US2805463A - Method of treating knitted goods containing shrinkable fibres and products thereof - Google Patents

Description

NIETHOD F TREATING KNITTED GOODS CON- TAINING SRINKABLE FIBRES AND PROD- 5 UCTS THEREOF Michel Jean Andr Laval, Reims, France No Drawing. Application December 22, 1953, Serial No. 399,829

Claims priority, application France October 15, 1953 17 Claims. (or. 28-76) It is known, particularly from French Patent No. 898,309 of the 27th September 1943, that'it is possible to utilize drawn polyvinyl chloride fibres in combination with other, non-shrinkable fibres in order to obtain cloque or oreping effects, or to close the pores of a fabric or the mesh of knitted goods.

The present invention has for an object a new method of shrinking which makes it possible to obtain, starting with knitted goods, textile fabric articles possessing after treatment a very close structure no longer reminiscent of the initial appearance of the knitted goods but having the appearance of a suede fabric or buckskin. These knitted goods are constituted for example of spun yarn containing in intimate mixture shrinkable fibres of polyvinyl chloride, particularly fibres obtained by carrying into effect French Patent No. 913,919 of the 5th May 1942, and natural, artificial or synthetic fibres which are dyed or undyed and which are markedly less shrinkable under the conditions of treatment (which latter fibres will for convenience of reference hereinafter be called substantially non-shrinkable).

The invention accordingly provides a method of treating knitted material including threads constituted by intimate mixtures of shrinkable polyvinyl fibres and substantially non-shrinkable fibres, for the purpose of obtaining material having the appearance of a suede fabric or buckskin, characterized in that a plurality of operations of shrinking of the knitted material are carried out, firstly in a moist medium and finally in the dry state, while between the damp and dry shrinking operations are interposed dressing operations such as waterproofing, roughening, teasing, sueding or emerying, and any desired operations in preparation for and of dyeing.

The method of treatment of the present invention may comprise the following phases:

A first rapid shrinking in an aqueous medium of a fabric preferably in the fiat state at a temperature between 90 and 100 C., and preferably carried out so that the shrinkage obtained varies for example between 50 and 75% of the total shrinkage required, depending on the texture of the knitted material;

A second shrinking carried out on the fabric rolled on a rotating support in an aqueous medium at a temperature ranging for example from 90 to 100 C., the shrinking time being from one to two hours; preferably so that this second treatrnent. adds to the first shrinking from 10 to 20% of the totalshn'nkage required;

Operations of preparation fordyeing and of dyeing, if desired;

Dressing operations, such as waterproofing, if desired, and sueding, that is to say: roughening, teasing, shearing, or emerying, these operations being intended to give the fabric the appearance of buckskin;

A third dry shrinking of the fabric without tension, andpreferably in the flat state, at a temperature variable with the speed .of passage of the knittedjmaterial through the apparatus, this temperature being-variable between 2,805,463 Patented Sept. .10,

ice

2 110 and 140 C. This last operation brings the shrinkage of the knitted material to the maximum.

The invention further covers as new industrial products, fabrics or articles for whatever purpose as obtained by carrying out the aforesaid method, which products it was impossible to obtain by previously known methods, wherein the shrinking was carried out in a single operation and in the same wet or dry medium.

There will now be given two examples of performance of the method, which are intended to illustrate the invention without however limiting the same in any way.

Example I The fabric to be treated is made up of threads constituted by an intimate mixture of of viscose fibers in the form of staple and 30% of drawn poylvinyl chloride fibres prepared for example in accordance with Example 3 of French Patent No. 913,919 mentioned above. This fabric is knitted on a circular interlock knitting machine.

of a suitable gauge for the metric number.

The fabric is first cut in the lengthwise direction, along a slip-stitch where possible, so as to obtain a fiat fabric which can be treated breadthwise.

A fabric of this kind is introduced into a vat filled with water brought to and maintained at boiling point throughout the entire operation. The length of the vat may be 5 to 10 metres and the fabric is transported while submerged without tension, at a speed which may vary between 5 and 10 metres per minute.

The fabric is cooled at the outlet of the vat by passing same between the rolls of a foulard press of classical type whereby water present in the fabric is expelled. As

a result of the above treatments the fabric undergoes a first shrinkage in the fiat state and over the Width thereof. After this first shrinking the fabric is introduced into a reeling vat of conventional typefilled with cold water and the water is progressively brought to boiling point. This temperature is maintained for one or two hours while the fabric in the rolled upstate is turned in the vat, after which the bath is cooled by the introduction of cold water. The fabric is then washed and bleached, either spread out over its full Width or rolled up in tubular form, in a washer of conventional type.

The fabric is then vat dyed with by suitable processes.

After dyeing, the fabric is partly dried by suction or by a foulard press. It is then further dried, either while stretched out mechanically at a temperature which may vary between 60 and C., or in the open air after being spread out.

After drying, waterproofing is carried out by impregnation in a bath containing either emulsified waxes or a chromium stearochloride, or. any other waterproofing agent. V A further drying of the fabric is carried out under the same conditions as after dyeing; all traces of folds are then eliminated by passing through a vaporising tentering machine of conventional type, and on falling from the tentering machine the fabric is passed several timesivigorously over a metallic teasenwith and against the nap.

This teasing operation is followed by the shearing operation on a table shearer, whereof which several passages may be necessary, as the nap obtained by teasing must be plain and cut very short, in order to obtain a very .fin'e sueded appearance. 7 1 a The fabric is again passed over the vaporising tentering machine, in order to remove the folds and creases, so that it may be in perfect condition when subjected to the following operation, that is to say when introducedinto a machine having hot air circulation compartments where the temperature is raised to between and 1,40 C. In the last compartments. The drive is obtainedwith the suitable dyestufis and on thelength of the machine. After this operation of shrinking and fixing, the fabric must rest in regular folds forcooling, for a time which may vary between 5 and 15 hours. After cooling, the fabric is passed over a vaporising tentering machine for final equalisation, and finally it is wound on a tube. M

V 3 Examplell.

" The fabric to be treated is composed of threads obtained from intimate mixing of 80% of wool and 20% of drawn polyvinyl chloridefibres. It is knitted on a rib frame.

All *the operations indicated in Example I up to and including the ffirst tentering are carried out. However, the washing of the fabric and also the dyeing are effected :with products and by a method suitable for wool. [According toth e effectdesired, either the fabric may be teased and sheared, or if desired to retain its clear and close appearance, these operations may be eliminated.

Final shrinking and fixing are then proceeded with as in Example I. r

Example III v Th e fabiric to be treated is composed of threads obtained from intimate mixing of 65% of wool, 20% of polyv'nyl chloride fibres and 15% of viscose. It is knitted 'on a suitable rib frame.

'All the operations indicated in Examples I and II are carried out. 7 Final shrinking and fixing are then proceededwith as in Example I.

V I 2 Example IV The fabric to be treated-is composed with threads obtained from mixing of 60% of wool, 10% cotton and 15% of polyvinyl chloride fibresl All the operations indicated in Examples I and II are then carried out and 'final shrinking and fixing are proceeded with'asExample I.

Example V V The fabric to be treated is composed with threads obtained frommixing of 70% f superpolyamide (nylon) and. 30% of polyvinyl chloride fibres; This fabric is knitted on .a circular interlock knitting machine. All the operations indicated in Example I are carried out. However the washing of the fabric and also the dyeing are effected with products and by a method suitable for superpolyamides.

It will be .clearly' understood 'that -the inventionis not limited to the examples described above and that it extends to several variants. Thus;

1; The percentage of shrinkable fibres may varyinthe "intimate mixture, in any suitable proportions.

2. The intimate mixtures may contain, together with the shrinkable fibres, one or more sorts of non shrinkable 3. -Inorder to obtain the sueded or buckskin appearance, an emeryin'g machine may be nsedinstead of a metallic teaser. j

4. The shearing of the fabricmay be elirninateiil, depending on the appearance'of the fabric and *the use to :whichit is to'be put. 7 7 5. Any machine permitting the action of heat 'onthe fabric without tension'inay be suitably employed foi' the operations of shrinking and fixing, and so ;'on; l V v v 6. The various stitches obtainable'on mesh frames are compatible with the processof the invention.

7. 0n hosiery frames threadsnsuc'h "as .those defined above and other threadsinot containing shrinkable fibres can alternate. e

r V 78, 'Ihe componentfibres canbe dyed before weaving,

. 4 r in which case the operations of dyeing mentioned above are not required.

Knitted goods treated according to the present invention are utilisable for the production of clothing, furniture and vehicle upholstery, synthetic leather goods, or for the production of gloves, footwear, and so on. Whatlclaimisr' l. A process for treating fabric knitted from threads having a fiber mixture of polyvinyl chloride and relatively non-shrinkable fibers, comprising shrinking said fabric in hot Water, subjecting said Water treated fabric to me chanical abrasion, and further shrinking said abraded fabric in a heated dry environment.

2. A process for treating fabric knitted from threads having a fiber mixture of polyvinyl chloride and relatively non-shrinkable fibers, comprising first rapidly shrinking said fabric in water heated to 90100 C., cooling said fabric,.additionallyshrinking saidfabric ina boilingwater bath, subjecting said waterwtre'ated fabric to mechanical abrasion, and furthershrinking said abraded material in a-dry environment heated to 110-,140" C.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said threads have a fiber mixture of 70% viscosefibers in the form of staple and polyvinyl chloride.

4. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said threads have a fiber, mixture of 180% wool and 20% polyvinyl chloride.

. polyvinyl chloride.

g in said threads have a fiber con 7. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said threads have a fiber mixture of 70% nylon and 30% polyvinyl chloride. 1 8. A process for treating fabric knitted from threads having a fiber mixture of 15 to 30% polyvinyl chloride and-70-to of relatively non-shrinkable fibers, comprising passing said fabric without tension through a water bath heated to -100" C. for about l minute, cooling said fabric, rolling said fabric along its longitudinal axis, circulating said rolled fabric through a second water bath, raising the heat of said second water bath to the boiling point after ,the entry of said rolled fabric, maintaining said boiling point for '1 to 2 hours, cooling ,said bath, removing :said rolled fabric from said bath, nnrolling said fabric, passing said fabric over a teaser with and against the nap,-:shearing said teased fabric to obtain a suede fabric through circulating hot air at about IDS- C. without tension on the fabric.

p 9. A preshrunk fabric resulting from the process of claim 1. r

10. A preshrunk fabric resulting from the process of claim 2.

tent of 80% wool and 20% drawn polyvinyl chloride.

,12. A preshrunk fabric as claimed in claim 10 wherein said threads have. a fiber mixture of 65% wool, 15%

viscose and 20% polyvinyl chloride.

' "13; A preshrunk fabric as claimed in claim-10 wherein said threads-have a fiber mixture of 60% Wool, 10% cotton, and 15 polyvinyl chloride.

14. A preshrunk fabric "as claimed in claim 10 where- I nylon and 30% polyvinyl chloride.

15. A preshrunk fabric as claimed inclaim 10 wherein said threads have a fiber mixture of 70% viscose fibers in the form of staple and,30% polyvinyl. chloride;

,16.3A process for treating fabric knitted from threads having a fiber mixture of polyvinyl chloride and .relatively non-shrinkable fibers, comprising shrinking said fabric in t wa subjecting said-water treated-fabric to appearance, and passing said sheared preshrunk fabric as claimed inclaim 10 where-f mechanical abrasion, shearing and further shrinking said abraded fabric in a heated dry environment.

17. A process for treating fabric knitted from threads having a fiber mixture of polyvinyl chloride and relatively non-shrinkable fibers, comprising first rapidly shrinking said fabric in water heated to 90100 C., cooling said fabric, additionally shrinking said fabric in a boiling water bath, subjecting said water treated fabric to mechanical abrasion, shearing and further shrinking said abraded material in a dry environment heated to 110-140 C.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,232 Clavel et a1. Nov. 12, 1940 6 Rugeley Mar. 31, 1942 Wedler Mar. 7, 1944 Bell et a1. June 27, 1944 Bell et a1 June 27, 1944 Kahil June 11, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 3, 1944

Claims (1)

1. A PROCESS FOR TREATING FABRIC KNITTED FROM THREADS HAVING A FIBER MIXTURE OF POLYVINYL CHLORIDE AND RELATIVELY NON-SHRINKABLE FIBERS, COMPRISING SHRINKING SAID FABRIC IN HOT WATER, SUBJECTING SAID WATER TREATED FABRIC TO MECHANICAL ABRASION, AND FURTHER SHRINKING SAID ABRADED FABRIC AN A HEATED DRY ENVIRONMENT.