Chemical modification of cotton with methylolamide or polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agents and subsequent treatment with cellulase results in substrates with physical properties that are dependent on the degree of crosslinking and concentration of the enzymatic treatment. Physical properties of cotton are altered by chemical modification with crosslinking agents as indicated by tensile strength loss, but enzymatic hydrolysis also causes weight loss. These indicators, as well as glucose analysis of the enzyme solution, are useful for determining the effects of enzymatic activity on cellulose. Some reactive dyed cotton fabrics show resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, but substantially more protection is achieved with even low concentration levels of conventional finishing agents. Properties of dyed or finished cotton fabrics after treatment with various concentration levels of cellulase are presented.
展开▼
