Title
Cross-linking of cotton fabric using maleic anhydride and sodium hypophosphite
Authors
SHUMAILA HAMEED MUHAMMAD AJAZ HUSSAIN RASHID MASOOD and MUHAMMAD TAHIR HASEEB

Received May 23, 2014
Published Volume 50 Issue 2 February
Keywords cotton, cross-linking, esterification, maleic anhydride, sodium hypophosphite, wrinkle resistance

Abstract
Performance properties of cotton fibers are normally improved by using different cross-linking agents. In the present study, cotton fibers were cross-linked using the combination of maleic anhydride (MA) and sodium hypophosphite (NaH₂PO₂). Cellulose fibers were first esterified using MA, and then the cellulose maleate was cross-linked using NaH₂PO₂. The effect of cross-linking conditions on wrinkle resistance and whiteness was studied. The data indicated that the H−P−H bonds of NaH₂PO₂ react with the >C=C< bonds of two MA molecules already esterified with cotton to form a cross-linkage between two cellulose chains. The cotton fabrics treated with the MA/NaH₂PO₂ system demonstrated a high level of wrinkle resistance with significantly lower tensile strength loss, as compared to formaldehyde based commercial cross-linking agents. The whiteness index, bending length and wrinkle recovery ratings were also reported. The cross-linking of cotton (using the MA/NaH₂PO₂ system) was demonstrated by FTIR and solid-state CP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analyses.