US2876127A

US2876127A - Composition for treating synthetic films, strands and fabrics

Info

Publication number: US2876127A
Application number: US608705A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willis C Ware
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-09-10
Filing date: 1956-09-10
Publication date: 1959-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-03

Description

United States atent Willis C. Ware, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 10, 1956 Serial No. 608,705

2 claims. (Cl. 106-487) No Drawing.

This invention relates to compositions for treating synthetic resin films, strands and fabrics such as saran (copolymers of vinylidcne chloride and vinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride), Mylar (polyethylene terephthalate), polyethylene, polystyrene, polymerized methyl methacrylate,'Dacron, nylon and the like.

Films of synthetic resinous materials such as those mentioned above, tend to adhere to each other, when superposed, and are usually difiicult to separate from each other. Further, such films can ordinarily be heat sealed. one to another, only with rather specialized equipment. particularly if the molecules have previously been oriented within the films by suitable treatment of the films. Heat sealing of such films with standard equipment necessitates the use of temperatures so high and applied in such fashion as to destroy the orientation of the molecules within the films.

Strands and fabrics made of synthetic resinous materials, such as those mentioned above, tend to attract and hold particles of dust and dirt and also to accumulate charges of static electricity.

The above disadvantageous features are eliminated by treating synthetic resinous films, strands and fabrics, specifically, those mentioned above, with the compositions and methods of the present invention.

The compositions of the present invention comprise aqueous dispersions of octyl or nonyl phenol condensatetl with 12 or 13 molecules of ethylene oxide. These products have the following structural formula:

wherein R stands for an octyl or nonyl group and n signifies 12 or 13. i

The compositions of the present invention also com prise a quaternary ammonium salt (ordinarily, the chloride) containing three methyl groups. The fourth hydrocarbon radical is an alkyl group containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms which may be derived (by I'EdLIC-r tion of the carboxyl group) .from fatty acids such as soya ;fatty acid, coconut fatty acid, tallow, hydrogenated tallow, stearic acid or the like. If desired, the fourth hydrocarbon radical may be an alkyl benzyl or alkyl tolyl or other alkyl aryl group in which the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group ranges from 9 to 15.

The amounts and ratios of quatemary ammonium salt and of alkyl aryl polyethylene ether alcohol are both critical. In the case of a composition to be diluted 1:4 with water when used, more than /2 percent (by weight) of the quaternary ammonium salt will cause fogging of synthetic resinous films, in particular, saran, within 48 hours at 140" P. But /2 percent (by weight) or lesser amounts of the quaternary ammonium salt, by itself, it not effective for eliminating the above noted disadvantages of synthetic resinous films, strands and fabrics. To secure this result, it is necessary to combine, with about 36 percent of the quaternary ammonium salt, from 5 to 20 percent (preferably about 5 percent) by weight, of the above disclosed alkyl aryl polyethylene ether alcohol. Further, the latter compound mustcontain at least 12 ethylene oxide groups, for otherwise the resinous film will become discolored on standing. Finally, the alkyl aryl polyethylene ether alcohol, by itself, will not eliminate the above noted disadvantages of synthetic resinous films, strands and fabrics.

It should be understood, of course, that the above noted percentages apply when my composition is diluted with water 1:4 before use. If the composition is originally made up with more water or less water, then the amounts of the quaternary ammonium salt and of alkyl aryl polyethylene ether alcohol must be adjusted accordingly, while still maintaining a ratio of 1 part of ammonium salt to from 10 to 40 parts of the ether alcohol. Further, the concentrations should be such that, when and if diluted for use, the concentration of the quaternary ammonium compound should be approximately A; percent, although slightly smaller percentages are also operative, for instance, ,5 percent.

Specific compositions according to the present invention (disclosed as examples) contain 5 percent octyl phenol condensed with 12 to 13 molecules of ethylene oxide and about fit percent of an alkyl trimethyl ammonium chloride wherein the alkyl group is derived from soya fatty acid or about /2 percent of an alkyl tolyl trimethyl ammonium chloride wherein the alkyl group is derived from coconut fatty acid, the remainder of the compositions being essentially water. Both of these specific compositions are diluted with water (1:4) before being 1 used.

Application of my compositions, for instance, to saran film is suitably carried out at the time the film is made. A conventional method of making saran film includes the steps of extruding the material in tubular form, passing the extruded tubular material through a water quenching bath, expanding the tube into bubble form by blowing to effect orientation, cutting the saran tube, and winding up the resulting film. In this process, my composition is dispersed in a water quenching bath at a ratio effecting the above disclosed concentrations. In the case of the specific compositions disclosed above by way of examples, one part of one of these compositions is dispersed in four parts of water. I have found that as a result of including my compositions with the water quenching bath, the saran film will not break on the wind-up rolls, at it otherwise would, due to the tendency of the film to stick to itself and tear. Further, the film may be heat sealed (after aging for from 10 to 14 days) much like cellophane and some films made of thermoplastic resins. Thus, the film may easily be fabricated into bags. Finally, the saran film will show excellent slip, i. e. superposed film layers can be separated easily and will slide easily over each other, so that saran film bags can be opened without any ditficulty. Similar results have been obtained with films made of the other thermoplastic resinous materials identified hereinabove.

The same method of application can be used for fibers and strands made of saran and the other synthetic resinous materials identified hereinabove. In other words, my composition is dispersed in the water quenching bath through which extruded fibers and strands are conventionally passed.

In the case of fabrics, for instance, saran fabrics, my composition (diluted with water as indicated) may be applied by spraying, by sponging the fabric, or by dipping the fabric in the diluted composition. Fabrics so treated do not tend to attract particles of dust and dirt and are also free from any tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity, which tendency is sometimes quite objectionable.

The above noted beneficial results are due to the fact that the films, strands and fabrics carry a thin superficial coating of my composition. As noted hereinabove, these beneficial results are obtained when such coatings are applied to a number of synthetic resinous materials in the form of films, strands and fabrics, particularly, saran, Mylar, polyethylene, polystyrene, polymerized methacrylate, Dacron, nylon and the like.

Many details may be varied without departing from this invention and it is therefore not my purpose to limit the patent granted on this invention otherwise then necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A composition for treating synthetic resinous films, strands and fabrics, consisting of an aqueous dispersion of (1) the product resulting from the condensation of an alkyl phenol having 8 to 9 carbon atoms in its alkyl group with 12 to 13 molecules of ethylene oxide and (2) a quaternary ammonium salt having three methyl radicals and a fourth hydrocarbon radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl aryl radicals containing 9 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and having an aryl group from the class consisting of benzyl and tolyl, the ratio of said condensation product to said ammonium salt ranging from 10:1 to 40:1 and said aqueous dispersion containing not more than about A; percent of said am monium salt.

2. A composition according to claim 1 adapted for dilution before use in which the concentration of said ammonium salt is about /2 percent and the concentration of said condensation product ranges from 5 to 20 percent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,137,465 Thackston Nov. 22, 1938 2,160,119 Brodersen May 30, 1939 2,214,352 Schoeller Sept. 10, 1940 2,461,043 Eisen Feb. 8, 1949 2,563,560 Werntz Aug. 7, 1951 2,628,176 Simon Feb. 10, 1953 2,727,827 Chertkop Mar. 12, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 710,423 Great Britain June 9, 1954

Claims

1. A COMPOSITION FOR TREATING SYNTHETIC RESINOUS FILMS, STRANDS AND FABRICS, CONSISTING OF AN AQUEOUS DISPERSION OF (1) THE PRODUCT RESULTING FROM THE CONDENSATION OF AN ALKYL PHENOL HAVING 8 TO 9 CARBON ATOMS IN ITS ALKYL GROUP WITH 12 TO 13 MOLECULES OF ETHYLENE OXIDE AND (2) A QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALT HAVING THREE METHYL RADICALS AND A FOURTH HYDROCARBON RADICAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL ARYL RADICALS CONTAINING 9 TO 15 CARBON ATOMS IN THE ALKYL GROUP AND HAVING AN ARYL GROUP FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF BENZYL AND TOLYL, THE RATIO OF SAID CONDENSATION PRODUCT TO SAID AMMONIUM SALT RANGING FROM 10:1 TO 40:1 AND SAID AQUEOUS DISPERSION CONTAINING NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 1/8 PERCENT OF SAID AMMONIUM SALT.