Effects of Fabric Alkalinity in Resin Finishing

Introduction
• Alkali (caustic or soda ash) is used in processing almost all cotton products.
• Alkali sticks to cotton (like a magnet).
• The cost of the water, energy and time needed to remove all the alkali is significant.
• Residual alkali is one of the major causes of quality problems in cotton products.
• Some experiments were run to demonstrate the problem and the importance of thorough rinsing or
neutralization.

Resin Formulation
Component % OWB*

Wetting Agent (10% Solution) 0.73

DMDHEU Resin 8.72

Catalyst 2.18

Polyethylene Softener (Cationic) 2.18

Aminofunctional Silicone 2.18

*OWB, On Weight of Bath, WPU - 90%

Process Conditions
Spray on chemicals

Tumble for 30 minutes for equilibraion

Tumble dry to low moisture (10-15%)

Press

Cure at 300F (149C) for 15 minutes

Fabric Alkalinity
Total, %

Sample ID Alkalinity (%), Total

Control 0.063
 Padding 1 0.150

Padding 2 0.190

Padding 3 0.340

FABRIC PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Resin Finished

Tensile Tear Flex

Sample
Warp Fill Warp Fill Warp Fill Crease DPRating
ID

Control,
No 165.8 111.0 4.5 5.0 287 370 N.M.* N.M.
Resin

Control,
With 71.4 51.8 3.9 3.9 191 366 2.6 3.0
Resin

Padding
92.2 54.0 5.2 5.0 263 342 3.0 3.2
1

Padding
89.6 62.4 5.1 5.3 1369 727 2.3 3.0
2

Padding
112.8 74.1 6.4 7.1 3471 1905 1.4 2.0
3

*N.M. = Not Measured

FABRIC WHITENESS vs. ALKALINITY

Alkalinity,
Sample ID CIE Whiteness
% NaOH

Control, No Resin 0.063 78.3

Control, No Resin
0.063 69.6
(Cured)

Control, With Resin 0.063 68.1

Padding 1 0.150 63.4

Padding 2 0.190 64.5

Padding 3 0.340 59.9