US3705823A - Method of coating fibrous structure with a mixture of polyurethane pre-polymer and polyorganosiloxane - Google Patents

Abstract

IMPROVED FIBROUS STRUCTURES SUCH AS FIBERS, YARNS, FABRICS, MADE-UP CLOTHES AND THE LIKE, HAVING VOLUMINOUS HAND, DURABLE ELASTICITY, EXCELLENT ANTI-PILLING PROPERTY, SHRINKPROOFNESS, CRASE RESISTANCE, AND OTHER DESIRABLE CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, ARE MANUFACTURABLE BY FINISHING THE FIBROUS STRUCTURE WITH A NON-AQUEOUS ORGANIC SOLVENT SOLUTION OF A SPECIFIED POLYURETHANE PREPOLYMER AND A SPECIFIED POLYORGANOSILOXANE TOGETHER WITH A POLYMERIZATION CATALYST. FIBERS CONSTITUTING THE STRUCTURE ARE ENTIRELY COVERED BY URETHANE/ORGANOSILOXANE COPOLYMER FILM HAVING AN ELONGATION AT BRAK OF AT LEAST 200%, A TENSILE RECOVERY AT 100% ELONGATION OF AT LEAST 70%, A TENSILE STRENGTH OF 1-50 KG./CM.2 AND A HARDNESS OF 5-60*.

Description

United States Patent O 3,705,823 METHOD OF COATING FIBROUS STRUCTURE WITH A MIXTURE OF POLYURETHANE PRE- POLYMER AND POLYORGANOSILOXANE Kenjiro Hosokawa and Michio Icliikawa, Osaka, Japan, assignors to Kanegafuchi Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan No Drawing. Filed July 30, 1970, Ser. No. 59,721 Claims priority, application Japan, Aug. 5, 1969, 44/61,804 Int. Cl. D06m 15/52, 15/06; B44d 1/46 US. Cl. 117161 KP 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Improved fibrous structures such as fibers, yarns, fabrics, made-up clothes and the like, having voluminous hand, durable elasticity, excellent anti-pilling property, shrinkproofness, crease resistance, and other desirable chemical and physical properties, are manufacturable by finishing the fibrous structure with a non-aqueous organic solvent solution of a specified polyurethane prepolymer and a specified polyorganosiloxane together with a polymerization catalyst. Fibers constituting the structure are entirely covered by urethane/organosiloxane copolymer film having an elongation at break of at least 200%, a tensile recovery at 100% elongation of at least 70%, a tensile strength of 1-50 kg./cm. and a hardness of 5-60.

This invention relates to improved fibrous structures and a novel manufacture thereof. More particularly, it relates to fibrous structures having voluminous hand, durable elasticity, excellent anti-pilling property, shrink-proofness, crease resistance, light durability, heat resistance (melt-proofness), elastic property, mechanical properties, solvent resistance, etc., and to a novel treating process in manufacture thereof.

By the term fibrous structures used throughout the specification and claims, is meant structures or compositions consisting of or comprising fibers, such as staples, filaments, yarns, strings, strands, ropes, knitted goods, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, tufted fabrics, made-up clothes and the like.

Heretofore, it has been well-known in the art to improve water-proofness, water-repellency or the like of natural or synthetic fibrous structures by treating them with a solution or emulsion of silicone resin or polyurethane resin. Such a conventional treatment with silicone resin alone can impart superior water-proofing efiect and waterrepellent effect but however, it gives an undesirable hand of waxy feeling to the structure and besides the finished products are not provided with excellent anti-pilling property, light durability, shrink-proofness and crease resistance having durability enough to withstand Washing. On the other hand, the method for treating with a solution or emulsion of polyurethane resin can impart fairly good crease resistance, anti-pilling property and voluminous hand to the structure, but however, it is ditficult to maintain the said properties for a long time because of their poor durabilities for wash and light exposure.

There has also been proposed a method for treating fabrics with a mixture of polyurethane and polysiloxane for the purpose of producing water-proof cloths.

3,705,823 Patented Dec. 12, 1972 ice The above mentioned method may also impart good Water-proofness and water-repellency to the cloths but those properties are not maintained for a long time owing to the lack of washing durability, light durability and heat resistance, as in the case of the above-described conventional process.

In order to overcome all the above difiiculties or drawbacks, we, the inventors have made an extensive and systematic investigation on a finishing process for obtaining a fibrous structure having unique hand together with the above-mentioned excellent performances and eliminated the tendency of pilling and slippage of fibers in the structure. As a result, we have accomplished the present invention on the basis of the fact that excellent effects are attainable when a block copolymer as specified hereinafter of a polyorganosiloxane diol and a polyurethane prepolymer is applied to and fixed on the surface of fibers constituting the fibrous structure.

Namely, an object of the present invention is to provide fibrous structures with unique, voluminous hand, durable elasticity and excellent crease resistance and shrink-proofness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing easily and economically on an industrial scale fibrous structures having unique, voluminous hand, durable elasticity and excellent crease resistance and shrink-proofness.

A further object is to obtain fibrous structures having improved light durability, heat resistance especially meltproofness and solvent resistance.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

The first feature of the present invention is a fibrous structure having elastic, good hand and excellent physical properties which comprises fibers constituting the fibrous structure having 0.1 to 10% by weight based on said fibers of a continuous film homogeneously adhered thereto, said film consisting of a block copolymer of a polyurethane prepolymer and a polyorganosiloxane comprising predominantly a polyorganosiloxane diol, said film having an elongation at break of at least 200%, a tensile recovery at 100% elongation of at least a tensile strength of 1-50 kg./cm. and a hardness of 5-60.

The second feature of this invention resides in a method of producing a fibrous structure having elastic, good hand and excellent physical properties which comprises sequential steps of applying homogeneously to a fibrous structure a non-aqueous organic solvent solution of a mixture comprising 10 to 1 part of a polyurethane prepolymer having an NCO group content of 1.0 to 3.0% by weight and an average molecular weight of 3,000 to 50,000 and 1 to 10 parts of a polyorganosiloxane comprising predominantly polyorganosiloxane diol having a viscosity at 25 C. in 15% trichloroethylene solution of 1,000- 100,000 centistokes, together with -a polymerization catalyst in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by weight based on said structure of polymer solids and subsequently subjecting said structure to a heat treatment of 50 to 200 C. to complete the block copolymerization reaction of the said applied polyurethane prepolymer and polyorganosiloxane, whereby a resultant block copolymer is fixed onto the fibers.

The said block copolymer fixed in the improved fibrous structure of the present invention is produced by polyaddition reaction between -NCO groups of the 3 polyurethane prepolymer and hydroxyl groups of the polyorganosiloxane diol, and therefore, the obtained copolymer differs remarkably from a polyurethane resin or organosiloxane high polymer alone or a mixture thereof in molecular structure, solubility in an organic solvent, light durability, heat resistance, elastic properties, etc., and especially is remarkably improved in organic solvent resistance, heat resistance and light durability as compared with a mixture thereof. Particularly with respect to the organic solvent resistance, the block copolymer is substantially absolutely insoluble in an organic solvent and does not even swell therein. Therefore, the fibrous structure of the invention is much superior to the con-- ventional fibrous structures having polyurethane resin or polyorganosiloxane alone or a mixture thereof fixed thereon in light durability, anti-pilling property, heat resistance, shrink-proofness, crease resistance, elastic properties, etc., and also is capable of maintaining these properties for a long period of time because of its good durability for laundering.

The said copolymer formed and fixed in a fibrous structure is essentially required to have an elongation at break of at least 200%, a tensile recovery at 100%, elongation of at least 70%, a tensile strength of 1-50 kg./cm. and a hardness of -60". If even one of these physical properties deviates from its above specified range, the objects of the present invention are not attainable.

When the elongation at break is below 200%, the formed film is so poor in elasticity that a fibrous structure having durable crease resistance and shrink-proofness and elastic hand cannot be obtained. Accordingly, a more preferred elongation at break is in a range of 400 to 1,000%. The tensile recovery at 100% elongation is at least 70% and, more preferably at least 80%. The tensile strength must be in a range of 1-50 kg./cm. andus particularly preferred to be 3-20 kg./cm. If the tensile strength is below 1 kg./cm. the formed film 1s unsuitably brittle. The hardness is required to fall in a range between 5 and 60, more preferably 8 to 30". When the hardness is below 5, the formed film is too soft and when 1tis above 60, the fibrous structure as treated becomes undesirably rough and hard, and in either case, the hand of the structure is impaired.

In addition to the above, the amount of the said copolymer fixed to the fibrous structure is an important factor. According to the invention, 0.1 to 10% by weight based on the structure of the copolymer of polyorganosiloxane diol and polyurethane prepolymer having the physical properties as described hereinbefore is required to be applied to a fibrous structure, but 1n practical use, a range of 0.2 to 3% by weight is more preferable. The effect of the invention is small when the fixed amount is below 0.1% by weight, while the bulkiness alldjtOUCh feeling are undesirably degraded when same is in excess of 10% by weight.

The polyorganosiloxane diol to be employed in this invention is a polysiloxane having both terminal hydroxyl groups and a viscosity at 25 C. in trichloroethylene solution of 1,000 to 100,000 centistokes, which is, for instance, represented by the general formula:

wherein R and R denote the same or different alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkenyl groups having a carbon atom number Of 1 to 18, CH=CH NCO, OH, OCH or the like. Among the polymers represented by the above general formula, dimethylpolysiloxane diol, diethylpolysiloxane diol, methyl-phenylpolysiloxane diol, diphenylpolysiloxane diol and -cyano propyl-methylpolysiloxane diol are particularly preferred.

Above all, the most preferred is dimethylpolysiloxane diol. Viscosity at 25 C. in 15% trichloroethylene solution of the said polyorganosiloxane diol to be employed in the invention is in a range of 1,000 to 100,000 centistokes, more preferably 5,000 to 50,000 centistokes. When it is below 1,000 centistokes, the said block copolymer having the above described physical properties cannot be produced with no effect of improvement.

The polyurethane prepolymer to be employed in this invention may be any kind of polyurethane prepolymer having both terminal isocyanato groups and urethane or urea groups in the main molecular chain thereof. Such a prepolymer may be produced by reaction between an active hydrogen-containing compound and an isocyanato group-containing compound. As an organic diisocyanate which is e'mployable to make the prepolymer, there may be mentioned, for example, 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenyl-rnethane diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, methylene-bis-(4-phenyl isocyanate), metaphenylene diisocyanate, paraphenylene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-3,3'-dimethyl 4,4 diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, cyclohexylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, dimethyl diisocyanate, 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, methylcyclohexylene diisocyanate and the like. As an active hydrogen-containing compound which is employable to form long chain segment, a diol having substantially linear structure is often used and a triol or polyol having an inactive side groups such as an alkyl, alkenyl, alkaryl or aralkyl group may also be used. As a triol, for example, glycerine-propyleneoxide adduct may be employed. Preferred diols include polyalkyleneoxide glycols such as poly-1,2-propyleneoxide glycol, polyethyleneoxide glycol, ethyleneoxide/propyleneoxide copolymer glycol or the like produced from .glycols as a raw material. Those r diols have preferably a molecular weight of not more than 5,000.

Physical properties of the polyurethane prepolymer to be employed are important factors for forming the said tough copolymer as obtained by eflicient copolymerization of the said prepolymer with the polyorganosiloxane diol under practical heat-treatment conditions.

The present inventors have investigated an interrelation between the polyurethane prepolymer and the block copolymer obtainable therefrom by copolymerization with the polyorganosiloxane diol and have found that it is necessary to use a high molecular weight prepolymer having an average molecular weight of 3,000 to 50,000, preferably 10,000 to 25,000 and an isocyanato group content of 1.0 to 3.0% by weight, preferably 1.5 to 2.5% by weight. When the average molecular weight of the said polyurethane prepolymer is less than 3,000, it is not possible to form the block copolymer of the physical properties as described before, while if it is more than 50,000, the copolymerization reaction does not progress easily. When the isocyanato group content is less than 1.0% by weight, the copolymerization reaction proceeds with difliculty, and when it is more than 3.0% by weight, the objects of the invention cannot be attained because the block copolymer having the above-defined physical properties cannot be formed.

In order to obtain the best results, the mixing ratio (copolymerization ratio) of polysiloxane diol and polyurethane prepolymer, which is also an important factor, should fall within the range of 10:1 to 1:10 by Weight, outside which range there is formed no blocked copolymer having such physical properties as described above and accordingly no satisfactory improvement of the fibrous structure can be made. Namely, when the ratio of the polyurethane prepolymer to the polyorganosiloxane diol is above the upper limit of the range, the copolymer formed is unpreferably liable to be discolored into yellowish shade upon exposure to heat or light and the weather durability is remarkably degraded as compared with that of the non-treated fibrous structure. Within the above range of mixing ratio, as the ratio of the polyurethane prepolymer increases, the hand durability for laundering and anti-pilling durability are increased. On the other hand, as the ratio of the polyorganosiloxane diol is increased, the waxy feeling is increased. When the two are employed in an equivalent amount, especially excellent elastic properties and crease resistance may be imparted. However, the most preferred mixing ratio of the two is in a range of 10:2 to 2:10, in view of the objects of the present invention Though the above-described many excellent effects may be attained by block copolymerizing the polyorganosiloxane diol and polyurethane prepolymer in a mixing ratio of 1:10 to 10:1 as explained hereinabove, the copolymerization may also be conducted in the coexistence of a specified amount of an alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane to form a terpolymer constituted by the polyurethane prepolymer, polyorganosiloxane diol and alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane on a fibrous structure. Thus, it was found that the water-repellency of the said fibrous structure is further enhanced thereby. The amount of the said alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane which may be added is at most 20% by weight, especially preferably in a range of 5 to by weight, based on the polyorganosiloxane diol. When the addition amount is below 5% by weight, the heat resistance and water-repellency are enhanced only a little and when it is more than 20% by Weight, it is not preferred as the formed copolymer film is brittle and ts tensile strength is degraded.

As a preferable alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane, there may be mentioned, for example, methylhydrogenpolysiloxane, ethylhydrogenpolysiloxane, butylhydrogenpolysiloxane and the like, among which methylhydrogenpolysiloxane is most preferred. The viscosity of the alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane is preferred to be not more than 1,000 centistokes, more preferably 5 to -50 centistokes.

In the practice of the present invention, the amount of the said block copolymer fixed on a fibrous structure is also important. Namely, a mixture having a specified mixing ratio as described above of polyorganosiloxane diol and polyurethane prepolymer or a mixture further containing alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane must be applied to the fibrous structure in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10% by weight based on the fibrous structure.

In this case, if it is below 0.1% by weight, the treating effect is insufficient and on the other hand, if it is more than 10% by weight, the bulkiness, touch feeling, etc. are unpreferably degraded. The most preferred applying amount is in a range of 0.2 to 6% by weight.

According to the invention, in order to promote the copolymerization reaction between the polyurethane prepolymer and the polyorganosiloxane diol or between them and the alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane, a polymerization catalyst is employed. As suitable polymerization catalysts there may be employed organometallic compounds exemplified by dibutyl-tin-dilaurate, dibutyl-tin-dioctoate, di'

butyl-tin-octylmaleate laurate, dibutyl-tin-succinate, stannous octoate, dibutyl-tin-diethylhexoate, and tin chelated compounds which are non-limitative. The said catalysts may be used alone or in combination. The amount of the polymerization catalyst to be added is normally in a range of 1 to 30% by weight, preferably 3 to 10% by weight, based on the polyorganosiloxane diol.

In addition to the said polymerization catalyst, a primer may also be employed in order to enhance the adhesiveness of the formed block copolymer to a fibrous structure. As such a primer, there may be employed, for example, silane, isocyanate, alkoxysilanes, silane acetates, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyl-tris-(B-methoxy-ethoxy)- silane, ;8-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyl-trimethoxysilane, 'yglycidoxy-propyl-trimethoxy-silane, 'y metacrylopropyltrimethoxysilane or the like. These are added usually in an amount of not more than by weight of the polyorganosiloxane diol.

In the treatment of a fibrous structure according to the invention, a treating solution prepared by dissolving a specific amount of polyurethane prepolymer and polyorganosiloxane diol, or a mixture thereof with alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane, in a non-aqueous, organic solvent as set forth hereinafter and, if required, further adding a catalyst and a primer thereto, is employed and is applied appropriately to a fibrous structure by means of immersion, padding, spraying, gravure coating, etc. in an amount as required. The fibrous structure impregnated with the treating solution is subsequently led into a heattreatment apparatus held at a desired temperature, and subjected to heating to form and fix the said block copolymer therein after completion of the copolymerization reaction.

Here, the temperature for heat treatment correlates With the treating period of time, depending on the natures of the fibrous structure and the block copolymer and fixed amount of the copolymer. The treatment may be conducted at 50 to 200 C., preferably at to C. for 30 seconds to 20 minutes. At a temperature below 50 C., a copolymer having the required physical properties cannot be produced or it is necessary to conduct a treatment for a disadvantageously long time. A temperature above 200 C. is not preferred since the treated fibrous structure is likely to be discolored.

As a non-aqueous, organic solvent employed for the said treating solution, for example, toluene, benzene, xylene, industrial gasoline, tetrachlorocarbon, chloroform, dichloroethane, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, methylene chloride or the like are preferred. Each ingredient for copolymerization dissolved in the said solvent may Wet and impregnate homogeneously inside and on the surface of the fibrous structure by their rapid permeation and diffusion therethrough after being applied. Also at the drying step after elimination of the solvent, the said solvent evaporates so rapidly as compared with Water that there occurs no shift of a copolymer on a fibrous structure and the homogeneous, tough block copolymer is formed in situ on the fibrous structure by completion of the block copolymerization reaction on heat treatment.

The thus produced and fixed copolymer in the fibrous structure acts as a member of fibrous texture, and therefore, the treated fibrous structure exhibits, as a whole, excellent tensile elasticity and compressive elasticity against mechanical stress, and much greater crease resistance as compared with a polyurethane or polyorganosiloxane elastomer used alone or mixtures thereof and prevents pilling formation and slippage due to polyorganosiloxane elastomer. It is noticeable that the treated fibrous structure exhibits high elasticity and at the same time holds its friction coefiicient Well by compensating the low friction coefiicient of a polyorganosiloxane component (of the copolymer) for the high friction coetficient of a polyurethane component and that elastic finished articles having various unique hands may be manufactured by varying the mixing ratio of the polyorganosiloxane diol to the polyurethane prepolymer. It is more significant that an improvement has been made owing to block copolymerization as described above, namely, the yellowing or degradation in light durability of a fibrous structure which usually resulted from finishing with a polyurethane homopolymer prepared from a polyurethane prepolymer alone has been completely eliminated by block copolymerization of a polyorganosiloxane diol therewith. Furthermore, synthetic resin finishing of fibrous structures heretofore practised is accompanied by a drawback of fixing cross-over contacts in the texture of cloth, and so the stretchability of fibrous structures such as knitted goods is inevitably reduced thereby. However, according to the invention there is only a little concentration of the copolymer on cross-over contacts in the texture since a non-aqueous organic solvent is employed, and even if the copolymer is concentrated, the stretching 7 characteristic is not impaired since the copolymer itself has high tensile elasticity.

The method of the present invention displays its best effect in the treatment of knitted goods and gives an excellent effect also in the treatment of yarns, woven fabrics, non-woven fabric, made-up clothes, carpets or the like. Particularly, the shrink-proof eifect obtained by the present invention assures dimensional stability of the fibrous structure and the high degree of heat resistance leads to an improvement in heat melting characteristic which was hitherto a drawback of polyamide and polyester fibers. Such defects specific in synthetic fibers such as, for example, clothes made of thin textiles such as nylon taffeta are easily melted by lighted tobacco, etc. to make holes therein, or traces of needles by sewing machines are improved.

Textile finished with polyorganosiloxane elastomer alone are so slippery that disadvantages are encountered in spreading and cutting, but on the contrary, there is no such a problem in the fibrous structure of the present invention.

Another advantage of the fibrous structure of the invention is that piece 'dyeing thereof is possible. This is one of the prominent features that have never been seen heretofore until the present invention was accomplished, where the said copolymer formed in the method of this invention possesses eminent elasticity, shrink-proofness and hot water resistance.

The fibrous structure obtained according to the process of the present invention is remarkably excellent in durability, in particular durability for laundering and dry cleaning since the copolymer, which is remarkably improved by the block copolymerization reaction with regard to solvent resistance, water resistance, light durability, heat resistance, etc., is firmly bonded and fixed to the texture of the said fibrous structure. On the contrary, a polymer film formed by treating a polyorganosiloxane diol which will be polymerized and polyurethane resin (dead polyurethane polymer) together with a polymerization catalyst in a similar manner to the present invention is poor in resistance against mechanical stress, organic solvents, detergents, etc. and physical properties such as elasticity, crease resistance, etc. as well as durability for laundering and dry cleaning. These facts will be apparent from the examples as mentioned hereinafter.

The method of the present invention is applicable to all kinds of fibrous structures such as yarns, knitted and woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, made-up clothes or the like. The yarn includes filament, spun yarn and bulky yarn. The bulky yarn includes those processed by a falsetwisting method, twisting and untwisting method with Italian twister, stuffing box method, knitting and deknitting method, knife edging method, air-jet method, etc. and may be treated with prepolymer prior to or after those texturizing processes.

The fibers to be treated include natural fibers such as wool, silk, cotton, linen or the like, synthetic fibers comprising, for example, polyester, polyamide, polyurea, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride or the like and regenerated fibers such as viscose rayon, cupro-rayon or the like.

The present invention is further illustrated by the following non-limitative examples. In the examples, the term part means part by weight. The methods of measuring crease resistance, elongation at break, compressive elasticity (degree of compression, degree of elasticity), tensile elasticity (load for elongation degree of elasticity), anti-pilling property and melting-proofness, and conditions of laundering and dry cleaning are as follows:

Crease resistance Measurement is made according to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) L-10795.22.2 B method.

Compressive elasticity Degree of compression (percent) X100 Degree of resiliency (percent)= i 100 Tensile elasticity (1) Load for elongation.-The load (g) required for a specimen of 10 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide to be stretched on an Instron tension tester at a rate of 10 cm./min. up to a predetermined elongation is measured.

(2) Degree of elasticity-A load of 500 g. is applied in the similar manner to (1) above, when the length (I cm.) is measured. After loading for a minute followed by further standing for a minute under no load, the length cm.) is measured. The original length of the specimen (1 cm. Thus the degree of elasticity is represented by the following equation:

Degree of elasticity (percent)= Tearing strength Measured according to I IS L-1079-5 .14 Tear strength C method.

Pilling test Measured according to H8 L-1076 (1967) A method (by means of ICI type tester) Melt-proofness test A cigarette just lit is laid on the specimen under conditions of a relative humidity of and temperature of 20 C. and the time required till it melts and makes a hole is measured.

Laundering Carried out continuously for 3 hours at 25 C. using 50 time bath of perchloroethylene according to AATCC method.

EXAMPLE 1 A double jersey fabric (the length extended in the wale direction was mm./50 courses) knitted with a false twist textured nylon-6 yarn of 70 denier of 18 filaments/ 2 ply was scoured at 70 C. for 20 minutes in a 30 times bath containing 1 g./l. each of an anionic surfactant and of soda ash, dried (density, wale: 30/inch; course: 45 /inch), padded with solution of the under-mentioned composition (pick-up: dried again at 80 C. and then was heat-treated at C. for 2 minutes.

The resultant fabric (density, Wale: 37/inch; course: 45/inch) contained 3.1% by weight of copolymer exhibited a favourable voluminous hand of elasticity, excellent elastic recovery from elongation, desirable durability for washing, crease resistance, anti-pilling property and melt-proofness.

The above treating solution was treated in the similar manner to the above process and there was formed a film (thickness: 1 mm.) which exhibited the following physical properties:

Elongation at break: 510% Elastic recovery at 100% elongation: 82% Tensile strength: *6 kg./cm.

Hardness: 12

plied similarly and fixed in a solid amount of 4.2% by weight to the fabric.

The treated article of the invention 'was dyed homogeneously in the composition having a bath ratio of :1 of 1.2% by weight of Kitten Fast Violet R (an acidic dyestuff manufactured by Ciba Ltd.) and 1% by weight of Liogen P (a surfactant manufactured by Sandoz A.G.), with no degradation of physical properties.

EXAMPLE 2 A fabric of double half tricot knitted with a raw silk yarn of 21 denier of 7 filaments/2 ply was scoured at 100 C. for one hour in a 40 times bath containing 3 g./l. of potash soap, then subjected to a beam-dyeing in a bath containing 10% by weight of Direct Deep Black EAC (direct dyestuif manufactured by Ciba Ltd), and was dried at 100 C. on a tenter-drier (density, Wale 42/inch; course: 46/inch). The thus dried fabric was immersed in the solution of the composition as mentioned hereafter, squeezed at a pickup of 80%, dried again at 80 C. and then heat-treated at 120 C. for 2 minutes. The resultant fabric (density, Wale: 42/inch; course: 45.5/inch) contained 1.6% of copolymer and exhibited excellent crease resistance and elasticity, so that it was suitable for ladys The result is shown in Table 1. 25 wear and gloves.

TABLElSI Tensile elasticity Compressive elasticity (percent) After dry Before washing After washing Before washing After Washing cleaning Antl- Melt- L. D.E. L. D.E. Light pilling proof. (per. (per. duraproperty ness (g.) cent) (g.) cent D.C. D.E. D.C. D.E. D.C. D.E. bllity (rating) Hand (sec.)

Untreated 152 73 154 71 19 71 4. 5 3 Article of this in- 158 96 160 94 22 96 21 94 22 96 5 3. 5 Scrooping, bulky 31 vcntion. ellng. Control (A) 140 94 145 89 21 94 18 88 19 92 5 1. 5 Waxy feeling 5 Control (B) 165 90 162 88 19 92 19 89 19 91 2 4 Alittle hard 5 Control (C) 168 89 150 80 19 89 19 83 19 81 3 do 15 No'rE.L=Load; D.E.=Degree of elasticity; D.O.=Degree of compression. In Table 1, the compositions and conditions of the con- 40 Composition of treating solution trols are as follows: Parts Control A Dimethylpolysiloxane diol (viscosity at 25 C. of

Parts 15% trichloroethylene solution: 11,000 centi- Dimethylpolysiloxane diol same as above 3 StOkeS) 1.2 Dibutyl-tin-dilaurate 0.15 4 Methyl hydrogenpolysiloxane (viscosity: 18 centi- N- (trimethoxysilylpropyl) ethylenediamine 0.15 5 stokes) 0,3 Trichloroethylene 97 P lyurethane prepolymer having an isocyanator group The treating solution comprising the above ingredients was applied similarly to the fabric and fixed in a solid amount of 4.2% by weight.

Control B The solution consisting of 3 parts of polyurethane prepolymer same as above and 97 parts of trichloroethylene was applied similarly and fixed in a solid amount of 4.2% by weight to the fabric.

Parapren (the trade name of polyurethane resin manufactured by Hodogaya Kagaku K.K.) 1.5

content of 2.0% by weight and an average molecular weight of 23,000 obtained from 1 mol of polyester glycol (MW: 2,000) which was obtained from the reaction between a :20 mixture of poly propyleneether glycol and propylene glycol and adipic acid, 5 mols of 4,4-diphcnylmethane diisocyanate and 0.02 mol of 1,4-butane diol 0.5 Dibutyl-tin-octylmaleate l-aurate (catalyst) 0.1 'y-Glycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (primer) 0.1 1,1,1-trichloroethane (solvent) 98 A film prepared from the above solution in the similar manner to Example 1 exhibited the following physical properties:

Elongation at break: 620% Elastic recovery at 100% elongation: 75% Tensile strength: 10 kg./cm.

Hardness: 21

The solution consisting of the above ingredients was ap- 65 The result is shown in the following Table 2.

TABLE 2 Tensile elasticity Crease resistance After just finished After dry cleaning After just finished After dry cleaning L. D.E. L. D.E. (g.) (percent) (g) (percent) Wale Course Wale Course Hand 142 59 143 57 57 58 58 57 152 93 150 91 80 81 79 81 Soft, scrooping feeling. 92 128 86 78 79 77 78 Much waxy feeling. 162 88 155 87 69 69 68 69 A little hard. Control (0) 83 144 65 80 81 68 Do.

1 1 The controls (A), (B and (C) in Table 2 were produced in a similar manner to Example 1 wherein the control (A) was fixed by the above polyorganosiloxane prepolymer in a pick-up of 1.6%, the control (B) by the above polyurethane prepolymer in a pick-up of 1.6% and the control (C) by a pick-up of 0.8% each of the above polyorganosiloxane prepolymer and the polyurethane resin in the control (C) of Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3 A twill of acrylic spun-yarn (warp: 1/ 50 count; filling: 1/ 32 count, density, warp: 86/inch; filling: SO/inch) was padded with the following solution of the composition (pick-up: 60% dried at 80 C. and then heat-treated at 170 C. for 30 seconds. The thus-obtained fabric contained 1.8% by weight of copolymer and exhibited soft, voluminous, drape, elastic hand and superior crease resistance and anti-pilling property. The fabric was not deformed by repeated wearing and Washing.

The film prepared from the above solution exhibited the following physical properties:

Elongation at break: 600% Elastic recovery at 100% elongation: 73% Tensile strength: 5 l g./cm.

Hardness: 24

The result is shown in Table 3.

manner to Example 1 wherein the control (A) was applied with 1.8% of the above polyorganosiloxane prepolymer, the control (B) with 1.8% of the above polyurethane prepolymer, and the control (C) with 0.9% of the above polyorganosilioxane prepolymer together with 0.9% of polyurethane resin (Krisbon 7667 manufactured by Nippon Reichhold K.K.).

EXAMPLE 4 Woolen fabric knitted of worsted yarn of 1/44 count (density, Wale: 39/inch; course: 34/inch) was relaxed by hot-tumbling to the density of Wale: 38/inch; course: 35/inch, padded with the following solution of the composition (pick-up: 85%), dried at C. and then heattreated at 120 C. for 10 minutes. The obtained fabric (density, Wale: 38/inch; course: 35.5/inch) contained 2.6% by weight of copolymer, showed superior voluminous hand of elasticity and drapeness as compared with the under-mentioned (A) or (B) each alone, and exhibited excellent tensile recovery, and shrink-proofness and crease resistance of durability for washing.

Composition of treating solution Parts Dimethylpolysiloxane diol (viscosity at 25 C. of

15% trichloroethylene solution: 22,000 centisstokes) 0.8 Methylhydrogenpolysiloxane (viscosity 20 centistokes) 0.2 Polyurethane prepolymer having an isocyanato group content of 2.0% by weight and an average molecular weight of 4.180 obtained from a reaction product of 1 mol of e caprolactone diol (MW: 1,740)

1.5 mols of 4,4'-dicyclohexylemethane diisocyanate, and 1 mol of 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate 2.2 Dibutyl-tin-diethylhexoate (catalyst) 0.15 Methylethylketone (solvent) 97 The film prepared from the treating solution in a similar manner to Example 1 exhibited the following physical properties:

Elongation at break: 560% Elastic recovery at 100% elongation: Tensile strength: 5.2 kg./cm.

Hardness: 15

TAB LE 3 Compressive elasticity (percent) Crease resistance (percent) Antipilling property (rating) Before washing After washing Before washing After washing Before After D.C. D.E. D.C. D.E. Warp Filling Warp Filling washing washing Untreated 20 83 19 81 83 83 81 82 2 1 Article of this invention- 22 93 21 02 91 93 91 92 4 3 Control (A) 23 00 22 86 88 86 85 1 1 Control (B)--- 22 88 21 85 88 87 85 84 4 3 Control (C) 21 87 20 82 87 86 84 82 2 1 The controls (A), (B) and (C) were made in a similar The result is shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Tensile elasticity Compressive elasticity Shrinkage Before dry After dry Before dry After dry by washing cleaning cleaning cleaning cleaning (percent) I light D.E 11E. dura- L. (per- L. (per- Felting bility (g.) cent) (g.) cent) D.C. D.E. D.C. D.E. Wale Course tendency Hand (rating) Untreated 85 163 82 24 88 25 87 13 4 Article of this invention..- 95 173 05 27 96 26 95 2 4 5 01 A 138 02 142 80 26 94 25 02 3 4 5 188 90 88 25 93 25 91 2 1 165 88 160 82 26 91 25 87 8 2 In Table 4, the controls (A), (B) and (C) were made in a similar manner to Example 1 wherein the control (A) was applied with 2.6% of the above polyorganosiloxane prepolymer, the control (B) with 2.6% of the above polyurethane prepolymer and the control (C) with 1.3% of the above polyorganosiloxane prepolymer together with 1.3% of the polyurethane resin (dead polymer) of Example 1.

EXAMPLE A broadcloth consisting of blend spun yarn of 65% polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) and 35% cotton Crease resistance (crease recovery percent) Antipilli ng prop erty (rating) Before washing After washing Shrinkage (percent) Before After Warp Filling Warp Filling Warp Filling washing washing Untreated 81 76. 8 78 76 4. 2 3. 2 3 2 Article of this lnventio 88. 5 86. 5 87. 5 86 1. 8 1. 0 3. 6 3 Control (A) 86 84. 5 82 81 2. 5 l. 5 1 1. 5

( 1/ 40 count, density, warp: 120/ inch; filling: 70/ inch) EXAMPLE 7 was scoured, bleached, further whitened by fluorescent dye, padded with the following solution of the composition (pick-up: 110%), and then subjected to heat-treatment at 170 C. for one minute. The obtained fabric contained 1.8% by weight of copolyrner and exhibited a favourable resilient, voluminous, scrooping hand and excellent crease resistance and anti-pilling property.

Composition of treating solution Parts Dimethylpolysiloxane diol (viscosity at 25 'C. of

trichloroethylene solution: 18,000 centistokes) Methylhydrogenpolysiloxane (viscosity 10 centi- The film formed from this treating solution in a similar manner to Example 1 exhibited the following physical properties.

Elongation at break: 550% Elastic recovery at 100% elongation: 70% Tensile strength: 8 kg./cm.

Hardness: 80

The result is shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 A warp-elastic fabric having a twll'l texture woven with false-twist textured nylon yarn (70 denier of 18 filaments/ 2 ply) in warp and acetate filament (150 denier of filaments) in weft was applied with the treating solution of Example 4 in a pick-up of 2% of copolymer by means of spraying and heat-treated at 150 C. for 3 minutes. The resulted fabric showed scrooping, drape, voluminous hand and durable crease resistance and stretching recovery.

The untreated article made a hole on the fabric after five seconds on melt-proofness test, but the treated article of the invention made no hole even after 25 seconds.

EXAMPLE 8 Mens socks (density, wale: 29/inch; course: 43/inch) knitted with a false-twist textured nylon-6 yarn of 70 denier of 32 filament/2 ply were soaked in the treating solution of Example 2. After squeezing (pick-up: 40%), the socks were dried at 80 C. and then heat-treated at 150 C. for 2 minutes. The resulted socks after finishing treatment showed neither shrinkage nor deformation and contained 0.8% by weight of copolymer. They exhibited excellent fit and resiliency, and showed no musty feeling inherent in nylon on wearing and neither waxy feeling nor slippery feeling as in the case of the sole silicone resin finished product, so that the wearing feeling was comfortable.

EXAMPLE 9 A double jersey fabric (the length extended in the wale direction was mm./ 50 courses) knitted with polyester textured yarn of 110 denier of 32 filaments/2 ply was scoured, dyed with a dispersed dye, dried (density, wale:

Crease resistance Anti-pilling (crease recovery percent) property (rating Before washing After washing Light Before After durability Warp Filling Warp Filling washing washing (rating) Untreated 80 79 79 74. 2 1. 5 2 Article of this invention 87 86 86 85 4 3 2 Control (A) 82 81 81 80 1 1 2 83 82 81 81 4 3 1 82 82 79 76 2 1 1 NOTE.The controls were treated in a similar manner to the present invention except for employing the following treating solutions:

Control (A)A solution containing 1.7 parts of the polyoganlosiloxane prepolymer, the catalyst and 98 parts 0 xy ene.

Control (B)A solution containing 1.7 parts of the polyurethane prepolymer and 98 parts of xylene.

Control (C)A solution containing 0.8 part of the polyorganosiloxane prepolymer, and the catalyst, 0.9 part of 1the polyurethane resin of Example 1 and 98 parts of xy ene.

37/inch; course. 43/inch), padded with the following treating solution of the composition (pick-up: 116%), dried again at C. and then heat-treated at C. for 1.5 minutes. The resulted fabric (density, wale: 36/ inch; course: 44/inch) contained 2.8% by weight of co polymer and exhibited scrooping touch with no waxy feeling, and excellent elastic recovery, crease resistance and anti-pilling property.

Composition of treating solution Parts Dimethylpolysiloxane diol containing mol percent of 'y-cyanopropylmethyl siloxane unit (viscosity at 25 C. of trichloroethylene solution:

The copolymer film made from this solution is a similar manner to Example 1 showed the following physical properties:

Elongation at break: 530% Elastic recovery at 100% elongation: 83% Tensile strength: 18 kg./cm.

Hardness: 12

The result is shown in Table 7.

weight of (A) and (B), said organic solvent being selected from the group consisting of toluene, benzene, xylene, industrial gasoline, carbon tetrachloride, chloro form, dichloroethane, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, methylene chloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and methylethyl ketone; and subsequently subjecting said structure to a heat treatment at 50 to 200 C. to complete the block copolymerization reaction of the said applied polyurethane prepolymer and polyorganosiloxane, whereby the resultant block copolymer is fixed onto the fibers.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said polyorganosiloxane diol is dimethylpolysiloxane diol.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said polyorganosiloxane contains at most 20% by weight of alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane having a viscosity not exceeding 1,000 centistokes.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane is methylhydrogenpolysiloxane.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said viscosity is 5 to 50 centistokes.

6. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the content of said alkylhydrogenpolysiloxane is 5 to 10% by weight.

7. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said polyorganosiloxane is a combination of dimethylpolysiloxane diol and methylhydrogenpolysiloxane.

TABLE 7 Elastic recovery at 100% elongation in course Before washing After washing After dry-cleaning Anti- Melt Light pilling proofdura- L. D.E. L. D.E. L. D.E. property ness bility (g.) (percent) (g.) (percent) (g) (percent) (rating) (sec (rating) Hand rarer;

a a e 2 3 4 io co sinven ion 2 8 98 3.5 4 'Scro0 n Control (A 205 92 210 88 215 90 1 30 4 Muoh zitlaig f l i ng. Control (B5.-- 265 86 235 84 235 83 3. 5 5 1 Hard. Control (C 230 87 225 82 218 79 2 8 1. 5 Serooping touch.

Norm-The controls were treated in a similar manner to the present article except for employing the following treating solution:

Control (A)A solution containing 2.4 parts of the said silicone prepolymer, 0.12 part of the catalyst and 98 parts of trichloroethylene. Control (B)A solution containing 2.4 parts of the said polyurethane prepolymer and 98 parts of trichloroethylene.

EXAMPLE 10 A skein.(500 g.) of a false-twist textured nylon-6 yarn of 70 denier of 18 filaments/2 ply, was immersed in the bath of treating solution of Example 4 for one minute, after which it was put into a centrifugal separator to dry up to a water content of 22% and then air-dried. The dried yarn was heat-treated at 100 C. for 20 minutes. The obtained yarn contained 0.7% of the fixed resin and exhibited such a good drapeness and elastic hand that untreated nylon-6 yarn could not obtain. The socks knitted with the treated yarn (plain stitch density, wale: 28/inch; course 41/ inch) were superior in stretchability, stretching recovery and fit, showed little variation in density of stitches caused by a fluctuation of tension in the knitting process, and the knitting process was performed smoothly. On the contrary, the knitting operation in the case of the yarn treated with the sole polyurethane prepolymer was slightly difiicult.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a fibrous structure having elastic, good hand and excellent physical properties, comprising the sequence of steps of applying homogeneously to a fibrous structure a non-aqueous organic solvent solution of a mixture comprising (A) 10 to 1 part of a polyurethane prepo-lymer having an -NCO group content of 1.0 to 3.0% by weight and an average molecular weight of 3,000 to 50,000, (B) 1 to 10 parts of a polyorganosiloxane comprising predominantly polyorganosiloxane diol having a viscosity at 25 C. in 15% trichloroethylene solution of LOGO-100,000 centistokes, and (C) a polymerization catalyst in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by weight based on the Control(C)-A solution containing 1.8 parts of the said silicone prepolymer, 0.12 part of the catalyst, 0.6 part of the dead polyurethane polymer of Example 1 and 98 parts of trichloroethylene.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said solution contains also a primer selected from the group consisting of N-(trimethoxypropyl) ethylenediamine, 'yglycidoxypropyl-trimethoxysilane, {3 (3,4 epoxycyclohexyl)-ethyl-methoxy-silane, and N (dimethoxymethylsilylpropyl) ethylenediamine, in an amount of not more than 15 by weight of said polyorganosiloxane.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said polymerization catalyst is an 'organo-metallic compound selected from the group consisting of dibutyl-tin-di laurate, dibutyl-tin-octylmaleate laurate, stannous octoate and dibutyl-tin-diethylhexoate, and its amount is 1 to 30% by weight based on said polyorganosiloxane.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the amount of said polymerization catalyst is in a range of 3 to 10% by weight.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the viscosity of said polyorganosiloxane diol is 5,00050,000 centistokes.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said average molecular weight is 10,000-25,000 and the isocyanato group content is 1.5 to 2.5% by Weight.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the proportion of polyorganosiloxane diol to polyurethane prepolymer is 2: 10 to 10:2.

14. The method as set forth in clarni 1 wherein the fixed amount of said copolymer is 0.2 to 6% by weight based on the fibrous structure.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fibrous structure is of knitted fabric.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat treatment is conducted at a temperature of 100-160 C. for 30 seconds-20 minutes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Altner 260-33.8 UB Haenni 26033.8 SB Nyilas 117161 Hodes 117161 Klebert 117161 X Ceyzeriat 117-161 Keil 117161 18 Reishl et a1 117161 X Haluska 117--161 X Youngs 117161 X Pepe 117161 X Sekmakas et a1. 117161 X WILLIAM D. MARTIN, Primary Examiner M. R. EP. PE-RRONE, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.