Process for imparting durable creases, wrinkle resistance and shape retention to cellulosic textile articles

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR MAKING A SHAPE-RETENTIVE GARMENT FROM A COTTON FABRIC WHICH COMPRISES IMPREGNATING SAID FABRIC WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A MELAMINE-FORMALDEHYDE PRECONDENSATE WHICH CONTAINS A CATALYTIC AMOUNT OF AN ACIDIC HARDENING ACCELERATOR, MECHANICALLY REMOVING THE EXCESS OF IMPREGNATING LIQUID, WET FIXING THE MELAMINE-FORMALDEHYDE PRECONDENSATE IN THE COTTON FABRIC IN THE PRESENCE OF BETWEEN ABOUT 20% TO ABOUT 40% OF WATER (CALCULATED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE FABRIC) AND SAID HARDENING ACCELERATOR INTO A WATER INSOLUBLE CONDENSATION PRODUCT, RINSING THE WET FIXED FABRIC, IMPREGNATING THE WET FIXED FABRIC WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A LATENT HARDENING CATALYST, DRYING THE RESULTING CATALYST-CONTAINING FABRIC AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT 90*C., CUTTING, SEWING AND PRESSING THE SAID FABRIC TO FORM A GARMENT OF DESIRED SIZE AND SHAPE, AND DRY CURING THE RESULTING CATALYST-CONTAINING GARMENT AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ABOUT 120*C. AND BELOW THE CHARRING TEMPERATURE OF THE FABRIC, WHEREBY IMPROVED CREASE RETENTION AND DEFORMATION RESISTANCE ARE IMPARTED TO THE GARMENT.