Abstract
Effect of metal salt catalysts on the whiteness reduction of durable press (DP) finished white cotton fabric was investigated. The catalysts used were $Al_2(SO_4)_3\; (AS),\;MgCl_2\;(MC)\;and\;Zn(NO_3)_2\;(ZN)$. Crosslinking agent was dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea. Relationship between the reaction rate constant (k) of each catalyst and respective whiteness were discussed. In order to measure the k, nitrogen content of DP finished fabric was analyzed quantitatively. The order of k was AS>ZN>MC. The reduction of whiteness was affected by the order of k.