US3723376A - Aerosol textile sizing product and method - Google Patents

Abstract

AEROSOL AQUEOUS SIZING PRODUCTS CHARACTERIZED IN PROVIDING HIGHLY VARIABLE AMOUNTS OF STIFFNESS ARE PROVIDED, COMPRISING POLYVINYLPRROLIDONE HAVING AN AVERAGE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF ABOUT 10,000 TO 400,000 ALONG WITH A WATER-SOLUBLE SILOXANE-OXYALKYLENE BLOCK COPOLYMER.

Description

March 27, 1973 R. c, STEINHAUER ET AL 3,723376 AEROSOL TEXTILE SIZING PRODUCT AND METHOD Filed Oct. 5, 1970 PERCENT ST/FFNESS INC REA SE //\/VE/\/TORS ROGER C. STE/NHAUER LEONARD A. FALEV/TCH DAVID R. CHURCH BY awe/fa ATT).

lWOLIFfiULA/i WEIGHT IN THOUSANDS United States Patent O 3,723,376 AEROSOL TEXTILE SIZING PRODUCT AND METHOD Roger C. Steinhauer, 291 Dogwood, Park Forest, II]. 60466; Leonard A. Falevitch, 5932 Peck Ave., La Grange, Ill. 60525; and David R. Church, 188 Dogwood, Park Forest, Ill. 60466 Filed Oct. 5, 1970, Ser. No. 77,968 Int. Cl. C081? 33/04, 33/08 U.S. Cl. 26029.6 HN 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aerosol aqueous sizing products characterized in providing highly variable amounts of stiffness are provided, comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of about 10,000 to 400,000 along with a water-soluble siloxane-oxyalkylene block copolymer.

This invention relates to compositions and methods for textile sizing. More particularly, it relates to aqueous compositions in aerosol form for sizing textile fabrics.

It is known for manufacturers of textile fabrics to size the fabrics prior to sale in order to improve the body thereof, and to generally improve the appearance and wearing qualities of the textiles. Sizing products are generally applied by dipping the fabric into baths. Such sizing products are eventually removed from the fabric, due to laundering and wear. In the case of many fabrics, the housewife applies starch as part of the laundering and ironing process to restore the desirable qualities of sizing products to the fabric.

The last ten years or so have seen the development of starch into an aerosol product. However spray starch suffers certain disadvantages such as imparting too much stiffness which many consumers dislike. n the other hand, attempts to formulate other sizing agents into aerosol products for household use have not been entirely successful.

If the problems of aerosol packaging are overcome the product usually does not impart sufficient stiffness so as to compare to starch. US. Pat. 3,068,120 teaches an aerosol sizing composition using an aqueous solution of sodium carboxymethylcellulose. Using sodium CMC as the sizing resin does not allow the formulation of a product which will approach the stiffness of starch. Thus although the body, softness and feel of fabrics are improved by such a product, sufficient stiffness is not imparted which is desired by many users.

Thus it is an object of this invention to provide an aerosol aqueous sizing composition. Another object and advantage of this invention is to provide an aerosol sizing composition which can be formulated to provide a highly variable amount of stiffness to the fabric. Yet another object and advantage of this invention is to provide an aerosol aqueous sizing composition which will impart de sirable qualities to the fabric comparable or superior to those obtained through the use of starch.

In a specific embodiment, the compositions of this invention may be exemplified by an aqueous sizing composition comprising, by weight, about 0.1 to about 3% of polyviriylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 400,000; about 0.1 to about 1% of a water-soluble siloxane-oxyalkylene block copolymer such as Union Carbides L-520; about 4 to about of propellant and the remainder being water. The composition may also contain about 0.1-1%, and preferably about 0.4% of a defoamer such as a silicone such as SAG 470 silicone in order to aid in penetration of the fabric. In addition, the composition may also contain from about 0.1-1%, and preferably about 0.2% of a germicide. An

ice

especially preferred germicide is a combination of 2,4,4- trichloro-2'-hydroxy diphenyl ether with mixed alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides where the alkyl contains 12-18 carbon atoms. A corrosion inhibitor system may also be incorporated in an amount of about 0.01-0.5%, and preferably about 0.10% as is well known in the art of aerosol packaging. Suitable corrosion inhibitors include among others urea, sodium benzoate and triethanolamine in the amounts as set forth above. In addition variable amounts, such as about 0.1-1.0%, and preferably about 0.5% of a polyethylene glycol, may be added to impart a desired hand to the fabric. Other optional ingredients may be added such as preservatives, about 0.1-0.8% and preferably about 0.2%; and a suitable perfume generally in an amount of about OBI-0.02%.

The product of this invention may be applied to any synthetic textile fabric, such as Orlon, Dacron, and nylon for example. In addition it may be applied to natural fabrics such as silk, flannel, linen, cotton and felt.

The polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) component may be any homopolymer obtained by addition polymerization of a vinyl pyrrolidone monomer such as N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and the like, said polymer having an average molecular weight from about 10,000 to about 400,000. Polyvinylpyrrolidone is commercially available in molecular weights of 10,000, 40,000, 160,000, 360,000 and in higher molecular weight groups as well as in blends of the foregoing. It has been found that increasing the molecular weight of the PVP used in the product of this invention over certain ranges permits a high degree of flexibility in making sizing products which possess a rather wide range of stiffness properties. As the molecular Weight of the resin is increased from 1,000 to 60,000 there is a sharply rising increase in stiffness imparted to the fabric as is illustrated in the attached drawing. The attached drawing is a graph depicting the effect of PVP molecular weight on the stiffness of polyester/cotton blend fabric using ASTM test method D-1388-64. In the graph the percentage stiffness increase over water (ordinate) has been plotted against the average molecu lar weight (in thousands) of the polyvinylpyrrolidone (abscissa). The dotted lines A and B show the results with a commercial aerosol starch product and with a commercial aerosol sodium CMC product respectively. The curved line C shows the increased stiffness imparted as the molecular weight PVP used increases. From line C it can be seen that the greatest variation in stiffness occurs from about 15,000: molecular weight to about 140,000 molecular weight, then levels off. Thus the use of the lower molecular weight PVP, i.e. having a molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 40,000 is preferred to impart a light to medium stiffness upon the application of the product. The use of a PVP having a molecular weight of about 160,000 is preferred to impart a stiffness comparable to starch. The concentration of a given molecular weight of PVP in the product also affects the stiffness of the resultant finish imparted to the fabric. Using a PVP having an average molecular weight of about 40,000 at a concentration of about 1.2% or more in the product achieves a starch-type stiffness; a concentration of about 0.282% of the same PVP provides a mild stiffness similar to those products utilizing sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

The composition of the present invention contains as a second essential component a water-soluble siloxaneoxyalkylene block copolymer, or silicone fluid. Suitable water-soluble silicone fluids for use in the practice of the present invention are those with surface active properties, which embody the properties of both organic and silicone oils and impart good lubrication and anti-wear properties to various products, and are such as those disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,834,748 and US. Pat. No. 3,140,198. A particularly preferred silicone fluid would also have an average viscosity in centistokes at 25 C. of approximately 1,100 and an apparent specific gravity, 25/25 C. of 1.03. Suitable water-soluble silicone fluids for use in the present invention are commercially available from Union Carbide, such as Silicone L-520.

The specific propellant component is not critical, and suitable volatile liquid propellants are well known in the art. The propellant may be, for example, the partially fluorinated, or wholly fluorinated, or partially fluorinated-partially chlorinated, or partially fluorinated-partially brominated aliphatic hydrocarbons having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms such as are available under the trademark Freon and mixtures thereof, low boiling hydrocarbons having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms such as methane, propane, butane, their isomers, their mixtures and the like, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and the like. Because the water present in the product of this invention suppresses flammability, it is preferred to use low boiling hydrocarbons such as butanes.

In producing the aerosol aqueous sizing products of the invention, an aerosol container equipped with a valve may be filled by the normal cold filling method; or the propellant may be introduced by pressure filling through the valve nozzle; or other known methods. In formulating, it is preferred to add the PVP and then the silicone fluid to the water while stirring. It is particularly preferred to pre-blend any additional components before adding them; for example, by admixing the germicides if liquid, adding thereto the preservative, and then adding a preblended perfume and nonionic surfactant and finally adding this total mixture to the water, PVP and silicone fluid. Thereafter the corrosion inhibitor if any may be added.

Reference will now be made to specific examples of particular compositions of the invention.

EXAMPLE I The following formulation was filled into metal aerosol cans, utilizing Newman-Green valves and actuators:

Percent by weight Ingredient: in can Polyvinylpyrrolidone, average molecular wt.

Alkoxylated organosilicone copolymer (water sol., viscosity 25 C. of 1,100; specific gravity at 25 C. of 1.03) 0.3 Methyl dodecyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and methyl dodecyl xylene bis (trimethyl ammonium chloride)preservative 0.009 Polyethylene glycol average molecular wt. 200 0.564 Urea-corrosion inhibitor 0.047 Hydrophobic silicone fluid (Sag 470)-antifoam agent 0.038 Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloridegermicide 0.094 2,4,4 trichloro-2-hydroxy diphenyl ether germicide 0.009 Perfume/nonionic surfactant in 1/1 ratio 0.038 Isobutane propellant 6.000

Water, remainder to 100%.

The above formulation was stable through seven freeze-thaw cycles and passes a two week 125 F. high temperature stability test. A panel test was conducted wherein each panel member was assigned six white polyester/ cotton men's dress shirts. The panel members wore each shift one day then the shirt was washed and refinished with either the product above or a commercial aerosol sizing product that incorporated sodium CMC and an aerosol starch product for comparison purposes. The above formulation was found to be comparable in stiffness of the aerosol starch product.

4 EXAMPLE n A series of formulations using 1.5% aqueous solutions of PVP having average molecular weights of 10,000 (K15); 40,000 (K30); 160,000(K60); and 360,000 (K) respectively were prepared and filled in aerosol containers as set forth above using 6% isobutane propellant and no additional ingredients. Unsatisfactory spray streamer patterns resulted. About 0.3% watersoluble alkoxylated organosilicone copolymer (Silicone L-520) was added to each and a satisfactory pattern resulted. Another series containing 0.45% of each of the various molecular weight PVP and about 0.3% Silicone L-520 were sprayed onto polyester/cotton batiste shirt fabric and compared with a commercial spray starch and a commercial spray sodium CMC sizing by the Single Cantilever test, ASTMD138864. The results are set forth in the attached drawing, from which it can be seen that the stiffness imparted varies directly with the molecular weight of the PVP. Thereby an effective sizing can be imparted at any one of the so-called light starching, moderate starching or heavy starching levels.

EXAMPLE III The following formulation was filled into metal aerosol cans, again using Newman-Green valves and actuators:

Percent by weight Ingredient: in can PV'P, average molecular wt. 160,000 1.41 Alkoxylated organosilicone copolymer (water sol.; viscosity 25 C. of 1,100; specific gravity 25 C. of 1.03) 0.282 Either urea; sodium benzoate; or triethanolaminecorrosion inhibitor 0.047 Polyethylene glycol, average molecular wt.

200 0.564 Methyl dodecyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and methyl dodecyl xylene bis (trimethyl ammonium chloride)preservative 0.009 Sag 470 hydrophobic silicone fluid 0.376 Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloridegermicide 0.094 2,4,4 trichloro2-hydroxy diphenyl et.her-

germicide 0.009 Perfume 0.0188 Nonionic carrier for perfume 0.0188 Modified fractions of coal tar bases as acid corrosion inhibitor 0.00094 Isobutane 6.000

Water, remainder to The above formulation was freeze-thaw stable through seven cycles, produced satisfactory spray patterns, and on panel evaluations as set forth hereinabove imparted a stiffness to fabrics equal to or greater than that of an aerosol starch product.

EXAMPLE IV Any soil repellant fluorocarbon may be added to our composition to impart water and oil-based soil repellency. Such compounds may be the water and oil repelling fluoro-, polyfluoroand perfluorinated: -alkyl phosphates, alkanamide-alkyl phosphates, polyoxa-allcanamidoalkylanols and their phosphates, esters, ether alcohols, polyols, sulfonamido polyols, vinyl ethers and vinyl benzenes. Preferred soil repellant fluorocarbons are available under the designation Zonyl RP, Zepel B, TIJF-2247, and TLF- 2601.

When Zepel B, TIP-2247 and TLF-2601 were incorporated in an amount of about 0.010.1%, and especially about 0.04% by weight, into the formulation of Example I, consumer panel and laboratory testing showed that excellent water and oil-stain repellency was imparted to the fabric.

While this invention has been described and exemplified in terms of its preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol composition comprising, by weight, about 0.1-3% of polyvinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of about 10,000-400,000; about 0.11% of a water-soluble siloxane-oxyalkylene block copolymer; about 410% of propellant; and water.

2. The composition of claim 1 in which said polyvinylpyrrolidone has an average molecular weight of about 40,000.

)3- The composition of claim 1 in which said polyvinylpyrrolidone has an average molecular weight of about 160,000.

4. The composition of claim 1 in which said polyvinylpyrroudone is present in an amount of about 1.5%.

5. The composition of claim 1 in which said siloxaneoxyalkylene block copol'ymer has an average viscosity at 25 C. of approximately 1,100 centistokes and a specific gravity at 25 C. of 1.03.

6. The composition of claim 3 in which said siloxaneoxyalkylene block copolymer is present in an amount of about 0.3%.

7. The composition of claim 1 which includes about 0.010.1% of a soil repellant fluorocarbon.

8. The composition of claim 7 in which said fluorocarbon is present in an amount of about 0.04% by weight.

9. The composition of claim 1 including mixed alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides where the alkyl contains 12-18 carbon atoms.

10. An aerosol composition comprising, by weight, about l-3% of polyvinylpyrrolidone having a molecular weight of about 10,000400,000; about 0.1-1% of a watersoluble siloxane-ox'yalkylene block copolymer; about 0.4% of defoamer; about 0.2% of germicide; about 0.02% of corrosion inhibitor; about 0.2% of preservative; about 0.5% of a polyethylene glycol; about 0.02% of a perfume; about 6% of isobutane hydrocarbon propellant; and the remainder water.

11. The composition of claim 10 in which said germicide is a mixture of 2,4,4-trichlor0-2'-hydroxy diphenyl ether and mixed alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides where the alkyl contains 12-18 carbon atoms.

12. A method of sizing a textile fabric comprising spraying on said fabric an aqueous solution of 13% of polyvinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of about 10,000-400,000; about 0.11% of a watersoluble siloxane-oxyalk'ylene block copolymer; about 4-10% of propellant; and water.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,073,794 1/ 1963 Stoner 260--33.8

3,140,198 7/1964 Dawson et a1 117-138.8

3,294,861 12/1966 Simpson 260 -827 3,502,743 3/ 1970 Wolf et al 260-851 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,702,020 8/ 1968 Netherlands.

1,052,023 12/1966 Great Britain.

1,541,599 8/1968 France.

1,140,543 12/1962 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES Ramaszeder; Magy. Textiltech. 16, 566-69 (1964). Davidson et al.; Water Soluble Resins, Reinhold, New York, 1962, p. 132.

MELVdN GOLDSTEIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

117-104 R, 139.5 A; 260- [29.6 NR

Images