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Wrinkle-resistant or permanent press or durable press is a finishing method for that avoids creases and wrinkles and provides a better appearance for the articles. Most cellulosic fabrics and blends of cellulosic-rich fabrics tend to crease or wrinkle. A durable press finish makes them dimensionally stable and crease-free. The finishing includes chemical finishing as well as mechanical finishing. Wrinkle-resistant finishes were developed in the early 20th century as a way to deal with fabrics derived from cotton, rayon, and linen, which were found to easily and retain the wrinkles. These treatments have a lasting effect on the fabric. Synthetics like polyester, nylon, acrylic fiber, and olefin have a natural resistance to wrinkles and a greater stability since they do not absorb water as efficiently.
These fabrics are that have been treated to resist external stress and hold their shape. Clothing made from this fabric does not need to be ironed and may be sold as non-iron, no-iron, wash-and-wear, durable press, and easy care. While fabric cleaning and maintenance may be simplified, some wearers experience decreased comfort.
Starting in the 1940s, a series of urea-formaldehyde derivatives were introduced. Technical issues overcome included yellowing, odor, and the tendency of some agents to accelerate the degradation of fabrics by .
By the 1950s, fabrics made from synthetics and treated cotton were described as "wash-and-wear" to point out that there was no need to iron them. The claim was thought somewhat dubious in the sense that they could require some touch-up ironing. In 1953, Brooks Brothers manufactured wash-and-wear shirts using a blend of Dacron, polyester, and a wrinkle-free cotton that was invented by Ruth R. Benerito, which they called "Brooksweave".
In the 1960s and 1970s, the developments in the chemistry of textile-treatments led to the discovery of DMDHEU, a chemical agent that made possible a low-cost but superior-quality production of permanent-pressed fabrics, which are now known as durable-pressed finishes. However, these processes weakened clothes; as a result, they wore out faster.
The technology advanced especially rapidly in the early 1990s.
Wrinkle-resistant fabrics, alongside other factors, have reportedly caused a decline in ironing in the United States.
Compounds baring N-methylol groups, such as dimethylol ethylene urea (DMEU) and the related dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU), are commonly used for the treatments because of their relatively low costs; however, they produce free formaldehyde, which has been identified as a potential human carcinogen, and it can also cause harmful dermatological effects. The use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) (as a catalyst/ co-catalyst for these reactions) has become an alternative way to minimize the formation of free formaldehyde and fabric strength loss.
DMDHEU is the most commonly used durable-press finish. In this process, the chemical is first applied to the fabric. Then the fabric is heated to allow the chemicals to react with the cellulose molecules. In the reaction, the molecules of the fabric are bonded together to keep them from moving and causing wrinkles. For this reason, durable-press treated garments behave as synthetics. However, almost all the wrinkle resistant garments are made with poly/cotton blends fabrics.
There are problems with the post-curing process, the final step of the treatment, because if the process is not done perfectly the garment gets damaged and can even turn yellow. Companies have overcome the post-curing issues by producing wrinkle-resistant clothes using pre-cured fabrics.
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