GB2109403A

GB2109403A - Alkoxylate textile processing oils

Info

Publication number: GB2109403A
Application number: GB08233614A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Douglas Shepley
Original assignee: Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Current assignee: Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV
Priority date: 1981-11-27
Filing date: 1982-11-25
Publication date: 1983-06-02
Also published as: GB2109403B

Abstract

A textile processing oil comprising a) from 50 to 88 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate according to the general formula CnH2n+1 (O-CH2-CH2)mOH wherein n = 9-11 and m=5-7; b) from 12 to 32 %w of an alcohol propoxylate according to the general formula CpH2p+1 (O-CH-CH2)qOH wherein p = 12-15 and q = 5-6; and c)from 0 to 28% of a copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate)mono C1-C6 alkyl ether having an ethoxylate: proposylate weight ratio between 30:70 and 5:95. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Textile processing oils The present invention relates to textile processing oils and to their use in facilitating the processability of fibres or fibrous materials, for example in the woollen and worsted systems of textile processing.

In the textile industry textile processing oils are used as processing aids in order to facilitate the various processing steps in which textile fibres (or fibrous material prior to fibre processing) are converted into textile goods such as yarn, woven or non-woven cloth, knitted goods, felts, carpets, rugs, twine or sewing threads. The woollen and worsted industries have evolved rather distinct systems for processing the raw, fibrous materials into yarns and this gives rise to the characteristic differences between woollens and worsteds. Although wool was the original raw material for both the woollen and worsted industry, both now use other raw materials either as such or together with wool; therefore the terms "woollen system" and "worsted system" nowadays indicate the manufacturing technique applied ratherthan the material used.In the woollen system the major purpose of using a processing oil is to facilitate carding and various stages of spinning and in the worsted system the major purpose is to facilitate combing.

Traditionally, vegetable and animal oils as well as some mineral oil-based lubricants have been used in the worsted system but more versatile textile oils which can be used in both systems have been developed over the years. Reference is made to British Patent Specification 1,172,719 wherein textile oils are disclosed based on condensation products having a melting point below 1 2 C and having been prepared by reacting one or more 1,2-alkylene oxides with two or three carbon atoms with a mixture of monohydric saturated aliphatic primary or secondary alcohols with 8 to 18 carbon atoms, this mixture comprising at least 60% by weight of linear, straight chain alcohols.

Although good results have been obtained with textile processing oils as disclosed in the reference, there is still need for sophisticated textile processing oils, especially for use in woollen systems, which would be able to strike a delicate balance between the miscibility with water on the one hand and the miscibility with oil on the other. Such a system would exert a high degree of compatibility which would greatly facilitate the processability, in particu Ia r with respect to the processing of greasy woolcontaining raw materials.

This invention provides textile processing oils which demonstrate a high degree of compatability forwaterloil environments wherein fibres are processed into textile goods.

According to the present invention therefore, there are provided textile processing oils comprising a blend of alkoxylates, which blend consists of a) from 50 to 88 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate according to the general formula CnH2n+1 (O-CH2 CH2)mOH (I) wherein n=91 1 and m=5-7; b) from 12 to 32 %w of an alcohol propoxylate according to the general formula

q=56; and c) from 0 to 28 %w of a copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono C1-C6 alkyl ether having an ethoxylate:propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 30:70 to 5:95.

Preferred textile oils according to the present invention include compositions wherein the blend consists of 50-80 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate of formula I wherein m=6; 12-32 %w of an alcohol propoxylate of formula II; and 0-18 %w of a copoly (ethoxylate propoxylate)mono C3-Cs alkyl ether having an ethoxy:propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 25:75 to 10:90, or preferably, from 2-16 %w of a copoly (ethoxylate propoxylate) monobutyl ether having an ethoxylate: propoxylate weight ratio of 15:85.

Another class of preferred textile processing oils are compositions wherein the blend consists of 60-70 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate of formula I wherein m=7; 22-30 %w of an alcohol propoxylate of formula II; and 4-10 %w of a copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono C1-C6 alkyl ether having an ethoxylate: propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 30:70to 5:95, preferably 5-10 %w of a copoly- (ethoxylate propoxylate) monobutyl ether having an ethoxylate: propoxylate ratio in the range from 25:75 to 5:95, most preferably of 15:85.

Athird class of preferred textile processing oils are compositions wherein the blend consists of 50-60 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate of formula I wherein m=5; 20-25 %w of an alcohol propoxylate of formula II; and 20-25 %w of a copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono C1-C6 alkyl ether having an ethoxylate: propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 25:75 to 5:95, preferably a monobutyl ether having an ethoxylate: propoxylate weight ratio of 15:85.

It should be understood that the weight % given hereinabove refers to the individual amounts of the compounds a, b and c, the total amount of these compounds in the blend of alkoxylates being, of course, 100 %w.

Textile processing oils according to the present invention, have been found to possess a good compatibility to match the waterloil environment under processing conditions.

The alcohol ethoxylates and alcohol propoxylates as referred to hereinabove are known perse in the art. They may be prepared by known condensation methods, e.g. from the appropriate alcohol and the required amount of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide as referred to in British Patent Specification 1,172,179.

The various alcohol alkoxylates may be condensation products obtained from mixtures of primary alcohols, preferably mixtures which comprise at least 70 %w (e.g. 70-90 %w) of linear straight chain alcohols the remainder being branched chain alcohols.

Alcohols, in particular alcohol mixtures, having the desired number of carbon atoms required in the formulae I and II, respectively, may be suitably prepared by hydroformylation of substantially straight chain olefins having one carbon atom less in the molecule than the product desired. Such olefins may be obtained by thermal cracking of paraffin wax, optionally followed by urea extraction, or by an oligomerization - isomerization process starting from ethylene, thus giving rise to olefins having an even number of carbon atoms in the molecule.

Hydroformylation reactions are generally carried out in the presence of complex catalysts comprising a noble metal such as cobalt, carbon monoxide and one or more ligands containing trivalent phosphorus. The resulting alcohols generally have a straight chain alcohol content in the range from 60 to 90 %w, depending on the reaction conditions and the particular type of ligand employed.

Examples of commercially available alcohols are mixtures of monohydric saturated aliphatic primary alcohols having 9 to 11 carbon atoms per molecule ("Dobanol"-91) which can be used as starting materials for components according to formula I as well as mixtures having 12 to 15 carbon atoms per molecule ("Dobanol"-25) which can be used as starting materials for components according to the formula II. ("Dobanol" is a registered Trade Mark.) "Dobanol"-25 typically contains at least 72 %w of linear straight chain alcohols, the remainder being branched chain alcohols, which are substantially all branched at the alpha carbon atom, only a minute proportion being branched at the beta or gamma atom.

Reactions to prepare condensation products of monohydric alcohols and ethylene oxide and/or 1,2-propylene oxide are known per sue and the same applies to the reaction conditions required to ensure a predetermined amount of condensed ethylene oxide andlor propylene oxide units in the molecules of the condensation product. Advantageously, the reaction is applied at elevated temperatures and pressures, for example at 1300C to 1400C and a pressure between 4 and 6 bar, using sodium or potassium hydroxide as a catalyst. The product may then be neutralised and, if desired, vacuum-stripped to remove unreacted oxide(s) and other volatiles.

Suitable copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono C1-C8 alkyl ethers comprise compounds having from 5 to 20 ethoxylate and from 20 to 50 propoxylate units per molecule. Preference is given to monobutyl ethers, especially monobutyl ethers having from 5 to 15 ethoxylate and from 30 to 50 propoxylate groups per molecule. Copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono C1-C6 alkyl ethers having relatively high propoxylate contents, are advantageous in preparing stable textile processing oils. Good results have been obtained using a monobutyl compound with an ethoxylate: propoxylate weight ratio of 15:85, having a viscosity of 140 cS at 100 F.

It has been found that the presence of water has a beneficial effect on the stability of the textile proces sing oils according to the present invention. Quanti ties of water up to 20 pbw (calculated on the total weight of the alkoxylates present), preferably be tween 5 and 15 pbw, may advantageously be present in the textile processing oils priorto use. It will be appreciated that during some of the stages in the conversion of fibres or fibrous materials into textile goods the textile processing oils will be used in a water-rich environment. Therefore, one of the important performance criteria for textile processing oils is good miscibility with varying amounts of water, whilst retaining good oil-miscibility.

If desired, the textile processing oils may also contain small amounts of an oxidation inhibitor, conveniently amounts up to 5 pbw (calculated on total weight of the alkoxylates present). Preferably an oxidation inhibitor is present in an amount of from 0.05 to 2 pbw, more preferably from 0.075 to 0.2 pbw. Examples of suitable oxidation inhibitors comprise: hydroquinone, 2,2 - bis(4- hydroxypheny l)propane, 2,2- (4 - hydroxyphenyl, 2' - hydroxy phenyl)propane, 2,6-di-tert., butylphenol, 2,6-di-tert.

butyl 4-methyl phenol, 2,6 - di - tert. butyl 4 hydroxymethylphenol, trisphenol, triphenylolpropane and 2,2',2"-triphenylolethane.

Textile processing oils according to the present invention may also include one or more other lubricants, such as mineral oils, castorisperm oils or oleine, in such amounts that they do not impair the water/oil compatibility of the processing oils.

The textile processing oils according to the present invention may be applied both in the woollen and in the wOrsted system and are of particular interest in removing grease and/or oil in woollen systems using operations such as scouring the fibres and/or the yarns produced thereof.

The invention will be further understood from the following illustrative Examples.

Compatibility Experiments The compatability of textile processing oils with water was determined by blending the appropriate textile processing oil with demineralized water so as to obtain blends containing 25 %w (A), 50 %w (B) and 75 %w (C) of water, respectively. The physical appearance of the resulting blend was assessed 24 hours after mixing. The compatibility with oils was determined by blending with a commercially available oil (HVI 60) so as to obtain blends containing 50 %w (D) and 25 %w (E) of oil, respectively. Again, the blends were rated with respectto physical appearance after 24 hours at ambient temperature.

EXAMPLE 1 An ethoxylate of a mixture of Cg-Cla alcohols containing 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole ("Dobanol" 91-6) (l),a propoxylate of a mixture of C12-Ca5 alcohols containing 5-6 moles of propylene oxide per mole ("Dobanol" 25-5 PO) (II) and a copoly(ethoxylate propylate) monobutyl ether hav ing an average molecular weight of 3050 and an ethoxylate: propoxylate ratio of 15:85 and a viscos ity of 140 cS at 100 F (III) were blended in the ratios given in Table 1. The textile processing oils of Table 1 also contained 0.075 pbw (calculated on the total amount of I, II and Ill) of 2,2- bis(4 - hydroxyphenyl) propane as oxidation inhibitor TABLE 1 Exp.Alkoxylate blend composition % w Compatibility with Compatibility nr. demin. water with oil II Ill A B C D E 1 86 12 2 c c c m m 2 80 18 2 c c c m m 3 80 13 7 c c c m m 4 70 20 10 c c c m m 5 60 26 14 c c c m m 6X 45 37 18 sep sep c m m 7X 45 27.5 27.5 sep sep c sep m c = clear liquid m = miscible sep = separate layers x = not in accordance with the invention EXAMPLE 2 Textile processing oils were made up as described in Example 1 with the difference that component I was replaced by an ethoxylate of a mixture of C9-C11 alcohols containing on average 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole (IV). Again, the textile processing oils tested contained 0.075 pbw of 2,2 - bis - (4 hydroxyphenyl) propane (calculated on total amount of IV, II and Ill). The ratios applied and the results obtained are summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Exp. Alkoxylate blend composition %w Compatibility with Compatibility nr. demin. water with oil IV Il Ill A B C D E 8x 90 5 5 c c c sep sep 9X 80 10 10 c c c sep sep 10 70 24 6 c c c m m 11 70 22.5 7.5 c c c m m 12X 70 10 20 c c c sep sep x 60 36 4 c sep sep m m 14 60 30 10 c c c m m c = clear liquid m = miscible sep = separate layers x = not in accordance with the invention Example 3 Textile processing oils were made up as described in Example 1 with the difference that compound I was replaced by an ethoxylate of a mixture of C,-C11 alcohols containing 5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole (V).Again, the textile oils tested contained 0.075 pbw of 2,2- bis (4 - hydroxy phenyl)propane (calculated on total amount of V, II and lill. The ratios applied and the results obtained are summarized in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Exp. Alkoxylate blend Compatibility with Compatibility nr. composition %w demin. water with oil V II Ill A B C D E 15 60 20 20 c c c m m 16X 50 38 12 sep g g m m 17 50 25 25 c c c m m c = clear m = miscible g = gel sep = separate layers x = not according to the invention Example 4 A textile processing oil was made up by blending 80 %w of compound I and 20 %w of compound II. To this blend were added water (5 pbw, calculated on total amount of I and II) and 2,2 - bis(4 - hydroxyphenyl)propane (0.075 pbw, calculated on total amount of land II). The physical appearance of the resulting textile processing oil was assessed after three days at 20 C. The textile processing oil remained a clear liquid which was fully miscible with lanoline in a 3/1 w/w ratio.When a comparative blend was made up based on I and II in a weight ratio 40/60, it had a hazy appearance after three days at 20 C.

Example 5 The application of the textile processing oil described in Experiment 5 of Example 1 was tested on yarns made from a greasy wool/nylon blend to which was added 5% by weight on blend of the textile processing oil. No difficulties were encountered in carding or spinning of the yarns. Yarns thus prepared and having before scouring an extractable residue of 6.4 %w (in dichloromethane) were scoured using a standard nonionic neutral scouring procedure. The extractable residue was reduced to 0.4 %w.

Example 6 The application of the textile processing oil described in Example 4 was tested in the manufacture of woollen cloth from greasy English and New Zealand wools. The textile processing oil was added in an amount of 5 %w on wool. No difficulties were encounted in carding or spinning the yarns. Cloth thus prepared having before scouring an extractable residue of 7.8 %w (in dichloromethane) was scoured using a standard solventldetergent blend, soap and soda ash scouring procedure. The extractable re sidue was reduced to 0.2 %w. Cloth was also scoured using soap, reduced quantities of soda ash and no solvent/detergent blend. An extractable residue of 0.2 %w was obtained.

Claims

1. A textile processing oil comprising a blend of alkoxylates, which blend consists of a) from 50 to 88 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate according to the general formula CnK2n+1 (O-CH2- CH2)rnOH (I) wherein n = 9-11 and m = 5 - 7; b) from 12 to 32 %w of an alcohol propoxylate according to the general formula CpH2p+

wherein p = 12 - 15 and q = 5 - 6; anu c) from 0 to 28 %w of a copoly(ethoxylate prop oxylate) mono C,-C6 alkyl ether having an ethoxy late:propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 30:70 to 5:95.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the blend consists of a) from 50 to 80 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate of formula I wherein m is 6; b) from 12 to 32 %w of an alcohol propoxylate of formula II; and c) from 0 to 18 %w of a copoly(ethoxylate prop oxylate) mono C3-C5 alkyl ether having an ethoxylate:propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 25:75 to 10:90.

3. A composition according to claim 2, wherein the copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono C3-C5 alkyl ether is a copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) monobuty lether having an ethoxylate:propoxylate weight ratio of 15:85 which is present in an amount from 2to 16%wofthe blend.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the blend consists of a) from 60 to 70 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate of formula I wherein m is 7; b) from 22 to 30 %w of an alcohol propoxylate of formula II; and c) from 4 to 10 %w of a copoly(ethoxylate prop oxylate) mono C1-C6 alkyl ether having an ethoxy late:propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 30:70 to 5:95.

5. A composition according to claim 4, wherein the copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono butylether has an ethoxylate:propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 25:75 to 5:95 and is present in an amount from 5 to 10 %w of the blend.

6. A composition according to claim 5 wherein the ethoxylate:propoxylateweight ratio is 15:85.

7. A composition according to claim 1,wherein the blend consists of a) from 50 to 60 %w of an alcohol ethoxylate of formula I wherein m is 5; b) from 20 to 25 %w of an alcohol propoxylate of formula II; and c) from 20 to 25 %w of a copoly(ethoxylate propoxylate) mono C1-C6 alkyl ether having an ethoxylate: propoxylate weight ratio in the range from 25:75 to 5:95.

8. A composition according to claim 7 wherein the ethoxylate:propoxylate weight ratio is 15:85.

9. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims which further comprises up to 20 pbw of water (calculated on total amount of alkoxy lates present) and, optionally, up to 5 pbw of an anti-oxidant (calculated on total amount of alkoxy lates present}.

10. A composition according to claim 9, which comprises 5-15 pbw of water (calculated on total amount of alkoxylates present) and 0.05-2 pbw of anti-oxidant (calculated on total amount of alkoxy lates present).

11. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the anti-oxidant is present in an amount from 5 0.075-0.2 pbw.

12. Textile processing oils according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with particu lar reference to any of the Examples.

13. A process for facilitating the processability of textile fibres or fibrous materials which comprises applying to the fibres or fibrous materials a textile processing oil as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

14. Fibres or fibrous materials whenever treated by a process according to claim 13.