Peripheral Acid Hydrolysis of Crosslinked Viscous Medium

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"="">Crosslinks formed between cellulose chains to impart durable press properties to the treated cotton fabrics differ considerably in their resistance to acids. Fabrics crosslinked by the pad-dry-cure technique were treated with sulphuric acid of different concentrations in a viscous medium to obtain peripheral hydrolysis of crosslinks, washed and air dried. Greater dye uptake by the acid treated samples than pad-dry-cure controls at comparable nitrogen contents indicates that the resin is peripherally hydrolyzed for these fabrics. These fabrics exhibit higher abrasion resistance, higher wet crease recovery and lower tensile strength then the pad-dry-cure samples at comparable dry crease recovery levels. Electron microscopical observations also lend support to the conclusion that hydrolysis of crosslinks at the surface of pad-dry-cure fabrics has been achieved by treating with sulphuric acid in a highly viscous medium.</span>