Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06B—TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS
  • D06B11/00—Treatment of selected parts of textile materials, e.g. partial dyeing
  • D06B11/0093—Treatments carried out during or after a regular application of treating materials, in order to get differentiated effects on the textile material
  • D06B11/0096—Treatments carried out during or after a regular application of treating materials, in order to get differentiated effects on the textile material to get a faded look

Definitions

• the disclosure pertains to producing a worn appearance to textiles.
• the present invention discloses a washing process for producing a wash out effect, in particular a stone washing effect, at a textile using a washing machine loaded with the textile and a mechanical abrasive.
• stone washing is usually practiced with indigo-dyed denim garments
• stone washing in general is applicable to any textile/fabric articles which are made at least in part of yarns or fibers which are pigmented or dyed in such a way as to exhibit visible variations in color and/or texture as a result of mechanical and/or chemical abrasion.
• Stone washing may be also applied to a variety of natural or synthetic fabrics. For instance, silk, satin, crepe and rayon may be treated by stone washing.
• Any conventional washing machine is loaded with these materials and the textile to be treated and subjected to agitating and/or spinning for abrading the textile's surface. This is usually performed in the line with different washing programs of a washing process employing at the same time chemical abrasives, such as sodium permanganate, and other washing compounds, such as antibackstainers and detergents.
• chemical abrasives such as sodium permanganate
• other washing compounds such as antibackstainers and detergents.
• US 5,914,443 A discloses for instance a method of manufacturing a fab ric or a garment with a stone-washed or worn look, the method comprising coating the yarn or fabric or garment with a polymer, such as a xyloglucan, prior to dyeing and afterwards creating the abraded or worn look by enzymatic degradation of said polymer using e.g. a xyloglucanase.
• a polymer such as a xyloglucan
• the present invention seeks to overcome the above mentioned prob lems by providing a washing process for producing a wash out effect in a textile and an abrasive for producing a wash out effect at a textile.
• Another objective is the provision of a washing process for producing a wash out effect in a textile and an abrasive effective in producing a regular wash out effect over the entire textile, wherein the degree of the wash out effect may be easily controlled by the washing process, including particularly duration of the treatment.
• Still another objective is the provision of a washing process for producing a wash out effect in a textile and an abrasive wherein the abrasive does not crumble, is reusable and is essentially not soaked with water and/or additives after the washing process.
• the above mentioned problems have been solved by providing a wash ing process for producing a wash out effect in a textile.
• the method comprises or consists of washing a textile in a washing machine, wherein the washing machine is loaded with the textile and at least one abrasive, wherein the abrasive comprises or consists of a rope comprising a first end section with a first rope end, a second end section with a second rope end, and at least one knot, the at least one knot being formed between the first end section and the second end section of the rope, wherein the at least one knot has a first intersection point, at which the first end section protrudes from a first loop which is made by the knot, and a second intersection point, at which the second end section protrudes from a second loop which is made by the knot, wherein a length L1 of the first end section is defined by a first distance between the first intersection point and the first rope end and a length L2 of the second end section is defined by a second distance between the second intersection point and the second
• the abrasive comprises or consists of a rope comprising a first end section with a first rope end, a second end section with a second rope end, and at least one knot, the at least one knot being formed between the first end section and the second end section of the rope, wherein the at least one knot has a first intersection point, at which the first end section protrudes from a first loop which is made by the knot, and a second intersection point, at which the second end section protrudes from a second loop which is made by the knot, wherein a length L1 of the first end section is defined by a first distance between the first intersection point and the first rope end and a length L2 of the second end section is defined by a second distance between the second intersection point and the second rope end, wherein the length L1 of the first end section is L1 ⁇ 3.0 cm and the length L2 of the second end section is L
• the present invention furthermore provides using a rope as a mechani cal abrasive, preferably in a washing process.
• the rope comprises a first end section with a first rope end, a second end section with a second rope end, and at least one knot, the at least one knot being formed between the first end section and the second end section of the rope, wherein the at least one knot has a first intersection point, at which the first end section protrudes from a first loop which is made by the knot, and a second intersection point, at which the second end section protrudes from a second loop which is made by the knot, wherein a length L1 of the first end section is defined by a first distance between the first intersection point and the first rope end and a length L2 of the second end section is defined by a second distance between the second intersection point and the second rope end, wherein the length L1 of the first end section is L1 ⁇ 3.0 cm and the length L2 of the second end section is L2 ⁇ 3.0 cm, wherein a thickness T
• the present inventors have found that the present abrasive is highly ef fective for producing a regular wash out effect over the entire textile.
• the present abrasive is easy to prepare and handle and comprises or consists of a rope of a particular thick ness, wherein the rope has a knot formed therein in such a manner that both end sections of the ropes are rather short, i.e. protrude either only a for a short distance from the knot of about 3 cm or less or finish within the knot’s loop, i.e. at a distance of about 0 cm.
• Said abrasive may be reused in a plurality of washing processed, such as 100 or more washing processes, without detectable decomposition thereof, such that no residues are left to be removed from the textile and the equipment.
• the present abrasive furthermore assists in reduced water consumption for the washing process and brings about a diminished consumption of additives, such as detergents and chemical abrasives, as well as the accompanying difficulties in handling and/or environmental problems. Since the present abrasive does not get soaked with washing liquid, it may be finally discarded as house hold waste.
• the knot-shape of the present abrasive in particular the arrangement/running direction of the rope at the knot's surface, assists in the beneficial wash out effects.
• the shape of the abrading exterior surface, particularly the exterior surface of the knot influences the abrasive's movement and enables a continuous (spatial) rearrangement of the abrasive along the running direction of the rope. This contributes to an optimal positioning of the abrasive in an operated washing machine, i.e. during agitating and/or spinning, in the presence of textile, water and optionally other additives.
• the thickness of the rope and the ends thereof protruding only for a short distance from the knot further confer the present abrasive the required size in comparison to the dimensions of washing drum and/or textiles, which is about 3 to 10 cm, such as 5 to 8 cm, in its greatest dimension, its high mechanical stability and a rather “compact" consistency with a little tendency for soaking water and/or additives contained therein.
• a rope end L1 and/or L2 exceeding 3.0 cm has been furthermore found to nega tively impact the performance of the present abrasive in terms of providing an equal wash out effect to the textile and damaging the textile to a degree that it has to be discarded.
• a higher number, such as five or more, of comparatively thin ropes, having for instance each a thickness of less than 0.5 cm, such as less than 0.4 cm or less than 0.3 cm, which are arranged in parallel and formed to a knot are less stable due to breaking and/or frazzling of the individual thin ropes which is at least favored by chafing of the ropes against each other.
• washing process refers to a method of cleaning textile, which is usually performed with water and optionally soap and/or deter gent.
• the washing process may also encompass further additives which are usually used for augmenting the cleaning effect, such as detergents and enzymes, and/or obtaining a specific effect, such as bleaching agents.
• wash out effect refers to any abrasion provided to a textile.
• abrasion includes physical, particularly mechanical, removal and/or chemical removal of portions of the fabric surface and/or the dyes by contact between the abrasive and the textile.
• the "wash out effect” for example, in the case of an indigo dyed denim textile, provides the textile a white on blue contrast appear ance.
• textile or “fabric” refers usually to sewn or unsewn fabrics, in cluding knits and woven fabrics, made of for instance from pure cotton or cotton blends.
• the textile may pertain, however, to any fabric made of natural and/or synthetic fibers.
• Cotton and cotton blends are preferred. When cotton blends are em ployed, the amount of cotton in the fabric should be at least about 40 percent by weight, such as at least 50 percent by weight, at least 60 percent by weight, at least 70 percent by weight, at least 80 percent by weight, or at least 90 percent by weight, cotton.
• the companion material employed in the fabric can include one or more non-cotton fibers including synthetic fibers particularly polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, polyester fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers, polyvinylidene chloride fibers, polyurethane fibers, polyurea fibers and aramid fibers.
• the textile typically has been colored with dye or pigment, for instance with the dye indigo.
• Exemplary textiles include garments, such as jeans and skirts, particu larly denim jeans and skirts sweaters, hats, caps, purses, and any other objects made of synthetic and/or natural fabric.
• the present invention is applicable to any fabric article.
• a garment may be also referred to as a textile piece.
• additive refers to any chemical ingredient(s) used in a washing process. It will be understood that the use of additive(s) is optional and the particular chemical composition thereof, if used, depends upon the type of wash out effect, particularly stone washing effect, desired. These additives may for instance provide a chemical reaction to aid or effect the abrasion.
• the additive may contain strong oxidiz ers, such as potassium permanganate or sodium hypochlorite, which gradually oxidize and destroy the color in usually in the areas where the mechanical abrasive contacts the textile. The skilled person is aware about the concentration of such strong oxidizers as well as alternative compounds providing the same effect.
• additives comprise detergents, dyes, enzymes, lubricants, dye fix atives, organic and polymeric anti-redeposition agents, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and polyacrylates; anionic suspending agents; and organic chelating agents, such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid and salts thereof.
• organic and polymeric anti-redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and polyacrylates
• anionic suspending agents such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid and salts thereof.
• organic chelating agents such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid and salts thereof.
• an anti-redeposition agent or antibackstaining agent as an additive is preferred.
• Said antibackstaining agent emulsifies and carry away particles of dye, fabric, etc. which are abraded from the fabric and suspended in the rinse liquid, while chelating agents complex water hardness, heavy metal ions and some of the by-product components which may be released from the stone compositions.
• One skilled in the art may readily determine the type and amount of additional ingredients to be added to the chemical stonewash composition based on this disclosure and the fabric treatment desired.
• the additives may be provided in any application form including for in stance tablets, powders or liquid.
• further compounds such as processing aids, binders, solvents and the like may be included.
• Suitable binders may include benzoic acid fatty compounds, acrylates, polyvinyl alcohols and silicates, may also be used to increase the integrity or stability of the tablets.
• processing chemicals such as bleach es, acids, fabric softeners, overbleaches, etc., depending upon the fabric treatments desired. Thus, bleaching or acid washing of the fabric may be carried out simultaneously with the washing process by incorporating the necessary chemicals.
• a "rope” as used herein refers to a group of yarns, plies, fibers or strands that are usually twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form.
• the rope is in common thicker and stronger than similarly constructed cord, string, and twine.
• the rope furthermore exhibits sufficient flexibility that at least one knot may be formed therein.
• the rope may be constructed of any long, stringy, fibrous material, but is generally made from any natural and/or synthetic fibers.
• Exemplary natural fibers include one or more of hemp, linen, cotton, coir, jute, straw, and sisal.
• Exemplary synthetic fibers include one or more of polypropylene, nylon, polyesters (e.g. PET, LCP, and Vectran), polyethylene (e.g. Dyneema and Spectra), Aramids (e.g. Twaron, Technora and Kevlar) and acrylics (e.g. Dralon). Other fibrous materials such as silk, wool or rayon may be employed as well.
• the fibers may be made of mixtures of several fibers or by using co polymer fibers. Also fibers of a core-shell structure may be employed.
• the rope preferably does not encompass any metal component at the rope's surface, such as a metal wire. It is, however, conceivable that a rope is employed which comprises a metal component within the rope, such as a metal wire extending at the rope's center, without exposing the wire's ends at the rope's ends, such as by provid ing a polymer cap on the rope's end.
• the present rope is preferably entirely made of synthetic fibers due to their increased strength, resistance to rotting, and water repellence in comparison to natural fibers. More preferably, the rope is made of a synthetic recycling material, which has been found providing sufficient characteristics, such as strength, and is available in abundant amounts.
• the synthetic recycling material may be a blend of different plastic materials or a specific plastic material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene.
• the present rope exhibits a diameter or thickness T of 0.5 to 3.0 cm, such as 0.75 to 2.75 cm, 1.0 to 2.5 cm, 1 .25 to 2.25 cm, 1.5 to 2.0 cm or 1.75 to 1.8 cm.
• the rope has a constant thickness.
• a rope may furthermore pertain to any number of ropes, such as one, two, three, four, five or more ropes arranged in parallel.
• a rope may also pertain to a multiplied, e.g. doubled or tripled, rope in which different sections of the rope have been aligned in parallel before making a knot therein. This has the advantage that the number of rope ends may be reduced. It is furthermore preferred to employ a rope which is provided in form of a closed loop or ring, i.e. a rope without having any end.
• the lengths L1 and L2 of the first and second end sections are inde pendent from each other ⁇ 3 cm, such as 0 to 2.5 cm, 0.25 to 2.0 cm, or 0.5 to 1 .0 cm. These lengths L1 and L2 assist on the one hand in preventing untying the knot (particular- ly with regard to longer ends, in particular to an end having a length of more than 3 cm) and furthermore define the overall length of the rope, which is usually in the range of from 10 cm to 30 cm, such as 15 cm to 27.5 cm, 20 cm to 25 cm, or 22 cm to 24 cm. It will be understood that the exact length of the rope depends on various parameters, including the thickness of the rope, its flexibility, and the number and type of the knots employed.
• a "knot” as used herein refers in its broadest sense to any intentional complication in a rope and which is established only by the rope. Any further stabilization means, such as a glue, does therefore not form part of the knot as such, but may be present as an auxiliary component. Furthermore, the knot preferably does not surround and/or is formed around any object. More preferably, the knot does not interconnect the rope to any other object, including another rope.
• the rope comprises a material which exhibits a sufficient hardness for abrading a textile.
• each material which exhibits a greater hardness than the textile to be subjected to abrasion may be employed.
• the material preferably has a shore D hardness of about 50 or more, such as 52 to 90, 54 to 80, 56 to 70, 58 to 76, 60 to 74, or 62 to 64, which is more preferably determined accord ing to DIN ISO 7619-1 (2012-02) and DIN EN ISO 868 (2003-10).
• the fiber structure of the rope may also add roughness.
• a preferred type of knot is a "stopper knot” or “stopper” usually used for creating a fixed thicker point on an otherwise-uniform thickness rope for the purpose of preventing unreeving by stopping the rope at that point from slipping out of a narrow passage, i.e. the first and second loops.
• Exemplary stoppers include an overhand knot, including a single, double or triple overhand knot, a figure-eight knot or a figure-of-eight knot, a stevedore knot and an Ashley’s stopper knot.
• the stopper knots are particularly preferred since they may be easily made while avoiding additional complexity to the knot in terms of adding several rope portions over each other in forming the knot, which increases the largest diameter of the present abrasive in comparison to thickness T of the rope. Accordingly, it is preferred that other types of knots than stoppers, including for instance decorative knots and/or knots for interconnecting the ends of two or more ropes together, are not used.
• a particularly preferred stopper is an overhand knot.
• the overhand knot becomes a trefoil knot by joining the ends thereof in an abutting manner, e.g. by intercon necting, such as gluing, the rope's end faces together. It may be assumed that the trefoil knot represents the best possible knot for the present abrasive.
• the knot needs to be sufficiently tightened to be prevented from untightening/losing in course of the washing process.
• Sufficiently tightening of the knot may be performed by a machine or the pulling force of an adult human according to DIN 3341 1 , involving for instance a pulling force of about 180 N or more, such as 190 N to 500 N, such as 200 N to 400 N, 220 N to 300 N, or 240 N to 250 N.
• the present abrasive may be therefore prepared by fixedly attaching one end of a rope while applying human pulling force to the other end, followed by cutting the ropes end to the required lengths L1 and L2.
• "Agitating” is intended to describe a low speed providing continuous mix ing of the washing drum's interior.
• the low speed preferably refers to a speed of about 1 to about 8 rpm, such as 2 to 7 rpm, 3 to 6 rpm or 4 to 5 rpm, if not specifically mentioned otherwise.
• “centrifuging” or “spinning” refers to a high speed of about 800 rpm to about 1500 rpm, such as 900 rpm to 1400 rpm, or 1000 to 1200 rpm, if not specifically mentioned otherwise.
• essentially refers in general to a small deviation, preferably a deviation of ⁇ 10 % or less, such as ⁇ 5 % or less, or ⁇ 1.0 % or less. "Essentially round” or “essentially spherical” thereby indicates that the diameter of the object may vary by e.g. ⁇ 10 % or less.
• wash out effect is a stone washing effect.
• the mechanical abrasion of a textile, particularly of a dyed denim textile, in a washing process is also referred to as "stone washing".
• the stone washing effect usually not only depends on the type of the textile and employed mechanical abrasive but may also depend on an optional additive, which provides a chemical reaction to aid the abrasion and/or bleaches the textile.
• Such a compound which aids the abrasion or which bleaches the textile is preferably an oxidizer.
• oxidizers included one or more of hydrogen peroxide (alone or in combination with a suitable enzyme, such as a catalase), a hypochlorite, such as potassium or sodium hypochlorite, and a perman ganate, such as potassium or sodium permanganate.
• a suitable enzyme such as a catalase
• hypochlorite such as potassium or sodium hypochlorite
• perman ganate such as potassium or sodium permanganate.
• concentrations of said oxidizers are known to the skilled person.
• the washing process is conducted with at least one denim textile.
• any numbers of textiles, in particular denim textiles, such as 10 or more textile pieces, 25 or more textile pieces, 50 or more textile pieces, or 60 or more textile pieces, may be simultaneously subjected to the present washing process.
• "Denim” or “Serge de Nimes” as used herein refers usually to a cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This twill weaving produces a diagonal ribbing that distinguishes it from cotton duck.
• the denim is preferably indigo denim or, in which the warp thread is dyed with indigo, while the weft thread is left white. As a result of the warp-faced twill weaving, one side of the textile is dominated by the blue warp threads and the other side is dominated by the white weft threads.
• the washing process includes one ore more of (i) a washing step with an antibackstaining agent and/or a detergent, (ii) adding of one or more of NaOCI, KMn0 4 , a peroxide- cellulase-mixture, and (iii) optionally adding a compound for removal of KMn0 4 Mn0 2 residues.
• a dye as it is removed from the textile, any post treatment with e.g. a cellulase or in course of conventional washing process may cause "back staining" or "re deposition” on the denim material.
• a cellulase or in course of conventional washing process
• re-coloration of blue threads and blue coloration of white threads takes place which results in an undesired reduced contrast between the blue and white threads.
• Back staining is usually caused by the formation of glucose during the washing process of textile.
• the glucose act as reducing agent and facilitates the dye, in particular the indigo dye, to exist on the white part of the textile, thus reducing the contrast of the textile.
• an "antibackstainer”, “antibackstaining agent” or“redepositing agent” are used in the wash bath. These agents are added in the bath along with other chemicals associated with the respective washes. These agents are capable of prohibiting the action wherein the removed dyes re-deposit themselves on the garment.
• antibackstaining agents are well known in the art and mostly comprise three substances, a dispersing agent, a chelating agent, and an emulsifying agent. All these must be of a particular concentration in order to inhibit the adherence of e.g. indigo dyes on the white portions of denim gar ments.
• Antibackstaining agents may also contain sequestering/ complexing agents, such as EDTA, salts of EDTA, citric acid, and salts of citric acid, so that they can be used in hard water. Acid liberating agents may be also used along with antibackstaining agents to reduce the alkaline conditions and enhance the enzyme activity.
• Antibackstaining agents may be made from polyglycol ether derivatives and polymer phosphates. Alternatively or in addition, enzymes may be used, such as cutinase and other lipolytic enzymes. [0056] Another way of avoiding back staining is by using week oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, hypo chlorites, permanganates, peroxides, etc. There are some mild oxidizing agents also, which are called resist salts. These week oxidizing agents will act on the glucose and decrease its reducing power and prevent back staining. These week oxidizing agents and the use thereof is well known to the skilled person.
• the detergent mixture may be any common available washing detergent intended for washing machines.
• the wash ing process is free from any further mechanical abrasive.
• the present abrasives are used.
• mechanical abrasives such as stones of natural or synthetic origin, wood, sand, rubber pieces, glass pieces, and polymeric foams are not employed.
• the mechan ical abrasive needs to be distinguished from other compounds possibly contained in the washing process.
• said washing deter gent may encompass fillers which may have the same chemical structure as synthetic stones.
• the mechanical abrasives of the art require a certain size for exerting their activity in that the mechanical abrasives have an individual size in the macroscopic range, of e.g. having a greatest dimension of 0.5 cm or more, such as 1.0 cm or more, 2.0 cm or more, 3.0 cm or more, 4.0 cm or more, or 5.0 cm or more.
• the present washing process is also free from any chemical abrasive.
• the rope has one two or three knots.
• one or two knots are employed. More preferably, a single knot is employed.
• the use of less knots assists in improved functioning of the present abrasive due to an improved relationship between the dimensions of the rope, the overall size of the knot, including a greatest dimension of about 2.0 to 10.0 cm, the shape of the knot, which is essentially spherical or essentially ovoid, and the spatial arrangement of the rope at the knot's surface.
• all said parameters are believed to assist to the present beneficial effects of the present abrasive.
• the at least one knot is a stopper knot selected from the group consisting of an overhand knot, a figure-eight knot, a stevedore knot, an Ashley's stopper knot, an offset overhand bend (which corresponds to an overhand knot employing two ropes) and a reef knot.
• a figure- eight knot, an offset overhand bend and a reef knot have been proven particularly useful. More preferably, an overhand knot, in particular a single overhand knot are employed.
• Preventing defibring assists in longer lifetime of the present abrasive, in cluding the use of the present abrasive in a higher number of washing processes, such as more than 100 or more than 150.
• Defibring of the rope ends may be prevented by a number of measures alone or in combination, including for instance one or more of melting (together) of the ends of synthetic fibers; providing a glue, e.g. a thermoplastic glue, on the first and second rope ends; providing a plastic end cap, which may be made of the same or different material than the rope, on the first and second rope ends; providing a plastic cable tie around each of the first and second rope ends and a plastic cable tie around both rope ends at the same time, thereby connecting the rope ends in parallel.
• a glue e.g. a thermoplastic glue
• first rope end and the second rope end are connected together in parallel.
• a plastic cable tie is provided around both rope ends at the same time, thereby connecting the rope ends in parallel. This has been proven a sufficient measure for preventing defibring and is particularly preferred due to its simple and fast implementation.
• the length L1 of the first end section is L1 ⁇ 1 .0 cm
• the length L2 of the second end section is L2 ⁇ 1.0 cm.
• the rope is made from a recycled plastic material.
• Such a recycled plastic material may be made of polypropylene and/or polyethylene. Recycled plastic material is an abundant and well available base material.
• the rope comprises or consists from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aramid, polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene and poly(p- phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole). Exemplary other materials are either noted above and/or are well known in the art.
• the rope has a round or ellipsoid cross-section.
• the shape of a rope is determined by the individual fibers in that the cross-section is rather essential ly round or essentially ellipsoid.
• the thickness T corresponds the length L(ma) of the major axis, wherein the minor axis has a length L(mi) fulfilling the criteria 0.5 x L(ma) ⁇ L(mi) ⁇ L(ma) provided that L(mi) > 0.5 cm.
• figure 1 a schematic drawing of an abrasive according to the present in vention including a single overhand knot
• figure 2 a schematic drawing of an abrasive according to the present in vention including an overhand knot with both rope ends connected in parallel;
• figure 3 a schematic drawing of an abrasive according to the present in vention including a monkey's fist;
• figure 4 a schematic drawing of an abrasive according to the present in vention including a figure-of-eight;
• figure 5 a schematic drawing of an abrasive according to the present in vention including a single overhand knot formed by two ropes aligned in parallel.
• Example 1 In a washing process the drum of a Macar washing machine (industrial washing machine) has been loaded with 60 indigo dyed denim trousers. All steps have been performed with slow mixing agitating at a speed of about two to three rotations per minute.
• Fig. 1 shows a schematic drawing of the above mentioned abrasive for producing a wash out effect at a textile.
• a rope 10 having a round cross section and a constant thickness of 2 cm is made of recycled polypropylene.
• One end of the rope 10 has been fixedly attached to a surface and a single overhand knot has been formed therein providing the knot 20.
• the knot 20 has been tied by human pulling force of approx. 200 to 250 N.
• first end section 12 and second end section 16 have been formed by cutting the rope (essentially orthogonal to the running direction of the rope) at lengths L1 and L2 of 0.5 cm, respectively, from the first intersection point 22, at which the first end section 12 protrudes from a first loop 24 which is made by the knot 20, and a second intersection point 26, at which the second end section 16 protrudes from a second loop 28 which is made by the knot 20.
• the first and second end sections 12, 16 have been melted, respectively, using a cigarette lighter.
• K 2 Mn0 4 5 g K 2 Mn0 4 (Cas. No. 7722-64-7) have been added thereto, followed by adding 600 g Rospers TMS plus Lycra (CAS 1 13669-97-9, Royal chemicals) and 250 g Roge Con Mex (Kaiser Tekstil) and agitating at 25°C for 5 minutes.
• the 60 textile pieces exhibit an equal abrasive effect over the entire sur face. No visible damages to any textile piece is visable. Synthetic fibers or traces thereof originating from the present abrasives have not been found at/in textile pieces.
• Fig. 2 shows the schematic drawing of the abrasive for producing a wash out effect at a textile.
• the abrasive has been prepared according to Fig. with excep tion of providing the lengths L1 and L2 with 3.0 cm, respectively, and interconnecting the same in parallel at a distance of about 0.1 cm to 0.5 cm from the rope ends 13, 18 (with the ends of the rope 10 facing away from the knot 20) with a plastic cable tie (which has been tied by human pulling force of approx. 200 to 250 N using tongs and removing protruding plastic reminders).
• example 3 has been performed as outlined in example 1 above with the proviso of substituting the abrasives according Fig. 1 by the same number of abra sives according to Fig. 3.
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic drawing of another abrasive for producing a wash out effect at a textile.
• the rope has a thickness of 0.5 cm forming a "monkey's fist" or “monkey paw”.
• the lengths L1 and L2 are 0.5 cm, respectively. Preparing the knot has been performed as indicated with respect to fig. 1 above.
• Figs. 4 and 5 show schematic drawings of another abrasive for produc ing a wash out effect at a textile (Fig. 4, figure-of-eight, Fig. 5 a single overhand knot employing two ropes 10 in parallel, wherein the ropes are made of the same material and having the same thickness).
• the ropes of Figs. 4 and 5 are identical to that of fig. 1 and the knot has been prepared in the same manner.
• the comparative example has been performed as outlined in example 1 above with the proviso of substituting the abrasives according to the present invention by 50 kg of pumice stones.
• the pumice is provided in pieces having an essential spherical form and a size between table tennis and tennis ball size (wherein the size deviation of an individual piece is approx. ⁇ 8 %).
• the comparative example exhibited the problems of small pumice piec es of generally 0.2 mm (greatest dimension) with bags and other parts of the textile pieces, whereas larger pumice pieces of a size about 0.3 mm to 1 .0 cm (greatest dimen sion), which potentially destroy the equipment, were not detected.
• the small pumice pieces have been washed out in course of a further washing step using 500 I water.
• the reminders of the pumice have been collected and discarded as hazardous waste. Approx imately 1500 I of waste water have been treated in a sewage plant and reused. Further preferred embodiments
• Washing process for producing a wash out effect in a textile comprising or consisting of washing a textile in a washing machine, wherein the washing machine is loaded with the textile and at least one abrasive, wherein the abrasive com prises or consists of a rope comprising a first end section with a first rope end, a second end section with a second rope end, and at least one knot, the at least one knot being formed between the first end section and the second end section of the rope, wherein the at least one knot has a first intersection point, at which the first end section protrudes from a first loop which is made by the knot, and a second intersection point, at which the second end section protrudes from a second loop which is made by the knot, wherein a length L1 of the first end section is defined by a first distance between the first intersection point and the first rope end and a length L2 of the second end section is defined by a second distance between the second intersection point and the second rope end, wherein the
• washing process includes one ore more of (i) a washing step with an anti- backstaining agent and/or a detergent, (ii) adding of one or more of NaOCI, KMn0 4 , a peroxide-cellulase-mixture, and (iii) optionally adding a compound for removal of KMn0 4 Mn0 2 residues.
• the abrasive comprising or consisting of a rope comprising a first end section with a first rope end, a second end section with a second rope end, and at least one knot, the at least one knot being formed between the first end section and the second end section of the rope, wherein the at least one knot has a first intersection point, at which the first end section protrudes from a first loop which is made by the knot, and a second intersection point, at which the second end section protrudes from a second loop which is made by the knot, wherein a length L1 of the first end section is defined by a first distance between the first intersection point and the first rope end and a length L2 of the second end section is defined by a second distance between the second intersection point and the second rope end, wherein the length L1 of the first end section is L1 ⁇ 3.0 cm and the length L2 of the second end section is L2 ⁇ 3.0 cm, wherein a
• Clause B3 Abrasive according to clause B1 or B2, wherein the at least one knot is a stopper knot selected from the group consisting of an overhand knot, a figure-eight knot, a stevedore knot, an ashley's stopper knot, an offset overhand bend and a reef knot.
• a stopper knot selected from the group consisting of an overhand knot, a figure-eight knot, a stevedore knot, an ashley's stopper knot, an offset overhand bend and a reef knot.
• Clause B5. Abrasive according to any of clauses B1 to B4, wherein the first rope end (14) and the second rope end are connected together in parallel.
• Clause B6. Abrasive according to any of clauses B1 to B5, wherein the length L1 of the first end section is L1 ⁇ 1 ,0 cm and the length L2 of the second end section (16) is L2 ⁇ 1 ,0 cm, preferably wherein the length L1 of the first end section is 0.1 cm ⁇ L1 ⁇ 1 ,0 cm and the length L2 of the second end section (16) is 0,1 cm ⁇ L2 ⁇ 1 ,0 cm .
• a rope as a mechanical abrasive, preferably in a wash ing process, the rope comprising or consisting of a first end section with a first rope end, a second end section with a second rope end, and at least one knot, the at least one knot being formed between the first end section and the second end section of the rope, wherein the at least one knot has a first intersection point, at which the first end section protrudes from a first loop which is made by the knot, and a second intersection point, at which the second end section protrudes from a second loop which is made by the knot , wherein a length L1 of the first end section is defined by a first distance between the first intersection point and the first rope end and a length L2 of the second end section is defined by a second distance between the second intersection point and the second rope end, wherein the length L1 of the first end section is L1 ⁇ 3.0 cm and the length L2 of the second end section is L2 ⁇ 3.0 cm, wherein

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

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• 2019
  • 2019-05-08 EP EP19726923.6A patent/EP3966381A1/de active Pending
  • 2019-05-08 WO PCT/EP2019/061843 patent/WO2020224776A1/en unknown
  • 2019-09-10 DE DE202019105004.7U patent/DE202019105004U1/de active Active

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