Tri-functional aziridine-induced cellulose crosslinking network for enhanced fibrillation resistance of low-carbon lyocell fiber

Lyocell fiber, primarily sourced from the rapid growth of beech, eucalyptus or coniferous trees, is considered an eco-friendly low-carbon fiber. However, its susceptibility to fibrillation under wet friction conditions has significantly limited its broader application in the textile industry. To address this issue, this study employed trimethylolpropane-tri [3-(2-methylaziridin-1-yl) propionate] (TTMAP), a relatively safe tri-functional aziridine reagent, to establish a robust crosslinking network within lyocell macromolecules that had been oxidized by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO). TTMAP spontaneously reacts with carboxyl groups via ring-opening reactions, eliminating the need for catalysts and providing a simple and green crosslinking method. A washing process was used to induce fibrillation, and anti-fibrillation performance was evaluated by SEM. The optimal process parameters for the TTMAP crosslinking reaction were determined as follows: a 5% concentration (owf, on weight of fabric), a temperature of 60 degrees C, and a reaction time of 40 min. Notably, pH adjustment was not required for this reaction. FT-IR and XPS analyses confirmed both the oxidation of lyocell and subsequent crosslinking reaction with TTMAP. Compared to untreated lyocell, TTMAP-lyocell fabric exhibited excellent anti-fibrillation performance, even after three wash cycles. Furthermore, the dyeing properties of TTMAP-lyocell fabric remained largely unaffected, ensuring its practical applicability. This study presents a promising approach to enhancing the anti-fibrillation performance of lyocell knitted fabrics.