GB340636A - Treatment of textile or other materials - Google Patents

Abstract

Phosphorescent or luminous yarns, filaments, films, or fabrics are produced by fixing phosphorescent or luminous substances in or on the materials while the latter are in a swollen or softened state. The phosphorescent substance may be applied over the whole surface or locally by printing, stencilling &c. The material may be treated with the swelling or softening agent, and subsequently with the phosphorescent substance, or the phosphorescent substance may be applied simultaneously with the softening or swelling agent which may also act as a mercerizing agent. The phosphorescent materials may be applied to artificial yarns, filaments &c. without special treatment to effect their softening by applying such materials to the yarns &c. during manufacture and before they have coagulated. For example, finely divided phosphorescent material may be applied to filaments of cellulose acetate as they issue from a dry-spinning machine and before they are set. The phosphorescent substances may be applied to the softened materials by dusting or blowing the substances on to the materials or by applying them in the form of aqueous dispersions or pastes either locally or over the whole surface. In some cases, colouring matter may be applied together with the phosphorescent substances, while the treated material may be protected against severe wear by the subsequent application of a layer of varnish made, for example, of a cellulose derivative applied in a solution having little or no solvent action on the base. The process is applicable to the treatment of cotton or other cellulosic fibres such as regenerated cellulose; silk; cellulose esters such as cellulose nitrate; organic acid esters of cellulose such as cellulose acetate etc.; cellulose ethers; and condensation products of cellulose and glycols or other polyhydric alcohols. Suitable softening agents for cellulosic materials are zinc chloride, Schweitzer's Reagent, or caustic alkali, while for cellulose esters or ethers there may be employed acetone or other ketone, ethyl alcohol, diacetone alcohol, phenol, cresol, or formic acetic, or butyric acids. As phosphorescent substances, there may be employed suitably treated zinc, barium, or calcium sulphide, or, if self-luminous effects are required, zinc sulphide containing a small amount of a radio-active substance.