Improved Cotton DP Through Dry-Cure Deposition of Polymers Containing Reactive Groups1

Copolymers, based on multifunctional N-methylol cellulose reactants and urea or thiourea, were internally deposited in cotton by a pad-dry-cure process. The urea or thiourea prevented extensive cross-linking of the cellulose during polymer formation by competing with the cellulose hydroxyls for the reactive N-methylol groups. The durable-press fabric, obtained by cross-linking the copolymer-containing cotton with conventional N-methylol reactants, exhibited higher strength retention and abrasion resistance than similar fabrics without polymer deposit or containing only homopolymers of the N-methylol compounds. It is proposed that the improvement is due to cross- linking of the cellulose through the reactive urea or thiourea residues of the polymer matrix.