GB1023471A - Process for treating cellulosic fabric and product thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Cellulosic fabrics are creaseproofed by crosslinking the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose with a strong base catalysed cross-linking agent while they contain a strong base, i.e. a substance which is soluble in water and as a 1% by weight aqueous solution has a pH of at least 10, and less than 35% by weight total moisture, the strong base being uniformly applied to the p fabrics in the form of an aqueous solution by transfer of the solution with pressure from the patterned surface of a print roll in an amount such that the total moisture content of the fabric does not exceed 35% by weight. The strong base may be an alkali metal hydroxide, sulphide or silicate or a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, e.g. trimethyl phenyl ammonium hydroxide, and suitable crosslinking agents are epichlorohydrin, 1, 3-dichloropropanol-2, 2, 3-dichloropropanol-1, the diglycidyl ethers of glycerol and ethylene glycol and related halo-epoxide, dihalohydrin and diepoxide compounds, divinyl sulphone, divinyl sulphoxide, bis-(sodium b -sulphatoethyl) sulphone or sulphoxide and the corresponding bis-thiosulphato, phosphato or sulphoxide potassium sulphato, ammonium sulphato, organic acid ester and quaternary ammonium halides, e.g. pyridinium chloride, picolinium chloride and isoquinolinium compounds. The fabric may be passed from a supply roll in intimate contact with the patterned surface of the print roll which dips into a reservoir containing the aqueous strong base solution, excess solution being removed by means of a doctor blade and continuous contact of the fabric with the surface of the print roll being ensured by means of a pressure roll made from a resilient material, e.g. silicone rubber. Before or after treatment with the strong base solution the fabric may be passed over an applicator roll which dips into a reservoir containing the crosslinking agent or an organic solution thereof, e.g. a solution in acetone, butanol or isoproperol, and after impregnation with the strong base, moisture and crosslinking agent may be maintained at a temperature up to 100 DEG C. as a polyethylene encased smooth roll until the cross-linking has taken place. The print roll may be made from chrome plated copper, stainless steel, "Teflon" (Registered Trade Mark) or polypropylene and the pattern on the roll may be a cross hatched type pattern, parallel lines running helically, vertically or horizontally around the roll and may be continuous lines, intermittent lines, dots or bands of lines or dots on the surface. The pattern may be provided by raised portions on the surface of the roll or by providing etched or grooved portions varying in depth from 0.0005 to 0.005 inches having relatively raised portions having an area of no greater than 0.05 square inch. The fabric may have impregnated in it during the crosslinking reaction polyethylene softeners, methanol, ethanol, propenol, ethylene or propylene glycol, glycerine, sucrose, dextrose, sorbitol, dextrin or starch. Woven, knitted or non-woven fabrics comprising cotton, linen, jute, flax, cellulose ether, cellulose ester and regenerated cellulose, including polynosic rayon, fibres alone or in admixture with polyester, nylon or polyacrylic fibres may be treated.