Improved Durable-Press Cotton via Polymeric N-Methylol Reagents

Polyethylenimines, degree of polymerization = 7 and 14, were reacted with urea to form polymeric noncyclic analogues of ethyleneurea that were subsequently treated with formaldehyde to yield N-methylol derivatives. These reagents were applied to cotton fabric both alone and in combination with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea. Al 2 (OH) 5 Cl·2H 2 O was the preferred crosslinking catalyst. Fabrics finished with these crosslinking reagent systems had durable-press properties generally comparable to those of fabrics prepared by conventional techniques but were characterized by significantly higher levels of retained strength and abrasion resistance.