DURABLE-PRESS COTTON WITH IMPROVED RETENTIONS OF STRENGTH AND ABRASION RESISTANCE VIA N-METHYLOLPOLYETHYLENEUREA-DP-2

Diethylenetriamine was reacted with urea to form a noncyclic analog of ethyleneurea (one of the lowest members of a series of linear polyethyleneureas) which was characterized spectroscopically. Its reaction with formaldehyde to yield the N‐methylol derivative (N‐methylolpolyethyleneurea, degree of polymerization 2; NMP‐2) was investigated. The polymerization characteristics of the NMP‐2 were studied and compared with those of N‐methylol derivatives of cyclic ethyleneurea (related structurally) and melamine (related polyfunctionally). The NMP‐2 was applied to cotton fabrics by a pad–dry–cure process with Al2(OH)5Cl·2H2O as the polymerization crosslinking catalyst. Fabrics treated with the experimental reagent developed high levels of resilience (durable press appearance) and were characterized by significantly higher than conventional levels of retained strength and abrasion resistance. Analyses by electron microscopy of fibers treated with NMP‐2 and with the predominant conventional reagent, dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea, are reported. Attractive performance properties are discussed and attributed, at least in part, to rapid polymerization accompanying, or in advance of, etherification of cellulosic hydroxyl groups. Copyright © 1979 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.