3—ALL-WOOL PERMANENT-PRESS FABRICS PART III: STABILIZATION OF SET WITH N,N'-DIMETHYLOLUREA

Abstract

N,N'-Dimethylolurea (DMU) is effective in stabilizing set wool to machine-washing when the setting and DMU treatments are applied separately in that order. However, it cannot be applied to the wool at the same time as the setting agent because cross-links are introduced prematurely during the setting step. This stabilizes the partly rearranged molecular structure and tends to promote loss of set during machine-washing. Less reactive dimethylol compounds may be suitable for one-step application.

KEY WORDS (SPECIFIC TERMS):

• SET
• STABILIZATION
• DURABLE-PRESS
• MACHINE-WASHING
• TUMBLE-DRYING
• STATIC RELEASE
• DYNAMIC RELEASE
• STEAM-PRESSING
• CROSS-LINKS
• DISULPHIDE INTERCHANGE
• WOOL FABRICS
• DMU
• WASHING MACHINES

KEY WORDS (BROADER TERMS):

• END-USE PROPERTIES
• FINISH (PROPERTY)
• LAUNDERING
• DRYING
• FABRICS (ACCORDING TO FIBRE)
• METHYLOL UREAS