GB1025273A - Fiber-improving compound and process - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises 2-vinylsulphonylethanol and the preparation thereof by treating 1 mole of 2-(vinylthio) ethanol with about 2 moles of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of, as catalyst, a tungstic, vanadic or molybdic acid or an alkali metal, alkaline-earth metal, ammonium or amine salt thereof, the reaction being carried out at a pH of 0.5 to 6 when the catalyst is a vanadic acid or a said salt thereof. The reaction is advantageously carried out in the presence of a sequestering agent. 2-Vinylsulphinylethanol is formed as an intermediate in the above process.ALSO:Organic fibres, e.g. cellulosic fibres, for example; cotton, linen, wood, paper and regenerated cellulose; natural and synthetic proteinaceous fibres, for example; wool, silk, leather, animal hides and skins, casein and zein; polyamides, for example, nylon and polypyrrolidone; polyurethanes; polyesters; copolymers or homopolymers containing recurring carboxylic or cyeno groups; polyvinyl alcohol, partially hydrolysed cellulose acetate and polyvinyl acetate; polyvinyl chloride and mixtures, copolymers and graft polymers thereof, are treated with 2-vinylsulphonyl-ethanol in the presence of an aqueous alkaline medium having a pH of at least 7.5 to give a product which is cured at a temperature of at least 220 DEG F. in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to improve their dimensional or shape retention properties, e.g. wet and/or dry crease resistance, crease angle retention, crease recovery, wrinkle recovery, dimensional stability, wash-and -wearability, swelling resistance, shrinkage resistance, tensile strength, retention of creases, pleats, glazed, embossed and other mechanical properties, and to improve the fastness of dyes, e.g. direct and reactive dyes, thereon. The 2-vinylsulphonyl-ethanol is applied to the organic fibrous material in the presence of an aqueous alkaline medium, having a pH of at least 7.5 by any suitable method, e.g. by immersion, padding, spraying or printing, continuously or otherwise; followed by curing in the presence of an alkaline catalyst at at least 220 DEG C. To prevent discoloration, the curing step is preferably carried out in the presence of a boron-containing compound. The application of the 2-vinylsulphonylethanol may be performed simultaneously with the addition of a reactive dyestuff. Such dyestuffs include nitro, azo, anthraquinone and phthalocyanine dyestuffs which may be metal free or may be metal complexes. After the application of the 2-vinylsulphonylethanal but prior to the curing step the fibrous material may be subjected to mechanical treatment, for example pleating, and chemical treatment, for example dyeing.