| Abstract: | The physical and structural properties of American Upland cottons of different maturities have been examined carefully in order to identify fiber parameters which make significant contributions to easy-care properties. The cottons studied possess widely different degrees of overall orientation as determined from birefringence measurements and also exhibit slightly different crease recovery angles. These cottons also respond differently to swelling in sodium hydroxide solution of different concentrations. The physical and mechanical properties of these cottons modified by formaldehyde crosslinking are also compared. The increase in crease recovery angles and the concomitant tensile losses vary from cotton to cotton but are not dependent on maturity or fineness. The stiffness of crosslinked fibers decreases rather than increases with increasing bound formaldehyde. A comparison of the changes in the mechanical properties of formaldehyde-crosslinked cottons differing widely in orientation suggests that cottons with very high orientation are not suitable for chemical modification to impart durable press properties. |
