Low-Stress Mechanical Properties of Cotton Fabric Treated with Titanium Dioxide-Catalyzed Wrinkle-Resistant Finishing

ABSTRACT

There are five low-stress mechanical properties (tensile, shearing, bending, surface, and compression) that affect the fabric handle. Dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) is a conventional agent for imparting wrinkle-resistant properties to cotton fabric. DMDHEU-crosslinked fabrics provide excellent wrinkle recovery properties but may affect the fabric hand. In this study, fabrics treated for wrinkle resistance were assessed by the Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabric (KES-F), which objectively evaluates low-stress mechanical properties of textiles. Four curing temperatures, 110, 130, 150, and 170ºC, were used in the wrinkle resistant finishing and effects of different concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) used as co-catalyst were also studied. It was found that changes in curing temperature (from 110 to 170ºC) have an obvious effect on tensile, shearing and bending properties. Surface and compression properties, however, did not show a significant variation. Moreover, the use of TiO₂ particles in the treatment affected low-stress mechanical properties of fabrics to a certain extent, especially in compression properties, due to the increase in thickness.

摘要

影响织物处理的五项低应力机械性能有拉伸、剪切、弯曲、表面和压缩。二羟甲基二（DMDHEU-Dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea）是增强棉织物抗皱性能的常规用剂。DMDHEU 交联织物可提供优异的折皱回复性能，但可能影响织物的处理。在这项研究中，经过抗皱处理的织物由川端织物评估系统（KES-F）来评估，该系统能够客观评估织物的低应力性能。本文还研究了在抗皱处理中使用四个固化温度 110、130、150、170ºC 和将不同浓度的二氧化钛 (TiO₂) 用作助催化剂的效果。研究发现，固化温度的变化（从 110 至 170℃）对拉伸、剪切和弯曲性能有显著影响，但表面和压缩性能没有表现出显著变化。此外，在处理中使用 TiO₂ 颗粒在一定程度上影响了织物的低应力机械性能，尤其是厚度增加时的压缩性能。

KEYWORDS:

• Co-catalyst
• cotton
• curing temperature
• DMDHEU
• KES-F
• wrinkle-resistant finishing

关键词:

• 助催化剂
• 棉布
• 固化温度
• DMDHEU
• KES-F
• 抗皱处理

Funding

This is a research project funded by Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) with the title “Exploring the use of transition metals and their compounds as catalyst for cotton finishing treatment” (ITS/029/12). Authors would like to thank ITF for financial support.

Additional information

Funding

This is a research project funded by Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) with the title “Exploring the use of transition metals and their compounds as catalyst for cotton finishing treatment” (ITS/029/12). Authors would like to thank ITF for financial support.