US3402127A

US3402127A - Synthetic thermoplastic yarn finish

Info

Publication number: US3402127A
Application number: US413320A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wayne T Mowe
Original assignee: Monsanto Co
Current assignee: Monsanto Co
Priority date: 1964-11-23
Filing date: 1964-11-23
Publication date: 1968-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1985-09-17
Also published as: IL24654A; LU49897A1; BE672722A; GB1121285A; NL6515192A; DK115567B; CH466203A; FR1456181A; JPS4910319B1; DE1469435A1

Description

United States Patent Oflice 3,402,127 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A synthetic thermoplastic yarn finish having excellent antistatic properties, lubricity and stability in aqueous emulsion is provided by a mixture of an imidazolinium alkylsulfate, an alkyl ester of a fatty acid, and a water-oil emulsifier for the alkyl ester.

This invention relates to a finish for synthetic thermoplastic yarn.

Some synthetic thermoplastic yarns are made of nylon, nylon copolymers, polyesters, polyester copolymers, and the like.

Nylon is a long-chain synthetic polymeric amide having recurring amide groups as an integral part of the main polymer chain, and is capable of being formed into a filament in which the structural elements are oriented in the direction of the axis. Nylon includes nylon-66 (polymeric hexamethylene diammoniumadipate), nylon-6 (polymeric 6-aminocaproic acid), nylon-610 '(polyhexamethylene sebacamide), nylon-4, nylon-7, nylon-11, etc., and fiberforming co-polymers thereof.

Polyester is a long-chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85 percent by weight of an ester of a dihydric alcohol and terephthalic acid.

In manufacturing textiles from synthetic thermoplastic yarn, various operations are preformed that require coating the yarn with finishes which provide lubricity, antistatic and other properties necessary for satisfactory processing and handling. Depending upon the end use, different finishes may be required for the same kind of yarn.

In a particular instance, when nylon yarn to which a standard finish had been applied was used as filling yarn in the quill of a weaving loom, it was determined that lubrication was excellent and quill take-off tensions were low and uniform. Nevertheless, the yarn had poor cohesive and antistatic properties which made it difiicult to handle during weaving. In a second instance, another standard finish was placed on nylon yarn with the result that the cohesive and antistatic properties were excellent; yet, this yarn exhibited high friction characteristics. Poor lubricity resulted in high, erratic quill take-E tensions thus causing streaky fabric and very distinct quill junctions. Other finishes that were tested also produced yarn having various desirable weaving and dyeing characteristics.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a finish for application to synthetic thermoplastic yarn wherein the yarn will have excellent lubricity, bundle cohesion and antistatic properties providing excellent weaving characteristics for filling yarns.

Another object is to provide a finish for synthetic thermoplastic yarn that will improve the dyeability of fabrics produced therefrom.

Other objects will become apparent from the following descriptive material.

The above objects are achieved in the provision of a finish for synthetic thermoplastic yarn comprising a lubricant, an emulsifying agent and an antistatic agent. Based on its weight, 40-70 percent of the finish is lubricant, 20-60 percent is an emulsifier or a mixture of emulsifiers, and 5-20 percent is a quaternary imidazolinium compound having the general formula:

N-CH:

wherein R is an aliphatic radical having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and containing at most three carbon to carbon double bands, R is a saturated aliphatic radical having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and R is a C H OH radical with n being an integer from 1 to 5.

A quite suitable lubricant for use in the instant finish is a member of the class of fatty acid esters represented by the general formula RCOOR wherein R is a saturated aliphatic radical containing 1-22 carbon atoms and R is a saturated aliphatic radical containing 1-12 carbon atoms. Examples of these esters are butyl stearate, butyl laurate, butyl myristate, butyl palmitate, isopropyl palmitate and neopentyl stearate.

Usually the subject finish is applied to yarn as an aqueous emulsion. Therefore, it is necessary to' provide a water-oil emulsifier for the lubricant in the finish. There are many water-oil emulsifiers commercially avilable, for example, Aerosol AY (diamyl sulfosuccinate), Dispersant NI-O (ethylene oxide condensation product with alkyl phenol), Ninox BDO (ethylene oxide condensation product with alkyl phenol), and Synthetics AD 50 (polyethylene glycol ether of hydroabietyl alcohol). Two products sold by Atlas Powder Company of Wilmington, Del., have been found to be particularly effective. These products are sold under the trademark Span and Tween. Span is a random mixture of partial esters of fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides (hexitans and hexides) derived from sorbitol. The structure of Span compounds is shown below:

CH CH-CHzOOCR HO-CH CH-OH no-onAor-r,

(311% CH-OOCR wherein R is a saturated aliphatic radical containing from 5 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of compounds covered by the trademark Span are random mixtures of a plurality of forms of either sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, or sorbitan monooleate.

The emulsifier Tween, composed of a random mixture of components, canbe obtained by adding'bxy ethylene chains to the non-esterified hydroxyls of a Span mixture. Tween has the composition shown by the structural formulas 'below:

CH: CI-I-CHzOOCR wherein R is a saturated aliphatic radical containing from -20 carbon atoms and n +n +n =1l0O ethylene oxide groups. Propylene oxide units can also be used rather than ethylene oxide to produce a like material, however, ethylene oxide is preferred.

Both of the above described emulsifiers (Span and Tween) are random mixtures. As used herein, random mixture means a combination of components whose relative proportions are not critical. That is, the individual components can be present in the combination in any and all proportions with respect to each of the other components without changing the end result, i.e., proper emulsification, obtained by the combination of components. In the instant finish it is possible to use each of the emulsifiers Span and Tween alone or in combination with one another. A combination is preferred, for Span is lipophilic or oil loving and Tween is hydrophilic or water loving thereby producing a better emulsion than would one emulsifier alone.

It must be understood that any kind of emulsifier capable of performing the same function, i.e., suitably emulsifying the lubricant with water, is quite as suitable as either Span or Tween or a combination thereof for use in the subject finish.

As synthetic thermoplastic yarns are processed they become electrostatieally charged. These charges, generated both by rubbing of yarn or fabric with one another and by rubbing against other bodies, give rise to various disadvantages than can show themselves in many ways, depending upon the yarn and the use thereof. Electrostatically charged yarns and fabrics may not only repel one another but may also attract and hold dirt, dust, lint, and the like. Weaving and other fabric manufacturing operations are made more difficult by electrostatic charges on the yarn which cause flaring filaments. In order to overcome these difficulties, it is necessary to use an antistatic agent in the finish. Generally, antistatic agents contain ionizable and/or hydrophilic groups which enable them to dissipate static charges. These agents are generally long-chain, surface active, non-ionic or cationic surfactants, although anionic materials have been found to be somewhat effective. Cationics generally used as antistatic agents include quaternary ammonium halides, alkyl imidazoline hydroactetates, alkyl betaines, and fatty acid polyamine condensates. Cationic antistatic agents have longer lasting effectiveness than do non-ionic agents because they are more difficult to remove during laundering and dry cleaning.

As noted hereinabove, cationic antistatic agents possess certain desirable properties, but it was expected that a cationic antistatic agent would precipitate when used in conjunction with the hereinabove described lubricants (fatty acid esters) and emulsifying agents (Span and Tween). Nevertheless, when an attempt was made to use a quaternary imidazolinium'compound' (a cationic antistatic agent), having a structure such as that shown hereinbefore, in conjunction with a fatty acid ester and emulsifiers Span and Tween, surprisingly, no precipitation occurred and an excellent, quite stable emulsion was obtained when this finish was homogenized with water.

Among the quaternary imidazolinium compounds suitable for use in the present finish are l-(2-hydroxyethyl)- l-ethyl-2-oleyl-imidazolinium ethyl sulfate, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-l;ethyl 2 stearyl-imidazolinium ethyl sulfate, 1-(2- hydroxyethyl) -l-ethyl-2-linoleylimidazolinium ethyl 'sulfate, 1. (4-hydroxybutyl)-1-ethyl-2-oleylimidazolinium ethyl sulfate, 1 (5 -,hydroxypentyl)-l-propyl-2-stearylimidazolinium propyl sulfate, 1 (5 hydroxypentyl)-lethyl-Z-oleyl-imidazolinium ethyl sulfate, l-(hydroxymethyl) l ethyl-2-pentyl-imidazolinium ethyl sulfate, l-(4-hydroxybutyl) -1-butyl-2-stearyl-imidazolinium butyl sulfate, 1 (5-hydroxypentyl)-l-propyl-2-oleyl-imidazolinium propyl sulfate, l-(hydroxymethyl)-l-hexyl-2-oleylimidazolinium hexyl sulfate.

An aqueous finish composition is prepared by homogenizing finish, composed of lubricant, emulsifying agent or mixture of agents, and an antistatic agent (a quaternary imidazolinium compound), with water. The generally desirable ranges for each of the finish components, expressed in weight percent based on total finish weight, are shown in the table next below.

TABLE I.GENERAL FINISH COMPOSITION Component: Range, weight percent Lubricant 40-70 Emulsifying agent 20-60 Antistatic agent (quaternary imidazolinium compound) 5-20 Usually, as noted before, the emulsifying agent is composed of two components: 1) material designated by the trademark Span and (2) material designated by the trademark Tween. These two materials can be present in the finish in various proportions. However, a desirable percent range for each material based on total emulsifier weight is set forth in the table next below.

TABLE II.EMULSIFIER COMPOSITION Component: Range, weight percent Span t 60-80 Tween 20-40 Usually the instant finish is present on yarn treated therewith in an amount from about 0.5 to 1.2 percent based on yarn weight.

There are various methods for applying the subject finish to yarn. In one method the yarn passes in contact with a roller or wick partially immersed in aqueous finish composition. Other finish application methods consist of spraying, brushing, or immersing the yarn in an aqueous finish composition bath.

The amount of finish and water in the aqueous finish composition may vary. Concentration can depend, among other things, upon the particular impregnation method employed and on the kind of filaments treated. Aqueous finish compositions having from about 3 to about 48 percent finish therein based on the total weight in the aqueous finish composition are quite suitable.

The examples set out hereinafter are intended to illustrate the invention. They are not intended to limit the invention in any manner whatsoever.

Example I A particular finish was prepared in the following manner. A mixture of materials shown in the following table in the indicated proportions based on the total weight of all components was prepared.

TABLE III.FINISH COMPOSITION Component: Percent by weight Butyl stearate 60 Mixture or sorbitan monolaurates (Span 20 Mixture of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurates (Tween 20) (2O ethylene oxide units) 10 1-(2-hydroxyethyl) -1-ethyl-2-oleyl-imidazolinium ethyl sulfate 10 While being mixed, the finish was heated to 50 C. and then added to water which also had been heated to 50 C. The final aqueous finish composition was 16 percent finish and 84 percent water based on the total weight of the aqueous finish composition. Then the mixture was fed through a homogenizer thereby forming a stable emulsion of finish in water. After homogenizing the aqueous finish composition was cooled to C.

This aqueous finish composition was then applied to a bundle of meltspun 34 nylon-66 filaments having a total denier of 185, at a point between the spinneret and the bobbin used to take up the filaments. The yarn was thus coated with 1 percent finish based on yarn weight. These filaments were then drawn on a conventional draw-winding machine employing two sets of rolls; a draw-pin between said rolls, around which the yarn was snubbed; and a take-up assembly in which the yarn was collected on a bobbin. Between the two sets of rolls, the filaments were drawn 2.63 times.

The emulsion appeared to be quite stable, showing no signs of separation into an oil and aqueous phase at any time during its use.

The yarn with the instant finish applied thereto was shipped to a weaving mill. There it was used as filling yarn in the weaving process. Filling yarn is wound on a small spool or quill which is placed on the shuttle of a loom.

Fabric woven from the above described yarn proved to be extremely pleasing in appearance with significant reduction in dye streaks, bands, and quill junctions. The yarn exhibited very good lubricity, excellent bundle cohesion and good antistatic properties during the weaving operation.

Example II A yarn made from nylon-66 consisting of a bundle of 34 filaments having a total denier of 70 was treated with the finish described in Example I. It was compared with a competitive yarn having the same denier and number of filaments. Fabric samples were then woven using in one sample, yarn treated with the finish of the invention and, in a second sample the competitive yarn, as fill yarn. Fabric having fill yarn treated with the inventive finish had fewer streaks, bands, and quill junctions than did fabric wherein the fill yarn was a comparable, competitive yarn treated with another kind of finish.

The improved lubricity provided by the subject finish is indicated by the fact that the competitive yarn showed 1820 grams tension on the yarn during quilling while yarn treated with the inventive finish measured only 14-16 grams tension under identical quilling conditions.

Yarn treated with the inventive finish shows marked advantages. Lubricity is significantly increased, generation of static electricity is depressed, and bundle cohesion is notably increased.

The invention has been described by referring to specific embodiments, but it should be understood that nu merous modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention which is only limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A finish consisting essentially of to 70 weight percent of a fatty acid ester having the formula RCOOR wherein R is an alkyl radical containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms and R is an alkyl radical containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms; 5 to 20 weight percent of a quaternary imidazolinium compound having the formula N-CH 2 Ri-G RzOSOg" N-CHz R2 R3 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of oleyl, linoleyl and an alkyl radical containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms, R is an alkyl radical containing 2 to 6- carbon atoms and R is a C H OH radical with n being an integer from 1 to 5; and 20 to 60 weight percent of at least one emulsifier selected from the group consisting of compounds having the formulae CH CH-CHzOOCR CH-OH I OH ITO-CH 10H;

CH2 CIT-O O O R CH2 CHCH2OOCR References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,125,487 3/1964 Hutchinson 117139.5 3,277,079 10/1966 Press 117--139.5

OTHER REFERENCES Technical Bulletin, Atlas Spans and Tweens, Atlas Powder Co., 1945, pp. 1, 2, and 12.

The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 6th edition, Reinhold, 1956, p. 189.

LEON D. ROSDOL, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY D. SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner.