US2816004A

US2816004A - Cellulosic solutions containing fire retardant and method of extruding

Info

Publication number: US2816004A
Application number: US234666A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer H Rossin; Milton J Scott
Original assignee: Monsanto Chemicals Ltd
Current assignee: Monsanto Chemicals Ltd; Monsanto Chemical Co
Priority date: 1951-06-30
Filing date: 1951-06-30
Publication date: 1957-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-10

Description

UriitedStatcs Patent Ofiicc 2,816,004 Patented Dec. 10, 1957 Elmer H. Rossin, Melrose, and Milton 3. Scott, Lexington, Mass., assignors to Monsanto Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware I No Drawing. Application Irine30, 1951, a Serial No. 234,666

14 Claims. (or. 18-54 The present invention relates to cellulosic compositions which are capable of being formed into flame retardant structures such as filaments, films and the like. The present invention also relates to processes for producing afterglow-resistant and flame-retardant cellulose ether and rc- 20 generated cellulose structures such as films, filaments and the like, and to the structures so produced.

It has been proposed'heretofore to impregnate cotton fabrics with various inorganic salts of phosphoric acrd afterglow-resistant antLfim etardWme sthrcture-onrrra e y coagulating such spinning solution or dope in an acidic aqueous coagulating bath followed by leaching and drying. The amount of such reaction- .product used may be varied considerably. However, it is preferred to use from 3 to by weight of such reaction product, based on the cellulose in the spinning solution or dope, in order 'to obtain a structure which is sufficiently afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant, and has sutlicient strength to be useful as a commercial article of manufacture such as a free film, filament, fabric or the like.

. The term afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant as used in the specification and appended claims is intended to designate a structure which is resistant to the'propagation of flame across its surface after the igniting flame has been removed, and which is also resistant to the formation of a non-flaming combustion which manifests itself as a red glow or incandesence and which consumes the structure after all flame has been extinguished.

The terms aqueous cellulosic spinning solutions or 'aqueous cellulosic dopes as employed in the specification and the appended claims are intended to include true such as diamonium phosphate to impart. fiwqetardant and colloidal solutions of cellulose in aqueous solutions of properties to such fabrics. However, such treatment pro- 25 'vides a fabric which is firm and stiff due to the crystallization of the salt in the fabric; Moreover, the fire-retardant finish thus produced is fugitive and is readily removed by laundering or by leaching the fabric with water. Consequently, such fabrics have found only limited com: mercial acceptance in the textile trade.

Cellulose fabrics and regenerated cellulose films have also been, treated with water-soluble reaction products of ammonia and phosphorous pentoxide and then dried to provide a fire-retardant finish. While such finish is more pleasing to the touch than the finish produced by diammonium' phosphate, it is also fugitive and is readily removed from the fabrics or films by laundering or by leaching in water. Consequently the materials thus treated are not acceptable where a material which must be wash-resistant or resistant to leaching with water is'required.

It is one object of the present invention to provide cellulosic solutions which are capable of being coagulated with acidic aqueous solutions to form afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant cellulosic structures, which structures retain their afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties after a considerable number of launderings or on leaching in water. 1

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel process of preparing afterglow-resistant andefire ret rdant W and fifecellulosicstructures such as v sr 'retardaht regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether filaments, films or fabrics, which structures retain their afterglowresistant and fire-retardant properties after a considerable number of launderings, or on leaching in water.

It is a further obiectof this invention to provide after-' glow-resistant and fire-retardant regenerated cellulose and cellulose ether structures which retain their afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties after leaching in water, 50

, monia in an inert, anhydrous liquid, suflicient to impart calcium thiocyanate, sodium zincate, sodium zincate and urea, benzyl substituted ammonium hydroxide such as trimethyl benzyl ammonium hydroxide and triethylbenzyl ammonium hydroxide (which benzyl substituted ammonium hydroxides are described in greater detail in the Powers and Bock patent, No. 2,009,015), and zinc chloride; true andcolloidalsolutions of cellulose zanthate in water and aqueous alkalis such as aqueous sodium hydroxide solution as, for example, viscose syrups or dopes; true and colloidal solutions of cellulose or reaction products of cellulose and ammonia-copper complexes in an aqueous solution of an ammonia-copper complex as, for example, cuprammonium spinning solutions or dopes;

, and true and colloidal solutions of cellulose ehters .such

- ous sodium hydroxide solution. But such terms are not as carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and the like in water or aqueous alkali such as aqueintended to include organic acid or anhydride derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate solutions, cellulose propionate solutions or other solutions 'of a product obtained by reacting cellulose with an organic acid or anhydride.

The spinning solutions or dopes of this invention may contain varmnts of cellulose, cellulose xanthate, cellplnsemthers or the like, defi'n'ding on whefiier they! are subsequently employed for spinning filaments, staplei fibers, free films or whether they are to be used for coat-i ing purposes. In general, they contain from about 2 toi ,l$% by weight of cellulose or the named cellulose derivatives, or-even larger or smaller amounts. -However, in most instances it is preferred to use spinning solutions or dopes which contain from aboutfi to 10% of the cellulose or the named cellulose derivatives such as cellulose I xanthate. The preferred spinning solution or dope is viscose which is used in the preparation of viscose rayon or cellophane. Y

The preparation of viscose and cuprammonium spinning solutions is described generally in The Rayon Industry" (1927), published by D. Van'Nostrand Company, New York, N. Y., on pages 256-267 and pages 320-329, respectively. More detailed descriptions for preparing viscose spinning solutions are described in patents listed on pages 468 and 469 of said publication. Specific descriptions for preparing cuprammonium spinning solutions are described in patents listed on pages 455-462 of said publication.

The spinning solutions or dopes described above may contain conventional additives such as delustering agents as, for example, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, mineral oils or the like, cationic and non-ionic surface active agents to inhibit incrustation of spinning orifices, dyes and colored pigments and the like. Such solutions or dopes may also contain from 1 to 5% by weight of an inert fire-retardant agent such as antimony oxide.

The term neutral to alkaline reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia as used in the specification and the appended claims is intended to include the monomeric or only slightly polymerized reaction products of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid, which products dissolve in water to form a solution having a pH of 7 or higher, and is also intended to include polymerized reaction products of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia, which polymerized products are substantially insoluble in water and may be utilized as a dispersion in water having a pH between 7 and about 7.5. The above described reaction products are insoluble in acidic aqueous solutions. The reaction products which are normally soluble in neutral to alkaline aqueous solutions are precipitated in acidic aqueous solutions and are rendered insoluble. Hence, when the spinning solution or dope which contains such products is coagulated in an acidic aqueous coagulating bath, the product is precipitated in the cellulosic structure and is rendered insoluble so that it is not removed in appreciable quantities by subsequent launderings or leachings in a substantially neutral aqueous medium.

The monomeric or substantially unpolymerized reaction products of phosphoryl chloride (otherwise known as phosphorous oxychloride) and ammonia, which prod ucts have been designated phosphoryl amide, may be prepared in various ways. A suitable method of preparing such reaction products comprises reacting phosphoryl chloride and ammonia in an inert, anhydrous liquid such as kerosene, naphtha, benzene, hexane or some other inert liquid which does not react with ammonia or phosphoryl chloride. The reaction mixture is maintained at a. temperature between about 20 and l C. during the addition of the ammonia and until mols of ammonia have been added for each mol of phosphoryl chloride.

a dispersion which is substantially neutral in reaction.

The temperature of the reaction mixture is then raised above 110 C. but below 150 C. and is maintained within such temperature range for a period of about 360 to 30 minutes. The resulting product, which is insoluble in the inert liquid, is separated from the inert liquid by filtration, centrifuging or decantation and then washed with acetone to remove the inert liquid. The product thus obtained is a mixture of ammonium chloride and the reaction product desired. Since ammonium chloride is often detrimental to the stability of some of the cellulosic spinning solutions hereinbefore described, it is preferred to separate a substantial portion of the ammonium chloride from such mixture. This is suitably accomplished by extracting the mixture with anhydrous liquid ammonia which is a solvent for the ammonium chloride, but is a non-solvent for the desired reaction product. The dry product obtained after such extraction is essentially free of chlorine and is a white nonhygroscopic powder which dissolves in water to form a solution having a pH between 7.0 and 8.5. This prod-' uct has a molecular weight, as determined cryoscopically, Within the range of 180 to 300, and preferably a nitrogen of phosphorous atomic ratio between about 2.l:l and The polymerized reaction products of phosphoryl chlo-' The pH of such dispersion is usually between 7.0 and 7.5. The product has a nitrogen to phosphorous ratio within the range of about 1.5:1 to 2.0:1, and preferably between 1.7:1 and 1.95:1. The product is a white pow der which is essentially non-hygroscopic and may be comminuted until the particles therein are sufficiently small to pass through the orifices of spinnerets commonly used in viscose and cuprammonium spinning without clogging the holes in such spinnerets. i

The regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether structures of the present invention are prepared, in general, by first shaping the aqueous cellulosic spinning solutions or dopes to thedesired size and form and then subjecting the shaped solution or dope to an aqueous coagulating bath whereby the cellulose; cellulose xanthate or cellulose ether in the solution or dope is precipitated. The alkaline aqueous solutions of cellulose in sodium zincate and benzyl substituted ammonium hydroxide, the solutions of cellulose xanthate in water or aqueous alkali, the cuprammonium solutions or dopes and the solutions of cellulose ethers are normally coagulated in an acidic aqueous coagulating bath although they may be first coagulated in water, after which. the coagulated structure is then hardened or set in an acidic aqueous solution.

In preparing the aqueous cellulosic spinning solutions or dopes for use in the processes of 'this invention, it is preferred to mix the cellulose solutions, the viscose, the cuprammonium solutions pr the cellulose ether solutions with the neutral to alkaline reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia within a period of about 60 minutes prior to the formation of the desired cellulosic structures since the efiiciency of such reaction products as fire-retardants decreases to some extent on continued standing in such cellulosic solutions.

The spinning solutions or dopes containing the neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction products of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia (phosphorylamide) coagulate and.

harden in acidic aqueous coagulatiing solutions or baths, and simultaneously the reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia is precipitated in the resulting eoagulate by the action of the acid and is rendered insolu ble. The resulting structure may be washed with water to remove the water-soluble solvents and salts contained therein, and, in the case of viscose structures, may also be desulfurized under mildly alkaline conditions without leaching out substantial amounts of the precipitated phosphoryl chloride-arnmonia reaction product. Cuprammonium structures may be decopperined with dilute aqueous sulfuric acid solutions and washed with water to remove water-soluble impurities in the structure without removing substantial amounts of the precipitated phosphoryl chloride-ammonia reaction product. The dry regenerated cellulose ether structures thus obtained have good to excellent afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties .and retain such properties after about 1 to 5 launderings, or on leaching in water.

without removing appreciable amounts-of the water-insoluble polyphosphorylamide. In the case of regenerated cellulose structures obtained by coagulating viscose in acid and aqueous coagulating baths, the structures are readily washed with water to remove water-soluble materials and then desulfurized with normal desulfuriztng solutions such as aqueous ammonium sulfide or aqueous sodium sulfide solutions without removing appreciable amounts of the water-insoluble polyphosphoryl-. amide. Regenerated cellulose structures. obtained from cuprammonium solutions or dopes are readily washed or leached with water and decoppered by leaching in dilute aqueous sulfuric acid solutions and finally washed or leached with water without removing appreciable amounts of the water-insoluble polyphosphorylamide. The dry regenerated cellulose or ce ose e er s c ures thus obtained have good to'excellent afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties after a considerable number of launderings, or on leaching in water.

A wide variety of afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether structures may be prepared in accordance with the processes of the present invention. Thus it is possible to produce afterglowresistant and fire-retardant regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether filaments by extruding-the aqueous cellulosrc spinning solution or dopes, hereinbefore described,

. through fine orifices such as the fine orifices in a spineret or through a single orifice into an acidic aqueous coagulating bath to regenerate the cellulose or to precipitate the cellulose ether in filament form, after which the filaments may be collected on spools, or in centrifugal pots or processed continuously in well known manner. The filaments are then processed in the normal manner, that is, washed, desulfurized or decoppered, if necessary, washed, dried, oiled, twisted, coned or the like. Bundles of filaments or tow may also be spun in like manner and then cut to staple length to form staple fibers which may then lac-processed by washing etc. in the same manner asfilaments.

A general procedure for spinning viscoseto form filaments of regenerated cellulose is described in The Rayon Industry publication hereinbefore referred to, particularly pages 267-279, and also in Matthews Textile Fibersj 5th ed. (1947), published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N. 1., pages 750-754. Similar procedures are also useful in spinning cellulose solutions such as solutions of cellulose in aqueous sodium zincate or calcium thiocyanate. A general procedure for spinning filaments of cuprammonium cellulose is described in The Rayon Industry" publication hereinbefore referred to above, pages 329 to 335.

Afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether foils, tubes, artificialstraw or horsehair and other similar structures are readily prepared in the same manner as filaments or staple fibers described above by using a spinning orifice or nozzle appropriate for producing such structures. Such orifices or nozzles are known in the art.

The filaments, staple fibers and other similar products, prepared as described above, are readily processed into knit or woven fabrics in the well known manner. For example, the filaments, tubes, rods and the like are sized and then woven or knitted into fabrics, while the staple fibers, straw or horsehair are first converted into threads or yarns which are then sized and woven or knitted. The resulting fabrics have afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties and retain these properties after they have been laundered or leached in water.

It is also possible to produce union fabrics, that is, fabrics comprising the afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant 70 regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether filaments or staple fibers, prepared as described herein, in combination with other textile yarns or fibers, for example, cotton yarns or fibers, wool yarns or fibers, casein yarns or fibers, linen more of such afterglow-resistant and fire retardant regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether filaments or staple fibers in the union fabrics, it is possible to provide union fabrics which have fair to good fire-retardant properties, particularly when such filaments or staple fibers are combined with wool yarns or fibers.

Afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether free-films are readily prepared by extruding the aqueous cellulosic spinning solutions or dopes, hereinbefore described, through a wide, thin slit into an acidic aqueous coagulating bath. The wet film is then washed or leached iii-water until the water-soluble impurities are substantially removed and the film is then processed in the normal way, that is, it is desulfurized or decoppered, if necessary, washed, and then treated with humectants or plasticizers for the regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether, either before or after drying.

It is also possible in accordance with the present invention to provide an afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether coating on substrates such as textile materials or paper by coating or impregnating the textile materials or paper with the aqueous cellulosic spinning solutions or dope, hereinbefore described, after which the treated textile material or paper is treated with an acidic aqueous coagulating bath to regenerate the cellulose or precipitate the cellulose ether in situ on such textile material or paper. The resulting material is then leached or washed with water to remove acid and water-soluble impurities, if necessary, and is then dried.

The regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether structure prepared in accordance with the present invention may comprise varying amounts of the neutral to alkaline reaction products of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia. A structure containing from about 3 to 25% by weight of such reaction products, based on the regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether therein, has good to excellent afterglowresistant and fire-retardant properties and is preferred. Such reaction productsare uniformly distributed through the body of the regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether structure and impart uniform afterglow-resistant and fireretardant properties to such structures.

The reaction products which are originally water-soluole have some advantages over the initially water-ingenerated cellulose or cellulose ether structures at any stage of processing and also during the period of time that such structures are used. Hence, structures containing the initially water-insoluble reaction product have m re permanent afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties. Further, in the case of the water-insoluble reaction products it is not necessary tonse acidic aqueous coagulating baths to render such reaction products in- .soluble, whereas, if acidic aqueous coagulating baths are not used to coagulate spinning solutions or dopes contain- 5 ing the initially water-soluble reaction products it is generallynecessary to give the coagulated structure -a heat treatment between about and 2M (1. to obtain a structure which has substantially permanent afterglowresistant and fire-retardant properties.

A further understanding of the compositions, processes, and regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether structures of the present invention will be obtained from the following specific examples which are intended to illusyarns or fibers or the like. By incorporating 50% or 76 trate the invention, but not to limit the seope thereof,

7 parts and percentages beingby weight unless otherwise specified.

' Example I An aged viscose syrup containing about 7% of cellulose and based on the cellulose in said syrup, of a neutral water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia which was prepared by reacting phosphoryl chloride and ammonia in an inert, anhydrous liquid designated as phosphorylamide, was extruded continuously through a spineret containing 100 orifices'into a coagu' lating bath containing 65% water, 18% sodium sulfate, sulfuric acid, 1% zinc sulfate and 6% glucose at a rate sufiicient to produce a 100/60 viscoserayon filament yarn. The coagulated filaments were then wound on a bobbin. During the coagulation of the filament in the acid coagulating bath the phosphorylamide. precipitated in situ inside the filament as an insoluble material. The wound yarn on-the bobbin was allowed to stand until the cellulose xanthate was converted to regenerated cellulose and was then leached in water to remove the acid and Moreover,

- The dried yarns had a delustered appearance.

in .water until they were free of acid and water-soluble impurities and the yarns were then dried on the bobbin. The dried yarn prepared from the viscose syrup containing 5% of polyphosphorylamide, based on the cellulose in the syrup, was. held in an open flame and although the yarn ignited it did not support combustion after it was removed from the flame. Moreover, it did not exhibit any appreciable afterglow. The dried yarns prepared from the viscose syrups containing 10 and 20%, respectively, of polyphosphory'lamide, based on the cellulose in the syrups, were held in an open flame. These yarns did not ignite, and did not exhibit afterglow after they were removed from the flame.

*All of the yarns descfibed immediately above were subjected to three standard A. A. T. C. C. cotton washes and were then dried. The resulting yarns had substantially the same afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties as the unwashed yarns.

Example I V A cuprammoniuzn spinning solution containing about 8% cellulose and 10%, based on the cellulose in the solution, of a neutral water-insoluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia, prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid, designated as polyphosphorylamide, in

' the form of fine particles capabie of passing through a cirthere was no appreciable afterglow in the yarn and fabric was impinged on the resulting yarn and fabric, and, al-

though the yarn and fabric ignited, the yarn and fabric did not support combustion after the flame was removed. Further, there was no appreciable afterglow in the yarn and fabric after the flame was removed.

Example [I Aged viscose syrups containing about 7 of cellulose and 10 and 20%, respectively, based on the cellulose in said syrups, of an alkaline water-soluble reaction prod net of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia which was prepared by reacting phosphoryl chloride and ammonia in an inert, anhydrous liquid, designated as phosphorylamide, were spun separately into 100/60 viscose rayon filament yarns and processed as described in Example I. The dried yarns had a uniform, delustered appearance. An open flame was impinged on each of the yarns and the yarns did not ignite. Moreover, they did not Example Ill cular orifice having a diameter of 0.002 inch, was extruded continuously through a spineret containing 100 orifices each having a diameter of 0.002 inch into a coagulating bath consisting of water and 50% sulfuric acid at a rate suflicient to produce 100/60 cuprammonium rayon filament yarn. Thecoagulated yarn was collected on a bobbin and was leached with a 2% aqueous sulfuric acid solution until the yarn was free of copper and then leached with water until it was substantially free of water-soluble copper salts, acid and other water-soluble impurities. The resulting yarn was dried and had a delustered appearance in the dry state. An open flame was impinged on the dry yarn and it was observed that the yarn didnot ignite. Moreover, the yarn did not exhibit afterglow after it was removed from the flame. The yarn retained its original afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties after three standard A. A. T. C. C. cotton washes.

Example V agitated and then immediately applied to a glass plate by Aged viscose syrups containing about 7% of cellulose I and S, 10 and 20%, respectively, based on the cellulose in said syrups, .of a neutral water-insoluble reaction prodnet of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid, de sign'ated as polyphosphorylamide, in the form of fine particles capable of passing through a circular orifice having a diameter of 0.002 inch, were separately and continuously extruded through a spineret containing 300 orifices each having a diameter of 0.002 inch into a coagulating bath containing 64% means of a Bird applicator which was adjusted so as to produce a film 0.006 inch thick. The glass plate was immersed in a 10% aqueous sulfuric acid solution to coagulate the During the coagulation of the film, the phosphorylamide was precipitated in situ within the film in the form of fine particles. The film, which consisted of hydroxy ethyl cellulose having fine particles of insoluble phosphoryl-amide distributed uniformly therein, was leached with water until it was substantially free of acid and water-soluble impurities and then dried at about 130 F. This film was held in an open flame and did not ignite and did not support combustion after the flame was removed. Moreover, the film did not exhibit afterglow when the flame was removed.

The film was leached in water for 30 minutes and dried. The dry film thus obtained had substantially the same afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties as the unleached film.

Various changes may be made in the compositions, processes, and regenerated cellulose or cellulose ether structures described herein as will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains with- 10 tion, subjecting the thus extruded film to the action of an aqueous acid solution until the film is coagulated and to precipitate said reaction product in situ therein as a waterinsoluble product, converting said coagulated film to regenerated cellulose with an aqueous acid solution, subsequently washing said film with water and subsequently drying said film. f 8. A process as in claim 7, but further characterized in that said viscose solution contains from to by weight of cellulose as cellulose xanthate.

9. A process of producing regenerated cellulose filaments which have afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant having been prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus atomic ratio between about 2.1:1 and 23:1. I

2. An aqueous alkaline cellulose solution which forms regenerated cellulose on acidification containing from about 2 to'15% by weight of cellulose and from about 3 to 25% by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammoniaprepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus atomic ratio between about 2.121 and 23:1.

3. An aqueous alkaline viscose solution containing from about2 to by weight of cellulose as cellulosexanthate and from about 3 to'25% by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction prod uct of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and. having a nitrogen to phosphorus atomic ratio between about 2.1:! and 23:1.

4. An aqueous alkaline viscose solution containing from 5 to 10% by weight of cellulose as cellulose xanthate and from 3 to by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of .-"phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert,

properties which comprises extruding an aqueous alkaline viscose solution containing from about 2 to 15% by weight of cellulose as cellulose xanthate and from about, 3 to 25% by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus ratio between anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to' phosphorus atomic ratio between about 2.1 :1 and 2.3: l.

5. An aqueous alkaline cuprammoniurn solution containing from 2 to 15% by weight of cellulose and from 3 to 25% by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus atomic ratio between-about 2.1:] and 2.3: l.

6. A process of producing regenerated cellulose materials which have afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties which comprises extruding an aqueous alkaline cellulose solution which forms regenerated cellulose on acidification containing an amount of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia sufficient to impart afterglow-resistant and fireretardant properties to a dry, regenerated cellulose material prepared by acidification of said solution, through a shaping orifice into an acidic aqueous coagulating solution, subjecting the thus extruded solution to the action of an aqueous acid solution until the solution is coagulated and i erties which comprises extruding an aqueous alkaline viscose solution containing from about 2 to 15% by weight of cellulose as cellulose xanthate and from about 3 to 25% by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus atomic ratio between about 21:1 and 23:1, through an orifice shaped to form a film about 2.1:1 and 2.3:1, through theorifices of a spinning nozzle into an aqueous acid coagulating solution, subjecting the extruded filament to the action of an aqueous acid solution until-it is coagulated and to precipitate said reaction product in situ therein as a water-insoluble product, converting the coagulated filament to regenerated cellulo'se with an aqueous acid solution, subsequently washing said filament with water, and subsequently drying said filament.

10. A process according to claim 9, but further characterized in that said voscose solution contains from 5 to 10% weight of cellulose as cellulose xanthate.

11. A process of producing regenerated cellulose filaments and staple fibers which have afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties which comprises extruding an aqueous alkaline viscose solution containing from 2 to 15% by weight of cellulose, as cellulose xanthate and from about 3 to 25% by weight, based on the cellulose in said solution, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus ratio between about 2.1:1 and 2.3:1, through a spinneret containing a number of fine orifices into an aqueous sulfuric acid coagulating solution, maintaining the extruded solution in contact with said coagulating solution until the extruded solution is coagulated and to precipitate said reaction product in situ in the coagulated filament as a water-insoluble product, contacting the coagulated filament with an aqueous sulfuric acid solution until it is converted to regenerated cellulose, subsequently washing said filament with water until it is substantially free of acid, and subsequently drying said filament.

12. A process as in claim 11, but further characterized in that said viscose solution contains from 5 to 10% by weight of cellulose as cellulose xanthate.

, 13. A process of producing regenerated cellulose filaments which have afterglow-resistant and fire-retardant properties which comprises extruding an aqueous alkaline cuprammonium spinning solution containing from- 2 to '15 by weight of cellulose and from about 3 to 25% by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction product of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared by reacting phosphoryl chloride and ammonia in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus atomic ratio between about 2.1:1 I

and 2.3:l,.through the orifice of a spinning nozzle into an aqueous acid solution, maintaining the extruded filaof said solution into an aqueous acid coagulating solu- 76 ments in contact with said acid solution until the filaments are coagulated and to precipitate and reaction product in situ therein as a water-insoluble product, treating,

11 ments substantially free of acid and subsequently drying said filaments.

14. A process of producing a regene ted cellulose coating which has afterglow-resistant ant are-retardant properties which comprises coating a surface with a film of an aqueous alkaline viscose solution containing from 2 to 15% by weight of cellulose as cellulose xanthate and from about 3 to 25% by weight, based on said cellulose, of a neutral to alkaline water-soluble reaction prodnet of phosphoryl chloride and ammonia prepared in an inert, anhydrous liquid and having a nitrogen to phosphorus ratio between about 21:1 and 23:1, contacting said film with an aqueous acid solution until said film is coagulated and substantially simultaneously precipitating said reaction product in situ therein as a water-1nsoluble product by the action of said acid solution, contacting said coagulated film with an aqueous acid solution until it is converted to regenerated cellulose, subsequently washing said film to remove acid therefrom and subsequently drying said film.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Macadam et a1. Feb. 23, Hamilton Jan. 14, Woodhouse Aug. 29, Zetzsche et a1. Aug. 29, Pink et a1. Aug. 24, Thurmond et a1 Aug. 31, Hill et al. Nov. 30, White Sept. 23, Pollak et a1. Mar. 15, Caprio et a1. July 24, Truhlar Jan. 8, Malowan Dec. 1, Marotta Apr. 20,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 23, France Dec. 7, Sweden Mar. 16

Claims

6. A PROCESS OF PRODUCING REGENERATED CELLULOSE MATERIALS WHICH HAVE AFTERGLOW-RESISTANT AND FIRE-RETARDANT PROPERTIES WHICH COMPRISES EXTRUDING AN AQUEOUS ALKALINE CELLULOSE SOLUTION WHICH FORMS REGENERATED CELLULOSE ON ACIDFICATION CONTAINING AN AMOUNT OF A NEUTRAL TO ALKALINE WATER-SOLUBLE REACTION PRODUCT OF PHOSPHORLY CHLORIDE AND AMMONIA SUFFICEINT TO IMPART AFTERGLOW-RESISTANT AND FIRE RETARDANT PROPERTIES TO A DRY, REGENERATED CELLLULOSE MATERIAL PREPARED BY ACIDIFCATION OF SAID SOLUTION, THROUGH A SHAPING ORIFICE INTO AN ACIDIC AQUEOUS COAGULATING SOLUTION SUBJECTING THE THUS EXTRUDED SOLUTION TO THE ACTION OF AN AQUEOUS ACID SOLUTION UNTIL THE SOLUTION IS COAGULATED AND SAID REACTION PRODUCT IS PRECIPITATED IN SITU THEREIN AS A WATER-INSOLUBLE PRODUCT CONVERTING THE COAGULATED SOLUTION TO REGENERATED CELLULOSE WITH AN AQUEOUS ACID SOLUTION AND SUBSEQUENTLY DRYING SAID REGENERATED CELLULOSE SAID WATER-SOLUBLE REACTION PRODUCTHAVING BEEN PREPARED IN AN INERT, ANHYDROUS LIQUID AND HAVING A NITROGEN TO PHOSPHORUS RATIO BETWEEN ABOUT 2.1:1 AND 2.3:1.