GB889180A - Improvements in and relating to the manufacture of garments from regenerated cellulose - Google Patents

Abstract

"Wash and wear" garments are made by cutting a shrinkable woven fabric containing more than 20% by weight of regenerated cellulose fibres to form a garment segment which is longer in the warp and filling directions than is desired in the finished garment by an amount approximately equal to the relaxation shrinkage of the garment, i.e. the shrinkage which occurs when the tensions introduced into the fabric and its individual yarns during textile processing are released, joining the garment segments to form the garment, subjecting the garment to relaxation shrinkage by an aqueous treatment, impregnating the garment with a cross-linking agent for the regenerated cellulose fibre and pressing and curing the impregnated garment. The garment segments are preferably cut 10%-25% larger in the warp direction and 0%-5% larger in the direction of the filling than is desired in the finished garment, and the garment segments may be joined by sewing or by use of an adhesive, e.g. the fabric may contain thermoplastic fibres such as cellulose acetate which are rendered adhesive by heat to cause joining, or an adhesive may be applied to the areas to be joined and the areas pressed together and dried. The garments may be shrunk by agitation in water at 140 DEG F.-180 DEG F. for 1/2 -4 hours. If the fabric has been sized before cutting, e.g. with 4%-12% by weight of starch, gums or polyvinyl alcohol, the garments may be desized and shrunk simultaneously with an aqueous solution of a desizing agent, e.g. an aqueous solution containing 1%-3% by weight of a diastatic enzyme at 140 DEG F-180 DEG F. for 30 minutes to 4 hours. The cross-linking agent may be formaldehyde or an amino plast, e.g. urea-formaldehyde, melamine - formaldehyde, dicyandiamide - formaldehyde and guanidine formaldehyde condensation products, but it is preferred to use dimethylol cyclic ethylene urea compositions containing polymethyl methacrylate, silicone lubricants, softening agents and a catalyst such as ZnCl2, Zn(NO3)2 or MgCl2. 6H2O. Other specified cross-linking agents are acetone-formaldehyde, acrolein-formaldehyde and polyepoxy resins, e.g. polyfunctional compounds having at least two epoxy groups linked through a hydrocarbon, polyhydric phenol or polyhydric alcohol group. Creases or pleats may be inserted in the garment impregnated with the cross-linking agent before curing. The garments may be pressed in a "hot head" press at a temperature of 300 DEG F.-330 DEG F. at air pressures of 20-80 p.s.i. or dried at 140 DEG F.-200 DEG F. and then pressed and cured, with or without the presence of moisture, at 1/2 -20 p.s.i. and 250 DEG F.-300 DEG F. After pressing the garments may be hung in an oven at 300 DEG F.-350 DEG F. for 3-10 minutes or at 230 DEG F.-300 DEG F. for 15 minutes to several hours. Specified garments are aprons, vests, dresses, coats and shirts. Specification 796,815, and U.S.A. Specifications 2,504,835, 2,696,477, 2,711,971 and 2,752,269 are referred to.