91-99<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;="" mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">Crosslinks formed between
cellulose chains to impart durable press properties to the treated cotton
fabrics differ considerably in their resistance to acids. Fabrics crosslinked
by the pad-dry-cure technique were treated with sulphuric acid of different
concentrations in a viscous medium to obtain peripheral hydrolysis of
crosslinks, washed and air dried. Greater dye uptake by the acid treated
samples than pad-dry-cure controls at comparable nitrogen contents indicates
that the resin is peripherally hydrolyzed for these fabrics. These fabrics
exhibit higher abrasion resistance, higher wet crease recovery and lower tensile
strength then the pad-dry-cure samples at comparable dry crease recovery levels.
Electron microscopical observations also lend support to the conclusion that
hydrolysis of crosslinks at the surface of pad-dry-cure fabrics has been
achieved by treating with sulphuric acid in a highly viscous medium.</span