GB885848A - Process for proofing fibrous materials against pestiferous organisms - Google Patents

Abstract

Fibrous material, e.g. a textile, is treated to render it resistant to pestiferous organisms by contacting it with an aqueous metastable dispersion containing a tetravalent organo-tin compound having at least one organic radical linked to the tin atom through a carbon atom and a surface-active agent, breaking the dispersion in contact with the material by application of heat to deposit organo-tin compound on the material, and removing at least part of the aqueous phase in the liquid state before drying the treated material. The Specification includes lists of pestiferous organisms, fibrous materials, surface-active agents and organo-tin compounds. The latter includes compounds of the following types: SnR4, SnR3X, SnR2X2, SnRX3, SnR3OH, (SnR3)2O and SnR2O, where R is an organic radical linked through a carbon atom and X is a halogen or the radical of an organic or inorganic acid, or an organic radical linked through oxygen or nitrogen. The fibrous material may be immersed in the dispersion, which is heated to break it while the fibrous material is still immersed. Alternatively, the material may be removed from the dispersion before heating, heated to break the dispersion, and passed through pressure rolls to remove the major amount of the water before drying. In a modification, after the fibrous material has been treated with the dispersion, the dispersion broken, and at least part of the aqueous phase removed, it is treated with a dilute acid to convert the tin compound, e.g. tributyl tin oxide, into a solid tetravalent organic tin compound before drying. The dispersion may also include a resinous adhesive, e.g. polystyrene, a polyvinyl ester or a vinylidene copolymer, a water-softening agent, an optical bleach, a germicide or fungicide other than an organo-tin compound, or a dye or pigment.