Delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics

A delayed-cure durable press finishing process for cotton fabrics, which comprises the following steps performed sequentially:

• a) providing a fabric, wherein the fabric is comprised of cotton,
• b) singeing the fabric,
• c) desizing the fabric,
• d) conducting a first liquid ammonia finishing at a feed rate of 50 to 60 meters of fabric per minute, at 80° C., and at a pH of 6, which comprises:
• i) curing the fabric, ii) cooling the fabric, iii) performing a liquid ammonia treatment, iv) steaming the fabric at 90° C. to 100° C., v) washing the fabric in water with applied tension at 90° C. to 100° C., and vi) drying the fabric,
• e) mercerizing the fabric at a feed rate of 60 to 70 meters of the fabric per minute, which comprises:
• immersing the fabric in an alkaline solution for 4 to 6 minutes, then washing the fabric at 90° C. to 100° C. at a pH of 4.5 to 5.0, and then adjusting the pH to neutral,
• f) conducting a second liquid ammonia finishing at a feed rate of 50 to 60 meters of fabric per minute, at 80° C., and at a pH of 6, which comprises:
• i) curing the fabric, ii) cooling the fabric, iii) performing a liquid ammonia treatment, iv) steaming the fabric at 90° C. to 100° C., v) washing the fabric in water with applied tension at 90° C. to 100° C., and vi) drying the fabric, and
• g) post-cure finishing the fabric, which comprises:
• padding the fabric in a double-dip-double-nip method at a fabric pick up rate of 70% to 90%, and curing the fabric at 80° C. to 85° C. for 2 to 3 minutes to obtain a delayed-cure sensitized fabric having a moisture regain at doffing of 7% to 9%.