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Synthesis of a low-molecular-weight copolymer by maleic acid and acrylic acid and its application for the functional modification of cellulose

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Abstract

1,2,3,4-Butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) can impart good anti-wrinkle properties to treated cotton fabrics, but it also causes significant strength loss. In this paper, maleic acid (MA) and acrylic acid (AA) were employed to synthesize a low-molecular-weight copolymer (P(MA–AA)) for the anti-wrinkle finishing of cotton fabrics with the hope of reducing strength loss. The best molar ratio of MA:AA and reaction time were 2.5:1 and 5 h, respectively. The molecular weight of P(MA–AA) was determined via mass spectroscopy as 376, and the copolymer consisted of two MA and two AA molecules. The recommended anti-wrinkle finishing conditions were 140 g/L P(MA–AA), finishing bath pH of 1.8, curing temperature of 180 °C and curing time of 2 min. Consequently, the P(MA–AA) showed an outstanding finishing effect on cotton fabrics, compared with BTCA, MA, and citric acid treatments. Additionally, the P(MA–AA)-treated fabrics achieved a wrinkle recovery angle, tearing strength retention, and whiteness index of 255.1° ± 3.50°, 51.2, and 76.20%, respectively. This indicates that P(MA–AA) has a potential for industrial applications.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51803025), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2232020D-21), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Project (2018M641893).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People’s Republic of China

    Ting Liang, Kelu Yan, Tao Zhao & Bolin Ji

  2. National Engineering Research Center for Dyeing and Finishing of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People’s Republic of China

    Kelu Yan & Bolin Ji

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  1. Ting Liang
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  2. Kelu Yan
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  3. Tao Zhao
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  4. Bolin Ji
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Correspondence to Bolin Ji.

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Liang, T., Yan, K., Zhao, T. et al. Synthesis of a low-molecular-weight copolymer by maleic acid and acrylic acid and its application for the functional modification of cellulose. Cellulose 27, 5665–5675 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03201-x

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