Finding competitively priced non-formaldehyde DP finishes has become the highest priority for the textile finishing industry. Polycarboxylic acids are gaining recognition as a new class of formaldehyde-free DP agents. Exceedingly high costs of BTCA have prevented its commercial application in the industry. Citric acid has some advantages, such as low costs, widespread availability and ecological acceptability, but its great disadvantage is noticeable fabric yellowing under conventional curing conditions. Modification was made in the present study with phosphonic acid as catalyst added to CA, BTCA or their mixture together with hypophosphite (SHP) catalyst system. Textile properties of the fabric treated with the new system are better than or equal to those treated with a PCA &#8211 ; ; SHP system. More significant is a possible reduction of 50% SHP in CA treatment, and 30% in the case of BTCA treatment, while keeping good resiliency results. From the ecological point of view, polycarboxylic acids (PCA) are highly justified, while economical problem of high price is still tried to be solved in various ways. When there will be a balance between ecology and economy, polycarboxylic acids will certainly find its place at the market, not just in the creaseproof finishing processes.

Tekstilna tehnologija