Predicting the Performance of Durable Press Finished Cotton Fabric with Infrared Spectroscopy

Durable press finishing processes are commonly used in the textile industry to pro duce wrinkle-free cotton fabrics and garments. Crosslinking cellulose increases wrinkle resistance and reduces the mechanical strength of treated cotton fabric. Wrinkle recov ery angle (WRA) and tensile strength are the two most important parameters frequently used for evaluating the performance of crosslinked cottons. In this study, we investigate the correlation between WRA and tensile strength, and determine the amount of cross linking agent bonded to the cotton using FRIR spectroscopy. The crosslinking agents include dimethyloldihydroxylethyleneurea, 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid, and glutaraldehyde. We develop linear regression models to investigate the relationship between the WRA and tensile strength of the treated cotton and the carbonyl band absorbance in the infrared spectra. The data indicate that FTIR spectroscopy is a reliable technique for predicting the performance of durable press finished cotton fabrics when calibration standards are established.