The performance of a cationic bleach activator, N- [4-(triethylammoniomethyl)benzoyl]caprolactam chloride, was evaluated in a hot peroxide bleaching process. The effect of time, temperature and the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and activator on the bleaching of cotton fabric was investigated using a central composite experimental design. Temperature was found to be the most significant parameter. By adding the cationic activator it was possible to achieve a level of whiteness comparable to a typical commercial bleaching system but under relatively mild conditions of time and temperature. As a consequence, chemical damage to the fabric could be reduced. The effect of the cationic bleach activator was compared to that of an anionic activator, nonanoyloxybenzene sulphonate. The cationic activator was superior to the anionic activator in bleaching the fabric under the optimised conditions used in the study.

Cotton fiber has a natural tendency to wrinkle. In order to overcome this undesired property several durable press finishes were proposed and have been used for a long while. However, most of these chemical finishes release formaldehyde, a suspected human carcinogen, which causes fabric to lose strength and to yellow. Non-formaldehyde alternatives to these finishes are expensive. Thus, a non-formaldehyde finish prepared by using common and more available chemicals is required. In this study, we prepared anionic cotton fabric and further treated it with a novel crosslinker, namely cationic glycerin. We focused on optimizing an ionic crosslinking process in terms of the treated fabric's wrinkle recovery angle (WRA). Our results showed that high WRA results may be achieved and the strength of fabric may also be increased.

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Peracetic acid is produced directly in the bleaching liquor from acetic anhydride and hydrogen peroxide. The acid can be catalyzed to bleach knitted cotton fabric at temper atures as low as 30°C in the presence of 2.2' bipyridine, sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium tetraborate. We evaluate the effects of the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and acetic anhydride as well as treatment temperature, time, and pH on whiteness, bursting strength, and water absorbency of the fabric. The results of our investigation show that peracetic acid can be acceptable as a bleaching agent for the textile industry as an alternative to hypochlorite bleaching.

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