Application of DMEU/SiO₂ gel solution in the antiwrinkle finishing of cotton fabrics

Abstract

Abstract In this experiment, cotton fabrics were treated by padding, drying, and curing with an antiwrinkle finishing reagent, dimethylolethylene urea (DMEU), in combination with different concentrations of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and isopropanol (IPA) at various volumes. The treated fabrics were studied to determine the effects of adding TEOS and IPA. They were also analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods to examine the binding between SiO 2 and DMEU. The results showed that hydrogen bonds formed between SiO 2 and DMEU. TEOS was found to improve the antiwrinkle properties, tensile strength retention, and yellowing of the treated fabrics, although their softness was slightly reduced. The solvent IPA was shown to decrease the tensile strength of treated fabrics, although it improved their antiwrinkle properties. We observed only one stage of pyrolysis in untreated cotton fabrics, whereas the treated fabrics showed two stages. In addition, the fabrics treated with TEOS showed improved heat resistance. Our findings demonstrated that cotton fabrics showed excellent antiwrinkle properties and high tensile strength, when treated with a finishing solution composed of DMEU, 3% TEOS, IPA and water, followed by predrying and curing. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4136–4143, 2006