Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M11/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
  • D06M11/07—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with halogens; with halogen acids or salts thereof; with oxides or oxyacids of halogens or salts thereof
  • D06M11/30—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising with halogens; with halogen acids or salts thereof; with oxides or oxyacids of halogens or salts thereof with oxides of halogens, oxyacids of halogens or their salts, e.g. with perchlorates
• • 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
  • D06L4/00—Bleaching fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods; Bleaching leather or furs
  • D06L4/20—Bleaching fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods; Bleaching leather or furs using agents which contain halogen
  • D06L4/22—Bleaching fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods; Bleaching leather or furs using agents which contain halogen using inorganic agents
  • D06L4/24—Bleaching fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods; Bleaching leather or furs using agents which contain halogen using inorganic agents using chlorites or chlorine dioxide
• • 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
  • D06L4/00—Bleaching fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods; Bleaching leather or furs
  • D06L4/30—Bleaching fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods; Bleaching leather or furs using reducing agents

Definitions

• This treatment not only bleaches the wool but at the same time imparts to it properties that cause it to be substantially unshrinkable.
• the present invention makes it possible to avoid the drawbacks heretofore encountered and to obtain a white wool with minimum alteration as compared with wools treated in accordance with standard processes, which is evidenced by a moderate soda loss and by a barely perceptible decrease of dynamometric strength. Moreover, the wool treated according to the invention is partly unshrinkable.
• Wool is characterized by poly-peptidic chains formed by the union of a relatively large number of elementary SEARCH 300M a-aminoacids. These aminoacids are at least four in number and include cystine, methionine, tryptophane and tyrosine.
• cystine is trans formed into a colorless sulphonic derivative.
• Methionine leads to a colorless oxidation product (very likely a sulphoxide). Tryptophane gives pink oxidation products, which may be brought to a colorless state and tyrosine appears to be unaltered.
• the process of the present invention it is introduced into and submerged in a body of water and there is then gradually added to the water a dilute aqueous solution of an acid with continuous agitation of the body of water until a pH of 24.5, preferably 3.5, is reached. With continued agitation, there is then gradually introduced into the acidified treating bath an aqueous chlorite solution of pH 8-9 and free from C10 until the wool turns pink. Under these conditions We have observed that the pH of the chlorite solution is lowered without evolution of C10 and the treating bath remains substantially colorless throughout the treatment. During this first operation, the wool turns pink as a result of the oxidation of the tryptophane. The pink wool is then rinsed with water and treated with a reducing solution which advantageously comprises either a bisulphite or a hydrosulphite, or a mixture of both.
• a reducing solution which advantageously comprises either a bisulphite or a hydrosulphite, or a mixture of both.
• the body of water into which the wool is immersed and the resulting treating bath are substantially at room temperature, i.e. a temperature of about 13 to 25 C., preferably 1820 C.
• the treatment with the reducing solution is carried out at a higher temperature and the reducing solution is advantageously at a temperature of 45 to 60 C., preferably about 50 C.
• the acid employed to acidify the initial treating bath is a mineral acid, such as phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid, or an organic carboxylic acid, such as acetic acid or formic acid.
• acetic acid it is advantageously used in combination with its alkali metal salt, e.g. sodium acetate, to serve as a buffer at the indicated pH.
• the acid is employed in the form of a dilute aqueous solution and is suitably in a concentration of about 5 to 20%, preferably about 7 to 10%, by weight. When a buffer is used, generally to 40% based on the weight of the undiluted acid is sufficient.
• the chlorite introduced into the acidified bath is suitably an alkali metal chlorite, e.g. sodium chlorite, and is employed in aqueous solution of a concentration of 5 to 20%, preferably about by weight.
• alkali metal chlorite e.g. sodium chlorite
• the reducing solution may be in the form of a bath into which the wool is immersed or it may be applied by impregnation.
• the reducing solution is an aqueous solution of a reducing agent such as an alkali metal bisulphite, e.g. sodium bisulph-ite, or an alkali metal hydrosulphite, such as sodium hydrosulphite, or a mixture of both ibisulphite and hydrosulphite.
• the reducing agent is advantageously present in the solution in a concentration of 0.2% to 1.5%, preferably 0.4% to 0.6%, by weight. After treatment with the reducing solution, the wool is thoroughly rinsed with water and dried.
• a small amount, e.g. 0.02 to 0.1% by weight of a wetting agent is incorporated in the treating bath and in the bleaching solution.
• This wetting agent may be any of the known wetting agents such as a high molecular weight aliphatic sulfate or sulfonate, for example, those sulfates and sulfonates represented by one of the following general structural formulae:
• emulsifying agents of the character indicated are sodium stearamidoethylsulfonate sodium sulfonoethyloleate (C H CO CH CH SO Na), sodium lauryl sulfate (C H CH SO Na), sodium lauryl sulfonate (C H CH SO Na) and sodium oleam-idoethylsulfonate (C H CO.'NHCH CH SO Na).
• Examples of commercial forms of these compounds are the products sold under the trade names Igepon T, Igepon A, lgepon AP, Igepon A-P Extra, Igepal C and Lorol.
• wetting agents may also be mentioned the compounds of the alkylaryl sulfonate type sold commercially under names such as Nacconol NRSF and Santomerse D, the alkyl phosphate salts, and the sulfosuccinamates such as noctadecyl disodium sulfosuccinamate and the corresponding tetrasodium sulfosuccinamate, sold under the tradename Aerosol. It will be understood, however, that other wetting agents may also be suitably used.
• hydroquinone is incorporated in the acidic chlorite treating bath.
• Hydroquinone which is used in the amount of 0.005 to 0.05% based on the weight of the original body of Water from which the bath is formed, has been found to have an activating action upon the chlorite solution.
• hydroquinone is used, a fully White wool is obtained as in the case when hydroquinone is absent and at the same time even the slightest tendency to deterioration of the wool is substantially eliminated. This is of particular value when the wool is to be subjected to subsequent treatments, e.g. to dyeing treatments or to an additional treatment to render it substantially fully non-shrinkable.
• the process of the present invention thus has particularly im portant advantages over known bleaching processes when it is desired to produce a highly non-shrinkable wool.
• bleaching by means of chlorite as described above may advantageously be combined with an additional chlorination treatment or with a treatment with an enzyme effective to render the wool highly non-shrinkable.
• a proteolytic enzyme such as papain, trypsin, etc. may be employed. It is particularly advantageous in this case to combine the reducing treatment and the activating treatment with the enzyme, which considerably simplifies the sequence of the operations, and makes it possible to obtain, with the least expenditure, a wool which is perfectly white and unshrinkable.
• an enzyme there is suitably added to the bath 0.2 to 1% by weight of sodium bicarbonate for the purpose of neutralizing the solution.
• Example 125 kg. of wool fabric are introduced into a stainless steel tank provided with a stirring device and containing 500 liters of water and 0.250 kg. of a wetting agent (sodium lauryl sulfonate), After 5 minutes of agitation, 1.5 liters of 50% phosphoric acid diluted in 15 liters of water are added to provide a pH of 3.5. Agitation is continued for 10 minutes, so as to uniformly distribute the acid in the wool. Then 1 kg. of sodium chlorite in 10 liters of water is added. Circulation in the bath is continued for 1 hour. Then the fabric is thoroughly rinsed with Water and treated for 30 minutes at 50 C. with a reducing solution containing 10 cc. per liter of a 30% solution of sodium bisulphite of soda, and 2 grams per liter of sodium hydrosulphite. The wool is then thoroughly rinsed with water and dried.
• a wetting agent sodium lauryl sulfonate
• Example 2.50 kg. of wool strands in small tanks are added to a stainless steel tank containing 1500 liters of water, 350 g. of a wetting agent (alkylarylsulfonate) and the necessary quantity of acetic acid and sodium acetate to bring the pH to 3.5.
• This mixture is left at rest for a few minutes in order to distribute the acid in the wool, then 3.75 kg. of sodium chlorite in 35 liters of water are added and the resultant mixture left at 20 C. for one hour.
• the strands are then rinsed in water and treated for half an hour at C., in a reducing bath containing 4 grams per liter of stabilized sodium hydrosulphite. Finally, the yarns are rinsed, passed through a diluted (0.05%) sulphuric acid bath, again rinsed, and dried.
• Example 3 -- kg. of wool yarns are introduced into a stainless steel tank containing 1000 liters of water, 0.5 kg. of a wetting agent (lauryl polyethoxyether) and 3 liters of 50% phosphoric acid to provide a pH of 3.5. After waiting 10 minutes which delay is necessary to attain equilibrium in bath wool acid, 2.5 kg. of sodium chlorite are added and the reaction is left at rest for one hour. The strands are rinsed with Water and treated for 30 minutes in a solution containing 10 cc. per liter of 30% sodium bisulphite, and 2 grams per liter of sodium hydrosulphite. To this bath, maintained at C., are added 4 grams per liter of bicarbonate of soda, and then 0.2 gram per liter of papain. The reaction is allowed to grocleed for 45 minutes. The yarn is then rinsed, and
• Example 4.25 kg. of wool strands are introduced at room temperature into a stainless steel tank containing liters water, 0.5 kg. of Wetting agent (sodium sulfonoethyloleate) and 2 liters of commercial 50% phosphoric acid. After 10 minutes reaction between the wool and the acid, there is introduced 1 kg. of sodium chlorite in solution in 10 liters of water, and the mixture left at rest for 1 hour. The strands are then rinsed with water and treated for 30 minutes at 45 C. with a 4 grams per liter solution of sodium hydrosulphite. Finally, the wool strands are thoroughly rinsed, and dried.
• Wetting agent sodium sulfonoethyloleate
• Example 6.--100 kg. of combed wool are introduced into a stainless steel apparatus provided with bath circulation means and containing 1500 liters of water to which are successively added 0.5 kg. of a wetting agent (alkylarylsulfonate) and 5 kg. of 50% phosphoric acid in solution in 35 liters water. After minutes agitation to distribute the acid thoroughly, 3.5 kg. of sodium chlorite are introduced in solution in 35 liters of water. The reaction is continued for 1 hour at room temperature, after which the wool is rinsed and treated for 30 minutes in a bath containing 10 cc. per liter of a 30% solution of sodium bisulphite and 2 grams per liter of sodium hydrosulphite. The operation is terminated by a thorough rinsing and by drying.
• a wetting agent alkylarylsulfonate
• 50% phosphoric acid 50% phosphoric acid in solution in 35 liters water.
• 3.5 kg. of sodium chlorite are introduced in solution in 35 liters of water.
• Example 7.25 kg. of worsted Wool are introduced into a stainless steel apparatus provided with bath circulation means. 1000 liters of water are introduced, and there are then added:
• LExample 8.--50 kg. of worsted wool are introduced into a stainless steel apparatus, provided with a bath circulation device. 1000 liters of Water, 0.5 kg. of a Wetting agent (Na sulfonoethyloleate), 3 liters of 50% phosphoric acid, in solution in 25 liters water, are added. After 10 minutes bath circulation, 1.5 kg. of sodium chlorite in solution in 10 liters water are added, and the reaction is left under agitation for 1 hour to 20 C. The wool is then rinsed and treated for 30 minutes at 50 C. with a solution containing 10 cc. per liter of a 30% solution of sodium bisulphite and 2 grams per liter of sodium hyposulphite. The wool is then thoroughly rinsed and dried.
• a Wetting agent Na sulfonoethyloleate
• 50% phosphoric acid 50% phosphoric acid
• the wool is then ready for further chlorination to impart to it further unshrinkable properties.
• it is treated with a bath of sodium hypochlorite containing 1.5% active chlorine, and 8% of concentrated hydrochloric acid based on the weight of the fiber.
• the reaction is allowed to proceed for one hour at ambient temperature, the sodium hypochlorite being added gradually. Finally, the wool is rinsed and treated for 30 minutes at 45 C. in a bath containing 2 grams per liter of sodium hyposulphite. To finish, the wool is thoroughly rinsed and dried. The wool thus obtained is very White and fully shrink-proof.
• Example 9.50 kg. of worsted wool are introduced into -a stainless steel apparatus provided with a bath circulation device. 1000 liters of water are introduced, then 0.5 kg. of a wetting agent (alkylarylsulfonate) and 3 liters of 50% phosphoric acid diluted in 30 liters Water. After 10 minutes, 2 kg. of sodium chlorite in 25 liters of water are added and the reaction is left under agitation during 1 hour at 20 C. The wool is then rinsed, and treated for 30 minutes at 60 C. in a solution containing 10 cc. per liter of a 30% solution of sodium bisulphite, 2 grams per liter of sodium hydrosulphite, 5 kgs.
• a wetting agent alkylarylsulfonate
• Example l0. kg. of worsted wool are introduced into a stainless steel apparatus provided with a bath circulation device. 1500 liters of water are introduced, then 0.5 kg. of a wetting agent (sodium laurylsulfonate) and 5 kg. of 50% phosphoric acid diluted in 35 liters of water. After 10 minutes agitation, there are added 3.5 kilos sodium chlorite in solution in 35 liters of water. The reaction is continued for one hour at room temperature, after which the wool is rinsed and treated at 50 C. in 1,500 liters of water to which are added 15 liters of a 30% sodium bisulphite solution and 3 kgs. of sodium hydrosulphite of soda. The reaction is allowed to proceed for 30 minutes, after which 6 kgs.
• a wetting agent sodium laurylsulfonate
• 50% phosphoric acid diluted in 35 liters of water.
• 3.5 kilos sodium chlorite in solution in 35 liters of water.
• the reaction is continued for one hour
• the wool subjected to the treatments described in detail in the preceding examples is white and is of a much higher grade than that which is obtained by treatment with acid bisulphite, without having the drawback inherent to the latter, i.e. wools which become yellow when stored.
• the white obtained by the process according to the invention is also comparable or even superior to that obtained by treatment with hydrogen peroxide, whereas it deals with the wool more gently.
• the loss of 9% with soda for raw wool never exceeds 15% after treatment according to the process of the invention, and even remains much lower than this latter figure when hydroquinone is used, whereas the loss with soda in the hydrogen peroxide treatment is never less than 19% for an equivalent white.
• the dynamometric strength decreases very little and remains on the average greater than that of wool bleached with hydrogen peroxide.
• the decrease in shrinkage on washing is substantial and by combining the chlorite treatment with a standard chlorination or with an enzyme treatment as shown in the examples, a wool is obtained which is very white and totally unshrinkable.
• the entire operation may be carried out in the same apparatus without any risk of corrosion, for the chlorite treatment takes place rapidly at ambient temperature under safe conditions, since there is no emission of chlorine peroxide.
• a process for bleaching and shrinkproofing wool with minimum alteration of the wool which comprises introducing the wool in water, introducing progressively a dilute solution of an acid with continuous agitation until a pH of 2-4.5 is reached, continuing agitation, introducing slowly an aqueous chlorite solution of pH 8-9 at a temperature below about 50 C., until the wool turns pink, whereby the pH of the chlorite solution is lowered without evolution of C10 and the bath remains substantially colorless throughout the treatment, and treating the pink wool with a reducing solution, said introduction of the wool in water, said progressive introduction of dilute acid, said continued agitation, said slow introduction of aqueous chlorite solution of pH 8-9, and said treatment with a reducing solution being carried out seriatim.
• a process as defined in claim 1, wherein said reducing solution is selected from the group consisting of a bisulphite, a hydrosulphite and mixtures thereof.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25182581

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (3)

Citations (4)

• 0
  • IT IT627371D patent/IT627371A/it unknown
• 1959
  • 1959-03-26 US US802001A patent/US3097049A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1960
  • 1960-03-24 FR FR822268A patent/FR1252966A/fr not_active Expired
  • 1960-03-25 BE BE589075A patent/BE589075A/fr unknown
  • 1960-03-28 GB GB10877/60A patent/GB934047A/en not_active Expired

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents