GB879144A - A process for protecting synthetic fibres from ultra-violet rays - Google Patents

Abstract

Fully synthetic fibres, e.g. polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile and polyester fibres, are protected from ultra-violet rays by fixing on them fron an aqueous bath a colourless or at most slightly coloured compound of the formula:- <FORM:0879144/IV(c)/1> in which R1 and R2 represent aromatic residues of the benzene series and two vicinal carbon atoms of the residue R2 form members of the triazole ring and the residue R1 contains a free hydroxyl group, an etherified hydroxyl group or an acyloxy group in the ortho-position relatively to the bond with the triazole ring. The residues R1 and/or R2 may be further substituted by halogen atoms, branched or unbranched alkyl groups, trifluoromethyl, hydroxyalkyl or aralkyl groups, phenyl groups which themselves may be substituted, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, sulphonic acid, sulphonamide, alkysulphonyl, arylsulphonyl or aralkylsulphonyl groups, primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups, free hydroxyl groups or alkoxy or acyloxy groups. The triazole compound may be dissolved or dispersed in the aqueous bath, which may be acid to weakly alkaline, if necessary with the aid of an anionic or non-ionic dispersing agent, e.g. an addition product of ethylene oxide with a higher alcohol, or the triazole may be dissolved in an organic solvent which is miscible or soluble in water, e.g. methanol, ethanol or acetone, and the solution then poured into water, or dispersion may be effected, by the use of a colloid mill. The fibres, which may be in the form of loose fibres, hanks or woven or knitted fabrics, may be treated at 80 DEG -120 DEG C. for 20-120 minutes to fix 0,1-5% by weight of the triazole compound, based on the weight of the fibres. The treatment may be combined with treatment to impart an antistatic finish or soft handle or with dyeing.