Treatment of fabrics with a process comprising polycarboxylic acid

摘要

A method of imparting wrinkle and/or crease and/or shrink resistance and/or smooth drying properties to fabrics made from cellulosic fibres or yarns or blends thereof, the method not involving the use of formaldehyde, formaldehyde derivatives or phosphorus containing compounds. More particularly, the method involves a treatment of fibrous cellulosic textile material comprising; a) applying to the cellulosic textile material an aqueous solution including at least one polycarboxylic acid, as described in the above formula wherein: R3 is a CH2 group, or a direct bond n is from 1 to 3 each R4 is independently a C1 to C4 alkyl group m is 0, 1 or 2 and/or a salt thereof. as a crosslinking agent for the cellulose and one or more aromatic mono-carboxylic hydroxy acids or a salt as an esterification catalyst. b) Drying the textile material and heating it to promote crosslinking esterification of the polycarboxylic acid and the cellulose of the cellulosic textile material.