Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
  • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
  • D06M15/37—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06M15/59—Polyamides; Polyimides
  • D06M15/592—Polyamides; Polyimides made from polymerised unsaturated fatty acids and polyamines
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/31504—Composite [nonstructural laminate]
  • Y10T428/31725—Of polyamide
  • Y10T428/3175—Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomer[s]
  • Y10T428/31754—Natural source-type polyamide

Definitions

• Part of the process of treating wool with such polyethylenes has included a stepto cross-link the polyethylene which has been deposited.
• a commonly employed method has been to subject the treated article to baking at elevated temperatures'usually well in excess of 100C. Such treatment carries the risk of yellowing the wool fibre and has not found ready commercial acceptance.
• Preparations containing non-reactive polyethylenes have been used as textile finishing aids and have been prepared as agents which could assist in preventing the pilling of articles containing wool, but to be effective for this purpose large quantities of the polymer have been necessary, which have adversely affected the handle of the treated goods.
• The. present invention provides a process for treating wool in order to render it-shrink-resistant, which process comprises:
• This invention is capable of being performed on a batch or a continuous basis, although it is more suited to batch operation.
• Wool may be treated according to this :process atany stage in its manufacture, e.g., loose W001, top, yarn, knitted or woven fabric, and the treatment may be carried 'out before or after dyeing.
• the first step of the process is a substantially uniform treatment of the wool with an oxidising agent, preferably a chlorine-containing oxidizing agent, under acid conditions.
• an oxidising agent preferably a chlorine-containing oxidizing agent
• Such treatments are well known, and will not be described in detail here.
• the dosage required to achieve this shrinkage reduction will vary from one sample of wool to another.
• the preferred reagent for this treatment is an acidified aqueous solution of an alkali metal dichloroisocyanurate.
• Other chlorine-containing agents such as an acidified solution of an alkali metal salt of hypochlorous acid or an acidified solution of gaseous chlorine dissolved in water, may be employed. It is possible to use dichloroisocyanurate or hypochlorite in conjunction with potassium permanganate.
• the chlorine-containing oxidizing agent may also contain permonosulphuric acid or an alkali metal salt thereof.
• the treatment process may be carried out under conditions such as those described in British Pat. Specification No. 1,036,107 (Laporte). Such treatments give a whiter product than that obtainable from chlorine-containing oxidizing agents alone.
• An alternative oxidative pre-treatment can be carried out using permonosulphuric acid or an acidified alkali metal salt thereof. Such treatments are described in British Pat. Specification No. 716,806.
• oxidizing treatments described above are desirably carried out in the presence of a wetting agent, preferably a non-ionic wetting agent such as a watersoluble polyethylenoxy-alkyl phenol.
• a wetting agent preferably a non-ionic wetting agent such as a watersoluble polyethylenoxy-alkyl phenol.
• the woollen material may be further treated in an aqueous bath containing an alkali metal salt of sulphurous acid such as sodium sulphite or sodium bisulphite, or mixtures of the two, in order to remove residual chlorine or to neutralize acidity.
• an alkali metal salt of sulphurous acid such as sodium sulphite or sodium bisulphite, or mixtures of the two, in order to remove residual chlorine or to neutralize acidity.
• the treated woollen material should be thoroughly rinsed and is then ready for the next stage.
• the second step of the process is the treatment of the modified wool with a cationic polyelectrolyte and with an aqueous emulsion of an emulsifiable polymer which is exhausted on to the fibres of the wool. It is possible to treat the modified wool, first with the cationic polyelectrolyte, and subsequently with the polymer emulsion; but it is preferred according to the invention to treat the modified wool with a mixture of the two reagents, for by this means, in batch operation, complete exhaustion of the polymer is readily achieved.
• the polyelectrolyte is a water-dispersable or watersoluble polymer having a plurality of cationic ionizable sites.
• a number of polyelectrolytes based on polyacrylamide are available commercially, for example, that sold under the Trade Mark Polyteric CA. Watersoluble polyamides may also be used.
• a preferred class of polyelectrolytes isv that comprising polymers (e.g., having a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 10,000,000 viscosity average) having an exclusively carbon atom backbone to which are attached units ofthe formula:
• A is a C to C alkylene group in which different carbon atoms are linked to the two nitrogen atoms.
• Such polymers may be prepared by reacting a dior poly-amine with a polymer of a nitrile-containing monomer.
• a particularly preferred cationic polyelectrolyte is that sold under the Trade Mark Primafloc C7. which is believed to be a polyvinyl imidazoline in the class just described.
• polymers may be used in this process, the essential requirement being that they should be emulsifiable in water. Mention may be made of polyacrylates, polyvinyl acetates and copolymers, polyolefins and particularly polyethylenes. Emulsions sold under the Trade Names Bradsyn P.E. (Hickson & Welch), Iberlene P.E. (Harrison Chemicals), Mykon SF (Warwick Chemicals), Vinamul 6000 and 6515 (Vinyl Products) and Calatac VB (I.C.I.) have been employed.
• the polymer may contain reactive sites along its chain, we have found that this is not necessary and indeed may be disadvantageous, as our process does not include a curing step involving cross-linking, and any reactive sites remaining in the polymers when deposited on the fibre could possibly confer undesirable properties to the treated material.
• An emulsifying agent will generally be necessary, and we prefer to use a nitrogen-free non-ionic emulsifying agent, the polyethylenoxy-alkylphenols being suitable.
• the aqueous polymer emulsion may be cationic, nonionic or anionic.
• the surface of wool fibres is anionic, and it is known that cationic polymer emulsions will exhaust on to wool fibres. However, such exhaustion does not give rise to significant shrink resistance in the absence of a cationic polyelectrolyte. In the presence of a cationic polyelectrolyte, the exhaustion of cationic polymer emulsions tends to be rather slow and may confer only a moderate degree of shrink resistance on the product.
• a non-ionic polymer emulsion do not exhaust on to woo] (whether or not it has previously been treated with an oxidizing agent) in the absence of a cationic polyelectrolyte, and it is surprising that they do so when a cationic polyelectrolyte is present. In fact the exhaustion process takes place very readily and may be completed under favourable conditions in from 2 to minutes.
• the pH of the exhaustion bath is preferably from 4 to 7, particularly from 5 to 6. Temperature is important, and we prefer to operate at from C to 60C, e.g., C to C; in particular, operation at lower temperatures may not give satisfactory results because of slow rate of exhaustion.
• the emulsion should be rather dilute, and will generally contain considerably less than I percent w/w solids. Under favourable conditions, exhaustion is rapid and complete; completion of the process can be readily observed because the liquor, which is initially turbid, becomes completely clear.
• the amount of polymer that is exhausted on to the wool may be from 0.1 percent to 4.0 percent, preferably 0.75 percent to 2 percent by weight on the weight of the wool. Below 0.1 percent, little additional shrink resistance (over that provided by the oxidation treatment) may be obtained; above 4.0 percent, the handle of the wool may be altered to an undesirable degree.
• the proportion of polyelectrolyte may be from 0.05 percent to 1.0 percent, preferably 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent by weight on the weight of the wool. Below 0.05 percent, exhaustion of non-ionic polymer emulsions may not readily take place; above 1.0 percent, the handle and dyeability of the wool may be affected. Large amounts of polyelectrolytes have little influence on shrink resistance, and it is therefore preferred to use the minimum amount necessary to achieve satisfactory exhaustion.
• Exhaustion is a necessary part of the process of this invention.
• Deposition of the polymer on to the wool fibres by precipitation or by evaporation of the solvent (or the continuous phase of an emulsion) does not confer significant added shrink resistance on the wool.
• the term exhaustion has been used to describe the transfer of disperse phase particles from an emulsion or suspension (without breaking the emulsion or suspension) to the fibres of the wool immersed in it; it is not intended to imply that the process must necessarily be complete (i.e., that the supply of disperse phase particles must necessarily be exhausted) although complete exhaustion will generally be convenient in batch operation as providing automatic control over the amount of polymer deposited.
• excess liquor is removed from the treated wool, e.g., by hydroextraction, and the wool is then dried, preferably at a temperature of not more than 100C, e.g., 80C. Ofcourse, the wool can be dried at higher temperatures if this is desired;
• the woollen goods are simply immersed in successive baths containing the various treatment liquors.
• the liquor ratio in the bath is in no way critical to the invention. Liquor to wool ratios of from 5:1 to :1, e.g. 30:1, may be found convenient for both the oxidation and the polymer treatments.
• the process may be carried out continuously on a continuous length of woollen goods.
• the treatment with the chlorine-containing oxidizing agent may be carried out by known means, e. g., by the procedures described in British Patent Specification No. 1,073,441 or 1,098,582.
• a continuous treatment with permonosulphuric acid may also be used, e.g., by the procedure described in British Pat. Specification No. 1,084,716.
• the continuous treatment with polymer emulsion may best be carried out using a pad mangle, although application may be made from baths of a conventional backwasher.
• the invention also includes an aqueous liquor, suitable for use in the process herein described,'which liquor comprises an emulsion of a polymer of acrylic acid or a substituted acrylic acid, a homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl acetate or a polyolefin, and a solution of dispersion of a cationic polyelectrolyte, in an aqueous medium.
• aqueous liquor suitable for use in the process herein described, which liquor comprises an emulsion of a polymer of acrylic acid or a substituted acrylic acid, a homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl acetate or a polyolefin, and a solution of dispersion of a cationic polyelectrolyte, in an aqueous medium.
• the invention also includes wool which has been rendered shrink-resistant by the process herein described.
• Examples 1 to 4, 6 and 7, non-ionic polyethylene emulsions are used; Examples 5 and 8 show the use of cationic and anionic emulsions.
• the polyelectrolyte was mixed with the polymer emulsion;
• Example 6 shows treatment of the wool first with polyelectrolyte and then with emulsion.
• Example 8 shows the use of PVA and acrylate emulsions.
• EXAMPLE 1 3 samples of worsted serge were treated with 0.5 per cent (o.w.w.) active chlorine from sodium dichloroisocyanurate at a pH of3.5,.a 30:1 LR. and C. Treatment was carried out until all the chlorine had reacted with the wool. Antichlor treatment was then carried out by addition of 1. percent (o.w.w.) sodium bisulphite. The samples werethen rinsed, removed from the bath, and one was dried at 80C, in a static drier.
• the second sample was then treated in a bath containing:
• a third sample was treated exactly as the second, with the exception that the polyelectrolyte was omitted.
• the bath remained turbid and did not exhaust,
• the samples were tested for felting shrinkage in the Cubex lnternational Apparatus according to B.S. 1955, for 60 minutes in 25 litres.
• a further sample of the fabric was treated in a polymer solution identical to that used for the second sample, the oxidative pre-treatment having been omitted.
• the bath exhausted completely and the sample was hydroextracted and dried as before.
• the second sample was impregnated with polymer emulsion by immersing it in a bath containing:
• the third sample was treated in the same way as the second with the exception that the polyelectrolyte was omitted from the bath. Area shrinkages after a 60 minutes. litre Cubex test, were as follows:
• the treatment was carried out at a 15:1 L.R. at 40C for 10 minutes, and the treatment liquor was seen to go water-clear, indicating exhaustion of the lberlene P.E. had occurred.
• the sample was then hydroextracted and dried at 80C in a static drier. After a 60 minute, 15 litre Cubex wash, the samples shrank as follows:
• step 5 (b) treating the modified wool with an aqueous emulsion of an emulsifiable polymer so as to deposit polymer on the fibers of the wool, the improvement which comprises performing step 5 (b) .by treating the modified wool with waterdispersible polymers having amolecular weight of from 20,000 to 10,000,000 viscosity average and having an exclusively carbon atom backbone to which are attached units of the formula wherein A is a C2 to C3 alkylene group in which different carbon atoms are linked to the two nitrogen atoms and as the emulsifiable polymer emulsion, a polymer of acrylic acid or a substituted acrylic acid, a homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl acetate or a polyolefin, and drying the thus-treated wool at a temperature of not more than 100C.
• A is a C2 to C3 alkylene group in which different carbon atoms are linked to the two nitrogen atoms and as the emulsifiable polymer e
• step b) is carried out as a batch operation and the wool is caused to remain in contact with the polymer emulsion until the polymer has completely exhausted on to the wool fibres.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9856348

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (4)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 1970
  • 1970-02-23 GB GB863970A patent/GB1340859A/en not_active Expired
• 1971
  • 1971-02-08 US US00113697A patent/US3811835A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1971-02-23 FR FR7106070A patent/FR2081029B1/fr not_active Expired
  • 1971-02-23 CH CH261071A patent/CH552711A/xx unknown
  • 1971-02-23 DE DE19712108477 patent/DE2108477A1/de active Pending
  • 1971-02-23 JP JP845271A patent/JPS5338360B1/ja active Pending

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