US3101323A

US3101323A - Compositions imparting antistatic properties to fibers and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US3101323A
Application number: US55117A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merlo Luigi; Vitelli Giovanni
Original assignee: Montedison SpA
Current assignee: Montedison SpA
Priority date: 1956-03-29
Filing date: 1960-09-12
Publication date: 1963-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-20
Also published as: CH353123A; NL215802A; FR1173346A; BE556197A; GB804964A; NL97682C; DE1067403B

Description

United States Patent 3,101,323 COMPOSITIONS IMPARTING ANTISTATIC PROP- ERTIES TO FIBERS AND METHOD OF MAKING Luigi Merlo and Giovanni Vitelli, Milan, Italy, assignors to Montecatini Societa Generals per llndustria Mineraria e Chimica, Milan, Italy No Drawing. Filed Sept. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 55,117 Claims priority, application Italy Mar. 29, 1956 3 Claims. (Cl. 252--8.9)

This application is a continuation-in-part of our application Serial No. 647,189, filed March 20, 1957, now

' abandoned.

enties thereto and prevents the formation of electric charges during the various processing stages.

However, aside from being capable of substantially reducing electrostatic charges, these compounds have the serious disadvantage that they cannot be directly applied to the fibers because of their high viscosity (about 200 centipoises/20 C.) and lack of wetting power and also because they are difficult to remove once they have been applied. Moreover, these compounds have a substantial adverse effect upon the angle of friction of the fibers treated therewith.

We have now found that, upon appropriately mixing condensation products between ethylene oxide, lauryl alcohol and a polyglycol with condensation products between ethylene oxide and glycerol, compositions are obtained which have not only antistatic properties that are superior to those of the known condensation products between glycerol or polyglycol and ethylene oxide, but also are characterized by very low viscosity (120 130 centipoises/ 20 C.), emulsifiability with water and very high wetting power.

After having been applied to fibers, yarns or fabrics, these compositions can be readily removed therefrom. While applied, they do not change the angle of friction or flow of the treated material, as indicated by the electrometer in electrostatic tests.

The present examples are provided to illustrate but in no Way to limit the herein-claimed invention.

Example 1 -parts of a first condensation product-(obtained according to conventional methods) between ethylene oxide (mol ratio 5.4) and lauryl alcohol (mol ratio 1), and 35 parts polyglycol 200 (ethylene oxide condensate having an average M.W. of 200) are added to 40 parts of a second condensation product (produced according to usual methods) between ethylene oxide (mol ratio 8.36) and glycerol (mol ratio 1). The mixture is stirred until it is homogeneous and, if necessary, is treated with decolorants such as oxidiants or carbon black.

In the first condensation product, the preferred range of molar ratios of ethylene oxide to lauryl alcohol is from 5 to 6. The preferred range of molar ratios of ethylene 7 oxide to glycerol in the second is from 8 to 9.

3,101,323 Patented Aug. 20, 1963 Example 2 10 parts of a condensation product between ethylene oxide (mol ratio 5.4) and lauryl alcohol (mol ratio 1) and 30 parts polyglycol 200 are added to 60 parts of a condensation product between ethylene oxide (mol ratio 8.36) and glycerol (mol ratio 1).

The following calculations illustrate the amount of ethylene oxide and the amount of lauryl alcohol respectively used to produce 25 parts (Example 1) or 10 parts (Example 2) of the first condensation product and the quantity of ethylene oxide and the quantity of glycerol respectively used to produce 40 parts (Example 1) or '60 parts (Example 2) of the second condensation product:

Molecular weight of lauryl alcohol g 186.33 Molecular weight of ethylene oxide g 44 Ratio between lauryl alcohol and ethylene oxide mols 1 5 .4

25 g. (Example 1) or 10 g. (Example 2) of the 423.93 g. are used as the first condensation product.

Molecular weight of glycerol g 92.09 Molecular weight of ethylene oxide g 44 erol and lauryl alcohol and also the molecular weight of the added polyglycol can vary.

Example 3 50 parts of a condensation product between ethylene oxide (5.4 mols) and lauryl alcohol (1 mol) are mixed directly in the cold with 35 parts of polyglycol 200 (ethylene oxide condensate having an average M.W. of 200) and 15 parts of a condensation product between ethylene. oxide (8.36 mols) and glycerol (1 mol). Mixing does not require particular expedients, with the exception of good stirring.

The following examples [of the product application will better illustrate the present invention:

Example 4 p A polyvinyl chloride yarn is treated with the'cornposition shown in Example 1 or 2, so that a proportion varying from 0.5 to 1% based on the weight of the yarn is absorbed. In electrostatic tests with an electrometer, this yarn shows practically no formation of electric charges, even after passages of 500-1000 meters, while untreated polyvinyl chloride yarn ordinarily produces static charges. Angle of friction of untreated polyvinyl chloride-.. 112 Angle of friction of polyvinyl chloride treated with 0.5% of the composition .Angle of friction of polyvinyl chloride treated with 1% of the composition 110 3 Example 5 A viscose rayon yarn is treated with the composition shown in Example 1 or 2, so that a proportion varying from 0.5 to 1% is absorbed.

In electrostatic tests with an electrometer, this yarn shows no formation of electric charges, even after pas sages of 500-1000 m., while untreated viscose rayon yarn ordinarily produces static charges.

Angle of friction of untreated viscose rayon 105-107 Angle of friction of viscose rayon treated with 0.5% of the composition 103-105 Angle of friction of viscose rayon treated with 1% of said composition 105 Static electric charge values expressed in coulom-bs/meter:

Untreated rayon viscose yarn 2.6x Rayon viscose yarn treated with the composition 4 10* Example 6 An acetate rayon yarn is treated with the composition shown in Example 1 or 2, so that a proportion varying from 0.5% to 1% is absorbed.

In electrostatic tests with an electrometer, this yarn shows no formation of electric charges, even after pa..- sages of 500-1000 111., while untreated acetate rayon yarn ordinarily produces high static charges.

Angle of friction of untreated acetate rayon 107-110" Angle of friction of acetate rayon treated with 0.5% of the composition 107-105 Angle of friction of acetate rayon treated with 1% of the composition 105 Static electric charge values expressed in coulombs/meter:

Untreated acetate rayon yarn 2 10 Acetate rayon yarn treated with this composition '2 X 10- Example 7 Angle of friction of untreated nylon 130-132 Angle of friction of nylon treated with 0.5%

of the composition 127 Angle of friction of nylon treated with 1% of the composition 130 Static electric charge values expressed in coulombs/meter:

Untreated nylon yarn 4.8 10-- Nylon yarn treated with this composition 3X10- Example 8 A linen or silk yarn is treated with the composition shown in Example 1 or 2, so that a proportion varying from 0.5 to 1% is absorbed. In electrostatic tests with an electrometer, this yarn shows no formation of electric charges, even after passages of 500-1000 m., while untreated linen or silk yarn produces ordinarily static charges.

Angle of friction of untreated linen 100 Angle of friction of linen treated with 0.5% of the composition 98 Angle of friction of linen treated with 1% of the composition 98 Angle of friction of untreated silk 110 (A Angle of friction of silk treated with 0.5% of the composition 108 Angle of friction of silk treated with 1% of the composition 108 Static electric charge values expressed in coulombs/meter:

Untreated linen yarn 2X l0 Linen yarn treated with this composition 2 l0- Untreated silk yarn 4X 10* Silk yarn treated with the composition of the present invention 1.5 10- It is obvious from Examples 4-8 that application of the herein-claimed composition causes practically no change in the angle of friction of the treated fibers.

The ethylene oxide-glycerol condensation product imparts the antistatic property. This is improved by the ethylene oxide-lauryl alcohol condensation product, which has wetting properties and facilitates adhesion of the mixture to the fiber. The polyglycol improves lubrication and fluidity, which reduces the coefiicient of friction.

This mixture was found to be excellent for the majority of yarns, in contrast to prior antistatic compounds and to the condensation product between ethylene oxide and glycerol when applied alone. This combination is a true combination because the result is diiferent from the sum of the separate results of the individual compounds used. Although each single compound or mixture of compounds has its specific activity as stated above, the mixture of the three components according to the instant invention, enhances the activity of each individual component so that the sum of the activities of the product obtained is greater than the sum of the activities of each component. 1

We have carried out numerous tests which demonstrate both the utility and the unexpected results of the products obtained according to the instant invention, for example:

(1) A polyvinyl chloride yarn was treated with 0.5% (by weight) of a condensation product between ethylene oxide and glycerol.

Results Angle of friction Breaking off owing to friction. Static electric charge 6.5 X 10* (coulombs/ meter).

The same yarn was treated with the composition of this disclosure, under the same conditions.

Results Angle of friction 110. Static electric charge 1.5 10- (coulombs/ meter).

(2) A polyvinyl chloride yarn was treated with a condensation product between ethylene oxide and lauryl alcohol with 0.5% based on the weight of the yarn.

Results Angle of friction Breaking 01f owing to friction. A Static electric charge 3.8 10- (coulornbs/ meter).

The same yarn was treated with an equal amount by weight of the composition of this invention under the same conditions.

Results Angle of friction 110. Static electric charge 1.5 10* (coulombs/ meter).

Also known binary mixtures have been tested. But compared with the compositions of this invention they are markedly inferior in respect to the desired characteristics.

The compositions of this application not only have antistatic properties that are superior to those of the known condensation products, but are also characterized by very low viscosity, emulsitiability with water and very high wetting power. After having been applied to fibers, yarns or fabrics, these compositions can be readily removed therefrom. While applied they do not change the angle of friction or flow.

Many comparison tests, which have been carried out by us, using single compounds or binary mixtures according to the prior art, for treating yarns of polyvinyl chloride, nylon, viscose rayon, acetate rayon, linen and silk, show that none of such single compounds, nor binary mixtures of the same, are entirely satisfactory for the technological operation to be carried out, whereas the ternary mixtures according to the instant disclosure coinply with all the practical requirements of the art.

Other polyglycol-s made by condensation of polyhydric alcohols or ethylene oxide can be substituted for polyglycol 200, and the molecular weight may be in a wide range, viz. 100 to 10,000. Polyglycols liquid at ordinary temperature are preferred.

We claim:

1. A composition capable of preventing the development of static electric charges in yarns made from natural and synthetic textile fibers when applied to said fibers at a ratio of about 0.5 to 1.0 percent by weight, said composition consisting of a homogeneous mixture of to 25 parts of a liquid condensation product of ethylene oxide and lauryl alcohol, and 60 to 40 parts of a liquid condensation product of ethylene oxide and of glycerol, homogeneously mixed with a polyglycol, said polyglycol being polymerized ethylene oxide having an average molecular weight of about 200, said condensation products each being formed With a molar predominance of ethylene oxide, the molar ratio in said condensation products being not greater than about 8.36 mols of ethylene oxide to one mol of the other ingredient, the said polyglycol comprising to parts of the mixture.

2. A composition capable of preventing the development of static electric charges in yarns made fromnatural and synthetic textile fibers when applied to said fibers at a ratio of about 0.5 to 1.0 percent by weight, said composition consisting of a homogeneous mixture of 10 to 25 parts of a condensation product of 5.4 mols of ethylene oxide and 1 mol of lauryl alcohol, and 6'0 to 40 parts of a condensation product of 8.36 mols of ethylene oxide and 1 mol of glycerol, homogeneously mixed with 30 to 35 parts of a polyglycol, said polyglycol being polymerized ethylene oxide having an average molecular weight of about 200.

3. A composition capable of preventing the development of static electric changes in yarns made from natural and synthetic textile fibers when applied to said fibers at a ratio of about 0.5 to 1.0 percent by weight, said composition consisting of parts of a condensation product between 5.4 mols of ethylene oxide and 1 mol of lauryl alcohol and of a condensation product between 8.36 mols ethylene oxide and 1 mol of glycerol, homogeneously mixed with 35 parts of a polyglycol having an average molecular weight of 200.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,578 Schoeller et al Aug. '21, 1934 2,316,258 Kummel Apr. 13, 1943 2,690,426 Jefferson et a1. Sept. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 665,914 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1952 804,964 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1958

Claims

1. A COMPOSITION CAPABLE OF PREVENTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATIC ELECTRIC CHARGES IN YARNS MADE FROM NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC TEXTILE FIBERS WHEN APPLIED TO SAID FIBERS AT A RATIO OF ABOUT 0.5 TO 1.0 PERCENT BY WEIGHT, SAID COMPOSITION CONSISTING OF A HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURE OF 10 TO 25 PARTS OF A LIQUID CONDENSATION PRODUCT OF ETHYLENE OXIDE AND LAURYL ALCOHOL, AND 60 TO 40 PARTS OF A LIQUID CONDENSATION PRODUCT OF ETHYLENE OXIDE AND OF GLYCEROL, HOMOGENEOUSLY MIXED WITH A POLYGLYCOL, SAID POLYGLYCOL BEING POLYMERIZED ETHYLENE OXIDE HAVING AN AVERAGE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF ABOUT 200, SAID CONDENSATION PRODUCTS EACH BEING FORMED WITH A MOLAR PREDOMINANCE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE, THE MOLAR RATIO IN SAID CONDENSATION PRODUCTS BEING NOT GREATER THAN ABOUT 8.36 MOLS OF ETHYLENE OXIDE TO ONE MOL OF THE OTHER INGREDIANT, THE SAID POLYGLYCOL COMPRISING 30 TO 35 PARTS OF THE MIXTURE.