Mild-cure formaldehyde-free durable-press finishing of cotton textiles with glyoxal and glycols
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorClark M. Welch
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Abstract
The use of glycols as coreactive additives with glyoxal in the aluminum sulfate-catalyzed crosslinking of cotton cellulose in the presence of alpha-hydroxy acids as catalyst activators at moderate curing temperatures is disclosed. The cotton textiles so treated are free from the discoloration and excessive tendering produced by glyoxal in the presence of metal salt catalysts at high temperature, are non-nitrogenous and formaldehyde-free, and exhibit high levels of wrinkle resistance and smooth drying properties without the formaldehyde release characteristic of N-methylolamide finishing agents.
Claims8
A process for imparting a high level of wrinkle resistance and smooth drying properties to cellulosic textiles, without the use of formaldehyde, derivatives of formaldehyde, or agents that release formaldehyde, and without additional discoloration or excessive loss of strength in the textile, which process comprises:
- (a) padding the cellulosic textile with an aqueous solution containing sufficient amounts of glyoxal, glycol, an aluminum salt of a strong inorganic acid, and a water soluble alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid, to impregnate the cellulosic textile;
- (b) removing excess treating solution from the textile and heating the textile for sufficient time at sufficient temperature to dry the textile;
- (c) heating the textile at sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to form the glycol-modified glyoxal durable-press finish in the cellulose.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.