Abstract:

In order to promote the wide application of formaldehyde-free durable press finishing agent, a self-prepared polycarboxylic acid formaldehyde-free durable press finishing agent (LMP) was finish the cotton fabrics and the suitable application conditions of LMP were determined by evaluating the wrinklerecovery angle, breaking strength, tear strength and whiteness of the finished cotton fabrics in single factor experiments. The optimum conditions are as follows: LMP dosage 300 g/L, catalyst dosage 10 % of LMP, pH of 2.0~2.5, curing temperature 170 ℃ and  curing time 3 min. After finishing, wrinkle recovery angle is larger than 260 °, breaking and tear strength retention are 55.7 % and 73.1 %, respectively, whiteness decreased from 77 % to 72 %, and smoothness appearance rating approximately 3.5. Comparing with the other durable press finishing agents, the durable press performance of LMP finished cotton fabric is better than those finished with two commercial used formaldehyde-free durable press finishing agents. LMP provides almost the same level of durable press performance and laundering durability as butane tetracarboxylic acid, but less effective than modified dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea.

Key words: cotton fabric, formaldehyde-free durable press finishing, polycarboxylic acid, wrinkle recovery angle, whiteness, laundering durability