Abstract
A research program has been carried out to investigate a new approach to cotton finishing. This approach has involved a study of various diaziridinyl compounds, such as those obtained by reacting ethylene imine with org-anic diisocyanates, diacid chlorides, and bischloroformates as potential cross-linking agents for cotton cellulose to produce "minimum care" or "wash-wear" fabric finishes. Over 25 different aziridinyl com pounds were prepared experimentally and screened for utility on the basis of water solubility and effect on such fabric properties as crease-recovery angle, tear strength, breaking strength and elongation, flex abrasion, washfastness, and chlorine retention. The experimental finishes were applied to an 80 X 80-count cotton print cloth, using . laboratory-size padding and drying equipment.
The diaziridinyl compounds based on aliphatic diisocyanates and bischloroformates were found to demonstrate the greatest utility for the contemplated application, particu larly those compounds prepared from hexaniethylene-1,6-diisocyanate and mono- and diethylene glycol bischloroformate precursors. Increases in crease-recovery angle in the range of 30-60% were achieved with these finishes under conditions of application generally similar to those employed for commercial polymethylol type finishes.
While these particular diaziridinyl finishes impart considerable crease resistance to cotton cloth, they were found to generally cause less impairment of other fabric prop erties than an experimentally applied commercial polymethylol cotton finish (CEU resin). The diaziridinyl finishes, being nitrogen-containing compounds, demonstrate a strong tendency to retain chlorine after chlorine bleaching. Further development of curing techniques for application of these finishes should be considered as a possible means of reducing chlorine retention.
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