Preparing and Finishing Durable-Press Cotton Fabrics1

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Abstract
Commercially practicable preparation and finishing techniques have been studied that can be com bined to produce improved durable-press or easy-care woven cotton fabrics, especially lightweights. Fabric mercerization combined with extensive stretching in the filling direction was highly effective in improving tensile and tear strength after subsequent finishing, especially in the filling direction. As an alternative to mercerization, liquid-ammonia treatment on commercial equipment had the addi tional benefits of greater fabric softness, better abrasion resistance, and better fabric appearance after laundering. Finishing with so-called buffered glyoxal crosslinking resins gave a consistently better balance of durable-press rating to strength than the older, less-buffered ones. Application of finish with a low wet pick-up technique resulted in better chemical efficiency and abrasion resistance than a conventional pad application.