Vacuum Cross-Linking of Chemically Modified Cotton

Abstract

Cottons containing carboxylic acid groups display good wrinkle recovery properties after the simultaneous application of heat and vacuum. This wrinkle recovery can be removed by soaking the fabric in dilute base which converts the acid to the carboxylate salt. To reintroduce the cross link, as shown by electron microscopy, it is first necessary to convert the salt to the free acid and then subject the fabric to the heat and vacuum treatment. Wrinkle recovery values can be further improved by first treating the cotton to introduce either primary or tertiary amine groups and then treating with chloroacetic acid to introduce the carboxyl groups. Wrinkle recovery imparted by heat and vacuum is stable to acid and neutral washes. The procedure can also be used to impart and remove creases in fabrics. Because of the prolonged heating, the fabric tends to discolor, but this discoloration can be removed by mild chlorine bleaching without affecting the wrinkle recovery.