihydrogen phosphate, hydrochloric acid and sodium acetate, citric acid and disodium hydrogen phosphate. The treating solution may also contain a polyethylene emulsion softener. After partial drying the fabric may be wound on to a mandrel to form a roll and covered with a polyethylene sheet to prevent drying of the fabric during the lying period.