Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F35/00—Washing machines, apparatus, or methods not otherwise provided for
  • D06F35/005—Methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying
  • D06F35/006—Methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying for washing or rinsing only
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06L—DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS
  • D06L1/00—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods
  • D06L1/12—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using aqueous solvents
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06L—DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS
  • D06L1/00—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods
  • D06L1/12—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using aqueous solvents
  • D06L1/14—De-sizing
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D2111/00—Cleaning compositions characterised by the objects to be cleaned; Cleaning compositions characterised by non-standard cleaning or washing processes
  • C11D2111/40—Specific cleaning or washing processes
  • C11D2111/46—Specific cleaning or washing processes applying energy, e.g. irradiation

Definitions

• the invention relates to a new method for washing and cleaning soiled textile goods by treating them in aqueous washing liquors which contain dissolved, emulsified and / or suspended washing auxiliaries under the action of ultrasound on the washing bath to intensify and / or accelerate the washing process.
• the elements of the invention described below relate in particular to proposals for solving the shading problem.
• the teaching of the invention is based on the surprising finding that in reality there are no fundamental differences between rigid cleaning Surfaces of solid molded parts on the one hand and softer pliable textile pieces on the other hand.
• the softest textile material for example pure unfinished wool, can also be regarded as a "hard surface", provided that the elements of the invention described below are observed.
• the invention is based on the knowledge that a decisive factor for the inhibition or limitation of the ultrasound effect in textile washing is caused by microdispersed residual air which is also present in the fiber microstructure of the soaked textile material and is stubbornly retained here.
• the invention accordingly relates to a process for washing and cleaning contaminated textile goods by treating them in an aqueous washing liquor containing dissolved, emulsified and / or suspended washing aids, under the action of ultrasound on the washing bath.
• the new process is characterized in that the soiled textile material is treated with an aqueous liquor which, under the conditions this treatment has such a high wetting ability that the fiber microstructure of the textile goods, including its soiled areas, is thoroughly wetted and ventilated, while displacing microdispersed residual air, and simultaneously and / or subsequently the textile goods immersed in the aqueous washing liquor are exposed to the action of ultrasound and thereby ensured, that the soiled areas of the textile goods remain at least in the state of their sufficient wetting and ventilation for at least a few seconds in the ultrasonic range.
• the displacement of the residual air held in the fiber microstructure is of crucial importance in the method according to the invention.
• a large number of fibers are usually bundled tightly together to form a thread and this bundling severely hinders the escape of residual air, in particular from the inside of the thread.
• the liquid phase should also network the fiber as completely as possible in its microstructure, so that the concentration of gas-filled microvoids in the textile material is at least substantially reduced.
• textile or detergent chemistry has a large number of effective washing-active wetting aids that can be classified as appropriate surfactants, emulsifiers and / or detergent boosters. From the wide range of relevant wetting aids given to the person skilled in the art, the latter can easily be determined by simple preliminary tests, in coordination with the other conditions of the washing or cleaning process. In this context, the following further findings on which the teaching according to the invention is based are important:
• the displacement of the microdispersed residual air required according to the invention takes place through the suitably selected play of forces in the wetting process known per se, which can thus become the time-determining step of the washing process under the influence of ultrasound.
• the action of ultrasound may influence this process, but not necessarily accelerate it. Trapped dirt particles are evidently detached from the fiber almost immediately under the influence of sound. Then, however, further penetration of the wetting liquid phase into the deep structure of the fiber bundle and the displacement of the air held here microdispersed before further cleaning effects can be made visible by the effect of sound. A possible fixation of detached air components by exposure to sound can possibly hinder the desired degassing.
• the means of the method according to the invention to be used against this are described below.
• the technical solution to the problem on which the invention is based lies in the correct combination of the forces or force constellations, which can be subsumed on the one hand by the concept of wetting in the conventional sense and on the other hand by the concept of surface cleaning by the action of ultrasound, in particular using the cavitation forces caused thereby.
• Different combinations of networks and ultrasound treatment can lead to the desired success.
• the textile material to be cleaned can first be thoroughly penetrated in a conventional manner, taking care to ensure that the microdisperse residual air is displaced as far as possible from the fiber microstructure and is replaced by liquid phase which preferably contains surfactant detergents. Only when this condition has been achieved to the desired extent is the textile material immersed in the wash liquor exposed to the action of ultrasound on the wash bath.
• the wetting process can be facilitated in that the soiled textile material immediately after it is immersed in the washing liquid or after only a short period of wetting of a rough cleaning by the action of ultrasound is exposed. This removes the dirt particles captured in the volatile pre-wet. This can facilitate the subsequent intensive wetting of the problem areas in the inner thread structure. After this intensive wetting while displacing at least substantial portions of the microdisperse residual air, also in the inner core of the textile material, the final cleaning takes place under the influence of ultrasound on the washing bath.
• the repeated repetition of the successive steps of wetting and sonication can be provided as part of a washing process, which, if desired, can also be modified to give impulsive sonication to the washing bath filled with textile.
• the principle of changing wetting and sonication can also be realized in that sonicated and non-sonicated areas are provided in the washing bath, so that even with continuous sonication of the washing bath by simultaneously ensuring continuous or discontinuous movement of the items to be cleaned through the washing bath and alternating process sections of wetting in the absence of ultrasound and knocking off the wetted dirt components by the action of cavitation are connected with one another through its various zones.
• the liquor freshly introduced into the washing process contains dissolved air which, under the action of ultrasound In a manner known per se, it first meets to detectable blisters with the naked eye, but then in the Ultrasound field can be stabilized and held. The same is done with the air portions that are released from the textile fiber by the wetting process, but then macrodispersely stubbornly adhere to the textile under the influence of ultrasound.
• the preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the unstable equilibrium conditions are sufficiently disturbed by sufficient textile mechanics in the wash bath so that the unification of air bubbles takes place to form larger air bubbles and ultimately the phase separation takes place due to the difference in density.
• the at least intermediate, possibly repeated use of sound-free treatment phases is an important tool of the invention.
• the fact that the desired wetting process is supported in a manner known per se by a textile mechanism in the wash liquor is an advantage for this preferred mode of operation of the invention.
• the mechanical movement of the textile loading in the wash liquor is of important importance in the process according to the invention.
• such a degree of textile loading and such a form of movement mechanics of the textile goods in the wash liquor are used that the continuous contact and deformation contact of adjacent textiles or textile areas is ensured by the upheaval of the textile liquor loading. It is sufficient if the textile material is immersed substantially in the liquid phase in a calm movement, and is circulated in the washing liquor in a breaking manner, with comparatively low average movement speeds of the individual textile sections not being exceeded.
• a usable maximum value for the average movement speed of the textile in the wash liquor is, for example, about 0.5 m / sec, but preferably considerably lower, for example at most 0.4 m / sec or even less, for example not more than 0, 2 m / sec.
• the movement of the textile goods in the wash liquor can be effected in a manner known per se by means of mechanically moving inserts or by pumping around the wash liquor.
• a combination of these measures is used in order to ensure that the textile liquor loading breaks open while continuous contact and deformation contact between adjacent textile areas.
• the shading effect of the microdisperse on the textile phase is on the textile material that is not or only fleetingly wetted adhering residual air so strongly that the range of action of an ultrasonic transmitter - for example through the wall of the wash bath - is only very limited.
• washing baths - and this is preferred according to the invention - which have a plurality of sound transducers, which can preferably be arranged distributed over as large an area of the bath walls as possible, when working with a ball immersed in the bath and largely filling the bath volume
• Textile pieces - as is the case, for example, with conventional household washing machines - when exposed to ultrasound, only a comparatively limited area of the bathroom volume can be regarded as penetrated by ultrasound.
• the situation is different in the cleaning of textile web products, which will be discussed below.
• Closed synthetic fibers for example polyester fibers or textile sample pieces made therefrom, can be cleaned in strongly tending baths under the influence of ultrasound even without sufficient pre-wetting within seconds - for example in a period of 10 to 30 seconds - into the textile interior structure.
• the situation is quite different when using textiles which have a more complicated microstructure of the fiber, which is characterized in particular by the formation of cavities or capillaries.
• Fibers of natural origin in particular fibers of vegetable origin in the refined or unrefined state, are characteristic of this.
• cotton or linen come into consideration here, whereby in the practice of textile washing predominantly mixed fabrics are used which contain a not inconsiderable proportion of fibers of natural, in particular vegetable, origin.
• a textile material soiled with standard pigment and / or greasy dirt based on such fibers of natural origin is subjected to the ultrasonic washing - for example unfinished or refined cotton or Appropriate blended fabric based on cotton / polyester as a textile carrier - then, when the soiled textile piece is introduced into a sonicated washing bath without sufficient pre-wetting, no or only a limited cleaning effect can be determined.
• the conditions change in the extent of the wetting of the soiled sample.
• the teaching according to the invention in its most general form demands that the soiled areas of the textile goods remain in the ultrasound effective area for at least a few seconds, at least in the state of their sufficient wetting and ventilation.
• the average residence time of the soiling areas of the textile goods in the vicinity of the ultrasound transmitters can be less than 10 minutes and preferably a maximum of about 5 minutes for setting high-quality cleaning results. It has proven to be completely sufficient that the fully wetted and thus deeply vented textile material fulfills an average residence time of the soiling areas in the vicinity of the ultrasound transmitter of approximately 2 to 200 seconds and preferably of approximately 3 to 120 seconds.
• the terms of the near range and the effective range of a respective ultrasound transmitter are to be seen separately.
• the close range of an ultrasound transmitter is understood as the distance up to approximately 40 cm, preferably up to approximately 25 cm and in particular up to about 15 cm each calculated from the sound source or sound-emitting wall piece.
• Particularly preferred values for this close range are up to about 10 cm and in particular up to about 7 cm, calculated from the sound source.
• the area of action of the sound generator in the washing process is a variable and depends on the shading effect of the textile goods contaminated with residual air. If there is not sufficient pre-wetting to suppress at least substantial portions of this residual air, there is a very small effective range, again calculated as the distance from the sound source.
• the absolute values for the effective range can be significantly below the numerical values of the close range mentioned above. To the extent of the increasing ventilation of the textile in its microstructure, the effective area expands and - provided there is sufficient wetting and ventilation of the bath - can reach the size of the near area.
• washing processes can be performed in a variety of ways in accordance with the teaching of the inventive action. So you can work with continuous sonication of the washing bath, but preferably with alternating phases of sonication and non-sonicated washing phases, with the mechanical movement of the textile loading in the washing liquor preferably also being continued during the non-sonicated phases. Sufficient pre-wetting without the action of ultrasound or even short-term ultrasound pretreatment, which only covers the dirty outer areas of the textile, can be carried out.
• the non-sonicated wash phases are at least approximately of the same duration as the sonicated wash phases.
• the duration of the respective sonication phases can be in the range up to about 15 minutes, preferably in the range from about 0.25 to 10 minutes and in particular in the range from about 0.5 to 5 minutes.
• wash liquors which contain at least about 0.2 g / l and preferably at least about 0.5 g / l of wetting additives, in particular from the class Corresponding detergent surfactants, emulsifiers and / or detergent boosters.
• the content of these wetting auxiliaries in the washing bath will usually be in the range from about 0.3 to 5 g / l, preferably in the range from about 0.3 to 2 g / l.
• the wetting fleets additionally contain reinforcing auxiliaries, in particular detergent builders and / or soluble electrolyte salts, as are extensively known from the field of conventional textile washing and are described in the relevant literature.
• the process according to the invention is preferably carried out with aqueous liquors in the pH range from approximately neutral to waschalkalic.
• the pH range from about 6.5 to 12 and in particular from about 7.5 to 11 is particularly suitable.
• the conditions of the suitable washing alkalinity can be set by customary alkalizing additives. Soluble sodium silicates, in particular water glass, basic detergent salts, in particular sodium tripolyphosphate, but also phosphate-free alkaline additives such as soda, sodium hydroxide solution, ammonia or organic water-soluble bases such as triethanolamine may be mentioned here.
• Auxiliaries known from conventional textile washing in particular builder substances, for example those based on finely divided, water-insoluble crystalline zeolites, in particular zeolite NaA and / or soluble builder salts which form soluble alkaline earth metal complexes, can be used. It has been shown that the desired rapid wetting of the fiber microstructure, while displacing the microdispersed residual air, can be significantly promoted by the use of such aids to remove the water hardness or by using deionized water.
• the use of soluble electrolyte salts for example sodium sulfate, can also work in this direction.
• the wetting effect of a given wash liquor can be significantly increased by adding considerable amounts of such soluble electrolyte salts to the wash bath. For example, 2 to 20 g / l, in particular 3 to 10 g / l sodium sulfate, based on the washing liquor used, are suitable.
• the temperature of the wash liquor in the ultrasound treatment can be up to about 95 ° C, but is preferably considerably lower and usually does not exceed temperatures of about 75 ° C.
• the temperature range from approximately 15 to 75 ° C. has proven to be particularly suitable, expediently in the range from approximately 20 to 50 ° C. and in particular in the Temperature range of about 25 to 40 ° C is washed. It is interesting that when adapting the wetting systems and wetting conditions, excellent washing results under the influence of ultrasound, even at temperatures below room temperature, e.g. B. can be obtained in an ice bath at 0 ° C, and only with brief exposure to ultrasound. There are clearly conditions here which are not directly comparable to those of conventional textile washing, even if the knowledge from conventional textile washing is an essential part of the inventive action, in particular regarding the wetting process.
• the invention makes use of the possibility, by selecting suitable wetting agents or wetting agent systems and / or the conditions of the wetting treatment, to set a comparatively short-term penetrating wetting in the sense of the inventive action, while displacing the microdispersed residual air.
• a low temperature for example in the region of room temperature or only moderately elevated temperatures, the ultrasonic treatment and thus the cleaning of the textile is then carried out or completed.
• an effective textile wash is carried out, for example, in the temperature range up to about 30 ° C., 35 ° C. or also 40 ° C. even on materials for which a cook wash has previously been considered essential.
• the duration of the washing and cleaning process can be in the usual range, for example up to about 90 minutes, preferably not more than about 60 minutes. However, it is particularly preferred to shorten the duration of the washing process overall - that is, based on the sum of phases of the wetting and the ultrasound treatment.
• Washing and cleaning processes can be carried out effectively for a total of at most 45 minutes and particularly preferably of at most about 30 minutes in the sense of the inventive action.
• effective washing results can be obtained for a total of 3 to 30 minutes, in particular 5 to 25 minutes and preferably 5 to 20 minutes.
• the ultrasound treatment of the textile goods can only make up a small fraction of the time periods specified here; the predominant part of the washing process is used for the penetrating wetting required according to the invention.
• this abbreviation of the washing process is largely independent of the temperature and can therefore be achieved with washing or cleaning results even at low temperatures from, for example, room temperature to about 40 ° C. and in particular in the temperature range from about 20 to 35 ° C. until now they could only be achieved by using higher temperatures and longer washing cycles.
• the process according to the invention carried out in the sense of a batch process, for example a household washing machine, is usually carried out with liquor ratios of dry fabric weight / weight of the aqueous wash liquor in the range from about 1: 4 to about 1:50, preferably in the range from about 1: 5 to about 1 : 30 and in particular in the range from about 1: 8 to 1:15.
• liquor ratios of dry fabric weight / weight of the aqueous wash liquor in the range from about 1: 4 to about 1:50, preferably in the range from about 1: 5 to about 1 : 30 and in particular in the range from about 1: 8 to 1:15.
• it is important that the process of displacing the microdispersed residual air is not quickly reversed even if the wetted piece of textile is completely or partially removed from the closed liquor without drying . Accordingly, it is possible to work effectively with relatively limited amounts of closed aqueous bath phase, as long as sufficiently fully wetted textile goods are repeatedly or continuously introduced into this bath.
• the frequency range for carrying out the method according to the invention in the stage of ultrasound treatment concerned here is the entire range known today and also partially used in cleaning methods.
• Particularly preferred frequencies of the sound are in the range up to about 100 kHz, the lower limit for the ultrasound usually being specified at about 16 kHz. Accordingly, a range of approximately 20 to 60 kHz can be particularly suitable for the sound frequency used, it being true that the tendency toward cleaning-enhancing cavitation formation becomes greater the lower the sonication frequency is selected in the range mentioned here.
• the power input or the power density in the sonicated wash bath volume is preferably values up to about 25 W / l and in particular in the range up to about 15 W / l, the range from about 5 to 10 W / l being particularly preferred.
• the in the Ultrasonic cleaning technology available technical elements correspond to this data, so that a direct transfer of ultrasonic cleaning to the field of textile washing can be realized. In principle, however, there are no concerns about working with higher power inputs and / or shifting the above-mentioned frequencies into much higher ranges, such as were used extensively in research work decades ago, see the literature cited at the beginning, Dr. L. Bergmann loc
• the teaching of the present invention encompasses washing and cleaning processes on textile materials which, by adding bleaching aids, combat undesirable color stains.
• the field of oxidative bleaching is particularly affected, preferably peroxide bleaching, which generally provides for the use of so-called bleach activators in accordance with the processes dominating in Europe.
• bleach activators in accordance with the processes dominating in Europe.
• These are generally acylating agents incorporated in detergents which, in the wash liquor, preferably form intermediate organic peracids with hydrogen peroxide between pH 9 and pH 12 and which, owing to their comparatively high oxidation potential in the range of low temperatures, have a good bleaching effect.
• a peroxide-providing compound inorganic peroxides and peroxyhydrates being suitable.
• peroxide compounds which are known per se as effective bleaching agents from conventional textile washing
• peroxide salts which supply hydrogen peroxide, such as sodium perborate in its various hydrated forms
• percarboxylic acids or percarboxylic acid salts should be mentioned here.
• the bleaching per compounds in particular peroxide-providing salts of the sodium perborate type, can be used, for example, in amounts of up to 5 g / l, preferably in amounts of 0.1 to 4 g / l and in particular in amounts in the range from about 0.2 to 2.5 g / l can be used.
• Bleach activators can be used in the washing liquor, for example, in amounts of 0.05 to 2 g / l or in amounts beyond that can be added, the use of about 0.1 to 1 g / l of these bleach activators being preferred.
• the bleaching textile treatment is then preferably carried out subsequently to free the soiled textile from pigment and / or fat stains.
• the method of the present invention thus also relates to the variant of textile washing which at least partially eliminates undesirable problem soiling, for example stubborn protein soiling of various origins, by using detergent enzymes.
• This enzymatic cleaning step can be done simultaneously with the removal of pigment / oil stains or afterwards.
• the enzymatic cleaning involved here is associated with the removal of undesirable paint stains by using bleaching agents.
• problematic soiling can be eliminated by using enzymatic washing aids.
• proteolytic enzymes are used in suitable formulations, for example in the form of granules, prills and / or pellets, to a large extent in household and commercial laundry detergents. The effect of the enzymes is based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of peptide or ester bonds.
• the enzymes In order to be effective during the washing process, the enzymes must meet a number of requirements, in particular high effectiveness against heterogeneous soiling, stability at elevated temperatures and in the alkaline range, and stability towards other detergent components, in particular surfactants, the frequently used oxidizing agent of the type Have perborates, complexing agents and the like.
• Serine-active, alkali-stable proteolytic enzymes especially those based on bacillopeptidases, are used to a great extent in modern detergents. They are characterized by high temperature and pH stability.
• Ullmann “Encyklopedia of technical chemistry", volume 24, 4th edition, detergent, under chapter 3.4.1 "Enzymes” loc. Cit., Pages 100 to 102 and "detergent chemistry", current topics from research and development (HENKEL & Cie GmbH), Dr. A. Hüthing Verlag, Heidelberg 1976, pages 155 to 178.
• Suitable wash-active microbial enzymes are, in particular, alkali-stable proteolytic enzymes and, above all, corresponding serine-active components. Typical examples of this are the most widely used bacillopeptidases today, for example the Bacillopeptidase P 300 described by the applicant in the literature and used in practice. But also other microbial enzymes, for example the amylases, lipases, pectinases proposed for use in detergents, Nucleases and / or oxidoreductases can also be used. In particular, in addition to proteases in textile detergents, amylases have recently been used, which are effective, for example, against soils containing carbohydrates. The use of lipases is said to facilitate the washing out of fatty stains. Commercial lipases show sufficient stability under washing conditions.
• the two areas of the large problem soils - the soils to be cleaned enzymatically and the soils to be removed by bleaching processes - are connected to one another in such a way that laundry and bleaching laundry which are enzymatically promoted and / or subsequently carried out are carried out simultaneously in one wash cycle.
• work can be carried out in one or more stages.
• at least the enzymatic cleaning takes place under the influence of ultrasound, but preferably also the removal of pigment and / or grease stains or the action of the detergent bleaching agents is carried out under at least partial exposure to ultrasound.
• the amount of detergent enzymes used in the process according to the invention can be in the usual range. Amounts of at least about 0.005 g / l are preferably used in the wash liquor. The concentration of such enzymes used is usually not above 1 g / l and in particular not above about 0.5 g / l. Amounts in the range of about 0.01 to 0.1 g / l and in particular in the range of about 0.01 to 0.07 g / l can be particularly suitable for the field of proteolytic enzymes used in detergent chemistry today. These details relate to the enzymes currently used in practice with protease activities of at least about 50,000 PE / g, preferably of at least about 100,000 PE / g and in particular in the range of about 100,000 to 200,000 PE / g.
• Another important embodiment of the invention relates to a novel special embodiment of the aspect of the method of working according to the invention, which deals with the penetrating wetting of the textile material to be cleaned, while displacing the microdispersed residual air from the fiber microstructure of the textile material, including its soiled areas. It has been found that this complete and rapid deaeration of the textile fibers or fiber bundles can be accelerated by means of a method of operation which has been proposed per se in the context of textile washing processes, but has not found any practical application to date. This is the measure that the washing liquid with the laundry in to displace mechanical vibrations which lie below the frequency range of ultrasound and in particular can be assigned to the frequency range of the audible sound or the frequencies below it of the so-called infrasound range.
• DE-AS 26 01 549 describes, for example, a process for washing wool-containing textiles, in which the heated washing liquid is set into vibration with the laundry, this process being characterized in that the washing liquid with the laundry oscillates between 10 and 1000 Hz is added, the washing liquid being heated to at least 80 ° C.
• Further relevant literature is referenced in this prior art publication.
• DT-PS 596 868 in which a method for washing laundry is described, in which the washing liquid is mixed with the laundry in vibrations of 3 to 4 Hz.
• This process is said to be unsuitable for washing woolen textiles because the laundry is moved so much that the resulting friction leads to matting. This is particularly the case when working at elevated temperatures of the washing liquid.
• DT-PS 973 083 it is pointed out that vibrations in the sound area significantly promote the washing process.
• the frequency range perceivable by the ear of an adult human is approximately in the range from 16 to 16,000 Hz and is referred to as "sound". From a physical point of view, this area of the audible sound as well as the infrasound area underneath and the ultrasound area above it are characterized by the longitudinal character of the excited mechanical vibration state.
• This process aid according to the invention can take place during the wetting of the textile material to be cleaned and / or together with its treatment in the ultrasound field.
• the action of comparatively low-frequency sound or infrasound and ultrasound is used in separate process periods.
• the wetting accelerated by low-frequency vibration can take place in the washing bath and / or in separately used wetting liquids.
• the invention uses low-frequency vibration and ultrasonic vibration at least partially together.
• the entire frequency range up to the ultrasound limit - d is suitable for low-frequency treatment, but lower values can again be particularly preferred within this range. Vibrations of approximately 10 Hz to 10,000 Hz and in particular the range of approximately 10 to 5,000 Hz are particularly suitable. Low-frequency ranges of approximately 10 to 2,000 Hz are technically particularly easily accessible, which can also have the advantage that here there are no additional problems due to annoying noise pollution.
• the washing method according to the invention is suitable for cleaning textiles based on all types of fibers used in practice. It is suitable for washing and cleaning fiber structures of natural origin such as cotton, linen and wool in the untreated or chemically refined state. It is also suitable for cleaning textile fiber structures based on synthetic fibers, for example based on polyester, polyamide and / or polyacrylonitrile, and their mixtures with the aforementioned types of fibers of natural origin in the refined and / or unfinished state.
• the principles of the process according to the invention are applicable to washing or cleaning processes of textile fiber structures with aqueous washing liquors in batches and / or in continuous operation.
• a typical example of batch-wise cleaning of soiled textiles is batch-wise textile washing in the home or business, the commercial processes often having continuously operated car washes, but which are then characterized in detail by batches of batches.
• the applicability of the invention is not limited to this. It also applies to the cleaning treatment of textile fabrics in continuously carried out processes, as are known in the context of textile technology. As is well known, web-like goods are usually guided at high speed through successive process stages of, for example, wetting, washing and rinsing.
• the application of the principles according to the invention can be of particular importance here, it being particularly important to ensure that in the wetting stage the fiber microstructure of the textile material, including its soiled areas, is adequately vented while displacing the microdispersed residual air.
• the gradual treatment of repeated wetting and subsequent ultrasound treatment can be of particular importance for the treatment of such web-like material.
• Another area of application for the principles according to the invention is the cleaning or rinsing of strand-like textile materials, for example in connection with the rinsing out of color residues after the dyeing of corresponding materials.
• the suitability of the respective washing liquor under the intended process conditions, in particular the specified washing temperature, can be determined from case to case in a very simple test: the artificially soiled test fabrics or fibers based on serve as an indicator different fibers and soiling, which are common today in the practice of checking and developing detergent formulations and some of which are commercially available or manufactured by the detergent industry according to their own design.
• Well-known manufacturers of corresponding commercially available, artificially soiled fibers or test fabrics are EMPA, Eidgenössische Material developmentss- und reliesweg, Unterstrasse 11, CH-9001 St. Gallen; Laundry research Krefeld, WFK-Testgewebe-GmbH, Adlerstrasse 44, D-4150 Krefeld; Testfabrics Inc., 200 Blackford Ave. Middlesex, NJ USA.
• test cloths and / or test fibers - e.g. based on wool, cotton finished and unfinished, mixed fabrics (e.g. polyester / cotton finished) are inserted in the non-pre-wetted state in the ultrasound-exposed washing bath at the intended washing temperature and here in the effective range of one Sound generator held for a period of 1 minute and once turned over so that the test fabric piece immersed in the wash liquor is sonicated for 30 seconds from the bottom and 30 seconds from the top.
• Test soils present in the form of strands, for example corresponding wool strands are easily moved by hand in the effective range of the sounder for the test period of 1 minute. After 1 minute of treatment in the ultrasound field, the test material is removed from the bath, rinsed and dried.
• the degree of soiling of the test material treated in this way is determined by measuring the degree of remission with the Elrephomat DFC 5 (manufacturer Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Baden-paper, FRG) and compared with the correspondingly measured degree of soiling of the untreated test fabric used.
• the method according to the invention thus makes it possible to set highly effective cleaning results both with regard to the removal of pigment and / or grease stains and with regard to the removal of problem stains, in particular the removal of enzyme-specific paint stains, in a short time at low temperatures which were previously not considered possible.
• Washing cycles of a total duration of about 10 to 30 minutes in the temperature range of about 20 to 40 ° C can deliver washing results that are only achieved in conventional laundry at significantly higher temperatures - for example at 60 ° C - and over a much longer washing period - for example 50 to 60 minutes - can be set.
• the washing result can be set to be equivalent to the most varied types of textiles, as was previously not possible or only with difficulty with conventional detergents from just one washing liquor is accessible.
• washing tests were carried out with different tissue samples, which were provided with standard soiling. The tests were carried out in a stainless steel tub, which was equipped with two ultrasound-generating vibrating elements on the bottom.
• Standardized, soiled test rags based on polyester / cotton blended fabrics are refined (PBV) in a wash bath, which is mixed with active components in the manner described below, each time without prewetting for a period of 1 minute with gentle movement in the wash bath in the effective area washed by an ultrasound generator.
• the temperature of the wash bath is 42 - 43 ° C. After 1 minute of washing in the ultrasonic field, the respective samples are removed from the wash bath, rinsed several times and dried. The reflectance values (double determination) are determined on the dried specimen.
• the washing bath is built up in stages as follows:
• Example 5 It is washed with the bath of Example 5.
• the contaminated PBV standard material is, however, wetted in an aqueous water glass solution before immersion in the bath solution until the piece of textile appears visually penetrated and wet. Duration of impregnation approx. 10 to 15 seconds.
• the PBV textile material to be cleaned is first wetted in dilute aqueous water glass to which a small amount of palm kernel fatty acid diethanolamide had been added.
• the pre-wetting time is less than 15 seconds.
• the temperature of the wash bath is consistently 42 ° C. Standardized, soiled PBV test rags are washed without prewetting for 1 minute with gentle movement in the area of action of a sounder in the respective bathroom.
• Contaminated PBV fabric of the type used in Examples 1-13 is treated in a washing liquor which contains 1.7 g / l Comperlan KD and 2 g / l STP.
• the temperature of the wash liquor is 42 ° C.
• the soiled test cloths are fixed on the bottom of the container immediately above the two sounders in that these cloths are covered in the wash bath by cotton terry cloths.
• the soiled test rags are exposed to the direct action of the ultrasound transducers without movement for a period of 3 minutes. The test pieces are then removed from the bath, rinsed and dried.
• a wash bath of the following composition is put together: 2 g / l Comperlan KD 1 g / l (active substance) of a fatty alcohol ether sulfate (FAES , C 12/14 fatty alcohol 2.0 EO sulfate sodium salt) 2 g / l STP
• the bath temperature is 42 ° C.
• the bath is loaded with cotton terry cloths with a liquor ratio (textile dry weight: bath weight) of 1:10.
• a large number of larger and smaller PBV test fabric cloths soiled with standard dirt are placed evenly between these cotton terry towels.
• Example 15 the filled washing liquor is under the continuous action of the two ultrasound transmitters at the bottom of the trough.
• Example 16 the procedure of Example 15 is repeated with a fresh, identical bath filling, and here, too, the textile material is circulated intensively with the wooden sticks. In this case, however, ultrasound is not used.
• the washed and dried PBV material from Example 15 obtained under the action of ultrasound shows a consistently high degree of whiteness with largely uniform decolorization of the PBV test material used overall.
• Standard soiled PBV test rags are washed without pre-wetting for 1 minute in a sonicated wash bath with gentle agitation, the content of which was gradually increased in the manner described below.
• the washing temperature is 42 ° C in all cases.
• the reflectance values (duplicate determination) of the washed and dried PBV test materials are summarized in Table 4 below.
• Examples 21 to 23 and 27 to 31 work at a bath temperature of 50 ° C
• Examples 24 to 26 work at a bath temperature of 28 ° C.
• Example 30 the surfactant component used here is increased by using 0.6 g / l FAES.
• Example 31 uses a liquor which contains only 0.6 g / l of this FAES in admixture with 2 g / l STP as the surfactant component.
• Test fabrics provided with standard soiling based on PBV, B and P and also based on cotton, refined (BV), are first at bath temperatures of 40 ° C (Examples 32 to 37), then at bath temperatures of 30 ° C (Examples 38 to 41), then at a bath temperature of 20 ° C (Examples 42 to 44), then at bath temperatures of 10 ° C (Examples 45 and 46) or 8 ° C (Examples 47 and 48) and finally at a bath temperature of 0 ° C (Examples 49 to 52) washed.
• the test sample to be washed is pre-wetted in the bath without the action of ultrasound at the intended process temperature for the ultrasound washing.
• a double test is used in such a way that this stage of pre-wetting is carried out once without moving the textile goods - ie by simply immersing and leaving the immersed textile piece - and in a parallel test with light hand mechanics during the period of pre-wetting.
• the pre-wetting time is 3 minutes at the bath temperature of 40 ° C and 5 minutes at the bath temperatures of 30 ° C, 20 ° C, 10 ° C and 8 ° C.
• the wash bath temperature of 0 ° C is ensured by a floating layer of pieces of ice.
• the treatment of the textile goods in this washing bath is explained in more detail in the relevant examples (Examples 49 to 52).
• the duration of treatment in the sonicated area of action of the bath is generally 1 minute, in the case of Examples 45 and 46 two minutes, the process instructions for washing at a liquor temperature of 0 ° C. (Examples 49 to 52) are following Table 6 below specified, in which the reflectance values obtained in each case (double determination) are assigned to the individual test examples.
• Example 49 The sonication time in Example 49 is 1 minute. It was worked here without pre-wetting.
• Examples 51 and 52 work with a bath of the stated composition, to which a limited amount of a quaternized water-insoluble hydroxyethyl cellulose had been added in fine-grained form.
• the textile samples used are held for 5 minutes without pre-wetting in the effective range of the ultrasound generator with light textile mechanics.
• the procedure was as follows: The non-pre-wetted test material is moved for 30 seconds in the area of action of an ultrasound transmitter immediately after being introduced into the wash bath kept at 0 ° C. Then the movement of the textile is continued for 3 minutes without the action of ultrasound. Then sonicate again for 30 seconds, then move again in the bathroom for 2 minutes without sonication. Subsequently, sonication (respective sonication duration 30 seconds) and subsequent movement in the non-sonicated bath (movement duration 1 minute each) continue until a total treatment time of 11 minutes is reached. The textile material is removed from the bath, rinsed, dried and measured as usual.
• a wash bath of the following composition is used: 2 g / l Comperlan KD 2 g / l STP 1 g / l FAES (C 12/14 fatty alcohol-2.0 EO sulfate sodium salt)
• Variously soiled standard test materials are prewetted at a bath temperature of approx. 35 ° C for a period of 10 to 20 minutes without the influence of ultrasound, then the material pretreated in this way is brought into the range of action of an ultrasound generator in the washing bath and moved there with light textile mechanics .
• the temperature of the sonicated bath is consistently 32 ° C.
• a bath solution with the following composition is used: 1 g / l Comperlan KD 1 g / l STP 0.5 g / l FAES as before
• the working temperature of the bath in experiments 60 and 61 is 25 ° C, in experiments 62 and 63 the temperature rises to a final temperature of 30 ° C.
• the individual work is as follows:
• Standard-soiled PBV (Example 60) and P (Example 61) are brought into the field of action of an ultrasound transmitter without immersion in the washing bath immediately after immersion in the washing bath and held here for 1 minute under light textile mechanics. It is then rinsed, dried and measured as usual.
• a fresh, standard-soiled PBV sample (example 62) is first introduced into the washing bath without pre-wetting and is agitated here for a total of 30 minutes using light textile mechanics. During this period, the textile material is sonicated at regular intervals, a total of 10 times, for a period of about 1/2 minute.
• Example 63 corresponds to that of Example 62, except that instead of PBV, a standard soiled polyester material is used.
• STP is added in an amount of 2 g / l to the used and contaminated bath of experiments 60 to 63.
• tests 64 (PBV) and 65 (P) are first carried out in analogy to the previous tests 60 and 61, i.e. treatment of the respective soiled textile material in the bath in the effective range of the ultrasound generator without pre-wetting for the period of 1 minute.
• a wash bath of the following composition is used: 0.7 g / l FAES (according to Example 53 ff.) 0.2 g / l ethoxylated decyl alcohol (C10 2.9 EO) 2 g / l STP Contaminated standard tissue based on PBV is moved slightly in the wash bath for 20 minutes and brought 8 times into the range of action of an ultrasound generator for a period of about 0.5 to 1 minute each and held there under light textile mechanics. The temperature of the wash bath increases from 30 to 35 ° C during this treatment.
• the rinsed and dried PBV tissue shows the following remission values: 87.9 / 88.2
• a wash liquor with a content of 1 g / l Comperlan KD and 1 g / l FAES (as before) is used to pre-wet soiled PBV at 27 ° C for 20 minutes. Then the pre-wetted textile is treated in this wash liquor for 1 minute under the influence of ultrasound.
• a bath of the following composition is used: 0.2 g / l fatty alcohol ethoxylate C10 2.9 EO 0.5 g / l disodium salt of a C 16/18 -alpha-sulfofatty acid (disalt) 0.3 g / l alkyl glycoside according to Example 20
• the bath temperature is 30 ° C in all cases.
• a step-by-step bathroom is used as follows.
• soiled PBV standard fabric is used.
• the wetting solution is first prewetted for 5 minutes, then treated in the ultrasound field for 30 seconds, then wetting again without the action of ultrasound, and this rhythm of sonication and wetting is repeated until a total of 15 minutes of treatment time are fulfilled.
• Example 74 The same alternating treatment of networks without the action of ultrasound for 2 minutes each and subsequent sonication in the bath for a period of 1/2 minute each is carried out in Example 74, but only up to a total duration of 10 minutes.
• Example 75 The same treatment rhythm is followed in Example 75, but here again for a total period of 15 minutes.
• the reflectance values of the rinsed and dried material samples are summarized in Table 11 below.
• Example 76 While simple tap water (16 ° dH) had been used in each of Examples 1 to 75 to prepare the washing liquors, in the following Examples 76 to 79 the liquor was prepared with deionized water.
• the following active ingredient components are first introduced into the wash liquor (examples 76 and 77): 0.5 g / l Comperlan KD 0.5 g / l of a water-containing mixture of ABS (55% solids content) and C10 2.9 EO (anhydrous) in a ratio of 3: 1 1.0 g / l water glass (active substance)
• Example 76 In the rhythm of Examples 73 to 75 - 2 minutes of wetting without the action of ultrasound, but light textile mechanics in the bathroom, then 0.5 minutes of exposure to ultrasound - PBV textile goods soiled in Example 76 and BV textile goods soiled in Example 77 are treated.
• the bath temperature is 25 ° C in Example 76 and 29 ° C in Example 77.
• soiled PBV textile goods (example 78) and soiled cotton, unfinished, are subjected to wetting and sonication for a total period of 10 minutes at the same time rhythm.
• the end temperature of the bath is 79 32 ° C after the end of the test.
• a wetting and washing bath is put together as follows: deionized water 2 g / l Comperlan KD 2 g / l STP 0.3 g / l FAES
• Example 80 to 83 the particularly stubborn dirt of the EMPA material is washed in the temperature range from 25 to 28 ° C (Examples 80 to 82) or 28 to 32 ° C (Example 83). The following conditions apply:
• the soiled test fabric is pre-wetted in the wash liquor at 25 ° C. using light mechanics and then washed for 1 minute at the specified temperature in the range of action of the ultrasound generator.
• Fresh, soiled EMPA material is first subjected to the following treatment rhythm for 3 minutes: 20 Seconds of ultrasound treatment, then 40 seconds of wetting under textile mechanics without ultrasound in the wash bath. The rhythm is then modified for a further 3 minutes as follows: 15 seconds of ultrasound, 15 seconds of non-ultrasound. Total duration of treatment 6 minutes as in Example 80, bath temperature 26 ° C.
• Fresh, soiled EMPA wool fabric is pre-wetted for 10 minutes in the washing bath at 28 ° C, then exposed to ultrasound for 1 minute
• Fresh, soiled EMPA wool fabric is treated as follows: 5 minutes pre-wetting in a wash bath at 25 ° C 1 minute treatment with ultrasound in the washing bath 3 minutes more meshing under textile mechanics without the influence of ultrasound 1 minute ultrasound treatment at 32 ° C 3 minutes of wetting in a 32 ° C wash bath without ultrasound finally 1 minute exposure to ultrasound
• test soils WFK wool and T wool are treated as follows: 5 minutes in the wash bath of the specified composition at 27 ° C, under light textile mechanics, then finally 1 minute ultrasound treatment in the bath at the specified temperature.
• the material is treated in tap water (16 ° dH) at 30 ° C under the influence of ultrasound for a period of 3 minutes each.
• tap water (16 ° dH) at 30 ° C under the influence of ultrasound for a period of 3 minutes each.
• fresh material samples are moved for 8 minutes at 30 ° C in an aqueous bath containing the following combination of active washing components: 1 g / l fatty alcohol ethoxylate (Dehydol LT 5) 1 g / l alkyl glycoside 1 g / l water glass 2 g / l sodium zeolite NaA (detergent quality) 4 g / l sodium sulfate
• a wash liquor of the following composition is used: 0.75 g / l ABS 0.75 g / l Comperlan KD 0.5 g / l dehydol LT 5 1 g / l water glass 2 g / l sodium zeolite NaA (detergent quality) Tap water (16 ° dH) pH of the liquor 9.9 Bath temperature 28 ° C
• Standard test textiles soiled with dusty skin oil BV, P, PBV and B are wet in four stages (each stage) for 3 minutes and immediately afterwards exposed to 30 seconds of ultrasound.
• the remission values of the washed and dried material are determined after each treatment stage. These values are summarized in Table 15 below.
• enzyme-specific test soils are washed under the conditions specified below: Enzyme-specific soiling Milk / Cocoa (H-MK-B) Blood (H-BL-B) Blood / milk / soot (H-BMR-B) Composition of the wash bath: 1 g / l ABS 1 g / l dehydol LT 5 1 g / l water glass 2 g / l zeolite NaA 4 g / l sodium sulfate Tap water 16 ° dH Bath temperature 28 to 29 ° C

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• 1987
  • 1987-08-27 EP EP87112432A patent/EP0258816A2/fr not_active Withdrawn

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