FIBER CLOTH AQUEOUS COATING COMPOSITION, ITS USE , FIBER CLOTH COATED WITH THIS COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR TREATING THE FIBER CLOTH
The present invention relates to a fibre cloth coating preparation comprising an aqueous solution of polyol and isocyanate, to the use of the fibre cloth coating preparation in treating a fibre cloth structure, 5 to the fibre cloth structure provided with the fibre cloth coating preparation, to a method for treating a fibre cloth structure with the fibre cloth coating preparation and to the use of the fibre cloth structure provided with the coating preparation.
10 Fibre cloth structures, all woven and non-woven material consisting of fibres such as for instance textile, are usually coated in order to obtain desired properties, such as for instance to make them better resistant to outside influences, or to give a greater
15 aesthetic value. However, the coatings for fibre cloth structures such as textiles which are commercially available at the moment do not always possess the desired properties, or lose their effect or their aesthetic value in the course of time. These coatings
20 applied to fibre cloth structures discolour for instance or do not have the desired durability. The influence of light, heat or determined chemical substances can also reduce the effect or the aesthetic value of the fibre cloth structure provided with a coating. Thus, textile
25 which is provided with a glossy top layer, for instance in the form of a design or letters, will for instance
lose its gloss and the design or the letters will fade or discolour after a number of washes. Nor do fibre cloth structures provided with for instance a heat- resistant coating always possess the desired temperature-resistant properties and/or durable properties. The present invention seeks to obviate these problems .
A first aspect of the present invention relates to a fibre cloth coating preparation comprising an aqueous solution of polyol and isocyanate. Such a fibre cloth coating preparation has the advantage that when it is applied to a fibre cloth structure such as textile or glass fibre, it has better coating properties, such as a great temperature resistance, it retains its gloss after washing and it can be readily filled with all kinds of fillers such as pigments and flame retardants. Another advantage of such a fibre cloth coating preparation is that it is not film-forming, i.e. it encloses the fibres and does not form a film over the fibre cloth structure, whereby the surface is sealed and not all fibres of the fibre cloth are completely coated. The pleatability of the treated fibre cloth structure is also enhanced. In addition, the reaction time for curing of the preparation applied to a fibre cloth structure is considerably shortened by making use of the fibre cloth coating preparation.
A polyol is preferably used which has an acid value lower than 120 mg KOH/g and an OH number which lies between 30 and 330 mg KOH/g. By choosing a polyol which has an acid value and an OH number between these values the solubility of the polyol in the aqueous solvent is increased, and dissolving of isocyanate in water is hereby also made possible. The OH number of the polyol lies more preferably between 30 and 130, since a particularly good solubility of the polyol in water is
obtained at these values. It is further recommended that the polyol has an acid value which lies between 10 and 120 mg KOH/g and that it has an OH number which lies between 80 and 130 mg KOH/g. The polyol more preferably comprises an acrylate polyol, polyester polyol, polyether polyol, urethane polyol or hybrids hereof.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the isocyanate is a dimer or trimer, although oligomer and polymer isocyanates can also be used. The isocyanate is preferably a blocked isocyanate. The advantage hereof is that the isocyanate is not reactive at a low temperature, but that the isocyanate does become reactive when the temperature is increased. The use of a blocked isocyanate has the further advantage of a reduced toxicity compared to a unblocked isocyanate. The isocyanate is more preferably an aliphatic isocyanate, since this results in a reduced yellowing of the solution and/or the end product. The isocyanate further preferably comprises diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexane diisocyanate, such as blocked hexane diisocyanate, for instance dimethylpyrazol-blocked hexane diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, methylene diisocyanate or toluene diisocyanate.
In the fibre cloth coating preparation according to the present invention the ratio of OH equivalents to NCO equivalents is preferably chosen such that an excess of OH groups as well as an excess of NCO groups can be present. The ratio of OH equivalents to NCO equivalents is preferably 0.5:1 to 2:1. It is recommended that the fibre cloth coating preparation according to the present invention comprises a catalyst. By making use of a catalyst in the fibre cloth coating preparation the temperature required in curing of the fibre cloth coating preparation, when this is applied to a fibre cloth structure such as for
instance textile, can be lower, or the temperature can be higher but the treatment time shorter. The fibre cloth coating preparation preferably also comprises thickener, preferably acrylate, fillers and/or pigments. An embodiment which is particularly recommended is when the fibre cloth coating preparation comprises a flame retardant. This can for instance be applied in wallcovering made of woven or non-woven glass fibre, which hereby obtains improved flame-retardant properties.
A second aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the fibre cloth coating preparation in treating a fibre cloth structure. The fibre cloth structure preferably comprises woven or non-woven glass fibre or textile. More preferably it comprises natural textile, semi-synthetic textile, synthetic textile, acryl, wool, acrylic-wool, nylon, polyester, cotton, linen or combinations thereof.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a fibre cloth structure which is provided with the fibre cloth coating preparation. The fibre cloth structure preferably comprises glass fibre or textile provided with the fibre cloth coating preparation. The textile provided with the fibre cloth coating preparation preferably comprises natural textile, semi-synthetic textile, synthetic textile, acryl, wool, acrylic-wool, nylon, polyester, cotton, linen or combinations thereof. A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for treating a fibre cloth structure, comprising of: i) providing a fibre cloth coating preparation, ii) applying the fibre cloth coating preparation to the fibre cloth structure; and iii) curing the fibre cloth coating preparation applied to the fibre cloth structure.
The fibre cloth structure preferably comprises glass fibre or textile. More preferably it comprises natural textile, semi-synthetic textile, synthetic textile, acrylic, wool, acrylic-wool, nylon, polyester, cotton, linen or combinations thereof. Curing of the fibre cloth coating preparation applied to the fibre cloth structure is preferably carried out between 100 'C and 280 "C. Curing preferably comprises 30 to 300 seconds. These temperatures and curing times are however dependent on the use of a catalyst in the fibre cloth coating preparation.
A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the flat fibre structure provided with the fibre cloth coating preparation in wallpaper, technical textiles, geotextiles (such as for instance textiles for dike reinforcement, ground covering, anti-rooting sheet) , textile for use in vehicles, decorative textiles such as clothing, protective clothing, fire-resistant clothing, cycling clothing, sports clothing, curtain fabrics, lamp shades, ironing board covers, reflector screens, projection screens, sun screens, parasols, umbrellas, tents, sails and home textiles such as carpets, wall and ceiling coverings.
The examples described below are only for the purpose of illustration and are in no way intended to limit the invention.
Example 1
100 g of fibre cloth coating preparation was prepared by adding about 36 g water and about 32 g aqueous dispersion of blocked isocyanate (40% solids, dimethylpyrazol-blocked hexane diisocyanate trimer, equivalent weight 338, equivalent weight calculated on the basis of solid isocyanate) to about 32 g aqueous solution of oil-free polyester polyol (65% solids, OH
number 115 mg KOH/g, acid value 45 mg KOH/g, OH and acid value calculated on the basis of solid resin) and then stirring the whole to a transparent, homogeneous, viscous liquid.
105 g water, 16 g of a gloss pigment (Satin White 9130 F®) and 0.15 g black pigment dye (Imperon Black®) were added to 100 g fibre cloth coating preparation, as described above, and stirred to a homogeneous whole. 6 g THICKENER G was then added and stirred until a homogeneous, viscous mixture was obtained (viscosity 30 poise) . This viscous mixture was arranged on PES fabric (66 g/m2, thickness 98 μm) by full surface coating making use of a sharp doctor blade, wherein this latter presses into the (tensioned) PES fabric (knife over air, machine used Stork CL IV labcoater®) . The whole was then cured at 200 'C for 1 minute in a drying oven.
The PES fabric provided with the coating was subjected to a light test with Xenon-24. After 100 hours of exposure there was still no discolouration. The coated fabric was also pleated without problem up to 200 'C. No discolouration was perceptible at these temperatures .
Example 2
105 g water and 14 g aluminium pigment (STAPA REFLEXAL 214) were added to 100 g fibre cloth coating preparation as described in example 1, and stirred to a homogeneous whole. 6 g THICKENER G was then added and stirred until a homogeneous, viscous mixture was obtained (viscosity 30 poise) .
This viscous mixture was arranged on PES fabric (98 g/m2, thickness 250 μm) by full surface coating making use of a round doctor blade, wherein this latter presses into the (tensioned) substrate (knife over air, machine
used Mathis SV labcoater®) . The whole was then cured at 200 'C for 1 minute in a drying oven. The PES fabric provided with the high-gloss coating was subjected to a heat test, wherein an iron (230 *C) was placed on the coated fabric for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes the colour, gloss and grip of the coating of the coated fabric had not changed.
Example 3 105 g water and 30 g aluminium pigment (STAPA REFLEXAL 214) were added to 100 g fibre cloth coating preparation as described in example 1, and stirred to a homogeneous whole. 6 g THICKENER G was then added and stirred until a homogeneous, viscous mixture was obtained (viscosity 30 poise) .
This viscous mixture was arranged on PES satin substrate (162 g/m2, thickness 280 μm) with a polyurethane/acrylate foam layer as base layer. Application was by full surface coating making use of a round doctor blade, wherein this latter presses into the (tensioned) substrate (knife over air, machine used Mathis SV labcoater®) .
In order to create extra gloss the coating is first dried at 100 'C for 3 minutes, subsequently calendered at 120 "C and then hardened at 200 "C for 1 minute. The PES satin substrate provided with the coating was subjected to a washing test. After three washes at 40 °C the gloss was still the same as before washing.
Example 4
6.3 g PES fabric (63 g/m2) was impregnated with the fibre cloth coating preparation as described in Example 1. The whole was then pressed using a foulard press.
It was then cured for 1 minute at 200 *C. The obtained product was then folded into a concertina shape
(like a pleated curtain) and pressed for about 1 minute using an iron on top of the folded concertina shape for the purpose of fixing. The final product was found to possess an excellent spring elasticity.
Example 5
100 g water and 100 g aluminium hydroxide as flame retardant were added while stirring to 100 grammes of fibre cloth coating preparation as described in example 1, and stirred to a homogeneous whole. Thickener G was then added while stirring, and stirred until a homogeneous, viscous mixture was obtained with a viscosity of 80 poise.
This viscous mixture was arranged on glass fibre (46 g/m2, thickness 223 μm) by full surface coating making use of a round doctor blade, wherein this latter presses into the (tensioned) substrate (knife over air, machine used Mathis SV labcoater) . The whole was then cured at 190 'C for 2 minutes in a drying oven. Glass fibre structure treated with the fibre cloth coating preparation and glass fibrestructure not treated with the fibre cloth coating preparation were both subjected to a fire test. This test showed that the untreated glass fibre did burn, but the glass fibrestructure treated with the coating preparation did not burn (the B2-norm was easily met) .
Example 6
222 g water, 6 g additive and 0.8 g of wetting agent were added to 100 g fibre cloth coating preparation as described in example 1. The coating preparation was arranged by impregnation on a fabric coated with PVC. The whole was then pressed using a foulard press (2 bar) and cured for 3 minutes at 170 "C. The above stated
fabric acquired a good cloth stability with a minimal application (5%) .
Example 7 100 g water, 8.3 g polyester-polyether polyol and 0.4 g pigment dye (Dystar, Imperon Blue HF-R) were added while stirring to 100 g fibre cloth coating preparation as described in example 1, and stirred to a homogeneous whole. 4.3 g Thickener G was then added while stirring and stirred until a homogeneous, viscous mixture was obtained (viscosity 25 poise) .
This viscous mixture was arranged on PES fabric (73 g/m2, thickness 107 μm) by full surface coating making use of a round doctor blade, wherein this latter presses into the (tensioned) substrate (knife over air, machine used Mathis SV labcoater) . The whole was then cured at 190 'C for 2 minutes in a drying oven. The PES fabric had a medium-hard coating with a dry application of 10 g/m2. In the same manner as described above, tests were performed with polyester polyol, polyether polyol and polyurethane instead of with polyester-polyether polyol. These polymers were tested in different concentrations (0-8%) . The result was a variety of samples varying from a soft to a hard grip, wherein the important properties such as fibre enclosure, heat resistance and filling capability were retained.