Dimensional characteristics of jute and jute-rayon blended fabrics crosslinked with DMDHEU

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;="" mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">Jute and jute-rayon blended fabrics were crosslinked with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) using metal salt catalysts [MgCl₂, ZnCl₂ and Zn(NO₃)₂], acid catalysts (HCl and CH₃COOH) and mixed catalysts (MgCl₂/HCl and MgCl₂/CH₃COOH) by the usual pad-dry-cure method and their dimensional characteristics assessed. The crosslinking treatment reduced the % area shrinkage, i.e. improved the dimensional stability of jute and jute-rayon blended fabrics significantly. The improved dimensional behaviour of treated fabrics has been attributed to the reduction in the elastic property of amorphous regions of cellulose structure. Crosslinking makes such regions behave like orderly oriented regions.</span>