Finally, to determine if salt additives are amenable to continuous processing, small scale runs were made on plant equipment with sodium nitrate as additive, and D M E U and D M E C as crosslinking agents. T h e treating baths contained 10% crosslinking agent, 15% sodium nitrate, 0.5% zinc nitrate hexahydrate catalyst, and the same concentrations of polyethylene softener and nonionic emulsifying agent as previously described. Approximately 50 yards of cotton print cloth were padded with each solution and dried a t 82’ C. for 3 minutes and cured at 160’ C . for 3 minutes o n a gas-fired tenter frame. The fabrics were then washed, open width on a dye jig with a n anionic detergent, and subsequently dried on the tenter frame for 3 minutes a t 93’ C. T h e properties of the treated fabrics and their untreated controls are given in Table V. Both treatments resulted in fabrics with good wrinkle resistance and increased moisture regain for the wrinkle recovery obtained. Summary
Previous investigations have shown that inert additives in the treating formulations can improve the moisture regain of fabrics crosslinked by high temperature curing. Now i t has been shown that some inexpensive inorganic salts can be used as additives to achieve the same results. In general, wet wrinkle recovery is slightly increased, dry wrinkle recovery is slightly decreased, and a t any given dry wrinkle recovery moisture regain is increased by these additives. Some salts are more effective than others in increasing this ratio. Particular combinations of salt and catalyst severely reduce wrinkle recovery angles produced by the treatment. I n general, treatments using magnesium catalysts are less affected in this manner than those using zinc catalysts. I t is possible, however. to obtain finished fabric with moisture regain equal to or greater than that of untreated cotton while still maintaining good wrinkle resistance and wash-wear appearance by choosing the proper additive and catalyst combination. Although moisture regain is increased, water of imbibition is little affected by these salts. Chlorine resistance and the relationship between breaking strength and wrinkle recovery angle are also unaffected. The addition of some salts causes an increase in the apparent efficiency of the crosslinking
reaction-Le., number of crosslinks formed per unit of crosslinking agent applied. The use of the salts seems to have no effect on the storage life of the treating bath; baths with and without salt additives were usable after one-week storage. Sodium nitrate is an example of a useful additive in this process. I t is inexpensive and effective in improving moisture regain, and seems to have little adverse effect with any catalyst. Its use in continuous processing was successfully demonstrated on finishing plant equipment. Acknowledgment
The authors thank the members of the Textile Testing Investigations of this division for the textile testing. Arnold W. Post for the formaldehyde and nitrogen ana1)ses. and Fred T. Greschner for the chlorine resistance tests. literature Cited
(1) Am. Assoc. Textile Chemists and Colorists, ”Technical Manual of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists,” Vol. 38, pp. B88-91. AATCC Tentative Test Method 88-1961T, 1962. (2) Ibid., pp. B92-94, AATCC Standard Test Method 92-1962. (3) American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia, Pa., “ASTM Standards on Textile Materials,’’ 1955. (4) Arceneaux. R. L.: Frick, J . G., Jr., Reid, J. D., Gautreaux, G. A., A m . Dyestuff Reptr. 50, No. 22. 37 (1961). (5) Frick, J. G., Jr., Andrews, B. A. K.. Reid, J. D., Textile Res. J. 30, 495 (1960). (6) Gagge, .4.P., Burton, A. C., Bazett, H. C., Science 94, 428 (1941). ( 7 ) Moncrieff. \V. R., M a n - M a d e Textiles 40, No. 473, 75 (1963). (8) Pierce, A. G., Jr., Frick, J. G., Jr., Reid, J . D., Textile Res. J. 34, 552 (1964). (9) Reeves, W. A., Perkins, R. M., Chance, L. H.. Zbid.: 30, 180 i 1960). (10) Roff, W. J., J . Texttlr Inst. 47, T308 (1956). (11) Valko, E. I., Limdi. K . M., Texttie Res. J . 32, 331 (1962) (12) Woodcock, h’.R., Ibzd..32, 628 (1962). (13) Ibid., p. 719. (14) Ziifle, H. M., Berni, R. J., Benerito, K. K., Ibzd., 31, 349 (1961).
RECEIVED for review August 5, 1965 ACCEPTEDNovember 15. 1965 Southeast-Southwest Regional Meeting, ACS, Memphisl Tenn., December 1965. Mention of trade names and firms does not imply their endorsement by the Department of Agriculture over similar products or firms not mentioned.
ORTHO ESTERS A S WATER SCAVENGERS GEORGE KESSLIN A N D
ROBERT BRADSHAW
Research Department, Kay-Fries Chemicals, Inc., West HaLmstrare, .V. Y .
THE presence of trace amounts of water (
