The Mechanism of Catalysis in the Crosslinking of Cotton with Formaldehyde

Abstract
Crosslinking of cotton cellulose with formaldehyde by the pad-dry-cure process has been studied kinetically. The reaction is catalyzed by hydroxonium ions, and this catalytic reaction accounts for more than 98% of all crosslinks formed. MgCl2 and mixtures of MgCl2 and tartaric acid have no detectable, direct catalytic effect but owe their activity to the fact that they bring about an increase in the concentration of hydroxonium ions under curing conditions.