Effect of Dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea on the Properties of Cellulosic Fibers

Abstract

We have determined the effect of dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) on the tensile properties, brittleness, and flex fatigue properties of cotton fibers before and after slack mercerization. The tensile strength and extensibility of nonmercerized fibers decrease with DMDHEU application, but there are distinct differences in the effect of mercerization on the tensile properties of the fibers depending on whether a G. barbadense or G. hirsutum sample is being studied. We explain the effects of crosslinking on the tensile properties of nonmercerized and mercerized cotton in terms of current knowledge of their fine structure, and we suggest that morphology also plays an important role in determining the effect of resins on such properties. The brittleness of nonmercerized and mercerized cotton fibers as measured by the breaking twist angle (BTA) method increases as DMDHEU content increases. BTA is correlated with various tensile parameters. The correlation coefficient falls in the order extensibility > nominal rupture energy > tenacity > secant modulus. When considering the effect of resins on the tensile properties of cotton fibers, yams, or fabrics, we recommend that more attention be paid to extensibility. In general, it appears that for cotton at low DMDHEU contents, a premercerization treatment retains the flex life of the sample at a value close to that of the nonresin-treated, nonmercerized control.Although crosslinking improves the crease resistance of cotton fabrics, it simultaneously reduces their durability. To help optimize the crease resistance effects while minimizing the decrease in durability, we need to understand the influence of crosslinking on the mechanical properties of the fibers. While workers have attempted to hypothesize the effects of crosslinks on the properties of cotton ( for example, reference 7), the hypotheses need reevaluating in terms of the current knowledge of the structure of cotton.Previous studies on the relation between resin content and single fiber mechanical properties have concentrated primarily on tensile properties [ S, 6, 8, 9, 16 ] . Essentially with increasing resin content, the tensile strength and extensibility of the fiber drop sharply at first, and then their rate of loss becomes either much lower or constant. Quantitative comparisons of data in these publications are difficult, since the researchers have used different resins and different cotton types.Also, in some cases the amount of resin on the fibers is neither given nor calculable from the data. Gbksoy and Hearle [ 8 have studied the fatigue life of cotton treated with DMDHEU in addition to its tensile properties. They found that unlike the tensile properties, the drop in fatigue life was continuous, but they did not study the effect of mercerizing the cotton before resin treatment on the tensile or flex fatigue properties of their fibers. None of the workers we have cited [5,6,8,9,16] attempted to estimate fiber brittleness quantitatively by, for example, the breaking twist angle ( BTA ) . This met...

Effect of treatments with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxy-ethyleneurea (DMDHEU) on the tensile properties of wood

“…Several studies have verified the initial reduction in tensile strength of cotton fibres with increasing DMDHEU concentration and levelling off at a certain concentration level (Weiss et al 1970;de Boer and Borsten 1971;Zeronian et al 1989;Yang et al 2000). This is also true for cotton fabrics treated with 8% DMDHEU and different MgCl 2 concentrations (Lickfield et al 1998).…”

“…The deposition of DMDHEU could make the fibres less elastic and impede any slippage of single microfibrils as a result of cross-linking (Zeronian et al 1989;Som and Mukherjee 1989). A study of cotton fabric showed that tensile strength reduced through DMDHEU and MgCl 2 treatment was partly restorable by the removal of DMDHEU by boiling it with sodium hydroxide (Lickfield et al 1998).…”

Molecular modeling of cellulose in amorphous state part II: effects of rigid and flexible crosslinks on cellulose

“…However, chemical treatment on cellulose also causes the loss of mechanical properties [2][3][4]. The classical explanation to this problem is that traditional crosslinks are too rigid to allow cellulose chain segments to move.…”

“…DMDHEU is a commonly used crosslinking agent in textile industry for cellulose fibers. DMDHEU-treated fibers always experience severe strength loss [2][3][4]. Decane cannot react with cellulose.…”

Crosslinking Analysis of Polycarboxylic Acid Durable Press Finishing of Cotton Fabrics and Strength Retention Improvement

“…Previous studies on the relation between crosslinking agent content and single fiber mechanical properties have concentrated on the tensile properties. However, it is difficult to find quantitative comparisons of data in the publications [ 13], because in some cases the amount of agent on the fibers is not calculable from the data, and the concentration of the resin changes only in a small range. In order to improve resin treated cotton fabric strength retention, Rebenfeld [5,6] analyzed the effect of tension on the fiber during curing in detail.…”