Patent ID: 7247172

Claim:
A formaldehyde-free durable press finished textile having a cross-linked polymaleate finish, the finish comprising a cross-linked polymaleate formed by crosslinking a cross-linking adjunct selected from the group having the formula: wherein R is independently H, OH, OM, or a unit having the formula: and mixtures thereof; X is H, OH, or OSO 3 M, M is H, or a salt forming cation, and mixtures thereof; the indices x, y, and z are each independently from 0 to about 7; x+z is greater than or equal to 1, Q is H, OH, OM but not H when both x and z are greater than or equal to 1, in the presence of a sodium hypophosphite catalyst, with a weight ratio of cross-linking adjunct:catalyst of about 2:1, wherein the cross-linking adjunct has a molecular weight of from about 110 to about 700, is the reaction product of maleic acid and sodium hypophosphite in a molar ratio of from 1.33 to 1.8, and is substantially free of color body forming transition metals; and wherein the textile has a durable press rating of at least about 3.0 and a tensile strength retention of greater than 40%.