Lipases to Improve the performance of formaldehyde-free durable press finished cotton fabrics

Lipases were used to restore partially the strength losses of cotton fabrics crosslinked with 1,2,3,4- utanetetracarboxylic acid. The enzymatic hydrolysis of the ester linkages at low temperature and neutral pH resulted in 10% strength recovery, coupled with a slight deterioration of the crease-resistance effect. The conventional alkaline hydrolysis provided higher strength recovery, however provoked considerable change in the durable press performance of the fabrics