This document discusses easy care finishes that are applied to cotton and cellulosic fabrics to reduce creasing. Creasing occurs due to the tendency of these fabrics to absorb moisture and the amorphous structure of cellulose, which allows for structural changes. Easy care finishes are chemical modifications that cross-link the hydroxyl groups of cellulose, generating resilience and reducing swelling, shrinkage, and wrinkling. They work by hindering the movement of polymer chains when moisture is absorbed. Common types of easy care finishes include anti-crease finishes using resins like urea formaldehyde, wash-and-wear finishes replacing hydrogen, and durable press finishes that set creases through cross-linking and curing.

1. EASY CARE FINISH
WHY DO WE PREFER COTTON OR CELLULOSIC BASED FABRIC FOR
GARMENTS ?
THERE ARE VARIOUS REASON FOR It
1.COMFORT LEVEL IS GOOD.
2.GOOD PERSPIRATION LEVEL CHARACTERISTICS.
3.GOOD DYE TAKE –UP
4.EASY TO HANDLE AND stitch.
AND HAVE SO MANY OTHER PROPERTIES.
BUT THE MAIN SETBACK IS......
IT SHOWS CREASE…..AND THAT TO THE UNDESIRABLE LEVEL.

2. CREASE- CREASE ARE THE FOLD IN FABRIC INTRODUCED
UNINTENTIONALLY DURING WASHING ,RUBBING
AND IN VARIOUS OTHER PROCESSES.
WHY CREASE ARE FORMED
• CREASE ARE FORMED BECAUSE OF TENDENCY OF FABRIC TO
ABSORB MOISTURE.
• THE TENDENCY TO DEVELOP CREASE IS ALSO DUE TO THE
PARTIALLY AMORPHOUs STRUCTURE OF THE CELLULOSE WHICH
MEANS THAT STRUCTURAL CHANGE CAN OCCUR QUITE EASILY.
HENCE ,VARIOUS CHEMICALS AND PROCESS ARE APPLIED TO
OVERCOME OR REDUCE THE EXTENT OF CREASE FORMATION.

3. EASY CARE FINISH
 EASY CARE FINISH ARE GENERALLY APPPLIED TO
CELLULOSE AND CELLULOSIC BLENDS FABRIC . IT IS A
CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF FIBROUS CELLULOSE
RESULTING FROM A HETEROGENEOUS REACTION
WITH A DI-FUNCTIONAL OR POLYFUNCTIONAL REAGEN
WHICH GENERATES RESILIENCE IN COTTON
CONTAINING FABRICS BY CROSS - LINKING.IT OCCURS
AT THE HYDROXYL GROUP SITES.

4. WHY DO WE NEED EASY CARE FINISH
1. REDUCTION IN SWELLING AND SHRINKAGE .
2. IMPROVE WET AND DRY WRINKLE RECOVERY.
3. SMOOTHNESS OF APPEARANCE AFTER DRYING.

5. MECHANISM OF EASY CARE FINISH
 THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF SHRINKAGE IN COTTON IS ITS
ABSORBTION OF MOISTURE.
 THIS ABSORBED MOISTURE FACILITATES INTERNAL POLYMER
CHAIN MOVEMENT IN THE AMORPHOUS FIBRE AREAS THAT
DISRUPTS THE INTERNAL HYDROGEN BONDING BETWEEN
THESE POLYMAER CHAIN.
 WHEN CELLULOSE WITH MOISTURE IS STRESSED THE
POLYMER CHAIN SHIFTS ITS POSITION AND WITH NO
RESTORING FORCE AVAILABLE ,A NEW WRINKLE OR CREASE IS
FORMED AND IT WILL REMAIN UNTIL IRONING IS APPLIED TO
OVERCOME THE INTERNAL FORCE.

6. THERE AARE VARIOUS TYPES OF FINISHES APPLIED TO COTTON.
ANTI -CREASE FINISH.
WASH AND WEAR FINISH.
DURABLE PRESS FINISH.
ANTI –CREASE FINISH
 TWO DIFFERENT CHEMICAL PROCESS ARE USED—
1. THE INCORPORATION OF A POLYMERIZED FINISH IN THE PORES OF FIBRE ,SO THAT
WATER MOLECULES CAN NOT EASILY PENETRATE THE FIBRE.
2. THE REACTION OF MULTI FUNCTIONAL CROSS LINKING AGENTS (RESINS) WITH
HYDROXYL GROUP OF CELLULOSE MOLECULES THAT HINDER THE SWELLING OF
CELLULOSE FIBRES.
3. RESINS ARE USED AS IT CREATE STRONGER (COVALENT) AND PERMANENT BOND WITH
FABRIC THAT REDUCES CREASING TO A LARGER EXTENT.
4. EXAMPLES ARE---- UREA FORMALDEHYDE RESINS
MELAMINE FORMALDEHYDE RESINS.

7. DMU reaction with cellulose

8. WASH- AND WEAR –FINISH
IN THIS PROCESS , THE H- ATOM IS REPLACED BY ANY
OTHER GROUP SO AS TO PREVENT CHLORINE TAKE
UP.

9. DURABLE PRESS FINISH
1.THE REQUIRED CREASES OR PLEATS NECESSARY
FOR CERTAIN FABRIC ARE OBTAINED IN THIS
PROCESS.
2. CROSS LINKING AGENT AND A CATALYST ARE
APPLIED TO FABRIC .

11. Pre cure-
 In this process, the fabric is generally impregnated with resin
precondensate and /or cross-linking reactants and catalysts. The
impregnated fabric is then dried and cured at high temperature to
obtain the cross-linking effect. The curing temperature and time are
dependent on the types of cross-linking agents and fabrics. The
sequence of pre-cure processes is as follows :
(i) Impregnation.
(ii) Drying at 80°c – 100°c temperature.
(iii) Curing at 150°c temperature for 4 – 5 minutes.
(iv) Cutting, sewing and making-up.

12. Post cure-
 The post-cure process also known as deferred curing process is basically
different from conventional finishing techniques. In this process the
fabrics is impregnated with appropriate reactant, catalyst and other
finishing agents and dried carefully so that no curing occurs. This
uncured fabric is referred to as sensitized cloth, and after pressing to
shape, they may be cured in an oven. The following temperatures are
generally employed:
Pressing: 5 – 15 seconds at 120 – 165°c
Curing: 10 – 18 minutes at 170 – 190°c
 The post cure process produces garments with outstanding easy care
finishing properties.

13. ADVANTAGES OF ECF-
 EASY CARE AND WRINKLE RESISTANCE
 DIMENSIONAL STABILITY
 DURABLE PRESS
 ANTI PILLING
 FIXATION OF DYESTUFF AND PIGMENTS

14. DISADVANTAGES OF ECF-
 LOSS OF ABRASION,TEAR AND RIPPING STRENGTH.
 GRAYING DURING WASHING.
 REDUCTION OF LIGHT FASTNESS AND SHADE CHANGES OF
COLOURED FABRICS.
 CHLORINE RETENTION,CAUSING MARKED YELLOWING AND
STRENGTH LOSS.

15. THANK YOU