| Abstract: | Thermoanalytical characteristics of chemically treated cotton fabric often appear similar to those of untreated cotton. The overwhelming amount of cotton cellulose versus the small quantities of finishing chemicals present can mask many features contributed by reactant. The current work is an initial attempt to detect and differentiate among a variety of durable press finishes. They include three N-methylol reactants, and four polycarboxylic acids with two alkali metal salts of phosphorus-containing acids used to catalyze their reaction with cellulose. Differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric techniques were employed under dynamic nitrogen conditions. Changes in residue, rate of weight loss, peak intensity, and peak temperature were observed and varied with reactant, catalyst used, and washing. The ability to distinguish among polycarboxylic acids, catalysts, and/or other formaldehyde-based reactants is of value to the textile chemist. With these preliminary results, we may soon offer a new means of finish identification. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1 This article is a US Goverment work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America. |
