Delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics

Abstract

The disclosure relates to the technical field of after-finishing of textile products, and in particular relates to a delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics, including the following steps: singeing, desizing, liquid ammonia finishing, mercerizing, liquid ammonia finishing and post-cure finishing. The disclosure significantly improves the stability of a delayed-cure sensitized fabric during delayed-curing, relieves the problems caused by a slow reaction in the storage process of the delayed-cure sensitized fabric, and is favorable for improving the product quality.

Claims

1. A delayed-cure durable press finishing process for cotton fabrics, which comprises the following steps performed sequentially: a) providing a fabric, wherein the fabric is comprised of cotton, b) singeing the fabric, c) desizing the fabric, d) conducting a first liquid ammonia finishing at a feed rate of 50 to 60 meters of fabric per minute, at 80° C., and at a pH of 6, which comprises: i) curing the fabric, ii) cooling the fabric, iii) performing a liquid ammonia treatment, iv) steaming the fabric at 90° C. to 100° C., v) washing the fabric in water with applied tension at 90° C. to 100° C., and vi) drying the fabric, e) mercerizing the fabric at a feed rate of 60 to 70 meters of the fabric per minute, which comprises: immersing the fabric in an alkaline solution for 4 to 6 minutes, then washing the fabric at 90° C. to 100° C. at a pH of 4.5 to 5.0, and then adjusting the pH to neutral, f) conducting a second liquid ammonia finishing at a feed rate of 50 to 60 meters of fabric per minute, at 80° C., and at a pH of 6, which comprises: i) curing the fabric, ii) cooling the fabric, iii) performing a liquid ammonia treatment, iv) steaming the fabric at 90° C. to 100° C., v) washing the fabric in water with applied tension at 90° C. to 100° C., and vi) drying the fabric, and g) post-cure finishing the fabric, which comprises: padding the fabric in a double-dip-double-nip method at a fabric pick up rate of 70% to 90%, and curing the fabric at 80° C. to 85° C. for 2 to 3 minutes to obtain a delayed-cure sensitized fabric having a moisture regain at doffing of 7% to 9%.

2. The delayed-cure durable press finishing process of claim 1, wherein the desizing step c) comprises: immersing the fabric in an enzyme solution, steaming the fabric, washing the fabric in water, and then drying the fabric; wherein the steaming performed at 100° C. for 20 minutes; and wherein the washing temperature is 90° C. to 100° C.

3. The delayed-cure durable press finishing process of claim 2, wherein the enzyme solution comprises 3 g/L of a desizing enzyme, 4 g/L of a penetrant, and 2 g/L of a chelating agent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) To make the objectives, features and advantages of the disclosure more obvious and easier to understand, the disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the examples in the specification.

(2) Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the disclosure, but the disclosure may also be practiced in other ways than those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar promotions without departing from the connotation of the disclosure, so the disclosure is not limited by the specific examples disclosed below.

(3) Moreover, reference herein to “one example” or “examples” refers to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of “in one example” in different parts of this specification are not all referring to the same example, nor are they separate or selectively mutually exclusive from other examples.

(4) The raw materials used in the examples and comparative examples of the disclosure are white plain cotton fabrics (120/70 ends/picks per 10 cm).

Example 1

(5) A Delayed-Cure Sensitized Fabric, Prepared by a Technology Excluding Storage and Cure Steps

(6) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics includes a pretreatment process and a post-treatment process.

(7) The pretreatment process includes singeing, desizing, liquid ammonia finishing, mercerizing and liquid ammonia finishing.

(8) The specific flow of the desizing technology includes: immersing a fabric in an enzyme solution, steaming (piling up at 100° C. for 20 min), water washing (at 95° C.) and drying. The desizing technology is performed in the presence of a desizing enzyme (3 g/L), a penetrant (4 g/L) and a chelating agent (2 g/L), at a speed of 70 m/min.

(9) The specific flow of the liquid ammonia finishing technology includes: fabric feeding, pre-cure, cooling, liquid ammonia treatment (padding with liquid ammonia for 15 s and drying), steaming (at 95° C.), water washing (at 95° C.), drying and doffing. The liquid ammonia finishing technology is performed at a speed of 60 m/min, a temperature of a treatment chamber of 80° C., and a pH value at doffing of 6.

(10) The specific flow of the mercerizing technology includes: immersing a fabric in an alkaline solution (for 5 min), water washing (with tension applied, at 95° C.), and adjusting the pH value of a neutralizing water washing tank to neutral. The mercerizing technology is performed in the presence of concentrated alkali (239 g/L), at a speed of 70 m/min, the pH value of the neutralizing water washing tank of 4.5, with the width at doffing of 140 cm.

(11) Post-treatment process (post-cure finishing process A): The cotton fabric is placed in a conventional finishing solution for two dips and two nips, and the pick-up rate is 80%. After being padded with the finishing solution, the cotton fabric is pre-cured at 80° C. for 3 min to obtain a delayed-cure sensitized fabric with a moisture regain at doffing of 8%.

Comparative Example 1

(12) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 1, and Comparative Example 1 is different from Example 1 in that:

(13) A pretreatment process includes singeing, desizing, mercerizing and liquid ammonia finishing.

Comparative Example 2

(14) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 1, and Comparative Example 2 is different from Example 1 in that:

(15) A pretreatment process includes singeing, desizing, mercerizing, liquid ammonia finishing and liquid ammonia finishing.

(16) The delayed-cure sensitized fabrics prepared in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-2 are stored at 80° C. for 5 d, and tested according to standard AATCC66-2008, standard ASTMD5035-2006 and standard AATCC110-2011 to determine the wrinkle recovery angle, breaking strength and whiteness data of the delayed-cure sensitized fabrics in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-2. With the wrinkle recovery angle and breaking strength of the pretreated fabric before the fabric is padded with a finishing solution as reference values, the breaking strength change rate and the wrinkle recovery angle change rate are calculated.

(17) The wrinkle recovery angle change rate W (%) is calculated according to equation (1), and the obtained data is shown in Table 1:

(18) $\begin{array}{cc}W\left(\%\right)=\frac{\left(W_S-W_0\right)}{W_0}\times 100\%& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

(19) where W.sub.0 is the wrinkle recovery angle (°) of the pretreated fabric before the fabric is padded with the finishing solution; and W.sub.S is the wrinkle recovery angle (°) of the delayed-cure sensitized fabric before and after storage.

(20) The breaking strength change rate T.sub.SC (%) is calculated according to equation (2) to obtain the absolute value, and the obtained data is shown in Table 2:

(21) $\begin{array}{cc}{T}_{SC}\left(\%\right)=\frac{\left(T_S-T_{S0}\right)}{T_{S0}}\times 100\%& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

(22) where T.sub.S0 is the breaking strength (N) of the pretreated fabric before the fabric is padded with the finishing solution; and T.sub.S is the breaking strength (N) of the delayed-cure sensitized fabric before and after storage.

(23) The wrinkle recovery angle and breaking strength of the pretreated fabric before the fabric is padded with the finishing solution in Example 1 are 176.27° and 437.57 N. The wrinkle recovery angle and breaking strength of the pretreated fabric before the fabric is padded with the finishing solution in Comparative Example 1 are 164.5° and 431.3 N. The wrinkle recovery angle and breaking strength of the pretreated fabric before the fabric is padded with the finishing solution in Comparative Example 2 are 167.23° and 439.33 N.

(24) The data obtained by determining the whiteness is shown in Table 3.

(25) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Wrinkle recovery angle change rate (%) data of delayed-cure sensitized fabrics prepared in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-2 0 d 1 d 2d 3 d 4 d 5 d Example 1 16.58 24.18 29.22 33.89 35.95 36.57 Compara- 15.67 35.97 42.77 44.24 47.49 49.77 tive Example 1 Compara- 18.12 34.91 41.59 43.36 45.08 48.62 tive Example 2

(26) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Breaking strength change rate (%) data of delayed-cure sensitized fabrics prepared in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-2 0 d 1 d 2d 3 d 4 d 5 d Example 9.96 10.83 13.65 14.88 15.22 16.21 1 Compara- 4.26 13.59 16.99 19.05 21.23 22.01 tive Example 1 Compara- 6.82 9.85 13.33 15.47 17.49 18.06 tive Example 2

(27) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Whiteness data of delayed-cure sensitized fabrics prepared in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-2 0 d 1 d 2d 3 d 4 d 5 d Example 79.59 76.89 76.66 75.02 74.78 74.56 1 Compara- 76.55 75.02 73.99 73.96 73.22 72.37 tive Example 1 Compara- 76.21 72.06 71.88 71.01 70.98 70.06 tive Example 2

(28) From the above data, namely the wrinkle recovery angle change rate, breaking strength change rate and whiteness data of the delayed-cure sensitized fabrics prepared in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-2, the sensitized fabrics prepared in Example 1 has a relatively slowly changing overall breaking strength, a relatively slowly increasing overall wrinkle recovery angle, and always the highest whiteness. After being stored for 5 d, the delayed-cure sensitized fabric prepared in Example 1 has the smallest absolute value of the strength change rate and the smallest wrinkle recovery change rate. Therefore, the delayed-cure sensitized fabric prepared in Example 1 has the optimal stability. The pretreatment technologies provided by the disclosure are well combined. When one process is omitted or the technology sequence is changed, the stability of the prepared delayed-cure sensitized fabric obviously decreases.

Example 2

(29) A Delayed-Cure Fabric, Prepared by a Technology Including Storage and Cure Steps

(30) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics includes a pretreatment process and a post-treatment process.

(31) The pretreatment process includes singeing, desizing, liquid ammonia finishing, mercerizing and liquid ammonia finishing.

(32) The specific flow of the desizing technology includes: immersing a fabric in an enzyme solution, steaming (piling up at 100° C. for 20 min), water washing (at 95° C.) and drying. The desizing technology is performed in the presence of a desizing enzyme (3 g/L), a penetrant (4 g/L) and a chelating agent (2 g/L), at a speed of 70 m/min.

(33) The specific flow of the liquid ammonia finishing technology includes: fabric feeding, pre-cure, cooling, liquid ammonia treatment (padding with liquid ammonia for 15 s and drying), steaming (at 95° C.), water washing (at 95° C.), drying and doffing. The liquid ammonia finishing technology is performed at a speed of 60 m/min, a temperature of a treatment chamber of 80° C., and a pH value at doffing of 6.

(34) The specific flow of the mercerizing technology includes: immersing a fabric in an alkaline solution (for 5 min), water washing (with tension applied, at 95° C.), and adjusting the pH value of a neutralizing water washing tank to neutral. The mercerizing technology is performed in the presence of concentrated alkali (239 g/L), at a speed of 70 m/min, the pH value of the neutralizing water washing tank of 4.5, with the width at doffing of 140 cm.

(35) Post-treatment process (post-cure finishing process B): The cotton fabric is placed in a finishing solution for two dips and two nips, and the pick-up rate is 70%-80%. After being padded with the finishing solution, the cotton fabric is pre-cured at 80° C. for 3 min, and then cured at 140° C. for 3 min after storage to obtain a delayed-cure fabric.

Example 3

(36) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 3 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing duration is adjusted from 3 min to 6 min.

Example 4

(37) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 4 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing duration is adjusted from 3 min to 8 min.

Example 5

(38) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 5 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing temperature is adjusted from 140° C. to 150° C.

Example 6

(39) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 6 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing temperature is adjusted from 140° C. to 150° C., and the curing duration is adjusted from 3 min to 6 min.

Example 7

(40) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 7 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing temperature is adjusted from 140° C. to 150° C., and the curing duration is adjusted from 3 min to 8 min.

Example 8

(41) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 8 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing temperature is adjusted from 140° C. to 160° C.

Example 9

(42) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 9 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing temperature is adjusted from 140° C. to 160° C., and the curing duration is adjusted from 3 min to 6 min.

Example 10

(43) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 2, and Example 10 is different from Example 2 in that in the post-cure finishing process B, the curing temperature is adjusted from 140° C. to 160° C., and the curing duration is adjusted from 3 min to 8 min.

Comparative Example 3

(44) A liquid ammonia finishing and mercerizing combined finishing cotton fabric treatment technology includes: singeing, desizing, liquid ammonia finishing, mercerizing, liquid ammonia finishing, tentering and pre-shrinking.

(45) The specific flow of the desizing technology includes: immersing a fabric in an enzyme solution, steaming (piling up at 100° C. for 20 min), water washing (at 95° C.) and drying. The desizing technology is performed in the presence of a desizing enzyme (3 g/L), a penetrant (4 g/L) and a chelating agent (2 g/L), at a speed of 70 m/min.

(46) The specific flow of the liquid ammonia finishing technology includes: fabric feeding, pre-cure, cooling, liquid ammonia treatment (padding with liquid ammonia for 15 s and drying), steaming (at 95° C.), water washing (at 95° C.), drying and doffing. The liquid ammonia finishing technology is performed at a speed of 60 m/min, a temperature of a treatment chamber of 80° C., and a pH value at doffing of 6.

(47) The specific flow of the mercerizing technology includes: immersing a fabric in an alkaline solution (for 5 min), water washing (with tension applied, at 95° C.), and adjusting the pH value of a neutralizing water washing tank to neutral. The mercerizing technology is performed in the presence of concentrated alkali (239 g/L), at a speed of 70 m/min, the pH value of the neutralizing water washing tank of 4.5, with the width at doffing of 140 cm.

Comparative Example 4

(48) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 5, and Comparative Example 4 is different from Example 5 in that:

(49) A pretreatment process includes singeing, desizing, mercerizing and liquid ammonia finishing.

Comparative Example 5

(50) A delayed-cure durable press finishing technology for cotton fabrics refers to Example 5, and Comparative Example 5 is different from Example 5 in that:

(51) A pretreatment process includes singeing, desizing, mercerizing, liquid ammonia finishing and liquid ammonia finishing.

(52) The delayed-cure cotton fabrics prepared in Examples 2-10 and Comparative Examples 3-5 are tested according to standard AATCC66-2008, standard ASTMD5035-2006 and standard AATCC110-2011 to determine the wrinkle recovery angle, breaking strength and whiteness data of the cotton fabrics before and after treatment in Examples 2-10 and Comparative Examples 3-5, and the data obtained is shown in Table 4.

(53) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Wrinkle recovery angle, breaking strength and whiteness data of delayed-cure fabrics prepared in Examples 2-10 and Comparative Examples 3-5 Wrinkle Breaking recovery strength angle (°) (N) Whiteness Example 2 233.50 384.02 75.41 Example 3 245.00 379.77 74.18 Example 4 249.25 362.67 73.91 Example 5 251.73 363.95 73.85 Example 6 256.00 359.25 73.55 Example 7 263.00 350.47 73.24 Example 8 264.68 357.79 73.01 Example 9 262.97 351.19 71.45 Example 10 267.08 325.99 69.38 Comparative 176.27 437.57 72.89 Example 3 Comparative 240.13 349.43 70.53 Example 4 Comparative 242.50 356.96 71.03 Example 5

(54) From the wrinkle recovery angle, breaking strength and whiteness data of the delayed-cure fabrics prepared in Examples 2-10 in Table 4, and combining the wrinkle recovery angle, breaking strength and whiteness data, the delayed-cure fabric treated in Example 8 has the optimal overall performance, so the curing duration of 3 min in Example 8 and the curing temperature of 160° C. in Example 8 are preferable in the disclosure.

(55) From the comparison of the delayed-cure cotton fabric prepared in Example 5 and the wrinkle recovery angle, breaking strength and whiteness data of the cotton fabric prepared in Comparative Example 3 in Table 4, after the pretreatment technology as described in the disclosure is combined with the post-cure finishing, compared with the single pretreatment technology, the wrinkle recovery angle of the fabric is increased by 32.5%, the wrinkle recovery performance is greatly improved, the breaking strength retention rate can reach 87.8%, and the durable press effect is more favorable.

(56) From the wrinkle recovery angle and breaking strength data of the delayed-cure fabrics prepared in Example 5 and Comparative Examples 4-5 in Table 4, the delayed-cure fabric prepared in Example 5 has the optimal performance. The pretreatment technologies provided by the disclosure are well combined. When one process is omitted or the technology sequence is changed, the durable press performance of the prepared fabric after curing obviously decreases.

(57) It should be noted that the above examples are merely for illustrating the technical solution of the disclosure and not to limit the disclosure. Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to preferred examples, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications or equivalent replacements of the technical solution of the disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of the disclosure, and should be included in the scope of the claims of the disclosure.