Abstract
A purpose of this research is to prove unknown relation -ship between finish bath pH and crosslinking. In pursuit of these goals, we have treated 100% cotton broad cloth with PTCA and BTCA at different pH values. They were used with H$_{3}$PO$_{4}$, NaH$_{2}$PO$_{2}$, NaH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$, Na$_{2}$HPO$_{4}$, Na$_{3}$PO$_{4}$, catalysts to produce nonformaldehyde fabrics finishes. Treatments were applied to all cotton fabrics using a parletry-cure process. For the fully understood on the relationship of finish bath pH effect and cotton cellulose esterification, the relative concentrations of chemical species were calculated from ionization constants. The effect of pH on the cotton cellulose ester was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectra, the surface area measurement by BET method and wrinkle recovery analysis. Results of differential FT-IR spectra and their relative concentration analysis were compared with those of catalyst treated controls. FT-IR and wrinkle recovery data indicated that the esterfication by polycarboxylic acids is pridependent. A similar phenomenon also occurred when a phosphate or hypophosphite was used. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the optimum pH range of a finishing bath in order to achieve the most effective esterification.