Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M13/322—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing nitrogen
  • D06M13/385—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing nitrogen containing epoxy groups
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M13/322—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing nitrogen
  • D06M13/372—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing nitrogen containing etherified or esterified hydroxy groups ; Polyethers of low molecular weight
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
  • D06M15/37—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06M15/53—Polyethers
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
  • D06M15/37—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06M15/61—Polyamines polyimines
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M2101/00—Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
  • D06M2101/02—Natural fibres, other than mineral fibres
  • D06M2101/04—Vegetal fibres
  • D06M2101/06—Vegetal fibres cellulosic
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M2101/00—Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
  • D06M2101/02—Natural fibres, other than mineral fibres
  • D06M2101/10—Animal fibres
  • D06M2101/12—Keratin fibres or silk
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M2101/00—Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
  • D06M2101/16—Synthetic fibres, other than mineral fibres
  • D06M2101/18—Synthetic fibres consisting of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06M2101/26—Polymers or copolymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M2101/00—Chemical constitution of the fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, to be treated
  • D06M2101/16—Synthetic fibres, other than mineral fibres
  • D06M2101/30—Synthetic polymers consisting of macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06M2101/34—Polyamides
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M2200/00—Functionality of the treatment composition and/or properties imparted to the textile material
  • D06M2200/50—Modified hand or grip properties; Softening compositions

Definitions

• This invention relates to the novel use of known polymers and prepolymers as softening agents to improve the handle of both natural and synthetic fibres.
• polyethylene oxide groups these generally have the effect of reducing the softness of handle that can be achieved and some hydrophobicity nevertheless remains.
• the effects are transitory and tend to be readily removed upon subsequent wet
• British Patent Nos. 1470243 and 1533343 describe compounds containing aziridine radicals and their use for reducing the shrinkage and felting of protein fibres.
• One of the compounds disclosed is that sold under the trade name Basolan SW, and which is marketed as a hydrophilic polymer that is said to achieve a soft hydrophilic finish when applied to synthetic fibres.
• Basolan SW a hydrophilic polymer that is said to achieve a soft hydrophilic finish when applied to synthetic fibres.
• the present invention seeks to provide improved softening agents suitable for use with both natural and synthetic fibres.
• the polymers and prepolymers employed for this purpose are the subject of our co-pending European Patent Application No.
• the present invention relates to the use as a softening agent for natural or synthetic fibres of a compound of any one of the following formulae:- i) Z- ⁇ [A] m -N(R 1 ) n ⁇ r (I)
• Z represents a residue of a polyol, preferably a di- or trivalent polyol
• A represents a polyalkylene oxide residue, that is a polyether chain produced by polymerisation of, for example, ethylene, propylene or butylene oxides or tetrahydrofuran;
• B is the residue created by bi- or
• a group resulting from the reaction of a bi- or polyfunctional species capable of reacting with amino groups for example: epihalohydrins, alkyl di- and polyhalides, di- or polycarboxylic acids or their acyl halides and anhydrides, dicyandiamide, urea and formaldehyde,
• R 6 and R 7 are selected from C 1 -C 5 alkyl and
• Y is selected from C 2 -C 6 alkylene radicals
• q is an integer of from 0 to 20, provided that when q is greater than 2, each of the symbols Y need not necessarily have the same significance;
• D represents a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon, polysiloxane or polyalkylene oxide
• E represents a group resulting from the reaction of a bi- or polyfunctional species capable of reacting with amino groups, for example:
• J represents a residue derived from a polyfunctional polyether
• K represents the monofunctional or polyfunctional residue derived from partial reaction of the basic prepolymers in formulae (I) or (II), i.e. it represents the shaded area in formula (III) as follows:
• R 1 represents a fibre reactive grouping such as the residue derived from monofunctional reaction of an epihalohydrin, an alkyl or alkyl aryl polyhalide or a methylol grouping derived from monofunctional reaction of formaldehyde, or is alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or hydrogen, with the proviso that at least one group R 1 per polyoxyalkyleneamine residue, and preferably at least one for each nitrogen, retains residual fibre reactivity;
• R 2 represents a fibre reactive grouping such as the residue derived from monofunctional reaction of an epihalohydrin, an alkyl or alkyl aryl polyhalide or is a methylol grouping derived from monofunctional reaction of formaldehyde, or alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or hydrogen;
• R 3 represents hydrogen or C 1 -C 4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl;
• R 4 represents halogen
• alkylamino hydroxyalkylamino, alkoxy, alkylarylamino or
• R 5 represents hydrogen or
• r equals the functionality of group Z
• t is a number representing the functionality of reaction of the residue B
• s is a number between 1 and r-1
• x is between 2 and 30
• y is from to x
• fibre reactive grouping as used herein is to be understood as meaning a group having residual chemical reactivity such that it will be capable of causing a molecule to be bound to the surface of a fibre in such a way as not to be readily removable therefrom.
• examples include the fibre reactive dyes in which a variety of reactive halogen groupings are sited on the molecule and which, during dyeing, react with hydroxy or amino functionalities on the fibre surface to produce a chemical bond. It will be understood that electrical bonding forces, rather than chemical forces, could be involved and that a "reaction” as such need not occur.
• the terminology further includes species which will be attracted to a fibre surface and bind themselves thereto by means of cross-linking mechanisms.
• polyfunctional reactive group as used herein is to be understood as meaning a group which is capable of reacting with the amino
• the polymers and prepolymers may be derived from mixtures of one or more polyoxyalkyleneamines and that these may be joined by bridging groups.
• the bridging groups serve to link the polyoxyalkyleneamines and some examples of suitable groups were mentioned above.
• the bridging groups themselves could, of course, bear reactive species capable of reacting with fibres. It will also be appreciated that the bridging group B could be
• the present invention further provides a method for the treatment of natural or synthetic fibres so as to impart a softer handle and which comprises treating the fibres with a polymer or
• the softening agents and method of this invention may be applied to all types of natural and synthetic fibres, including nylon and acrylic. They are particularly suited to use with wool and cotton, including 100% cotton terry loop towelling, and to cotton or wool blends with synthetic fibres.
• the softening agents of the invention may be presented for use in solution in a non aqueous
• solvent such as perchloroethylene. More preferably, however, they are in the form of an aqueous solution, optionally with the addition of suitable dispersing agents to reduce the viscosity of the solution.
• the total amount of polymer solids applied to the fibres is generally from 0.005 to 10.0% by weight, most
• the method of this invention can be performed as either a batch or continuous process using conventional equipment.
• the method of this invention can be performed as either a batch or continuous process using conventional equipment.
• softening agent may be applied aqueously by exhaustion on to the goods in a traditional long bath method using suitable machinery, or may be padded onto fabric continuously or applied in foam or by suction- slot techniques.
• the agent may be applied to piece goods or fabric from a solvent such as perchloroethylene in suitable machinery.
• the softening agents may be applied in combination with other resins, further softening agents, emulsifiers, pigments, binders fluorescent whitening agents or other materials to confer additional properties or benefits to the
• Softening agents of this invention arises from their extreme water dispersibility.
• Conventionally employed softening agents are emulsions which create problems of shear instability in such high shear situations as jet dyeing machines, suction slot evacuators, and
• organofunctional silicones and more especially
• amonosilicones fatty amide emulsions
• amonosilicones fatty amide emulsions
• a formulation was produced containing 20 parts product from Example 1 , 20 parts nonyl phenol 8 mole ethoxylate and 10 parts nonyl phenol 6 mole ethoxylate.
• a Bowe P421 dry cleaning machine was loaded with 30 kg of 60% mercerised Cotton 40% nylon predyed mens socks. Then 130 litres of perchlorethylene was charged to the machine and the goods tumbled in solvent for 1 minute to wet out. 1.95 kg of the above formulation was then added to the machine via the button trap and the goods tumbled for 5 minutes, then the solvent drained to the still and centrifuged to 1001 expression, then tumble dried.
• the product of Example 1 can be prepared as an aqueous solution by distilling out the isopropanol and replacing it with water, thereby minimising fire hazard. 797 parts of the product of Example 1 is distilled at atmospheric pressure until 391 parts of an isopropanol: water distillate is collected. Then, 710 parts of water and 80 parts monoethylene glycol is added to the flask and stirred. The resulting product contains about 20% w/w active solids and only 4-5% isopropanol.
• the product was applied to wool and acrylic socks by an exhaustion method as in Example 2. Excellent handle and good durability was achieved.
• the softening agent can be mixed with conventional fatty quaternary ammonium-type softeners to give a product which has excellent handle, good durability and superior hydrophilicity to conventional softeners. Such a product is particularly useful for softening cotton/nylon socks.
• a stable product can be formulated by taking 100 parts of the product of Example 4 and blending this with 30 parts of a silicone emulsion (eg Finish VP1445E, Wacker Chemicals Ltd). This product was compared for handle on knitted lambswool swatches against a silicone softener (Wacker VP1445E). The softeners were applied by exhaustion, as described in Example 2 using 1-2% product on weight of wool. The new softener gave a super-soft handle , less slippy and more natural than with the silicone. The hydrophiliclty was also noticeably superior.
• Example 7
• Example 4 and Examples 7a and 7b were applied to a variety of knitted cotton fabrics (double jersey, single jersey, loopback interlock and pique).
• the softeners were applied by a) padding: the softeners were applied wet-on-wet to the fabrics from a solution containing 25g/l product, pH7, 25°C at 100% pick-up and b) exhaustion: as given in Example 2 using 2.5% o.w.g. product.
• the fabrics were stenter dried and commercially finished then compared for handle and durability to washing against a standard fatty amide softener.
• a co-applied mixture of the product of Example 4 and a polyethylene wax emulsion (Bradsyn G, Hickson & Welch Ltd) was also evaluated.
• the relative handle and durability assessments were as follows.
• the handle before and after wash was superior when softeners were applied by a padding technique compared with exhaustion.
• the softeners were comparable in softness to the standard silicone softener (Edunine SE, ICI Colours & Fine Chemicals); after wash, (3 x HLCC4), the standard softener could be readily distinguished by its harsher handle.
• the Example 4/polyethylene wax mixture performed particularly well on all fabric types, giving a cool, soft handle and excellent drape.
• the softening agents of the invention are particularly suited to use on towels and towelling fabric as a consequence of their superior hydrophilicity.
• the products were applied by a wet-on- wet continuous pad treatment at 80% pick-up, from solutions containing 20-40g/l softener to Egyptian combed cotton towelling. The fabrics were tumble tried and finished as towels.
• a warm, soft handle is achieved with excellent rewettability, as compared with silicone- and fatty amide-type softeners.
• the new softeners impart a fuller, more luxurious feel to towelling and a silkier handle.
• the durability of the softeners was assessed by subjecting the towels to seven domestic washes, without additional fabric conditioner and line dried. The towels treated with the new softeners retain their original appearance, with a full, soft handle.
• Example 4 The product of Example 4 was compared for yellowing at high temperatures against standard silicone- and fatty amide-type softeners.
• the products were applied to 50/50 polyester/cotton by padding from solutions containing 1 g/l wetting agent (Fullwet PPT Ltd) and 10-40 g/l softener.
• the fabrics were padded to 100% pick-up then dried. Yellowing of the fabrics was assessed by heating the fabrics on an electrically-heated press for up to 3 minutes.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Non-Silver Salt Photosensitive Materials And Non-Silver Salt Photography (AREA)
• Fats And Perfumes (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10683701

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1990
  • 1990-10-15 GB GB909022305A patent/GB9022305D0/en active Pending
• 1991
  • 1991-10-15 CA CA002090332A patent/CA2090332A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1991-10-15 DE DE69131905T patent/DE69131905T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-10-15 JP JP3516491A patent/JPH08505190A/ja active Pending
  • 1991-10-15 WO PCT/GB1991/001792 patent/WO1992007132A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1991-10-15 ES ES91919216T patent/ES2140397T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-10-15 AT AT91919216T patent/ATE188754T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-10-15 AU AU86613/91A patent/AU661279B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1991-10-15 EP EP91919216A patent/EP0553217B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events