US1911289A - Method of cleaning fabrics - Google Patents

Method of cleaning fabrics Download PDF

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Publication number
US1911289A
US1911289A US590981A US59098132A US1911289A US 1911289 A US1911289 A US 1911289A US 590981 A US590981 A US 590981A US 59098132 A US59098132 A US 59098132A US 1911289 A US1911289 A US 1911289A
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United States
Prior art keywords
fabrics
cleaning
moisture
water
solvent
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Expired - Lifetime
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US590981A
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English (en)
Inventor
Warren T Reddish
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Emery Oleochemicals LLC
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Emery Oleochemicals LLC
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Publication date
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Application filed by Emery Oleochemicals LLC filed Critical Emery Oleochemicals LLC
Priority to US590981A priority Critical patent/US1911289A/en
Priority to BE388646D priority patent/BE388646A/xx
Priority to GB14602/32A priority patent/GB401752A/en
Priority to FR738063D priority patent/FR738063A/fr
Priority to DEE43026D priority patent/DE678359C/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US1911289A publication Critical patent/US1911289A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06L—DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS
    • D06L1/00—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods
    • D06L1/02—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents
    • D06L1/04—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents combined with specific additives

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a new art, method, and process of cleaning garments, fabrics, textiles, cloth, rugs and articles of like na ture which, for the sake of convenience, throughout the remainder of the description, will be designated by the term fabrics unless otherwise specifically identified.
  • the dry cleaning process differs in principle from the wet washing process.
  • the dirt part1- cles on the fabric are removed by emulsification and saponification of the oils and greases which bind the particles to the fabric. This is usually accomplished by washing the fabrics with the ordinary fatty acid soaps wh ch possess emulsifying powers in water solution and liberate alkali by hydrolysis whlch combines with the saponifiable oils present.
  • Those fattv acid soaps also lower the surface tension of the solution which accelerates the detergent action by increasing the rate of penetration of the soap and water into the fabric.
  • the highly water soluble soil which may also be present is removed, of course, by the solvent action of the water. This process is injurious to a majority of types of fab- Application filed February 4, 1932. Ser'al No. 590,981.
  • a conventional cleaning solvent is employed of the type exemplified by a volatile hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon, the more commonly used of which are gasoline, naphtha, carbon tetrachloride and trichlorethylene.
  • a volatile hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon the more commonly used of which are gasoline, naphtha, carbon tetrachloride and trichlorethylene.
  • the dry cleaning process is usually practiced by treating the fabrics in rotating drum type washers containing the cleaning solvent to which may be added suitable so-called dry cleaning soaps which decrease static and lower surface tension. The agitation is continued for from ten to thirty minutes, depending upon the type of fabrics being treated and their. condition.' During this treatment, the oily or greasy film, which binds the dirt particles to the fabrics, is dissolved and the dirt particles are removed by the agitation of the fabrics in the solvent.
  • the articles are then rinsed in clean solvent and cent'rifugally extracted and then dried either in rotary drum type dryers or in heated rooms.
  • oily and greasy soil is removed without shrinkage of the fabric or damage to. the sizing and finishing materials, the dyes or the fibre itself.
  • Such spots may in some cases be removed by what is called the wet-dry treatment in ric because it often causes shrinkage, fading/ which the fabric is first immersed in the or disfiguration.
  • v In the dry cleaning industry tOWhlCll this cleaning solvent and then, while still saturated with solven t, treated with'cold water or a dilute soap solution for from three to five minutes.
  • the presence of the cleaning solvent in the fabric prevents the absorption of sufiicient water to cause appreciable shrinking, loss of sizing material or bleeding of colors, but allows the water to come in contact vwith the soluble spots sufficiently to bring This process is tedious, expensive, and may injure a fabric or fail to remove the spots, or both.
  • the object of this invention is to provide an entirely new and novel art, method or process by means of which fabrics are cleansed of substantially all varieties of spots or soil without individual attention to each article treated or the utilization of artizan skill and judgment.
  • This invention resides in a series of recognitions, concepts and determinations which have required and received verification by large scale commercial operation upon all cleaning solvent to a very extreme degree, for I instance, that degree which is signified by a substantial optical clarity of the solution, then the moisture will not have its usual deleterious effects upon the fibre, the dyestufl', or the finish of the fabric being treated. In other words, even the finest silk evening dress will not be injured by this treatment.
  • the invention resides in the concept and determination that an appropriate amount of moisture appropriately dispersed throughout a dry cleaning solvent, possesses the desirable cleaning properties of water but not the disadvantages.
  • the next feature of this invention which is rather unexpected, is that the quantity of moisture adapted to produce the best results should be determined and controlled primarily in relation to the weight of the fabrics treated, rather than in relation to the weight or quantity of the cleaning solvent used. This is due tothe fact that the fabrics always absorb substantially all of the moisture in the cleaning solvent. Therefore, the
  • the more specific aspects of the invention may be said to reside in the determination that a useful cleaning action is obtained by agitating the fabrics in a body of cleaning solvent containing about five percent of their weight of moisture and that in many cases, the weight of moisture may be increased to thirty percent of the weight of the fabrics without injury thereto. For instance, silk garments may be cleaned by treatment with between five and fifteen percent of their weight of moisture, though approximately ous evening gowns.
  • the absorption of moisture by the fabric being treated is-more analogous to the absorption of moisture by a fabric in a very damp climate, for instance, on the seashore.
  • absorbefacients In view of the fact that moisture does not admix readily with the cleaning solvents in common use at present, absorbefacients must be used( these will be described at a later point). While the moisture for the first batch of fabrics may be added to the cleaning solvent directly with the absorbefacient, it is believed to be better practice and more in conformity with the spirit of this invention first to add the absorbefacient to the cleaning solvent and thereby create in this cleaning solvent the capacity to absorb'the substantial and requisite quantities of moisture in a state sufliciently fine and dispersed as not to be injurious to the fabrics to be treated. Then the desired quantity of moisture may be determined and added for each batch of fabrics treated. This step is termed. charging the cleaning solvent.
  • the cleaning solvents be constituted water absorbent for the maximum amount of moisture requisite for the impending operations. If this be done, then it is not necessary to adjust the ratio of absorbefacient to cleaning solvent for particular or unusual conditions which may arise.
  • each batch of fabrics to be cleaned is weighed. Generally speaking, fifty or sixty pounds of fabric are considered the maximum load for about fifty gallons of cleaning solvent.
  • the cleaning solvent is charged with moisture, the amount being based upon the weight of fabrics being treated. In this connection, attention should be paid to the humidity of the atmosphere which normally determines the percentage of moisture already in] the fabrics. Likewise, it is necessary to take into account the nature of the fabrics being cleaned and the degree of soil.
  • the preferred process comprises: first, drying out the fabric to be cleaned, if necessary. Next. the fabrics are weighed. Next, they are given a preliminary dip in a straight solution of cleaning solvent to get off the worst of the dirt and saturate the fibres with cleaning solvent. Next, moisture is introduced into a second batch of cleaning solvent to be used for the crucial cleaning treatment, the amount of moisture used being approximately equal to between five and thirty percent of the weight ofthe fabrics being treated. Ten percent is recommended for fine silks and fifteen percent for mens suits.
  • the absorbefacients employed in the process have the capacity to pass the filters in solution. Otherwise the process would not be adapted for use in the modern. well-equipped dry cleaning plants. in practically all of which filtration during treatment is standard practice.
  • the absorbefacient therefore, must form in the cleaning solvent a stable, permanent, solution which will pass the filters,
  • the fabrics are next given a rinse in cleaning solvent after which they are dried and subjected to relatively routine handling.
  • the filtration of the cleaning solvent containing the absorbefacient may be continued after the removal of the fabrics until the solvent is clarified to the desired extent.
  • the amount of moisture added must be determined and calculated in relation to the weight and nature of the next batch of fabrics. After the cleaning solvent accumulates too great an amount of oil soluble soil or contamination to be clarified and purified by filtration, it is distilled and a new moisture absorbent solution constituted.
  • absorbefacients in all of the cleaning solvents at present available to endow them With the properties requisite for the practice of this invention.
  • These properties desirable for the cleaning solvent include: filterability (in the absence of moisture); power and capacity to repeatedly absorb substantial quantities of moisture in a state of subdivision so fine that the solution is substantially optically clear: chemical inertness towards all varieties of fibres, dyestuffs, sizes and finishes;
  • a 10% solution of the above formula in cleaning naphtha produces a cleaning solvent capable of containing 1% moisture.
  • the percentageconcentration of th s absorbefacient in the cleaning solvent is critical.
  • Hydrogenated sulfonatedanthracene is its 40 17. Water 15. Sodium oleate 12.
  • a 6% solution is suitable for absorbing th usually desirable amounts of moisture.
  • No. 6 is the preferred and recommended one because it possesses all of the requisite properties previously discussed, can be used with all of the types of cleaning solvents at present employed for dry cleaning, can be used safely and successfully on a commercial scale with out supervision of the cleaning process by skilled chemists, and can be used successfully on all types of fabrics adapted to be cleaned by this general process.
  • formula No. 6 may be used in most dry cleaning plants as at present constituted without any substantial changes of equipment or material changes in handling and routing the fabrics through the plant except as herein specified.
  • absorption assistants which may be used as absorption assistants, (though with varying degrees of safety on dyed fabrics), comprise butyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, di-acetone alcohol, ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate, and diethylene glycol mono butyl ether.
  • Absorption assistants which tend to be taken up by the fabrics must be periodically replenished.
  • volatile hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon which is moisture absorbent by rea son of an absorbefacient dissolved therein and which contains an amount of moisture determined in relation to the weight and nature of the batch of fabrics being cleaned, but does not exceed the moisture tolerance of the fabrics, the moisture in the cleaning liquid being so finely dispersed that the liquid is substantially optically clear.
  • the fabric cleaning process which comprises preparing a moisture absorbent cleaning liquid by dissolving an absorbefacient in a dry cleaning solvent of the type exemplified by a volatile hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon, charging the liquid so constituted with moisture each time a batch of fabrics is cleaned therein, the amount of the charge in each case determined in relation to the weight and nature of the fabrics constituting the specific batch, but in no case exceeding the moisture tolerance of the fabrics and treating the fabrics with the liquid so constituted to remove greasy soil and water soluble soil concurrently in one operation.
  • the fabric cleaning process which comprises preparing a moisture absorbent cleaning liquid by dissolvingan absorbefacient in a cleaning solvent of the type exemplified by a volatile hydrocarbon or chlorinated hydrocarbon, forming a substantially optically clear dispersion of moisture in the liquid so constituted each time a batch of fabrics is cleaned therein, the amount of the' charge in each case determined in relation to the weight and nature of the fabrics constituting the specific batch but in no case exceeding the moisture tolerance of the fabrics and treating the fabrics with the liquid so constituted to remove greasy soil and water soluble soil concurrently in one operation.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
US590981A 1932-02-04 1932-02-04 Method of cleaning fabrics Expired - Lifetime US1911289A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US590981A US1911289A (en) 1932-02-04 1932-02-04 Method of cleaning fabrics
BE388646D BE388646A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1932-02-04 1932-05-20
GB14602/32A GB401752A (en) 1932-02-04 1932-05-23 Method of cleaning fabrics
FR738063D FR738063A (fr) 1932-02-04 1932-06-02 Procédé de nettoyage des tissus
DEE43026D DE678359C (de) 1932-02-04 1932-07-14 Verfahren zur Reinigung von Textilien

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US590981A US1911289A (en) 1932-02-04 1932-02-04 Method of cleaning fabrics
BE388646T 1932-05-20
GB14602/32A GB401752A (en) 1932-02-04 1932-05-23 Method of cleaning fabrics
FR738063T 1932-06-02
DEE43026D DE678359C (de) 1932-02-04 1932-07-14 Verfahren zur Reinigung von Textilien

Publications (1)

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US1911289A true US1911289A (en) 1933-05-30

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US590981A Expired - Lifetime US1911289A (en) 1932-02-04 1932-02-04 Method of cleaning fabrics

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US (1) US1911289A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE388646A (enrdf_load_html_response)
DE (1) DE678359C (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR738063A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB401752A (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2475418A (en) * 1945-09-20 1949-07-05 Fmc Corp Dry cleaning
US2531166A (en) * 1947-11-08 1950-11-21 California Research Corp Detergent concentrate
US2574528A (en) * 1947-03-06 1951-11-13 Gage Prod Co Electrically neutral organic liquid compositions
US2576419A (en) * 1947-06-04 1951-11-27 Detrex Corp Cleaning composition
US2697075A (en) * 1951-12-21 1954-12-14 California Research Corp Dry-cleaning compositions
US2720213A (en) * 1951-06-14 1955-10-11 Jr George E Whitcomb Injector for dry cleaning apparatus
US2949336A (en) * 1956-05-28 1960-08-16 Stamford Chemical Company Methods and apparatus for dry cleaning
US2967084A (en) * 1952-07-01 1961-01-03 Associates Discount Corp Process and apparatus for controlling water in a dry cleaning solvent composition with a humidity responsive device
US3057676A (en) * 1957-04-27 1962-10-09 Bohme Fettchemie Gmbh Dry-cleaning composition and process
US3163493A (en) * 1960-12-23 1964-12-29 Stockhausen & Cie Chem Fab Process for disinfecting dry cleaning in conventional solvents
US3333316A (en) * 1964-03-20 1967-08-01 Pechiney Saint Gobain Method of felting keratinous articles
US3335093A (en) * 1965-02-08 1967-08-08 Dow Chemical Co Dry cleaning process and composition
US3349038A (en) * 1962-04-24 1967-10-24 Stamford Chemical Ind Inc Detergent compositions
US4108599A (en) * 1976-01-09 1978-08-22 Stauffer Chemical Company High water content emulsion cleaning
US20050011543A1 (en) * 2003-06-27 2005-01-20 Haught John Christian Process for recovering a dry cleaning solvent from a mixture by modifying the mixture

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE525130A (enrdf_load_html_response) * 1952-12-23
GB1264916A (enrdf_load_html_response) * 1970-01-06 1972-02-23

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2475418A (en) * 1945-09-20 1949-07-05 Fmc Corp Dry cleaning
US2574528A (en) * 1947-03-06 1951-11-13 Gage Prod Co Electrically neutral organic liquid compositions
US2576419A (en) * 1947-06-04 1951-11-27 Detrex Corp Cleaning composition
US2531166A (en) * 1947-11-08 1950-11-21 California Research Corp Detergent concentrate
US2720213A (en) * 1951-06-14 1955-10-11 Jr George E Whitcomb Injector for dry cleaning apparatus
US2697075A (en) * 1951-12-21 1954-12-14 California Research Corp Dry-cleaning compositions
US2967084A (en) * 1952-07-01 1961-01-03 Associates Discount Corp Process and apparatus for controlling water in a dry cleaning solvent composition with a humidity responsive device
US2949336A (en) * 1956-05-28 1960-08-16 Stamford Chemical Company Methods and apparatus for dry cleaning
US3057676A (en) * 1957-04-27 1962-10-09 Bohme Fettchemie Gmbh Dry-cleaning composition and process
US3163493A (en) * 1960-12-23 1964-12-29 Stockhausen & Cie Chem Fab Process for disinfecting dry cleaning in conventional solvents
US3349038A (en) * 1962-04-24 1967-10-24 Stamford Chemical Ind Inc Detergent compositions
US3333316A (en) * 1964-03-20 1967-08-01 Pechiney Saint Gobain Method of felting keratinous articles
US3335093A (en) * 1965-02-08 1967-08-08 Dow Chemical Co Dry cleaning process and composition
US4108599A (en) * 1976-01-09 1978-08-22 Stauffer Chemical Company High water content emulsion cleaning
US20050011543A1 (en) * 2003-06-27 2005-01-20 Haught John Christian Process for recovering a dry cleaning solvent from a mixture by modifying the mixture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE678359C (de) 1939-07-14
BE388646A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1932-06-30
GB401752A (en) 1933-11-23
FR738063A (fr) 1932-12-20

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