Abstract

Resin or wrinkle free finishing is widely used in the textile industry to impart wrinkle-resistance to cotton fabrics and garments. Considerable loss in strength and abrasion resistance of the finished fabrics has been a major concern for the industry. Enhance in dimensional stability and wrinkle resistance with resin finishing of cotton has constantly been correlated with the lower abrasion resistance and tear strength. The strength of the fiber depends on how much the cross linked chains can still be mutually displaced under tension in order to sufficiently resist the applied load. The rigid cross links that are formed with the DMDHEU obviously prevent the redistribution of stresses by preventing movement within the fiber microstructure.

The cross linking of cellulose molecules with these relatively rigid cross links causes stiffening of the cellulosic macromolecular network and fiber embitterment thus dropping the mechanical strength of the treated cotton fabrics. These same mechanisms are responsible for the reduced mechanical properties of the fiber surface thus leading to strength loss .Fiber surface property alteration, such as through the use of softeners, has been shown to play an important task in minimizing strength loss.

The mixture of inadequate scratch resistance and relatively severe tensile & tear strength loss has been the major disadvantage for resin finished 100% cotton fabrics. The overall objectives of this work are to investigate the cause and mechanism for loss in abrasion resistance of cross linked cotton fabrics; relationships between the molecular structure of cross linking agents and their affect on the mechanical properties of cross linked textile structures; and develop a technology for improving the Tear strength of resin finished cotton fabrics by adding special silicones.

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