Patent ID: 6121167
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: D06M,Y10T

Abstract:
A durable press process with control of hydrogen bonding for cellulosic fiber-containing fabrics, comprising:treating the fabric by contacting it with aqueous formaldehyde and a catalyst in liquid form for the cross-linking reaction between formaldehyde and a cellulose molecule, wherein the catalyst is an acid catalyst excluding sulfur dioxide; andcuring the treated fabric in a curing zone under a precisely controlled moisture level and at a temperature or with an increase in the temperature of the fabric by means which directly imparts heat to the fabric without disturbing the temperature in the curing zone, while precisely controlling the loss of moisture, formaldehyde and the catalyst, in the fabric during the curing so as to control precisely the level of cross-linking and hydrogen bonding of cellulose molecules in the fabric, wherein the precisely controlled moisture level is attained by a means selected from the group consisting of saturated steam, superheated steam, moist cure, and mild cure.