Distribution of Crosslinks in DMDHEU-Treated Fabrics from Measurements on Warp and Fill Yarns

Abstract

Dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) was applied to cotton fabrics via immersion padding followed by fast (I-FD) and slow (I-SD) drying and via lick roller (LR20, LR35) and foam (FM20, FM35) applicators at 20% and 35% wet pickups. The fraction of cuene-soluble cellulose, distention index ( DI), water of imbibition ( WI), and moisture regain ( MR) were determined on the fabric or the separated warp and fill yarns to elucidate the effect of processing conditions on crosslink distribution. The slowly dried fabric served as the standard for uniformity. Samples were compared at the same level of bound nitrogen. High DIs, WIs, and MRs were associated with a less uniform crosslink distribution at the same overall crosslink density. Uniformity of crosslink distribution was found to decrease in the order I-SD > FM35 > LR35 > I-FD > FM20 > LR20. The fraction of cuene- soluble cellulose increased with increasing bound nitrogen in the LR20 samples, whereas the WI and MR of these fabrics exhibited U-shaped behavior. These trends are attributed to decreasing spreadability of liquor with increasing reagent concen tration. The result is that progressively larger portions of the cotton fabric are left untreated. Foam application at the 20% pickup level resulted in enough penetration to the backside of the fabric to impart cuene insolubility at all but the lowest DMDHEU add-on level. Indications are that the spreading mechanism for foam is substantially different from and more efficient than that for the liquid film from the lick roller. Crosslink distributions differed in the warp and fill yarns in all but the I-SD samples.

Spreading and Imbibition of Durable Press Reagent Solutions in Cotton-Containing Fabrics

“…The spreading behavior of the reagent solutions correlates with observations made in regard to the distribution of reagent residues in the Osnaburg-type fabric treated with DMDHEU via lick roller [4]. Of particular note is the observation that a progressively larger fraction of fabric to which reagent was applied at the 20% wet pickup level was left untreated as the DMDHEU content, and thus the viscosity, of the application liquor was increased.…”

“…This new technology has created a need for more information on factors affecting the wicking behavior in and the solution-holding capacity of the fabrics. A better understanding of these factors is essential because wicking has been shown to affect the distribution of reagent residues in fabric from low wet pickup app¡ication [4], and the distribution of reagent residues has been shown to affect the textile performance of durable press fabrics [3,15,16]. Considerable research on the wicking of liquids in textiles has involved liquids selected for their lack of reactivity with the fiber/yarn/fabric substrate to establish the applicability of the basic principles of capillarity in these systems [12][13][14].…”

Formaldehyde Released from Clothing Articles and Pillowcases

“…Both of these sources are due to inconsistencies of the application of chemicals as well as the curing process after application of the chemicals. 18…”

“…Both of these sources are due to inconsistencies of the application of chemicals as well as the curing process after application of the chemicals. 18 Men's Dress Shirts White men's dress shirts with a non-iron or anti-wrinkle label of various brands, prices, and country of fabrication were tested. White men's dress shirts were selected due to the prevalence of anti-wrinkle labels and use of creaseresistant resins.…”