Polyfunctional finishes on cotton textiles

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:hi"="" lang="EN-GB">The present study is aimed at imparting polyfunctional finishes on 100% cotton fabrics using polycarboxylic acids (PCAs) that are capable of crosslinking with cellulose. Polycarboxylic acids, such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, citric acid and tartaric acid, have been selected and applied in single and in combinations on 100% cotton fabrics using pad- dry- cure process. PCAs treated samples are then tested for functional properties as per international standards. The crease recovery behaviour of these samples has been found to improve almost to the same extent and in some cases more than that of resin treated control sample. However, the strength loss is found to be lower for polycarboxylic acids treated samples. Flexural rigidity is also recorded very low. Soil release properties are improved by this treatment to attain the maximum grade of 5 from grade 3 for untreated sample. Reduction in dimensional changes is found negligible. Formation of ester crosslinks between cellulose and polycarboxylic acids has been confirmed through FTIR spectroscopic studies. It is found that the PCAs selected for the study could impart multiple functional properties on cotton. When applied in single, maleic acid and itaconic acid provide better results than the other two PCAs, whereas in combination, citric acid with other PCAs provides synergic effect in imparting functional properties. </span>