Process and composition for imparting durable press properties to textile fabrics

A process for imparting durable press properties to a fabric comprising:

• impregnating a fabric with an aqueous durable press treatment composition comprising a dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU) resin, a crosslinking acrylic copolymer derived from butyl acrylate and acrylonitrile and having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of -30.degree. C. or lower, and a catalyst;
• extracting excess treatment composition from the fabric;
• drying the fabric to a residual moisture content of from 10 to 20 percent by weight;
• removing wrinkles from the fabric;
• and
• heating the fabric with the wrinkles thus removed at a temperature of 88.degree. to 175.degree. C. for up to fifteen minutes to cure and crosslink said durable press treatment composition and impart durable press properties to the fabric.

A process for imparting durable press properties to garments comprising:

• placing garments in a treatment vessel and saturating the garments with an aqueous durable press treatment composition comprising a dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU) resin, a crosslinking acrylic copolymer derived from butyl acrylate and acrylonitrile and having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of -30.degree. C. or lower, a nonionic wetting agent, a softening agent and a catalyst;
• extracting excess treatment composition from the garments;
• tumble drying the garments with heated air to a residual moisture content of from 10 to 20 percent by weight;
• pressing the thus dried garments with a heated iron to remove unwanted wrinkles and impart desired creases;
• and
• directing the thus pressed garments through a heated curing oven at a temperature of 88.degree. to 175.degree. C. for up to fifteen minutes to cure and crosslink said durable press treatment composition and impart durable press properties to the garments.