Effect of anti-creasing component on properties of two-ply cotton yarn

Abstract

Durable press finishing is a common process used to impart wrinkle-free properties to cotton fabrics through the crosslinking of cellulose macromolecules. Unfortunately, this process results in a loss of fabric strength and decreases the durability of garments. If the content of crosslinked fibers is reduced in the fabrics, their strength would be retained to a greater extent. In addition, hydrophilic property, permeability, and quality of fabrics could be improved. In the past, researchers primarily focused on the strength of the whole fabric. In this study, single cotton yarns were treated with formaldehyde-based N-methylol finishing agents. Subsequently, they were plied together according to different proportions, and then further cured at a certain temperature. The tensile strength, elongation at break, breaking time, work of rupture and bending rigidity were used to investigate the effects of the treatment on the mechanical properties of cotton yarns. Wrinkle recovery angle was used to evaluate the anti-creasing property of the yarns. The results suggest that when the yarns are plied together in different proportions, their mechanical and anti-creasing properties change with the treatment to which they have been subjected as well as with their blending proportion. Moreover, a reduced anti-creasing yarn proportion decreased the amount of formaldehyde released. This study will guide further development of environmentally friendly anti-crease processing methods.