Abstract: The present invention relates to substrate comprising fabric, the substrate treated with a composition comprising: a) formaldehyde; b) polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 700 gm/mol to about 2500 gm/mol; and c) an acid catalyst; wherein the treated substrate has at least three enhanced fabric benefits, said benefits selected from the group consisting of: i) durable press; ii) hand feel; iii) anti-abrasion; iv) anti-shrinkage; and v) anti-yellowing. The present invention further relates to a system and a process for providing a substrate having the above described enhanced fabric benefits.

Abstract: A post mill or post manufacturing process for reducing wrinkle and crease problems in fabric articles is provided. The process involves the domestic or commercial laundry application of a phosphonate- and phosphinate-containing polycarboxylate cross-linking agent followed by at least partial curing of the cross-linking agent via the application of heat to the article. The present invention also includes an article of manufacture or product comprising the treatment composition, at least one container for the treatment composition and accompanying text instructing the user of the product on application of the treatment.

Abstract: A process for treating a textile fabric to impart or enhance at least one property of the fabric comprising: introducing the fabric into an aqueous formaldehyde containing solution to provide a wet pickup of an effective amount of the solution by the fabric, applying to the fabric an effective amount of a catalyst for catalyzing a reaction between formaldehyde and the fabric; thereafter exposing the wet fabric to a temperature of at least about 300° F. to react the formaldehyde with the fabric to impart or enhance the property of the fabric before there is a substantial loss of formaldehyde from the exposed fabric.

Abstract: A method for the application of durable press to textiles via the pre-treatment bleaching of a non-finished textile component followed by the application of a durable press finish is provided. The method comprises the steps of treating a non-finished textile component in an aqueous bleaching solution of hydrogen peroxide and a hydrophobic activator or hydrophobic peracid for a time sufficient to bleach the textile component followed by application of the durable press finish preferably via immersion in an aqueous solution of formaldehyde, a cross lining catalyst and a silicone elastomer forming material or a solution of alkylene urea and a crosslinking catalyst. Preferred bleach activators include the alkanoyloxybenzene sulfonates and in particular noanoyloxybenzene sulfonate. The method allows significant savings in both energy and time due to the lower bleaching temperatures possible via the present method as opposed to conventional peroxide processing.