Textile industry has been using microcapsules for many years especially in the design of cosmeto-textiles. Microcapsules used for textile applications are often obtained by in situ polycondensation of formaldehyde and melamine. The crosslinked membrane ensures good thermal and mechanical properties, essential for treatment applied during microcapsules deposit and for their attachment onto textile. The residual presence of formaldehyde, classified as carcinogenic substance of level 3, is problematic and can be controlled by a post treatment. However, REACH directive will probably lower allowed formaldehyde concentrations. In this context, the aim of this work is to develop microcapsules without formaldehyde, from 100% bio-based monomers and using environmental friendly processes. Membrane microcapsules being synthesized by interfacial polycondensation between succinyl chloride and 1, 4-diaminobutane, this reaction results in polyamide 4 4 oligomers’ formation, difficult to characterize because this polymer has not yet been studied in detail. A preliminary work of syntheses and models characterizations has been performed to help the microcapsules membrane characterization. In a second step, we optimized the operating conditions of microcapsules formation to meet the specifications. The obtained microcapsules and their polyamide 4, 4 membrane were further characterized. Finally, we tested the microcapsules application onto textile and studied the obtained cosmeto-textile resistance to friction and washing machine.
