Performance Enhancement of Easy Care
Cross-linker with Nano-Titanium Dioxide
by using Conventional Technology
Muhammad Mohsin
Prof. Chris Carr & Dr. Muriel Rigout
Presentation Outline
 Overview of wrinkling in cotton
 Easy care finishes based on zero formaldehyde
 Nano-Titanium dioxide impact on cross-linker performance
 Nano-Titanium dioxide impact on physical properties of fabric
 Conclusions
Wrinkling
 Wrinkling of cotton clothes is an everyday problem.
 Ironing requires time & hard work
 Wastes money and sometimes damages clothes.
Why Cotton Fabric Wrinkle
 Breaking of hydrogen bonding between polymer chains especially in
amorphous region.
 This effect is much more when cotton is wet e.g. washing.
 When stress is applied to the moisture containing cellulosic fibres, the
internal polymer chains of the amorphous areas are free to move
 In the absence of any restoring force available these newly formed
wrinkles will remain there
 Introduction of the cross-link between cellulosic chains is one of the
solution to this problem.
Formaldehyde-based Cross-linkers
for Cotton
 Formaldehyde based cross-linkers have been used in the textile
industry from 1930s.
 However formaldehyde is a recognised irritant and carcinogen.
 Other concern for the use of formaldehyde based
cross-linkers.
 Regulations on formaldehyde release are becoming
stricter and stricter.
Formaldehyde Free Cross-linkers
for Cotton
 DHEU
 DMeDHEU
 BTCA
 CA
Nano Technology for Textile
 To achieve Unique and valuable properties
 Nanotechnology is increasingly attracting worldwide attention
because it is widely perceived as offering huge potential in a wide
range of end uses.
 Attraction for not only scientists and researchers but also
businesses, due to their huge economical potential.
 Enhancement of textile materials by nanotechnology is expected
to become a trillion dollar industry
Nano Technology for Easy Care Finishing of
Cotton
 Performance of the cross-linkers based on carboxylic
acid could be increased by using nano TiO2.
 Most of the research is emphasized on the use of
effective but very expensive BTCA by using
unconventional UV curing treatment
Experimental
 Pad-dry-cure technique
 Crease recovery angle- BS3086, EN ISO22313
 CIE Whiteness index (WI) AATCC -110
 Tensile strength retention BS EN ISO 13934-1:1999
 Washing durability/ Appearance of the fabric after repeated
home laundering- AATCC 124-1996
 The Kawabata Evaluation System (KES) was used to measure
mean deviation of coefficient of friction (MMD).
Performance of DMDHEU Finish
DMDHEU
(%)
Mgcl2.6H20
(%)
DCRA
Degree
Washing
Durability
WID
Tensile
Strength
Retention
%
1wash 5wash
0
-
127
1.8
1.5
73.6
100
6
1.2
211
2.4
2.2
72.9
87
8
1.6
243
3.0
2.5
71.4
71
10
2.0
251
3.5
3.4
70.7
68
12
2.4
257
3.6
3.5
70.2
67
Performance of Formaldehyde Free Modified
DHEU Finish
Modified
DHEU
(%)
DCRA
Degree
Washing Durability
0
127
1.8
1.5
73.6
3
142
3
2.5
72.0
6
159
3
2.5
71.2
8
172
3.1
2.6
70.6
10
175
3.2
2.6
69.8
12
174
3.2
2.8
69.1
1wash
WID
5wash
Performance of BTCA Finish
BTCA
(%)
Mole ratio
BTCA/
SHP
DCRA
(Degree)
Washing Durability
(DP Rating)
1wash
5wash
Tensile
Strength
Retention
(%)
0
-
127
1.8
1.5
100
2
1.13
182
2.8
2.6
89
4
1.13
208
3.0
2.8
72
6
1.13
234
3.5
3.0
69
8
1.13
256
3.6
3.5
62
10
1.13
269
3.8
3.5
59
Performance of Citric Acid Finish
CA
(%)
Mole ratio
CA/SHP
DCRA
(Degree)
Washing Durability
(DP Rating)
1wash
5wash
Tensile
Strength
Retention
(%)
0
-
127
1.8
1.5
100
2
0.8
161
2.3
2.0
87
4
0.8
180
3.0
2.6
85
6
0.8
198
3.0
2.7
78
8
0.8
210
3.1
2.8
78
10
0.8
232
3.5
3.0
78
12
0.8
267
3.6
3.4
77
Performance of Citric Acid with Nano TiO2
Finish
CA
(%)
Mole
ratio
Acid/
SHP
Nano
TiO2
(%)
DCRA
(Degree)
Washing Durability
(DP Rating)
1wash
5wash
Tensile
Strength
Retention
(%)
0
-
127
1.8
1.5
100
10
0.8
232
3.5
3.0
78
10
0.8
0.05
257
3.6
3.3
82
10
0.8
0.1
263
3.6
3.3
84
10
0.8
0.2
238
3.5
3.0
84
Impact of Cross-linkers with & without
Nano TiO2 on Tensile Strength
Tensile strength retention %
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
untreated
DMDHEU
BTCA
Cross-linker 10%
CA
CA+TiO2
Mean deviation of coefficient of
friction (MMD)
Impact of Nano TiO2 with Citric Acid on
(MMD)
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
untreated
CA
CA+0.05% TiO2 CA+0.1% TiO2
CA 10%
CA+0.2% TiO2
Conclusions
 It was possible to enhance the performance of the citric acid as
a formaldehyde free cross-linker by using nano titanium
dioxide with conventional pad-dry-cure technique.
 Nano titanium dioxide was only needed 0.1% for best results.
 Nano titanium dioxide was also effective in improving the
tensile strength of the treated fabric.
 Handle of the treated fabric was also improved by the
incorporation of nano titanium dioxide with citric acid as
compared to alone citric acid treated fabric.
Acknowledgement
 UET
 UMT
Thank You!
Questions?