Application of nano-particles in easy-to-care finishing of liquid ammonia treated cotton fabrics

Liquid ammonia treated-cotton was treated with maleic-itaconic acid easy-to-care finishing agent containing nano-particles with different sizes. The breaking strength,wrinkle recovery angles,tearing strength,whiteness and surface morphology of the treated-fabrics were tested,and the synergistic effect between the nano-particles and softener was discussed. The experimental results show that nanoparticles enhance the breaking strength of the easy-to-care cotton fabrics without affecting the whiteness.The property difference of easy-to-care cotton fabrics is resulted from the extent of nano-particles entering into the cotton fiber interior. The addition of nano-silica with particle size of 30 nm reduces the wrinkle recovery angles and tearing strength of the fabrics, while the addition of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane( POSS) with particle size of 1. 5 nm improves the wrinkle recovery angles without significantly affecting the tearing strength. Easy-to-care cotton fabrics with excellent mechanical properties can be obtained by finishing with 60 g /L maleic-itaconic( MA-IA) acid easy-to-care finishing agent containing 2% POSS,followed by finishing with 20 g /L softener.