This study aims to establish optimum conditions of mercerization and resin finishing treatments and obtain cross-linked cotton
fabrics having good wrinkle resistance properties without severe strength loss. Plain weave cotton fabrics were mercerized using NaOH
at concentrations ranges from 200 to 300 g/l. The optimum conditions of mercerization for every fabric structure depend on its weight
per unit area. Results show that tension mercerization improved strength properties by changing the kidney shape of cotton fibres to
elliptical cross-section and higher orientation. These fabrics were subjected to crease recovery treatments using Dimethylol Dihydroxy
Ethylen Eurea (DMDHEU). Mercerization increased breaking load, fabric tear, and abrasion resistance by a percent ranges from 10 to
20 %, 8 to 21 %, and 7.1 to 17.3 % respectively. On the contrary, resin finish decreased the breaking load, fabric tear, and abrasion
resistance by a percent 15 to 30 %, 8 to 38 %, and 22.4 to 43.9 % respectively. So, performing optimum mercerization followed by
cross-linking retained enhancement in strength properties of cotton fabrics.
1. Grant, J. N., Andrew, F. R., Weiss, L. C. and Hassenboehler, C. B, 1968. “Abrasion and Tensile Properties of Cross-Linked Cotton Fabrics”, Textile Res. J., Vol. 38 (3): 217-225.
2. Murphy, A. L., Margavio, M. F., and Welch, C. M., 1971. “All-Cotton Durable Press Fabrics of High Strength from Slack-Mercerize”, Partially Restretched Yarn, Textile Res. J. 41: 22-31.
3. Meyer U., Mueller K., and Zollinger H., 1975. “Comparison of Textile Mechanical Properties of Cotton in Cross-linking with Dimethylolethyleneurea and Formaldehyde”, Textile Res. J. 45: 813.

4. Hebeish, M. M. Kamel, 1982. “Mechanism of Degradation of Cotton and Effects of Mercerization-Stretching upon the Course of these Mechanisms”, National Research Centre, Textile Research Division, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt, P. 1-14.
5. Welch, C.M., 1997. “Improved strength and flex abrasion resistance in durable press finishing with BTCA”, Textile Chemist and Colorist, 29, P. 21.
6. Prashant N. A., Keith R. B., & Others, 1987. “Stability of DMDHEU and Alkylated Cross-linking Finishes towards Acidic and Alkaline Hydrolysis”, Tex. Res. J., Vol. 57 (7): 395-400.
7. Lei Quian, Gary C. Lickfield & Others, 2000. “Investigation of Flexible Cross-linking Systems for the Retention of Mechanical Strength and Abrasion Resistance in Durable Press Cotton Fabrics”, National Textile Center Annual Report, November, C97-C3: 1-10.
8. Xu W. and Li Y., 2000. “Cotton Fabric Strength Loss from Treatment with Polycarboxylic Acids for Durable Press Performance”, Tex. Res. J. Vol 70 (11): 957-961.
9. Wei Chen, Gary C. Lickfield & Others, 2001. “Abrasion Resistance of Durable Press Finish Cotton”, National Textile Center Annual Report: November, C00-C01: 1-8.
10. Olivera Sauperl, al. & M. Smole, 2003. “Application of Spectrophotometric Methods in Assessing the Influence of Alkaline Treatment on the Degree of Cross-linking of Cotton Cellulose with BTCA”, Croat. Chem. Acta, 76 (4): 293–298.
11. Weilin Xu, 2003. “Effect of Cross-linking Treatment on the Crystallinity, Crystallite Size, and Strength of Cotton Fibers”, Textile Res. J., Vol. 73 (5): 433-436.
12. Avinash P. Manian, Mohammad Abu Rous, K. Christian Schuster and Thomas Bechtold, 2006. “The influence of alkali pretreatments on lyocell resin finishing, resin distribution and mechanical properties”, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J ApplPolymSci 100: 3596-3601.
13. T. Spencer, P. Hauser and B. Smith, 2006. “Optimization of Ionic Cross-linking”, North Carolina State University, P. 98.
14. Olivera Sauperl and Karin Stana-Kleinschek, 2009. "Cotton Cellulose 1,2,3,4 (BTCA) Buthanetetracarboxylic Acid Crosslinking Monitored by some Physical–chemical Methods", Textile Research Journal, Vol. 79 (9): 780–791.
15. Olivera Sauperl and Karin Stana-Kleinschek, 2009. "Differences between Cotton and Viscose Fibers Crosslinked with BTCA", Textile Res. J., Vol. 80 (4): 383–392.
16. Shabiya Thaseen, 2014. "Effect of NaOH Mercerization on Cross Linking of Conventional and Compact Cotton Yarns Using DMDHEU Resin", IJRET, Vol. 3 (1): 108-111.
Year 2017,
Volume: 27 Issue: 3, 251 - 258, 30.09.2017
1. Grant, J. N., Andrew, F. R., Weiss, L. C. and Hassenboehler, C. B, 1968. “Abrasion and Tensile Properties of Cross-Linked Cotton Fabrics”, Textile Res. J., Vol. 38 (3): 217-225.
2. Murphy, A. L., Margavio, M. F., and Welch, C. M., 1971. “All-Cotton Durable Press Fabrics of High Strength from Slack-Mercerize”, Partially Restretched Yarn, Textile Res. J. 41: 22-31.
3. Meyer U., Mueller K., and Zollinger H., 1975. “Comparison of Textile Mechanical Properties of Cotton in Cross-linking with Dimethylolethyleneurea and Formaldehyde”, Textile Res. J. 45: 813.

4. Hebeish, M. M. Kamel, 1982. “Mechanism of Degradation of Cotton and Effects of Mercerization-Stretching upon the Course of these Mechanisms”, National Research Centre, Textile Research Division, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt, P. 1-14.
5. Welch, C.M., 1997. “Improved strength and flex abrasion resistance in durable press finishing with BTCA”, Textile Chemist and Colorist, 29, P. 21.
6. Prashant N. A., Keith R. B., & Others, 1987. “Stability of DMDHEU and Alkylated Cross-linking Finishes towards Acidic and Alkaline Hydrolysis”, Tex. Res. J., Vol. 57 (7): 395-400.
7. Lei Quian, Gary C. Lickfield & Others, 2000. “Investigation of Flexible Cross-linking Systems for the Retention of Mechanical Strength and Abrasion Resistance in Durable Press Cotton Fabrics”, National Textile Center Annual Report, November, C97-C3: 1-10.
8. Xu W. and Li Y., 2000. “Cotton Fabric Strength Loss from Treatment with Polycarboxylic Acids for Durable Press Performance”, Tex. Res. J. Vol 70 (11): 957-961.
9. Wei Chen, Gary C. Lickfield & Others, 2001. “Abrasion Resistance of Durable Press Finish Cotton”, National Textile Center Annual Report: November, C00-C01: 1-8.
10. Olivera Sauperl, al. & M. Smole, 2003. “Application of Spectrophotometric Methods in Assessing the Influence of Alkaline Treatment on the Degree of Cross-linking of Cotton Cellulose with BTCA”, Croat. Chem. Acta, 76 (4): 293–298.
11. Weilin Xu, 2003. “Effect of Cross-linking Treatment on the Crystallinity, Crystallite Size, and Strength of Cotton Fibers”, Textile Res. J., Vol. 73 (5): 433-436.
12. Avinash P. Manian, Mohammad Abu Rous, K. Christian Schuster and Thomas Bechtold, 2006. “The influence of alkali pretreatments on lyocell resin finishing, resin distribution and mechanical properties”, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J ApplPolymSci 100: 3596-3601.
13. T. Spencer, P. Hauser and B. Smith, 2006. “Optimization of Ionic Cross-linking”, North Carolina State University, P. 98.
14. Olivera Sauperl and Karin Stana-Kleinschek, 2009. "Cotton Cellulose 1,2,3,4 (BTCA) Buthanetetracarboxylic Acid Crosslinking Monitored by some Physical–chemical Methods", Textile Research Journal, Vol. 79 (9): 780–791.
15. Olivera Sauperl and Karin Stana-Kleinschek, 2009. "Differences between Cotton and Viscose Fibers Crosslinked with BTCA", Textile Res. J., Vol. 80 (4): 383–392.
16. Shabiya Thaseen, 2014. "Effect of NaOH Mercerization on Cross Linking of Conventional and Compact Cotton Yarns Using DMDHEU Resin", IJRET, Vol. 3 (1): 108-111.
Aboalasaad, A. R. R., Sırkova, B. K., El-hossını, A.-l. M., Hebeısh, A. (2017). EFFECT OF MERCERIZATION FOLLOWED BY CROSS-LINKING ON COTTON FABRIC PROPERTIES. Textile and Apparel, 27(3), 251-258.
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