Crosslinking cotton cellulose with aldehydes

The relative effectiveness of several aldehydes in crosslinking cellulose of cotton fabric was determined using a pad‐dry‐cure treatment and a treatment by immersion in a solution at room temperature. Aldehydes ranked in the same order of ability to crosslink in both treatments. Factors related to crosslinking ability are discussed. The aldehydes crosslinking to the greater extent hydrated readily in water because the aldehyde group was activated or because cyclic hydrates could be formed.