Abstract
Liquid ammonia is known to be effective in improving the soft hand of cotton fabrics. In this study, desized and scoured cotton fabric is treated with liquid ammonia ($NH_{3}$) and sodium hydroxide(NaOH)/liquid ammonia ($NH_{3}$) and subsequently hot water and high pressure steam processing. Washing shrinkage, crease resistance, moisture regain, water absorbency, dyeability, and KES mechanical properties and tensile properties are measured. Excellent shrinkage resistance is obtained by hot water processing, but not by high pressure steam processing. Crease resistance and water absorbency shows almost no change with hot water and high pressure processing. Dyeing rate increases a little and equilibrium dye uptake decreases with hot water, while both parameters decrease remarkably with high pressure steam. Shearing modulus G, bending modulus B, and their hysteresis width 2HG, 2HG5, 2HB are calculated on the basis of the curves. B and 2HB decrease with the hot water processing after the treatment with $NH_{3}$ and NaOH/$NH_{3}$. Softness of hand is not improved by high pressure steam processing.
