Robert J. Harper

Application of Mechanisms for Wet and Dry Wrinkle Recovery to Fabric Exhibiting the Unusual Combination of High Dry and Low Wet Recovery

By use of polyethyleneglycols and cross-linking agents in a conventional pad-dry-cure process, fabrics have been produced with the unusual combination of high dry wrinkle and low wet wrinkle recovery. These fabrics and others with the various combinations of dry and wet wrinkle recovery have been examined in terms of the mechanisms for dry and wet wrinkle recovery. On the basis of certain textile properties, an explanation is offered for this unusual combination of high dry and low wet recovery.

Variables That Influence Formaldehyde Release from Cottons Finished for Durable Press 1

Variables were studied that affect the rate of formaldehyde release from cotton fabrics finished for durable press. With dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea as the crosslinking agent, both the catalyst type and concentration are important. Catalysts of predominantly Lewis acid activity produce fabrics with lower formaldehyde release than do those of predominantly Bronsted activity; catalyst concentration must be sufficiently high to catalyze the amount of agent present and to overcome the effects of buffering if a buffered agent is used. The relationship between catalyst and reactant concen tration and cure temperature is discussed. The influence of reducing the ratio of formaldehyde to amide moiety in the reactant on textile properties is compared to the influence of blending a form aldehyde adduct with a nonformaldehyde reactant. The possibility of predicting formaldehyde release in a finished fabric, based on the formaldehyde released from a reactant solution, is explored.

Smoldering Phenomenon Associated with Cotton

Treated cotton batting is examined as a substrate for cotton upholstered furniture. Evaluation of the smoldering hazard includes the tests proposed by UFAC and NBS, together with smoldering rates and surface temperature profiles obtained using the SRRC Rate Chamber. The influence of washing on the smoldering behavior of cotton is discussed. Problem salts are identified.

Adducts of Glyoxal and Amides as Finishing Agents for Cotton1

Adducts of glyoxal with urea, 1,3-dimethylurea, and methyl carbamate can be used as formaldehyde-free finishing agents for wrinkle-resistant, shrinkage-resistant, or durable-press cotton. These adducts are less effective than the usual methylolamide nnisbing agents and often cause discoloration. However, only small amounts of formaldehyde need be added with the glyoxal to increase the effectiveness and reduce the discoloration noticeably. The agents are more likely to be of value on cotton- polyester blends where less crosslinking is required.

Moisture-Related Properties of Cotton-Polyester Blend Fabrics1

The moisture-related properties of a series of cotton-polyester blend broadcloths and sheetings were investigated. The composition of the broadcloth ranged from all-cotton to 68% polyester and 32% cotton, and the sheeting varied from all-cotton to 50% polyester and 50% cotton. The moisture properties measured were drop absorbency, wicking time, moisture regain, vapor transport, liquid transport, and total absorbency. The fabrics were tested untreated and finished with various durable-press treatments. Chemical additives either decreased or increased a number of measured moisture properties, some of which might be related to comfort.

Influence of pH in Washing on the Formaldehyde-Release Properties of Durable-Press Cotton

Application of buffered solutions to test specimens in the AATCC jar test revealed the important role of pH on the formaldehyde-release properties of durable-press cottons. The relationship between pH in washing and formaldehyde release was established for various durable-press finishing systems (agent/catalyst treatment combinations). Based upon this information, differences and seemingly inconsistent formaldehyde-release values from the washing of finished fabrics can be explained. Generally, the pH range for best formaldehyde-release properties is between pH 3 and pH 7. Laundering at various geographical sites gave results that correlate with the pH of the wash water; these data showed that formaldehyde release increases with wash-water pH.

Finishing Cotton-Wool Blends

This paper covers the application of crosslinking agents and polymers to cotton wool blends. In particular, the influence of a catalyst on performance levels attained was investigated. Likewise, the role of polymers in improving dimensional stability and wet wrinkle recovery was elucidated.

Smoldering Characteristics of Cotton Upholstery Fabrics1

One of the most important parameters in the development of mechanism or model for smoldering is the propagation velocity of the smoldering wave front. This paper describes a method and apparatus for measuring the tendency of cotton-containing upholstery fabrics to smolder in terms of smolder wave-front velocity. Variables affecting this rate are identified and their degree of influence determined.

Stiffness, An Important Factor in the Abrasion Performance of Durable-Press Cottons 1

Two series of durable-press cuffs, prepared from several fabrics, showed a wide variation in abrasion resistance. This variation was observed when all the fabrics were finished with the same technique. One series of fabrics was finished with a conventional pad-bath treatment, the other was finished with a combination treatment of polyurethane and cross-linking agent. The one characteristic of all fabrics found to possess good abrasion resistance was a low value of bending moment or fabric stiffness. With one soft fabric, a number of treatments using a pad application of polyurethane, followed by either a pad or preferential back coat with a cross-linking agent, led to cuffs with an average, conditioned wrinkle recovery (first and thirtieth washes) of more than 300°, with no apparent damage after 30 laundry cycles in one test and after 50 laundry cycles in another test. The effect of pretreatments, such as mercerization or washing, on fabric stiffness and abrasion performance was shown to be that those which softened the fabric improved fabric abrasion resistance.

Imparting Smolder-Resistance to Cotton Upholstery Fabric

A number of polymeric materials were examined to evaluate their effectiveness in imparting smolder resistance to cotton upholstery fabrics. Among the factors examined were air permeability, fabric weight, viscosity of the backcoating formulation, positioning of the cigarette, and substrate used in the test panels. Several inorganic and organic compounds were evaluated as possible smolder-resistance agents for incorporation in latex backcoatings.