Special Finishing of Cotton to Impart Flame-Retardancy, Easy Care Finishing and Antimicrobial Properties

Reactive amine-amide derivatives are prepared via the addition reaction of different primary and secondary amines on acrylamide (AAm) using equivalent molar ratios and the resultant product is methylolated using equivalent amounts of HCHO. Bis (hydroxymethyl carbamoylethyl) ethylamine (I), tetra (hydroxymethyl carbamoyl ethyl) ethylene diamine (II) and penta (hydroxymethyl carbamoylethyl) diethylenetriamine (III) are prepared by reaction between ethylamine or ethylenediamine or diethylenetriamine and AAm. N-Hydroxydiethyl-phosphonopropianamide (IV) is prepared via Mecheal addition reaction of diethylphosphite with AAm followed by reaction with HCHO. To impact flame-retardancy and easy care finishing to cotton fabric aqueous formulations of compound IV, etherified methylolated melamine (EMM) and/or compounds III, II or I have been prepared. Cotton fabric treated by pad–dry–cure system, the drying time was investigated. Cured cotton fabrics are fire retardant if the aqueous formulation contains 12 % w/w of compound IV and 6 % w/w of EMM respectively. Physical and mechanical properties are less deteriorated when compound III, II or I are used instead of EMM and the liberated HCHO is almost decreased to one half by replacing EMM by one of the prepared methylol compounds. Treatments with compounds III, II or I is impart antibacterial and antifungus properties to the finished fabric.