GB469476A - Improvements in the treatment of cellulosic material - Google Patents

Abstract

Cellulosic materials are treated with a halogeno-methyl ether of the general formula R--O--CH2--Hal, in which R is a normal or branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, saturated or unsaturated, of not less than 8 carbon atoms, and Hal is a halogen atom, the treatment being carried out at a raised temperature in an inert organic diluent or solvent for the reagents, and preferably in the presence of an acid-binding agent. As an alternative, there may be used a quaternary ammonium salt formed from the halogeno methyl ether and a tertiary organic amine. The cellulosic material may consist wholly or in part of natural or regenerated cellulose or cellulose esters, e.g. cotton, viscose or other artificial silk including cellulose acetate material, linen, jute or mixtures of these fibres. Paper or films, threads, yarns, woven or knitted fabrics may be treated. The materials may be dyed. The chlormethyl ethers used are obtained by treating the respective alcohol with formaldehyde and hydrogen halide. Chloro methyl dodecyl, sec-dodecyl, cetyl, or octodecyl ether, or a chloromethyl ether of the mixture of alcohols from sperm oil may be used. The treatment renders the material waterproof and gives it a soft handle and these effects are resistant to laundering and dry cleaning. Toluene, benzene, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene, and other hydrocarbons or chlorinated hydrocarbons may be used as organic diluent or solvent. Pyridine, aniline, N-alkylaniline or dialkyl aniline, di- or triethylamine, piperidine, alkyl piperidines, sodium or potassium carbonate, potassium acetate, or calcium hydroxide may be used as acid binding agent. The treatment is carried out at raised temperature, preferably at or near the boiling point of the diluent. In an example, a -chloromethyl octadecyl ether is dissolved in dry toluene and pyridine is added. Undyed boiled out cotton limbric is immersed in this solution which is heated at 90 DEG C. The fabric is removed, pressed, washed with alcohol, and dried. In other examples, cotton-wool union fabric, gaberdine and limbric are treated. Cotton fabric is impregnated with a solution of octadecoxymethyl pyridinium chloride in trichloroethylene, squeezed, and dried in a current of warm air. It is then baked at 105 DEG C. Limbric is padded with chloromethyl octadecyl ether, diethylaniline, and benzene mixture. It is dried in warm air and then heated at 120 DEG C. on a drying cylinder. Knitted cellulose acetate fabric is immersed in a solution of toluene containing a chloromethyl ether of sperm-oil alcohols, and pyridine. The solution is heated for 30 minutes and the fabric is then rinsed in alcohol and dried. Specifications 340,555, 390,553, 396,992, and 426,482 are referred to.