Crosslinking and Agent Distribution of Cotton Cellulose Treated with Combined Dimethylolethyleneurea and Dimethylol-N,N'-dimethylene-tris-ethyleneurea

We have used three different processes to treat cotton fabrics with different combined weight ratios of dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) and dimethylol-N,N'-dimethylene-tris ethyleneurea (DMDME3EU) as crosslinking agents, and have found that a two-step process of pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure-pad(DMEU)-dry-cure yields higher dry crease recovery angles (DCRA), wet crease recovery angles (WCRA), and equilibrium direct dye adsorption values than the other two processes of pad(DMEU)-dry-cure-pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure and pad- (mixture of DMEU and DMDME3EU)-dry-cure at the same nitrogen content and a combined ratio of equal concentrations of the two agents. The process of pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure- pad(DMEU)-dry-cure also yields higher DCRA values for a given wet crease recovery angle and tensile strength retention and an even crosslinking agent distribution in/on the treated fabrics. At the same time, the DCRA and WCRA values for the pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure- pad(DMEU)-dry-cure process are higher than those for the other two processes at a given number of crosslinks per anhydroglucose unit.