The study of rapid curing crease-resistant processing on cotton fabrics. Part I. The effect of chitosan on the physical properties of processed fabrics

The principal aim of this study is to explore the effect of chitosan on the physical properties of cotton fabrics in rapid curing crease-resistant pro cessing. It was determined that compared with the traditional three-stage p rocessing, the addition of chitosan is beneficial to the absorbency of proc essed fabrics, dry-wet wrinkle recovery angle, and tensile strength retenti on. In addition, the dry-wet wrinkle recovery angle of processed fabrics in creases with the increase of curing temperature and curing treatment time, but absorbency and tensile strength retention both decrease. Also, the dry- wet wrinkle recovery angle and tensile strength retention of processed fabr ics increase with higher chitosan concentrations, but the fabric's absorben cy is reduced. In general, use of 0.5%asymptotic to 0.75% chitosan with DME U curing treatment conditions of 8%, 200 degrees C for 30 s will provide op timum physical property balance for processed fabrics. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.