Abstract
Cotton fabric was treated with chitosan samples having high viscosity of 930 cps or low viscosity of 8 cps. The pick-up% levels by fabric samples of chitosan solution in 1% acetic acid were varied (80% and 110%). Effects of oven curing and room drying methods were also compared after chitosan solution treatment of the fabric. NaOH solution treatment and crosslinking by epichlorohydrine were also incorporated in the treatment procedure. Chitosan treatment increased bending rigidity of treated cotton fabrics and changed several other physical and mechanical properties of the fabric. The introduction of epichlorohydrine was effective with the NaOH solution process, while less effective with the oven-curing process. Tensile strength change was almost unnoticeable with the chitosan treatment.