Mild-cure formaldehyde-free durable-press finishing of cotton textiles with glyoxal and glycols

摘要

The use of glycols as coreactive additives with glyoxal in the aluminum sulfate-catalyzed crosslinking of cotton cellulose in the presence of alpha-hydroxy acids as catalyst activators at moderate curing temperatures is disclosed. The cotton textiles so treated are free from the discoloration and excessive tendering produced by glyoxal in the presence of metal salt catalysts at high temperature, are non-nitrogenous and formaldehyde-free, and exhibit high levels of wrinkle resistance and smooth drying properties without the formaldehyde release characteristic of N-methylolamide finishing agents.