US3457026A

US3457026A - Processing of textiles for imparting simultaneously improved tear resistance and abrasion resistance

Info

Publication number: US3457026A
Application number: US457299A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vasant Bhimrao Chipalkatti; Ramanlal Markandrai Desai; Naranyan Balvantrao Sattur; Iftikhar Husain
Original assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR
Current assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR
Priority date: 1965-05-20
Filing date: 1965-05-20
Publication date: 1969-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1986-07-22
Also published as: GB1106178A

Description

J y 9 v. B. CHIPALKATTI ET AL 3,457,026

PROCESSING OF TEXTILES FOR IMPAHTING SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVED TEAR RESISTANCE AND ABRASION RESISTANCE Filed May 20, 1965 VARIATION OF IMPACT TEAR RESISTANCE AND ABRASION RESISTANCE IN RELATION TO AMOUNT OF STEAROYL- ESTER OF F3 DIQHLORO- PROPANQL-Z FIXED ON THE FABRIC.v

5 mx ABRASION -39 a. v a

-37 o g 5 I a 8 I00 000 35 i l 4 u E I 9. E u- I I :5 o I z 2 O: I 33 E E m I I 0: a: g 6 E I -31 3; 3 50,000 :3 32 I (J 2 z I "29 5% 5 41 E g I 27 2 1 :5 W d c I 25 STEAROYL-ESTER OF I: 3 DICHLORO-PROPANOL-Z FIXED ON THE FABRIC lnvenlor A ttornvy United States Patent ice 3,457,026 PROCESSING OF TEXTILES FOR IMPARTING SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVED TEAR RESIST- AN CE AND ABRASION RESISTANCE Vasant Bhimrao Chipalkatti, Ramanlal Markandrai Desai, Naranyan Balvantrao Sattur, and Iftikhar Husaiu,

Delhi, India, assignors to Council of Scientific and In- 7 dustrial Research, New Delhi, India Filed May 20, 1965, Ser. No. 457,299 Int. Cl. D06m 13/16, 13/00 US. Cl. 8-120 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a process for treating cellulosic textile material to impart simultaneously improved resistance to tear and abrasion. By the term cellulosic textile material is meant yarns or fabrics containing cellulose fibres either natural or artificial, alone or in admixture with themselves or with other non-cellulosic fibres.

The fabrics may be knit, woven or otherwise constructed fabrics.

It is well known that cellulosic materials such as those of cotton and regenerated celluloses have lower abrasion resistance than some of the newer synthetic fibres such as nylon, terylene etc. The abrasion/wear resistance of nylon has been shown to be 3 times more compared to that of cotton. (E. R. Kaswell, Textile Fibres, Yarns and Fabrics, p. 323, 1953). The question of increasing the durability (i.e. tear and abrasion resistance) of cellulosic textile material, therefore, assumes great significance. It is also known and widely accepted that in processes involving the use of bifunctional cross-linking agents, carried out to improve the crease recovery property of cellulosic textiles, the brasion and tear resistance of cellulosic textiles decrease by nearly 60 to 75 percent of the original values. (Nuessle, et al. Textile Research J. 25, p. 24 (1955)). The improvement of abrasion and tear resistance of cellulosic textile material is, therefore, an important aspect of research and innovation.

Hithereto-known processes for improving the abrasion resistance and tear resistance of cellulosic materials consist of those using softening and lubricating agents. (Nuessle et a1. Textile Research I. 25, p. 24 (1955), J. P. McNally and F. A. McCord, ibid, 30, pp. 736, 737 (1960)). Waxes, fatty acids, polyethylene emulsions etc. are used for this purpose. These agents merely give a surface finish and do not chemically modify cellulose and, therefore, are generally not durable to washing/ dry cleaning. The polyethylene emulsion treatment is in extensive use for improving the abrasion and tear resistance of cellu- 3,457,026 Patented July 22, 1969 losic textile materials particularly those which are treated with resins and bifunctional cross-linking agents to improve crease recovery properties. However, the improvement in abrasion and tear resistance brought about by polyethylene emulsion is substantially reduced by washing or solvent cleaning. Similar is the behaviour of other softening agents and lubricants since their durabilty is limited (I. P. McNally and F. A. McCord, loc. cit.).

Some of the other processes for improving abrasion resistance where the treating agents chemically modify cellulose are cyanoethylation, acetylation and carboxymethylation (C. M. Conrad, J. of Textile Institute, 50, T133160 (1959)). These, however, improve the abrasion resistance at a high add-on and have not been considered satisfactory.

The significant feature in the present invention is an unforeseen relationship between tear resistance and abrasion resistance of cellulosic textile material treated with the chemical compounds cited. One would normally have expected that the increase in abrasion and tear resistance should be in direct proportion to the amount of the compound fixed on the textile material i.e. both these properties should have increased with the increase in the amount of compound fixed. But as can be seen from Table I, and the figure, whereas the tear resistance property passes through a peak at an optimum concentration of the combined reactant, the abrasion resistance property goes on increasing continuously. I

The objectives and the findings in relation to the foregoing will now be described in detail below:

It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for cross-linking of cellulo sic textile material whereby, the tear and abrasion resistance of the so treated material is considerably improved. Another object of the present invention is to provide a rocess for the treatment of cellulosic textile material to impart simultaneously a maximal improvement in abrasion resistance and tear resistance. It is also an object of this invention to provide a Built-in Lubrication in the treated cellulosic textile material which is resistant to washing/dry cleaning.

We have found that the simultaneous improvement in abrasion resistance and tear resistance is arrested when the cellulosic textile material is treated with an ester of 1:3-dihalo-propanol-2, the ester group having a chain length of not less than 8 carbon atoms, so as to fix above 2% of the said ester on the textile, calculated on the bone dry weight of the cellulosic material.

We have further found that when the cellulosic textile material is reacted with the ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol-2, the ester group having a chain length of not less than 8 carbon atoms, a simultaneous improvement in the abrasion resistance and tear resistance is obtained, when the combined ester, calculated on the bone dry weight'of the textile is between 0.8 to 2%. This is clear from the figure, which shows that when the amount of the combined ester is above 2%, there is a sudden and surprising drop in tear resistance. It is also clear from the figure that if the combined ester is below 0.8%, the relative improvement in tear strength is not much.

These findings are detailed in Table No. I and the results are graphically represented in the figure. The appearance of a peak or maximum in the curve for tear strength is an indication of the important and significant nature of the findings.

TABLE NO. I

Flex Percent Tear abrasion add on strength cycles due to filling, warp- Sl. No. Textile material treatment inch/lb. filling Remarks 1 Desizod casement fabric (original fabric) 20. 7 2, 665

2 Desizcd casement fabric treated with 20% NaOH Loss 0.5% 33. 4 6,050 Tear strength and abrasion resistance increase over the original fabric.

3 Dcsized casement fabric treated with 5% of the 1. 0038 30. 4 54, 561 Tearstrength and abrasion stcaroyl ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol-2 in presence resistance increase over of 20% sodium hydroxide.

4 Treatment similar to (3) but with stearoyl 1. 011 34. 7 75,801 Lowering in tear strength ester of 1:3-dicl1loro-pr0panol-2. but mereaso in abrasion resistance as compared 5 Treatment similar to (3) but with stearoyl 3. 0104 34. 0 130, 149 Do.

ester of 1:3-dichloro-propauol-2.

l Tear strength results reported here are in the 95% confidence limit.

2 Tear strength values reported here refer to impact tear and are determined on SR1 impact tear tester. (Ranganathan et al.

p. 07, 15th All India Textile Conference Souvenir January, 1958) 3 The abrasion resistance refers to flex cycles determined on EFT Mark IVA, a wear tester developed by Oourtaulds Ltd.,

(Breens and Morton J. Soc. Dyers 001. 71,513 (1955)).

There is another interesting and significant result to be noted in respect of the abrasion resistance of treated cellulosic material. Unlike the tear resistance, the abrasion resistance does not show the peak observed for tear resistance. The flex abrasion resistance increases from 2,665 cycles to 136,149 cycles with increasing amount (up to 3.6%) of the combined ester of 1:3-dichloropropanol-Z. In tear resistance the value improves from 26.7 inch lbs. to 36.5 inch lbs. is. an improvement of about 37%, whereas the improvement in abrasion resistance is from 2,665 cycles to 136,149 cyclcsan unprecedented improvement of about 50 times the original.

This process for treating ccllulosic textile material with an ester of dihalo-propanol in presence of aqueous alkali/alkaline agent, is characterised, according to the present invention, in that the said ester has an ester group having a chain length of not less than eight carbon atoms and is further characterised in that 0.8 to 2.0 percent of the said ester is fixed on the said material, the percentage being expressed on the bone dry weight of the said textile material, whereby a maximal simultaneous improvement in abrasion resistance and tear resistance is obtained. The fixing of the said cster(s) on the textile material is brought about by impregnating the said material with a solution/ aqueous emulsion of the said ester(s) followed by a treatment with alkali/alkaline agent; with or without removal of the organic solvent/ water. The ester of dihalo propanol used herein is an ester either of 1:3- dihalo-propanol-Z and/or 1:2-dihalo-propanol-3.

An ester or a mixture of esters of 1:3-dihalo-propanol- 2 and/or 1:2-dihalo-propanol-3 such as: lauroyl ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol-2; stearoyl ester of 1:3-dibromopropanol-Z; myristoyl ester of 1:2-dichloro-propanol-3; palmitoyl ester of 1-bromo-3-chloro-propanol-2; stearoyl ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol-2 or the like may be used.

Thus, ester(s) of 1:3-dihalo-propanol-2/1:Z-dihalopropanol-3, having a chain length of 14-18 carbon atoms, the halogen atoms preferably being chlorine, is (are) used. The aqueous alkali/ alkaline agent used may consist of one or an admixture of the following: potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium aluminate, sodium zincate or the like. The concentration of aqueous alkali/ alkaline agent used in the process varies from 10 to 40%, preferably in the range of 12 to weight by weight. The process is carried out at a temperature of 0 to 60 C., preferably in the range of 15 to 35 C.

This process of chemical modification is further characteriscd in the following way:

The cellulosic textile material after treatment with the estcr(s) is further treated with aqueous alkali/alkaline agent and wrapped in an inert and substantially vapour impermeable material and kept with or without pressure for a period up to about 24 hours, to complete the reaction.

The process described in the present invention has a number of advantages.

(i) It imparts high abrasion resistance and improved tear resistance to treated cellulosic textile materials;

(ii) It can be carried out using the available equipment in the industry;

(iii) The ccllulosic textile material treated by the invented proccss does not lose the characteristics of high abrasion resistance and improved tear resistance on washing/ dry cleaning.

In order to more fully illustrate the invention the following examples are given:

EXAMPLE 1 600 grams of a carbon tetrachloride solution containing 19.38 grams of stearoyl ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol- 2 was prepared. A 15" x 18" casement fabric with a thread count 55 x 46 and weighting 5.6 oz. per square yard (bleached and unmerceriscd) was padded through the solution, so as to apply a 155% wet pick up. Thereafter the fabric was dried to remove the solvent and paddcd through the aqueous solution of caustic soda 20% (weight/weight), so as to apply wet pick up. The amount of the stearoyl ester of 1:3-dichloro'propanol-2 applied to the cloth was 5% based on the dry weight of the fabric. After padding through the alkali solution the fabric was wrapped in polyethylene sheet and kept for 24 hours.

It was then washed with water until free of alkali, soured with 2% acetic acid solution and rinsed with water, and dried at room temperature 25 -28 C. These samples were washed with alcohol and other until free from loosely held matter and extracted with benzene in soxhlet for 8 hours. These samples were dried at room temperature to 65% humidity prior to testing. Flex abrasion was measured on B.F.T. Mark IV-A (a Wear Tester developed by Courtaulds Ltd.) by putting 2 lbs. weight (i.e. giving a stirrup tension of 4 lbs.) and 4 lbs. dead weight. Impact tear was measured on SRI impact tear tester. (S. R. Ranganathan et al., p. 67, 15th All India Textile Conference, Souvenir, January 1958).

These results of this treatment are already given in Table No. I, Scr. No. 3. From the results it is clear that the impact tear strength increases from 26.7 (Original fabric) to 36.4 inch pounds, and the abrasion resistance increases from 2,665 cycles to 54,561 cycles.

EXAMPLE 2 In this case the treatment of the casement fabric was similar to Example 1, except that the treatment with stearoyl ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol-2 was done with 20% instead of 5%. The results of this treatment are already given in Table No. I, Ser. No. 5. It is clear from the results that as the combined compound increases, the tear strength and abrasion resistance increase from 26.7 inch lbs. to 34 inch lbs. and 2,665 cycles to 136,149 cycles. But when compared to Example 1, the improvement in tear strength is lowered, whereas the improvement in abrasion resistance is increased.

EXAMPLE 3 270 grams of stearoyl ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol-2 in 1,080 cc. of solvent naphtha (boiling range 90-100 C.), 216 gms. of a nonionic emulsifier and 1,350 grams of water Were suitably homogenised into an oil-in-water emulsion and stabilised with 450 gms. of a 4%, aqueous solution of hydroxyethyl cellulose. The emulsion obtained contained of the stearoyl ester of 1:3-dichloropropanol-2 (w./w.).

1,950 grams of this emulsion was diluted with an equal quantity of water. A casement fabric 5 yards long and 12 inches wide with a thread count 54 x 48 and weighing 5.57 oz. per sq. yard bleached and unmercerised was impregnated in the emulsion and passed through a padding mangle adjusted for a wet pick up of 100%. The impregnation and padding operations were repeated to ensure uniform treatment. It was then dried to 8% moisture content at 30 C. The dried sample was impregnated in an alkali bath containing 20% (w./w.) aqueous NaOH solution and passed through a padding mangle. The padded fabric showed 135% alkali take up. It was then wound on a roller and covered with polythene sheet and kept for 24 hours at 30 C. At the end of 24 hours it was washed with water until free of alkali and scoured with a nonionic detergent at boil for -20 minutes and rinsed 3-4 times with hot water followed by cold water washing until free of unreacted matter. It was then dried at room temperature. The results of the tests on the treated fabric are given in the following Table No. II. It is to be noted that even by using an aqueous emulsion of the ester, the abrasion and tear resistance are considerably and simultaneously improved,

1 Flex Abrasion resistance was tested on a FBI mark IV (developed by Courtaulds) machine using 4 lbs. tension load (i.e. giving a stirrup tension of 8 lbs.) and 2 lbs. head load. These samples were extracted with benzene in soxhlet for 8 hours and were conditioned to humidity at; room temperature prior to testing.

Impact tear strength was tested on the commercial Impact tear tester developed by SRIFIR.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, the reaction product between cellulosic textile material and at least one ester of dihalo-propanol, the ester having an ester group of at least 8 carbon atoms and the amount of ester combined being between about 0.8-2.0 percent calculated on the dry weight of the cellulosic textile material, the two halogens of the dihalo-propanol cross-linking the cellulose, said reaction product exhibiting pronounced tear resistance and said reaction product having been produced by reaction under alkaline conditions.

2. The reaction product of claim 1, wherein said ester is at least one of 1 ;3-dihalo-propanol-2 and 1:2-dihalopropanol-3.

3. The reaction product of claim 2, wherein said ester is at least one of lauroyl ester of 1:3-dichloro-propanol-2; stearoyl ester of 1:3-dibr0mo-propanol-2; myristoyl ester of 1:2-dichloro-propanol-3; palmitoyl ester of 1-bromo-3 chloro-propanol-Z; and stearoyl ester of 1:3-dichloropropanol-Z.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 79,882 9/1962 India.

NORMAN G. TORCHIN, Primary Examiner J. CANNON, Assistant Examiner