Bleaching of Cotton Fabrics by Hydrogen Peroxide with Metallic Ion

In order to establish the bleaching method for cotton fabrics under the neutral or acid condition, the cotton fabrics were pretreated by iron(II) sulfate before subsequent hydrogen peroxide bleaching. The white index and tensile strength at break for yams from bleached fabrics were measured and considered concerning the pretreated condition by iron(II) sulfate. It was revealed that the high white index attained, by contraries, tensile strength for yarns decreased ca. 20% by processing. However, an addition of a small amount of sodium hydroxide into bleaching bath enabled to depress a decrease of tensile strength for yams. In addition, it was observed by ESR measurement that an amount of radicals increased when a small amount of NaOH was added into hydrogen peroxide solution in the presence of iron (11) sulfate.