US1717315A - Cellulose goods with permanent finish and process of producing same - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 11, 1929 v UNITED STATES trials E 'l on 1 1% GEORGES HEIBERLEIN, WATTWIL, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEBERLEIN PAT- ENT CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N Y A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CELLULOSE GOODS WITH PERMANENT FINISH PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

1T0 Drawing.

ing same. The invention is especially ap- 1 ess of producing same.

plicable to loose construction cotton fabrics and particularly those of the general order or character of fabrics known as mock voiles and voiles made of loosely twisted yarn, although it is also applicable to various constructions of fabric both light and heavy.

The object of the invention is to improve or enhance the character and value of cellulose fibre goods by means of a suitable permanent The invention consists in the new and enhanced character of goods (fabrics and yarns) hereinafter described, and in the proc- The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the prior state of the art, and by the following description of the preferred manner of producing such permanent finish goods.

The treatment of cotton fibresto give them lustre, generally known as mercerizing, 1s. well known. This is accomplished by allowing strong caustic alkali (at least 15B.) at normal temperaturellfl to 20 C.) to act for a short period, about 8 to 12 seconds, upon the fibre while under tension.

More recently, as described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,265,082, it was found that if strong caustic alkali at below 0 (1, say for example at 10 G, was allowed to act upon sheer cotton fabric, such for example as organdies, for longer periods, a new action would take place, resulting in a permanent finish transparent effect. Still later, the discovery was made, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,439,519, that if coarse fabrics or fibres were subjected to said strong caustic at below 0 (3., say for example at 10 G, for a sufiicient duration, a permanent finish linen efiect would result.

It has now been discovered that if this strong caustic alkali is used at a temperature above 0 (3., which is about the upper limit for the production of the transparent and linen effects, and at a temperature below the lower temperature limit used for mercerizing, there a is produced neither the transparent nor linen effects on the one hand nor the lustre efiect on the other, but the unexpected result is that the fabric attains a natural and lasting stiffness somewhat of the general character heretofore obtained as a temporary finish only, by applying a dressing or sizing such as starch.

Application filed. July 30, 1925. Serial No. 47,126,

As pointed out, the invention is of special value with respecttoloose construction fabrics such for example as low grade voiles, so by way of example the preferred manner of practicing the process will be described as applied to such voiles, As is known, a mock voile is one woven of single yarn such for example as of N 0. 50 English count single yarn and weft; and a cheap or inferior voile of two ply yarn would be one say for example of No. 50 English count two ply slack twist. Whereas a good full voile is one for example woven of No. 100 English count two ply yarn.

Voiles range in construction around 12-13 threads to the quarter of an inch warp and weft to 1616, and this invention is particularly useful in treating fabrics of this general order of looseness of construction, woven of either single ply yarn or loosely twisted multiple ply yarn.

If for instance one takes mock voile or a voile of two ply loosely twisted yarn and bleaches and mercerizes the same in the customary manner, the voile possesses, in contrast to full voile fabrics, too little firmness and is too limp and rag-like for use. Such voiles, therefore, prior to this invention had to undergo the dressing sizing or filling treatment with starch and the like to give them the necessary hand to make them appear even temporarilyuntil washedsti1fer and fuller like a full voile. The present invention does away with this filling or dressing process, and gives the desired body and stiffness which is permanent, and also refines the fibres themselves as hereinafter more fully explained.

Tf nowaccording to the present inyention, one takes a mock voile or inferior :gvoile of multiple ply slack twist yarn and subjects it to the action of cold caustic alkali of not less than 15 B., and at a temperature preferably between about 2 C. and about 6 C. for a suficient time, and stretches the fabric in known manner while under action of said caustic alkali, a very marked improvement takes place in the character of the fabric, The durationof treatment of the goods will depend upon the character of the goods bemg treated, but the treatment should be longer than that given for ordinary mercerization at normal temperature. A treatment longer than that necessary to produce the new effect will, however, not be disastrous to the desired effect. For example, in practice voiles treated with the caustic alkali of the strength of 30 B. at a temperature of from about 4 C. to about 6 C. are subjected to the action of the cold caustic alkali for from 20 to 60 seconds. After the caustic treatment with stretching, the goods are as usual washed. The fabric acquires a natural full hand-a natural and lasting stiffness, making it unnecessary to give it a subsequent dressing or sizing. It becomes clearer, nicer, and experiences a change in the direction of and more similar to full voiles, and acquires somewhat the general character of full voiles. The chemical action of the alkali under the conditions of the new process efiects a valuable refinement of the yarn resulting in a quality improvement, thus giving to the fabric a higher fabric classification and hence an enhanced value. Furthermore, the finish thus produced is a permanent one not lost in washing, as is the case with goods dressed or sized with starch or the like. i

It is not possible to set a precise line of demarkation as to the temperature of the strong caustic alkali necessary to produce the new effect, because it may be found to vary a little depending upon the particular construction of the fabric to which it is applied, and possibly also depending upon other conditions, such for example as some prior preliminary treatment of the goods or the use in conjunction with the caustic alkali or after the caustic alkali treatment, of some other reagent. But as a guide for those skilled in the art, in practicing the invention, it is pointed out that from treatments thus far conducted, it has been found that the best results are obtainable with the caustic alkali at fromabout 2 to about 6 C. when treating voiles, and it has been noticed in tests and experimentation that fabrics start to show the improved effect when caustic is used at 0 to 1 C., and at 2 C. the effect is quite noticeable.

The fabric treated with caustic alkali at this last temperature is considerably enhanced in quality. Employing caustic alkali at about 7 (1., the new effect is substantially diminished, and when caustic alkali is used at 8 C. this new efi'ect ofthe fabric is no longer noticeable. So far, therefore, as the broader aspect of the invention is concerned, I desire the invention to comprehend the .use 'of the caustic alkali from about 0 C. to

about 7 (1., although the effects with the use of the caustic alkali at from about 2 C. to about 6 C. are noticeably. improved over efiects obtained by the use of caustic alkali either below or above this range of temperature.

In similar manner, other and heavier or coarser fabrics than voiles, such for example as fabrics woven from single yarns or multiple ply yarns, are improved in quality and character by the above described treatment.

While the invention has been described with particularity according to the preferred method of practicing the same and with the use of cold caustic alkali only as the reagent, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the'invention, that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Method of producing a permanent finish in cellulose goods with increased stiffness, which comprises subjecting the goods to treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 B. at a temperature between about 0 C. and 1 about 7 C. for at least 20 seconds, and tensioning the fabric while under the action of the caustic alkali.

2. Method of producing a permanent finish in cotton fabrics with increased stiffness, which comprises taking for treatment loose construction cotton fabrics and subjecting the fabric to treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 B. at a temperature between about 0 C. and about 7 C. for at least about 20 seconds so as to cause said fabric to acquire said increased stiffness.

3. Method of producing a permanent finish in cotton goods with increased stiffness, which comprises subjecting the goods to treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 B. at a temperature between about 2 C. and about 6 C. for at least 20 seconds and stretching the goods while impregnated with said caustic.

4. Method of treating mock voiles or voiles woven with loosely twisted yarn, to enhance their character, which comprises subj ecting such voiles to treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 Be. at a temperature between about 0 C. and about 7 C. for at least 20 seconds, and stretching the fabric while impregnated with said caustic alkali, whereby said fabric is caused to acquire a character more nearly like that of full voile.

5. Method of treating mock voiles or voiles woven with loosely twisted yarn, to enhance their character which comprises subjecting such voiles to treatment with caustic alkali of at least 15 B. at a temperature between about 2 C. and about 6 C. for at least 20 seconds, and stretching the fabric while about 0 C. and about 7 C. for atleast 20 seconds, and stretching the goods.

8. A loose construction cotton fabric having a permanent finish with increased stiffness resulting from treating the fabric with caustic alkali of at least 15 B. at a temperature between about 2 C. and about 6 C. for at least 20 seconds, and stretching the 10 fabric.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification.

GEORGES HEBERLEIN.