Technical Information

TI/T Finishing December 2007 Page 1 of 5

Supersedes all previous TI Sheets

Registered trademark of BASF Aktiengesellschaft

Fixapret F-ECO
Crosslinker for the low-formaldehyde easycare finishing of textile materials composed of cellulosic fibres, alone and in blends with synthetics.

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Fixapret F-ECO

Chemical Nature Physical form Storage

Modified dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea. Transparent yellowish liquid. When stored correctly, in sealed original containers at temperatures between 5 oC and 30 oC, Fixapret F-ECO has a shelf life of at least 12 months. Once a container has been opened to remove part of the contents, the container must be tightly closed again and the remaining contents must be used up within a short time.

Properties
pH Density Reactivity Solubility Compatibility Approx. 4.5-5 at 23 oC . Approx. 1.2-1.22 g/cm3 at 20 oC. Very good. The product can be diluted with cold water in all proportions. Fixapret F-ECO is compatible with most finishing agents. If several products are to be mixed with one another, preliminary tests should be carried out to test the compatibility, particularly if antislip agents or water repellents are to be used.

Application
Fields of application and finishing effects Easycare finishing of Woven and knitted fabrics composed of cellulosic fibres, viscose, alone and in blends with synthetics. Very low formaldehyde values, in particular according to LAW 112 and AATCC 112. As a rule, the finish not only produces good easycare effects but also fulfills without an afterwash the requirements of the OekoTex Standard 100 for free formaldehyde, viz. formaldehyde values according to LAW 112 of less than 75 ppm. Fixapret F-ECO is eminently suitable for the postcure process, because it gives rise immediately after drying to very low formaldehyde values according to AATCC 112. In contrast to the Koratron process, it does not cause any trouble with formaldehyde formation during the production of ready-made clothing nor does it cause a change in shade of the dyed goods. In view of the yellowing of white goods after pressing and curing, we recommend the use of our Fixapret CM in such cases, Embossed, Schreiner, and chintz finishing. Very good stability to hydrolysis. Soft handle.

The finishing effects have good fastness to washing and dry cleaning. Fixapret F-ECO is applied by padding at room temperature; the liquor pick-up is 60 - 90%, depending on the type of goods.

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Fixapret F-ECO

Amounts used

CO: CV: PES/CO: PES/CV:

30-60 g/l 60-90 g/l 20-60 g/l 40-80 g/l

Fixapret F-ECO Fixapret F-ECO Fixapret F-ECO Fixapret F-ECO

Catalysts Amounts used:

Crystalline magnesium chloride is particularly suitable for this application. 20 - 25% of crystalline magnesium chloride, calculated on the amount of crosslinker, but at least 8 g/l. A concentration of over 30 g/l should not be used.
Guideline recipes

Shirting fabric (woven cotton cloth)

40 - 60 8 - 12 10 - 20 10 - 30

g/l g/l g/l g/l

Fixapret F-ECO magnesium chloride cryst. Siligen VN Siligen SIN

Liquor pick-up approx. 70% Dry as usual cure approx. 3 min at 150 oC Blouse material (woven viscose) 60 - 90 15 - 23 20 - 30 15 - 30 g/l g/l g/l g/l Fixapret F-ECO magnesium chloride cryst. Basosoft SWK Siligen SIN

Liquor pick-up approx. 80% Dry as usual cure approx. 1 min at 170 - 175 oC Outerwear knitgoods (cotton)
30 - 50 8 - 10 20 - 30 10 - 20

g/l g/l g/l g/l

Fixapret F-ECO magnesium chloride cryst. Siligen VN Siligen SIE

Liquor pick-up approx. 80% Dry as usual cure approx. 30s at 170oC Trousering (woven cotton cloth, finished by the postcure process) 35 - 60 8 - 12 20 - 30 20 - 30 5 - 20 g/l g/l g/l g/l g/l Fixapret F-ECO magnesium chloride cryst. Siligen VN Siligen PW Siligen SIE

Liquor pick-up approx. 70% Dry at approx. 100 oC Residual moisture content: approx. 10% cure approx. 30s at 170 oC For ready-made clothing: cut, sew, steam for about 1.0s, press for 10 - 20 s at about 160 oC, and remove steam by suction Cure: 3 - 1 0 min at 150oC, depending on the type of equipment. For all recipes, an addition of approximately 1.0 g/l of Laventin LNB or Nekanil LN and 0.5 to 1.0 g/l of 60% acetic acid is recommended.

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Fixapret F-ECO

Notes

In the production of embossed, schreiner, and chintz finishes, we recommend drying the goods after impregnation to residual moisture content of 6-1 0%, and then embossing or calandering. This is followed by curing for, approx. 3 minutes at 150 oC, as a rule. The pH value of the finished finishing liquor should be between 4.0 and 6.5. Alkaline goods should be adjusted to a weakly acid pH value before finishing. In finishing viscose, approx. 0.5 g/l of sodium fluoroborate or approx. 0.5 g/l of citric acid may be added to the finishing bath to accelerate the reactivity. In almost all cases, this addition also reduces still further the formaldehyde content of the finished goods. In view of the many possible influences exerted by the pretreatment, dyeing, printing, finishing, and composition of the finishing recipe on the fastness properties, the dyed shade, degree of whiteness, strength, odour and handle, preliminary trials should always be carried out. This applies in particular to white goods and pastel shades that are liable to undergo an impairment of the degree of whiteness or the dyed shade.

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Fixapret F-ECO

Safety
When using this product, the information and advice given in our Safety Data Sheet should be observed. Due attention should also be given to the precautions necessary for handling chemicals.

Note
The data contained in this publication are based on our current knowledge and experience. In view of the many factors that may affect processing and application of our product, these data do not relieve processors from carrying out their own investigations and tests; neither do these data imply any guarantee of certain properties, nor the suitability of the product for a specific purpose. Any descriptions, drawings, photographs, data, proportions, weights etc. given herein may change without prior information and do not constitute the agreed contractual quality of the product. It is the responsibility of the recipient of our products to ensure that any proprietary rights and existing laws and legislation are observed. Responsibility for compliance with textile dealers requirements rests with the textile processor.

December 2007

BASF Pakistan Private Limited 46-A Block 6 PECHS 75400 Karachi, Pakistan www.basf.com/textile