Thermal stability enhancement of cotton and cotton polyester blend fabrics by hyperbranched poly urethane-urea treatment

Abstract

DESPITE the importance of cotton fabrics and its blends in our lives, the lack of their thermal stability is one of the most important points to be studied. The ability of hyperbranched poly urethane-urea (HBPU) to improve the thermal stability of cotton and cotton (CO) polyester (CO/PET) fabrics was investigated. Different concentrations of HBPU were used for treatment of both CO and CO/PET fabrics. No significant effect on tensile strength properties was observed with CO fabrics, while tensile strength of treated CO/PET fabrics was affected by treatment with different concentrations of HBPU. TGA analysis shows enhanced char residue values with both treated CO and CO/PET fabrics. Polymer deposition on the surface of treated fabrics and structure changes were followed by SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy, respectively.