ITMI20102010A1 - TEXTILE PRODUCT - Google Patents

Description

"Textile product"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a material for eliminating excess colors in the washing waters and possibly for softening them, as well as a method for its production.

It is known that "colored" garments lose a certain amount of color in the water during their washing; therefore, in order to prevent the other garments from being partially or even totally dyed, thus resulting in ruin, they must be washed separately.

This problem is common to housewives all over the world and has always been solved by carefully separating "colored" garments from so-called "white" ones or by using low-temperature washing programs, which are not always sufficient for effective cleaning of the garments. On the other hand, the textile industry has tried to produce garments whose pigments are as similar as possible to the fabric, so as not to be massively released. In any case, wash after wash, the "white" garments unfortunately tend to take on a certain color, unwanted by the consumer.

Materials are known which comprise a substrate on which an additive is applied capable of capturing the color released by the darker garments, so that this is not transferred to the lighter or "whites" garments. However, this capacity is sometimes insufficient to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks.

There is therefore a need for new materials which can be added to the laundry and which satisfactorily eliminate the possibility of darker garments coloring lighter ones.

Another problem that afflicts housewives and especially those who live in areas where running water is "hard", is the formation of limescale on the internal surfaces of the washing machine.

The "hardness" of water is the quantity of alkaline earth metal salts, in particular bicarbonates, and calcium and maqnesium sulphates, present in solution in the water and is measured in French qrades (° F). A water is defined as "medium hard" if it has a limestone content (calcium carbonate) from 150 to 250 mg / 1 (15-25 ° F), while it is considered "hard" if the limestone content is higher than 250 mg / 1 (from 25 ° F).

Over time, medium hard or hard water leaves a deposit on the internal surfaces of the washing machines represented by a layer of limestone which, if not periodically eliminated, can cause clogging of the water drains, malfunctioning of the washing machine components, etc. ., with the consequent possible breakage of the appliance and / or copious losses of water.

In addition, the presence of a high quantity of calcium and magnesium salts dissolved in the water, over time, causes damage to the washed clothes. The repercussions are also produced from the environmental point of view; in fact, the calcium and magnesium salts are responsible for the partial neutralization of the action of the detergents, which must therefore be used in greater quantities to obtain the cleaning action. It is therefore obvious that a higher cost and greater pollution are determined in this way. As regards, however, the damage caused to the washed garments, these are due to the micro-deposit of limestone in the fibers of the fabric, which determines a decrease in its softness on the one hand and promotes its early deterioration on the other.

Normally, in order to avoid the aforesaid problems, a suitable quantity of an anti-limescale agent, usually in the form of powder, tablet or liquid, can be added to the detergent in the same compartment.

The present invention, therefore, provides a material with improved properties, which surprisingly allows to totally eliminate the color present in the washing water, thus avoiding the "white" garments from being dyed.

Consequently, the "colored" and "white" garments can be washed at the same time in the washing machine in the presence of the material of the invention which acts as a "dye scavenger". Moreover, according to a further aspect, the material of the invention can also have a water softening action, so as to replace or integrate the conventional anti-limescale additives.

The present invention therefore relates to a material comprising a substrate and a suitable additive which adsorbs the color, thus removing it from the washing waters, as outlined in the attached claims.

In the other aspect of the invention, the material will additionally comprise an additive capable of softening the water, according to what is stated in the claims.

As far as the substrate is concerned, it can comprise any material compatible with normal laundry and can have any shape and size such as, for example, a handkerchief or a cloth. Preferably, the substrate is in the form of a handkerchief.

Typically, the substrate is a natural and / or synthetic fabric, a natural and / or synthetic non-woven fabric or paper or felt, for example aquiliated felt.

In one embodiment, the substrate is a natural and / or synthetic non-woven fabric, more preferably it is a synthetic non-woven fabric.

Non-woven fabrics that can be conveniently used are: spunlaced, spunbonded, thermobonded, airlaided or felt.

In addition, the substrate material may be smooth, perforated, embossed, embossed or needle-pounched.

The terms spunlaced, spunbonded, thermobonded, airlaided and aquqliato (needle-pounched) indicate both non-woven fabrics and the techniques used to obtain them, well known in the art. The fibers preferably used to obtain these non-woven fabrics are fibers of: polyester (PE), polypropylene (PP), polylactic (PLA), polyethylene sulfone (PES), acrylic polymers, regenerated cellulose, for example lyocell® (i.e. of regenerated cellulose, obtained by dissolution and spinning process in organic solvent) or tencell® cotton, viscose or their mixtures. Preferably, the substrate is 80% regenerated cellulose, for example: lyocell® or tencell® or viscose.

According to an aspect of the invention, the substrate is 80% regenerated cellulose or viscose, obtained with the spunlace technique, while according to a further aspect it is needle-punched felt, 80% regenerated cellulose or viscose.

The substrate therefore acts as a "carrier", ie as a support both for the additive which removes the color and for any water softening additive, when required.

In the present invention it has surprisingly been found that a polyaminoamide resin with epichlorohydrin is able to remove the color released by the "colored" garments from the washing waters, thanks to the remarkable affinity for dyes. In fact, one of the principles underlying this invention is that the dye released in the washing waters from the "colored" garments has a much greater affinity for the material of the present invention than for the "white" fabrics present in the laundry.

More particularly, the color-capturing additive is an aqueous solution of a polyamide cationic resin comprising 15-25% of an adipic acid copolymer with chloromethyloxirane, diethylenetriamine and epichlorohydrin (CAS 25212-19-5).

Preferably, the above additive corresponds to that supplied by EIGENMANN & VERONELLI under the name of HERCOSETT 250 LX.

The additive which removes the color can be advantageously prepared in aqueous solution. This solution is particularly suitable for the application of the additive with techniques used in the dyeing sector.

The substrate preferably has a weight of between 50 q / m <2> and 250 q / m <2>, more preferably between 60 q / m <2> and 100 q / m <2>.

More particularly, when a spunlace material is used, the weight is preferably between 50-100 g / m <2>, while in the case in which the substrate is made of felt, this preferably has a weight between 100-250 g / m <2>.

The substrate fibers preferably have dimensions between 0.5 dtex and 5 dtex, preferably between 1 dtex and 3 dtex.

In accordance with the other aspect of the present invention, the sequestering additive of calcium and magnesium ions, and therefore softening of the washing water, is a compound comprising a product selected from polyacrylate, polyphosphonate and an EDTA salt (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). The sequestering agent, for example, is used in an amount designed to leave on the support a weight of between 5 and 100 g / m <2> referred to the dry substrate, preferably between 7 and 50 g / m <2>, more preferably about 10 g / m <2>.

To make the sequestering additive applicable to the non-woven fabric substrate, for example by means of a screen printing process, the compound also comprises a polyurethane, acrylic or natural thickener. The thickener can also be used in quantities ranging from 5% to 100% with respect to the amount of sequestering agent, preferably between 20 and 80 r, more preferably about 50%.

Obviously, the quantity and specific type of thickener will be selectable by the skilled person according to the type of application, the adjustments set on the machine and the selected substrate. The preferred natural thickener is the Guaro IDALCA flour from the Lamberti Spa company.

If it is chosen to use the sequestering agent in combination with the thickener, a viscous compound is obtained as mentioned, which can preferably be stabilized with a dispersant, for example an acrylic-based one. The amount of this substance used can be between 5% and 50% with respect to the amount of sequestering product, preferably between 7% and 20% and more preferably about 10%.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the compound may comprise a substance called "false dye". From a technical point of view, it is a dye defined as "direct blocked", ie a substance that colors the substrate, but which cannot be stably fixed to any tissue. In use, the "false dye" dissolves in the washing water without interfering with the laundry or with the product of the invention. In particular, the compound having softening properties is substantially colorless.

The use of a "false tint" advantageously allows to impart a color to the softener compound when it is applied (by molding) on the substrate, which is white, for example to highlight the manufacturer's logo or a brand. fantasy or any other design or symbol at will. When the substrate is immersed in the washing water, the softening compound thus tends to dissolve slowly throughout the washing cycle; at the same time, the surface of the surrounding substrate takes on a coloring almost instantaneously due to the effect of the color-capturing substance. As a result, the nonwoven substrate will color as a result of capturing the color released by the laundry items into the wash water, with the exception of the spots where the softener compound has been applied. In fact, in correspondence with these points, the design of the logo / design in negative will remain. In other words, the color released by the colored garments is immediately captured by the substrate, which is white and therefore is colored thanks to the color-capturing substance, while the softener, colored and applied only in some points of the substrate, slowly dissolves, leaving visible. the underlying white substrate.

In addition, the softening compound may comprise a binder. The binder is any substance capable of bonding the non-woven fabric substrate. In fact, the binder makes it possible to strengthen the substrate structure to prevent the washing cycles from ruining it. In particular, modern washing machines have washing cycles, but above all spin cycles, which are very thorough and, therefore, subject the material of the present invention to considerable wear. This can cause a rapid deterioration of the substrate in general and in particular of a spunlaced substrate, which represents one of the preferred aspects of the invention for versatility, softness, feeling and binding power of the colors. Otherwise, in fact, the spunlaced substrate could fray, releasing fibers into the washing water that would stick to the garments, with imaginable consequences.

As regards the nature of the binder, this can be a resin such as, for example, an acrylic, vinyl, polyurethane resin or a natural resin. The binder could also be a natural or synthetic latex. The use quantity of the binder (also called cohesive agent) can vary from 5% to 100% of the sequestering product, preferably between 7 and 50% and more preferably it is about 10%.

According to another object, the invention relates to the preparation of a "color capturing" material with improved properties.

In particular, after having prepared the compound based on "color capturing" agent in a suitable solution or in composition with the further ingredients mentioned above as described above, said compound is applied on the non-woven fabric substrate by known application methods. in the sector such as, for example, impregnation, coating or printing, as will be detailed below.

The product object of the present invention can be obtained by combining, in any way, one of the substrates listed above with the color-capturing additive of the invention.

The preferred finished product, more particularly, comprises the substrate to which the cationic polyaminoamide resin with epichlorohydrin described above is applied.

According to optional aspects, the material of the invention can also comprise an additive sequestering alkaline earth metal salts, in particular bicarbonates and calcium and magnesium sulphates, for example, polyacrylic, polyphosphonate or a salt of EDTA, having the function of soften the water.

As mentioned above, in another aspect the present invention relates to a process for manufacturing the product object of the invention.

Said process comprises the following steps: a) providing a substrate comprising one of the following materials: natural and / or synthetic fabric, natural and / or synthetic non-woven fabric, paper or felt;

b) treating the substrate with the color-capturing additive described above;

c) eliminate any excess of color capture additive;

d) dry the substrate.

Optionally, according to the further aspects of the invention, this process can comprise the additional steps of:

e) applying on the semi-finished substrate obtained in step d) a compound comprising at least one sequestering agent for calcium and magnesium ions selected from polyacrylate, polyphosphonate, an EDTA salt;

f) drying the substrate, so as to obtain the final product.

Steps b), c), d) and f) are preferably carried out by impregnating, spraying, molding and / or plating techniques, all of which are techniques known in the art. Preferably, the color-capturing additive is applied by impregnation.

The relationship that is established between additive and substrate can be: absorption, adsorption, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic forces, for example ion / ion or ion / dipole interactions, incorporation, chemical or physical bonding, etc.

Advantageously, the working speeds according to the process of the invention are between 11 and 30 m / min in the case of a needle-punched felt substrate, while, if a spunlaced substrate is used, the speeds can be 11-50 m / min. .

Step e) can be carried out by any method known in the field such as for example impregnation, coating and printing. The preferred method is printing and, in particular, screen printing.

For screen printing, a dense mixture is prepared comprising the sequestering agent, the thickener and possibly the false dye, as explained above.

In step e) the dense mixture, prepared for example as described above, can be applied by printing on the substrate coming from the drying step d), preferably by screen printing.

The quantity of dense mixture which is applied to the substrate is comprised between 1 and 100 g / m <2> referred to the substrate, preferably between 20 and 80 g / m <2>, even more preferably about 70 g / m <2>.

The quantity of dense mixture and, therefore, of sequestering additive that can be applied to the substrate must be a fair balance between a too low quantity, which would have little activity, and a too high quantity, which would be very active, but would partially interfere with the activity of the color capture additive. Different quantities can also be provided according to the degree of hardness of the water with which the product of the invention is to be used.

In step f) the substrate is dried at a temperature from 40 ° C and not higher than 110 ° C, preferably about 100 ° C.

Steps a) -d) are preferably carried out continuously, i.e. the substrate is subjected to impregnation, squeezing and drying without intermediate steps or stops (possibly to allow the additive to bind better to the substrate) between one treatment and another. All this is possible as the additive has a high affinity for the substrate and, therefore, the desired amount of additive binds to the substrate almost instantaneously and it is not necessary to leave the substrate to soak for a long time.

After the drying step d), the semi-finished product can be rolled up and passed to another machine where it will be unrolled and subjected to steps e) and f). Alternatively, the semi-finished product of step d) is not rolled up but sent immediately to molding (step e)), following drying (step f)) and, therefore, rolled up. In other words, the production process can be carried out continuously, with a single machine, from step a) to step f), or in "batch" by carrying out steps a) -d) with a machine and steps e) -f) with a second machine.

The product of the present invention is normally inserted in conventional or professional washing machines before the start of the washing cycle together with "white" and "colored" garments.

By "white" garments we mean those garments with white fabrics and / or light colored fabrics (for example: beige, pink, blue, gray, etc.); preferably, therefore, light-colored fabrics.

By "colored" garments we mean those garments with dark colored fabrics (for example: red, burgundy, yellow, etc.) or very dark (for example: blue, black, dark green, jeans, etc.). These fabrics may have already been machine washed or not. Preferably, by "colored" garments is meant the laundry comprising dark colored fabrics (for example: red, burgundy, yellow, orange etc.); more preferably, dark colored fabrics already subjected to 5 or 6 washes are meant.

When washing begins, the thickener dissolves in water releasing the sequestering agent and the false dye. The sequestering agent dissolved in water thus performs its function of capturing the calcium and magnesium ions avoiding their deposition, such as carbonates and sulphates, on the internal walls of the washing machine. The false dye is dispersed in the washing water without, however, dyeing the garments and is eliminated with subsequent rinses together with the sequestering agent with calcium and maqnesio ions. The false tint has the sole purpose, therefore, of making the printed compound visible, as a commercial vehicle and at the same time, an operation control system. The color-capturing additive remains anchored to the substrate and performs its function by having a higher affinity for the piqments present in the washing waters than the affinity existing between the piqments and the tissues of the "white" garments.

Ideally, the material of the invention is inserted into the washing machine together with light-colored fabrics and dark-colored fabrics that have already been washed 5 or 6 times. The number of sheets of the material of the invention that are used for each washing depends on the weight of the laundry, the colors of the garments and the hardness of the water. Preferably, 2 or more sheets of material of the invention are inserted in the washing machine if there are fabrics that lose a high amount of color, for example cotton fabrics in intense color tones and in the presence of hard water.

The material of the invention resists normal washing temperatures and common detergents and additives, as well as bleach.

BENEFITS

The combined action of the substrate and the pigment, which both possess a high affinity for the pigments, allows to obtain a much higher efficiency in retaining the color present in the washing water than the products known in the art.

Moreover, when foreseen, the double function of "color capture" and "limescale capture" that the product possesses according to an optional aspect of the invention, is very convenient. In fact, with a single gesture you get the double effect of preventing "white" garments from being colored as a result of the loss of color by darker fabrics and the deposition of salts on the garments and inside the washing machine, preserving their good operation.

This translates into a high practicality of use, especially for people who have little time to devote to domestic work who, in this way, can wash "white" and "colored" garments together.

Furthermore, if the combination of the color capturing additive with the descaling additive is foreseen, it is no longer necessary to worry and above all remember to add this additive before washing. In fact, it has been experimentally demonstrated that the product of the invention, if used regularly, has the same descaling efficacy of conventional additives which are not combined with other additives, such as color capturing.

The process of the invention is very fast as it can be carried out continuously and has a limited number of steps. This results in a considerable saving of time and energy. In fact, the final material is obtained in times of the order of minutes as the "color capture" additive binds to the substrate almost instantaneously and it is not necessary to leave it to rest for hours to ensure that the additive is absorbed on the substrate. substrate, as in the processes of the known art. All this is possible thanks to the use of the "color capture" additive of the present invention which has a very high affinity for the substrate and is absorbed in an effective quantity practically instantaneously. Furthermore, the subsequent molding and drying steps are also very fast.

One of the particular preferred combinations, that is, between a needle-punched needle felt substrate and the color-capturing additive of the invention, is that which has made it possible to obtain the best results in terms of resistance to the conditions of use and efficiency.

Experimental tests were carried out using different substrates according to the present invention, to which the color capture additive described above was applied.

In particular, the tests were based on the reading of the difference in color ΔΕ of a single-fiber cotton sample fabric (Empa221) and of a multi-fiber fabric (Empa 410), following a washing in Linitest in the presence of a red patch. stingente and direct dyes (Red and blue tiasol Empa Red).

The lower the ΔΕ value, the better the product's property of capturing color.

In practice, the tests simulate what happens in the washing bath, using a quantity of fabrics and detergent proportioned to a washing bath of 10 liters (washing phase only) in the washing machine.

The following products were used:

a) Manufactured according to patent application MI 2006A00 0096.

b) Product according to the present invention felt

c) Product according to the present invention - Spunlaced.

The 8-station Linitest, a Minolta spectrophotometer and a technical scale with two decimal digits with precision ± 0.01 g were used for the tests. The temperature was 40 ° C using the Omino Bianco Washing Machine Marseille detergent.

By averaging the results obtained at the Linitest of the color-capturing properties on the various fabrics and different conditions (Figures 1-4), it is evident that the product of the invention has surprising properties in capturing the color released by the colored garments during washing.

Claims (35)

CLAIMS 1. "Color-catching" material comprising a substrate selected from the group consisting of natural and / or synthetic fabric, natural and / or synthetic non-woven fabric, paper and felt and as a "color-capturing" additive a polyamide cationic resin comprising a copolymer of adipic acid with chloromethyloxirane, diethylenetriamine and epichlorohydrin. 2. The "color-capturing" material according to claim 1, further comprising a sequestering additive for calcium and magnesium ions selected from: polyacrylate, polyphosphonate and an EDTA salt. 3. A material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said substrate is a spunlaced, spunbonded, thermobonded, airlaided or needled felt nonwoven fabric. 4. Material according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said substrate is made of viscose, polypropylene, polyester, cotton or cellulose pulp. Material according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the substrate is a spunlaced spunbonded thermobonded airlaided synthetic non-woven fabric or needled felt. 6. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said substrate is spunlaced non-woven fabric, 80% regenerated cellulose or viscose. 7. A material according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is felt, 80% regenerated cellulose or viscose. 8. Material according to claim 7 having a weight comprised between 100-250 g / m <2>. 9. Material according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said substrate has a weight ranging from 50 g / m <2> to 100 g / m <2>. 10. Material according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said color-capturing additive is HERCOSETT 250 LX. 11. A material according to any one of claims from 2 to 10 wherein said sequestering additive of the calcium and magnesium ions is an EDTA salt or a polyacrylate polymer present in an amount comprised between 5 and 100 g / m <2> of dry substrate. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 1 further comprising a natural or polyurethane thickener. 13. A material according to claim 12 wherein said natural thickener is Guaro flour. 14. Material according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising a dispersant preferably based on acrylic. 15. Material according to claim 14, wherein said dispersant is present in amounts ranging from 5% to 50% with respect to the amount of sequestering agent. 16. Material according to any one of claims 1 to 15 further comprising a false tint. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a binder capable of bonding the non-woven fabric substrate. 18. Material according to claim 12, wherein said thickener is selected from acrylic, vinyl, polyurethane or natural resin present in an amount comprised between 5% and 100% with respect to the amount of sequestering agent. 19. Process for the production of a "color capture" material comprising the following steps: a) make available a substrate chosen from the group consisting of: natural and / or synthetic fabric, natural and / or synthetic non-woven fabric, paper and felt; b) treating the substrate with the additive according to claim 1 or 10; c) eliminate the excess of additive, e d) dry the substrate. 20. Process according to claim 19 wherein, in step b), the substrate is treated by impregnation, spraying, molding and / or plating. 21. Process according to claim 20 wherein, in step b) if the impregnation technique is used, the substrate is treated with a solution of the color-capturing additive. 22. The process of claim 21 wherein said additive solution is an aqueous solution. 23. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein the additive concentration is between 0.5% and 100%, preferably between 0.5% and 4%. 24. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 23 wherein in step c) excess additive is removed by passing the substrate through two or more rollers. 25. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 24 wherein, in step d), the substrate is dried in an oven at a temperature between 40 ° C and 110 ° C. 26. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 25 wherein, in step d), the substrate is dried for a time ranging from 1 to 5 minutes, preferably about 3 minutes. 27. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 26, further comprising the steps of: e) applying on the semi-finished substrate obtained in step d) a dense mixture comprising at least one sequestering agent for calcium or magnesium ions selected from polyacrylate, polyphosphonate, an EDTA salt; f) drying the substrate, so as to obtain the final product. 28. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 27 in which, in step e), the molding takes place with the silk-screen technique. 29. Process according to any one of claims 27 or 28, wherein the quantity of dense mixture that is applied to the substrate is comprised between 1 and 100 g / m <2>, preferably between 20 and 80 g / m <2>, again more preferably about 70 g / m <2>. 30. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 29 wherein, in said step f), drying takes place at a temperature below 110 ° C, preferably below 100 ° C. 31. Process according to any one of claims 19 to 30 which is carried out continuously. 32. Material obtainable by the process according to any one of claims 19 to 31. 33. Use of the material according to any one of claims 1 to 18 to remove the color present in the laundry washing waters and to sequester calcium and magnesium ions. 34. Method of removing color and limescale from laundry washing waters with the material according to any one of claims 1 to 18 comprising the following steps: - make available a medium hard or hard water bath containing laundry of various colors; - including in the bath the material according to any one of claims 1 to 18; - leaving said material in said bathroom for an entire washing in the washing machine at the end of which said material and said laundry are separated with the result that said material has captured all the color present in the washing water and the descaling sequestering agent has been released into the washing water washing obtaining a softening effect. 35. A method according to claim 34 wherein the steps are repeated many times in the presence of the same material.