Different strategies to modify cotton properties

Abstract

Cellulose is a cheap, renewable, biodegradable, and the most abundant organic raw material in the world. Nevertheless, the modification of cellulose has been widely investigated in order to improve the mechanical, physical and chemical properties. The chemical strategies to modify the properties of cotton for a particular application are diverse and could include cross-linking reactions with bi or polyfunctional compounds, grafting processes with specific monomers, depending on the desired effect. Chemical reactions can be used as well to change the characteristics of cellulosic polymers, namely in terms of dyeability. Independently of modification process applied, the mechanical properties of fabrics could change, not always in favorable sense. The aim of present paper is to describe a methods to prepare cationised cotton using to different kinds of starch. The quaternary cationic agent (based on maize and potato starches modifications) was synthesized and controlled by FTIR-ATR techniques. The efficiency of cationisation was comparatively analyzed in terms of dye uptake and mechanical properties. Dyeing process with a direct dye (CI Direct Red 80) was used to compare dyeing performance of modified and unmodified samples. The variables of process were analysed and potato starch cationic agent results in better dye exhaustion when compared with untreated cotton without salt.