GB899902A - Process for treating cellulosic textile materials - Google Patents

Abstract

The dimensional stability and wash and wear characteristics of textile materials containing cellulosic fibres are improved by reacting the textile material with a compound of the formula <FORM:0899902/IV (a)/1> in which each R may be the same or different and represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical containing 1-8 carbon atoms, inclusive, e.g. divinyl, dipropenyl, diisopropenyl and diisobutenyl sulphoxides, in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, e.g. alkali metal hydroxides and carbonates, quaternary ammonium hydroxides, alkali metal salts which in the reaction mixtures hydrolyse to form alkaline solutions, such as alkali metal sulphides, and strongly alkaline organic acid-alkali metal salts. The textile material may be treated with the sulphoxide and then passed into an aqueous solution of the catalyst containing inorganic or organic salts, e.g. sodium chloride, acetate or sulphate or trisodium phosphate. Alternatively the textile material may be treated with the catalyst and then with the sulphoxide, or the sulphoxide and catalyst may be applied simultaneously. The sulphoxide and catalyst may be applied from aqueous solutions or from solutions in water-miscible organic solvents, e.g. acetone, tertiary butanol and tetrahydrofuran. From 1 to 100% of the sulphoxide, calculated on the dry weight of the textile material, may be applied. The reaction is preferably carried out at room temperature for 1/2 -4 hours, although temperatures of up to 100 DEG C. and higher may be employed. Woven and knitted fabrics, yarns, threads and separate fibres in the form of a sliver made from cotton, jute, hemp, flax, viscose rayon or partially esterified or etherified cellulose, alone or in admixture with non-cellulosic materials, e.g. nylon and polyesters, may be treated.ALSO:Compounds having the formula <FORM:0899902/IV (b)/1> in which each R may be the same or different and represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical containing 1-8 carbon atoms, inclusive, are prepared by <FORM:0899902/IV (b)/2> <FORM:0899902/IV (b)/3> <FORM:0899902/IV (b)/4> wherein R has the value defined. Specified compounds are divinyl sulphoxide, dipropenyl sulphoxide, diisopropenyl sulphoxide and diisobutenyl sulphoxide.ALSO:The dimensional stability and wash and wear characteristics of textile materials containing cellulosic fibres are improved by reacting the textile material with a compound of the formula <FORM:0899902/IV (c)/1> in which each R may be the same or different and represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical containing 1-8 carbon atoms, inclusive, e.g. divinyl, dipropenyl, diisopropenyl and diisobutenyl sulphoxides, in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, e.g. alkali metal hydroxides and carbonates, quaternary ammonium hydroxides, alkali metal salts which in the reaction mixtures hydrolyze to form alkaline solutions, such as alkali metal sulphides, and strongly alkaline organic acid-alkali metal salts. The textile material may be treated with the sulphoxide and then passed into an aqueous solution of the catalyst containing inorganic or organic salts, e.g. sodium chloride, acetate or sulphate or trisodium phosphate. Alternatively the textile material may be treated with the catalyst and then with the sulphoxide, or the sulphoxide and catalyst may be applied simultaneously. The sulphoxide and catalyst may be applied from aqueous solutions or from solutions in water miscible organic solvents, e.g. acetone, tertiary butanol and tetrahydrofuran. From 1 to 100% of the sulphoxide, calculated on the dry weight of the textile material, may be applied. The reaction is preferably carried out at room temperature for 1/2 -4 hours, although temperatures of up to 100 DEG C. and higher may be employed. Cellulosic fabrics treated may have previously been treated with 2%-6% by weight of a resin, or the fabric may be treated with a resin to improve its flat drying properties and dry crease resistance after treatment with the sulphoxide. Woven and knitted fabrics, yarns, threads and separate fibres in the form of a sliver made from cotton, jute, hemp, flax, viscose rayon or partially esterified or etherified cellulose, alone or in admixture with non cellulosic materials, e.g. nylon and polyesters, may be treated.