Effect of the Catalyst Upon the Physical and Chemical Properties of Cotton Cellulose Finished with Derivatives of Ethyleneurea

Cotton print cloth (68 X 72) has been treated with aqueous solutions of dihydroxy ethyleneurea (DHEU) and several of its derivatives in the presence of inorganic catalysts at constant molar concentration of the metallic ion. The derivatives were N,N'-dimeth yloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU), a dioxane complex of DMDHEU, dimethoxyethyl eneurea (DMXEU), and N,N'-d'imethyldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMeDHEU). The catalysts employed were MgCl2, Mg(NO3)2, ZnCl 2, Zn(NO3)2, and HCl, and the range of metal salt catalyst concentration investigated was 0.006 M to 0.2 M with the commercial prepa . ration of DMDHEU. A comparative study was made of the physical and chemical properties of fabrics finished with all DHEU derivatives. It has been found that the DHEU can react with cotton in 'the absence of added catalyst, that the final properties of fabrics treated with all finishing agents investigated are influenced by catalyst concentration as well as by type of catalyst, and that in the presence of 0.03 M Zn(NO3)2 all di methylolated urea derivatives under investigation, reacted preferentially with the primary hydroxyls of cellulose and that the dihydroxyethylemurea derivatives reacted with more secondary hydroxyl groups of cotton than did DMEU. In the presence of acid catalysts, DMXEU reacted with cotton. The dioxane complex of DMDHEU, namely (DMDHEU)2·DX was a water soluble, nonhygroscopic, stable compound, easily handled, and its use as a finishing agent resulted in fabric possessing excellent wash—wear properties.