U.S. patent number 3,731,411 [Application Number 05/152,428] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-08 for process for producing durable press textiles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Burlington Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard P. Barber, Glen R. Moses.
United States Patent |
3,731,411 |
Barber , et al. |
May 8, 1973 |
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DURABLE PRESS TEXTILES
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a process for producing a durable press
cellulosic textile fabric comprising to the fabric applying an
aqueous mixture of a thermosetting durable press textile reactant,
and a crosslinking acrylic polymer, a crosslinking catalyst, making
the fabric into a garment or article and subsequently pressing and
curing said mixture on the article.
Inventors: |
Barber; Richard P.
(Mooresville, NC), Moses; Glen R. (Mooresville, NC) |
Assignee: |
Burlington Industries, Inc.
(Greensboro, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
22542875 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/152,428 |
Filed: |
June 11, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
38/144; 8/183;
427/401; 8/115.6; 427/393.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06M
15/423 (20130101); D06M 15/263 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06M
15/423 (20060101); D06M 15/37 (20060101); D06M
15/263 (20060101); D06M 15/21 (20060101); D06m
013/54 (); D06m 013/40 () |
Field of
Search: |
;117/139.4,139.5A,143A,11,161UT,10 ;8/115.6,116.3 ;260/851,856
;38/144 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Martin; William D.
Assistant Examiner: Davis; Theodore G.
Claims
We claim:
1. A process for providing a durable press on a cellulosic textile
garment or other article which comprises applying to cellulosic
textile fabric a finish comprising an aqueous mixture of, on a
weight basis, 3-25 percent of a thermosetting durable press textile
reactant, 3-20 percent of at least one low temperature crosslinking
acrylic polymer, and 0.1-7 percent of a crosslinking catalyst,
drying, cutting said fabric into pieces and sewing the same
together into said garment or article and pressing the resulting
article in the desired shape and simultaneously curing the finish
so as to obtain said durable press, the pressing and curing being
carried out at a temperature not in excess of about
345.degree.F.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the cross-linking acrylic polymer
comprises the copolymer of a lower alkyl acrylate and
methylolated-4-pentenoguanamine.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the pressed and cured textile
article is subsequently further cured.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is a mixture of zinc
chloride and citric acid and the textile is pressed at
260.degree.-280.degree.F.
5. A durable press textile article obtained by the process of claim
1.
6. The process of claim 2 wherein a mixture of crosslinking acrylic
polymers is used comprising the copolymer of a lower alkyl acrylate
and methylolated-4-pentenoguanamine and the copolymer of a lower
alkyl acrylate and an N-methylolacrylamide.
7. The process of claim 2 wherein the mixture also includes a
film-forming heat curable elastomer.
8. The process of claim 7 wherein the elastomer is a polyester
elastomer.
Description
The preparation of durable press textiles comprising cellulosic
fibers, e.g., knitted or woven fabric made up of blends of cotton
and polyester, is now well known. Procedures for preparing such
textiles involve applying an aqueous composition containing a
durable press reactant to cellulosic fabric, drying, pressing and
curing. When a durable press garment is to be made, the dried
fabric is usually cut and sewn into the desired form, e.g., pants,
and then pressed and cured. Pressing and curing may be carried out
simultaneously at relatively high temperatures (see U. S. Pat. No.
2,950,553) although the more widely practiced technique is to press
the garment at a somewhat lower temperature (such as
300.degree.-335.degree.F.) using, for example, a hot head press,
followed by a separate baking or curing operation in an oven at
higher temperatures (e.g., 350.degree.-375.degree.F.).
A number of variations in the above procedures, or alternatives
thereto, are also known in the art. For example, U. S. Pat. No.
3,341,955 describes the preparation of durable press garments from
100 percent cotton fabrics by padding the fabric with an aqueous
durable press reactant finish, drying and curing. Thereafter, when
a garment with a permanent crease is to be made, the area where the
crease is desired is treated with acid catalyst and pressed at high
temperature (350.degree.F. or above).
A further alternative is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,955
for use when the fabric comprises a blend of cotton and
thermoplastic fibers, such as polyester. In that embodiment, the
fabric, after application of the durable press finish, and drying,
is formed into a garment and pressed, sufficient heat being applied
during pressing to soften and set the thermoplastic component in
the desired shape. Temperatures in the order of 350.degree. to
500.degree.F., depending on the softening point of the
thermoplastic fibers, are utilized for the press-setting
operation.
While the above procedures give useful durable press effects,
several disadvantages are also presented thereby. For example, oven
baking a fabric composed entirely of cotton causes a significant
deterioration of the cotton with resultant loss in such physical
properties as tensile strength, tear strength and abrasion
resistance. Blending of the cotton with polyester or the like
brings about some improvement in physical properties but the
cellulosic component in such blends is still undesirably degraded.
This degradation shows up in a number of ways, e.g. by reduced
abrasion resistance, and is especially noticeable after washing
cotton/polyester durable press fabrics, the degraded cotton being
washed out, along with hand builders or softeners attached thereto,
so that the fabric becomes sleezy or thin.
The procedures which involve oven baking also have economic
disadvantages, not only in the cost and maintenance of the ovens,
but in the relatively long time required (10-15 minutes) to
accomplish the desired cure. The curing time also has an
undesirable effect on fabric color, e.g., hue or cast may be
changed and/or whites may be caused to yellow. The simultaneous
press/cure procedures are generally free from these problems but
they suffer from other disadvantages and, in general, do not give
as good a durable press effect as the procedures involving oven
curing.
The principal object of the present invention is to provide durable
press textiles and procedures for making the same whereby the
above-noted problems with prior procedures are eliminated or
substantially reduced. A further object is to provide cellulosic
fabrics which have, in addition to an outstanding durable press,
other improved physical and aesthetic properties.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a process for
obtaining durable press effects on cellulosic textiles using less
severe press/cure conditions than previously utilized, with
resultant improvement in the overall properties of the product. A
more specific object is to provide a durable press finish and
process whereby pressing and curing may be effectively carried out
simultaneously on the press using lower temperatures and shorter
times than normally considered feasible.
Broadly stated, the objects of the invention are realized by
treating the fabric with an aqueous formulation of one or more low
temperature crosslinking film-forming acrylic polymers, a durable
press thermosetting fiber-reactive resin and a curing or
cross-linking agent; drying, pressing and curing, the fabric being
formed into a garment or other article (e.g., sheets) before the
pressing and curing. Preferably a mixture of crosslinking acrylic
polymers is used and/or the formulation includes a heat curable or
crosslinking elastomer hand builder as described below.
As noted earlier herein, an advantage of the invention is that
pressing and curing can be carried out simultaneously using
relatively moderate times and temperatures with resultant
improvement in the properties of the treated fabric. For example,
fabric processed according to the invention can be press-cured on a
hot head press at temperatures not exceeding 345.degree.F.,
typically in the range of 300.degree.F. to 345.degree.F. and in
some instances even lower (280.degree.-290.degree.F.) using normal
pressing times such as 15 seconds (usually 5 seconds steam, 5
seconds vacuum and 5 seconds dry) to give highly durable creases
and wash and wear properties in the pressed fabric. Additionally,
aesthetic properties such as hand, feel and color and physical
characteristics, e.g., tensile strength, tear and abrasion
resistance, are not undesirably affected.
The success of the invention is due, at least in large measure, to
the use of the low temperature crosslinking acrylic polymer in
combination with the durable press fiber reactant and curing agent.
It is not understood how or why the indicated components function
to give the stated results but it is apparent, in any event, that
this combination must be used to obtain the overall results of the
invention. It appears that the indicated components somehow work
together in a synergistic fashion to give the results indicated
since durable press properties, for example, exceed those which
would be expected from the normal additive effect of the individual
components.
The acrylic polymer used herein may be defined as a copolymer of a
lower alkyl ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, or like
monoethyleneically unsaturated compound, with another monomer
copolymerizable therewith and additionally including one or more
functional groups capable of undergoing crosslinking, e.g., carboxy
or hydroxy groups. Preferably the polymer is a water-insoluble or
water-dispersible addition copolymer of
1. from 0.5 to 99.5 percent by weight of a guanamine compound of
the formula ##SPC1##
where R is an alkenyl group having 3 to 9 carbon atoms and a
terminal group of the formula
R.sup.o is H, CH.sub.2 OH, or CH.sub.2 OR" wherein R" is the
hydrocarbon residue of a saturated alcohol R"OH having one to eight
carbon atoms,
R' is H, CH.sub.2 OH, or CH.sub.2 OR"
R.sup.2 is H, CH.sub.2 OH, or CH.sub.2 OR", and
R.sup.3 is H, CH.sub.2 OH, or CH.sub.2 OR", and
2. from 99.5 to 0.5 percent by weight of one or more monomers
selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, the nitriles thereof,
the esters thereof with a saturated aliphatic alcohol having one to
18 carbon atoms, acrylamide, methacrylamide, the N-methylol
derivatives of these amides, itaconic acid, vinyl acetate, vinyl
chloride, styrene, and o-, m-, and p-vinyltoluene. Copolymers of
this type are described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,446,777 and any of the
low temperature crosslinking acrylic polymers described therein may
be used for present purposes. Preferred comonomer proportions
comprise about 0.5 to 30 percent by weight of monomer (1) and the
balance essentially one or more of comonomers (2). Such polymers
may have molecular weights in the order of 1,000 to 1,000,000 and
are available in latex or emulsion form. A particularly preferred
low temperature crosslinking acrylic copolymer for use herein is
the product of Example 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,777 but using
butyl acrylate instead of the ethyl acrylate referred to therein
(i.e. the copolymer of butyl acrylate and
methylolated-4-pentenoguanamine) with the pH modified from 5.4 to
9.0 by addition of ammonia to improve emulsion stability. Similar
copolymers of methylolated-4-pentenoguanamine with, for example,
ethyl acrylate or other lower alkyl acrylates, may also be
used.
It is particularly advantageous to utilize a mixture of two
different low temperature crosslinking acrylic polymers for present
purposes and an especially useful embodiment of the invention
contemplates using a mixture of the low temperature crosslinking
acrylic copolymer of a lower alkyl acrylate and
methylolated-4-pentenoguanamine as described above together with
the water insoluble, water-dispersible low temperature
self-crosslinking acrylic copolymers of a lower alkyl acrylate
(e.g., ethyl or butyl acrylate) and an N-methylolacrylamide as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,562, e.g., the copolymer of 90-99
percent lower alkyl acrylate, 1-10 percent N-methylolacrylamide and
optionally from 0-3 percent acrylamide.
According to the invention it is also advantageous to include in
the durable press formulation a curable elastomer or like hand
builder. The elastomer component, if used, is most desirably a heat
curable polyester elastomer hand builder although other elastomers
may be used. The term "elastomer" as used herein has the meaning
given by The American Society for Testing Materials as described in
the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 2nd Edition, Volume 7,
page 676. This is "a material that is capable of recovery from
large deformations quickly and forcibly and can be . . . modified
to a state in which it is essentially insoluble (but can swell) in
boiling solvents such as benzene, methyl ethyl ketone and the
ethanol-toluene azeotrope. A rubber in its modified state, free of
diluents, retracts within one minute to less than 1.5 times its
original length after being stretched at room temperature
(20-27.degree.C.) to twice its length and held for one minute
before release."
A wide variety of elastomers may be used for present purposes,
although they are primarily grouped into several recognized
categories. As indicated, the preferred category comprises the
polyester elastomers including Paraplex rubbers (see Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry, Volume 39, page 1090 (1947), Norepal
polyester rubbers derived from ethylene glycol and dimeric soya
beam fatty acids, copolymer of terephthalic acid and acyclic
dicarboxylic acid and a glycol (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,623,033 and
2,623,031), all polyesters linked together by diisocyanates, for
example, polyethylene adipate linked by 1,5-naphthalene
diisocyanate (see "Polyesters and their Applications," by Bjorksten
et al., 1956, page 226). These are related to polyurethane
elastomers which are cross-linked by diisocyanates.
Other heat-curable elastomers which may be used herein, in lieu of
or in addition to a polyester elastomer, include, for example,
acrylic elastomers, olefin polymers and the homopolymers and
copolymers of dienes such as butadiene, isoprene and chloroprene.
The acrylic elastomers are addition type polymers and copolymers
which contain a predominant amount of an acrylic acid ester with an
alcohol having two or more carbon atoms such as ethyl acrylate or
butyl acrylate. These may be crosslinked through the hydrogen atom
adjacent the carboxyl group of the acrylic acid moiety by means of
a peroxide or by including a small amount (e.g., about 5 percent)
of functional groups such as olefinic groups, halogen, carboxyl and
cyano.
The olefin elastomers include ethylene-propylene rubber and butyl
rubber. Ethylene-propylene rubber typically contains 40-70 percent
ethylene, the balance being propylene. Butyl rubber typically
comprises 0.5-2.5 percent molar isoprene, balance isobutene.
Polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and the like may also be
included in the formulation along with conventional types of
softeners, surfactants, etc.
As the durable press reactant component of the present finish, any
of the conventional durable press, reactant resins may be used.
Typically, the resin is a water-soluble precondensate of
formaldehyde with such amino compounds as urea, thiourea, cyclic
ethylene ureas (e.g., dimethylol cyclic ethylene urea or dimethylol
dihydroxy cyclic ethylene urea), melamine, ethyl carbamate, urons,
triazones and triazines or mixtures thereof. Blocked isocyanates
may also be effectively used.
Suitable crosslinking or curing catalysts for use herein include,
without being limited thereto, magnesium chloride or nitrate or
zinc chloride or nitrate; various amine hydrochlorides such as
2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol hydrochloride, or triethanol-amine
hydrochloride; and ammonium salts such as ammonium chloride,
tartrate, citrate, formate, oxalate, nitrate or ammonium ethyl
phosphate or ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or the like. These
catalysts may be combined, e.g., zinc nitrate and ammonium chloride
may be used together, and/or catalyst modifiers may be included as
necessary to achieve desired effects, e.g., to increase or decrease
catalyst activity. It is particularly useful to employ citric acid
in conjunction with zinc chloride, or other catalyst since the
citric acid makes it possible to effectively utilize even lower
pressing temperatures, e.g., 280.degree.F., as described later
herein.
It may also be helpful in some cases to include additives such as
boric acid, the latter being useful to avoid any tendency of the
pressed fabric to yellow in the event of an after-curing
operation.
Typically, the finish of the invention will comprise, on a weight
basis, from 3-20 percent of the low temperature cross-linking
acrylic polymer or mixtures thereof, 0-15 percent, preferably 5-10
percent heat curable elastomer; 3-25 percent durable press resin;
and 0.1-7 percent catalyst, balance water. Additionally, the finish
may include from 0 to 5 percent (usually 0.2-2 percent) surfactant,
and from 0-10 percent of other conventional durable press
components such as extenders, softeners or the like.
The finish is applied to the fabric in any convenient fashion,
e.g., by dipping or spraying but preferably by padding. The amount
of the finish applied can be widely varied and is dependent on such
factors as the nature and construction of the fabric, its intended
use, etc. Usually, however, wet pickup will fall in the range of
30-75 percent by weight of the fabric. The thus-treated fabric is
then dried, usually at 190.degree.-220.degree.F. for 1-5 minutes,
to a moisture content in the order of 5-10 percent by weight.
The dried fabric is then cut into the desired shape, sewn into a
garment or other article and pressed on a hot head press or the
equivalent. Typical pressing conditions comprise pressing on the
hot head press at 300.degree.-345.degree.F. for up to 15 seconds or
so. Curing or baking in an oven is not necessary since, with the
finish of the invention, durable press effects are obtained by
pressing only. However, if desired, the pressed article may be
baked under proper conditions without serious disadvantages. If, as
in some cases, it is desired to produce an excellent wash and wear
fabric, then fabrics treated with this finish can be precured or
cured in the finishing plant at 280.degree.-345.degree.F. for 30 to
180 seconds.
The invention is illustrated, but not limited, by the following
examples wherein percentages are by weight unless otherwise
indicated:
EXAMPLE 1
The following formulation was prepared in warm water (e.g.,
80.degree.-100.degree.F.) by adding the components in the order
listed to sufficient water to give the indicated percent
concentration.
0.10 percent alkylaryl polyester alcohol (Triton X-155)
5.00 percent glyoxal resin (1)
5.00 percent polyester resin (2)
5.00 percent fast curing acrylic emulsion (3)
3.00 percent acrylic ester emulsion (4)
3.00 percent cationic quaternary ammonium softener (5)
3.00 percent zinc chloride solution, 50% in water
The above components (1) - (5) may be more fully defined as
follows:
Component (1): N,N-dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea, 50 percent
solution in water;
Component (2): a polyester of phthalic anhydride, polyethylene
glycol and glycerides of hydrogenated fatty acids (commercially
available as "Discol 716");
Component (3): the product of Example 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,777
with the substitution of butyl acrylate for the ethyl acrylate used
in Example 10 and with adjustment of the pH of the emulsion to 9 by
addition of ammonia to stabilize the emulsion;
Component (4): an aqueous emulsion of 75/25 ethyl acrylate/vinyl
acetate copolymer, solids content 40 percent (commercially
available as "Wicaset P.E.P.");
Component (5): crude dimethyldistearylammonium hydrogen sulfate,
the stearyl groups being predominant in a mixture of higher alkyl
radicals derived from hydrogenated tallow.
The following fabrics (A) - (D) were padded through the above
formulation followed by drying for 11/2 minutes at
300.degree.F.
A few days later the above fabrics were pressed on a hot head press
for 5 seconds steam, 5 seconds vacuum, 5 seconds dry at
345.degree.F. and 80 pounds air (9,000 psi in head). The thus
pressed fabrics were then home laundered five times with tumble
drying after each laundering. The laundered fabrics were then
checked for wash/wear and crease appearance and evaluated using a
grade rating of from 1-5, values of 1-3 being considered
unacceptable and 5 representing the optimum. The results obtained
are shown below.
Wash/Wear Crease Fabric Appearance Appearance (A) Polyester/cotton
(50/50) 3.6 5.0 (B) Polyester/cotton (50/50) 4.0 5.0 (C)
Polyester/cotton (50/50) 4.3 5.0 (D) Polyester/rayon (50/50) 4.6
5.0
As will be evident, specimens (A) - (D) demonstrated effective
durable press and wash/wear properties notwithstanding the fact
that the specimens were only pressed on the hot head press to
obtain these properties. The laundered specimens were also
characterized by outstanding physical and aesthetic properties,
e.g., abrasion resistance, tensile and tear strength, hand, feel
and the like.
EXAMPLE 2
Example 1 was repeated except that the formulation was changed to
include 20 percent of the glyoxal resin (1), rather than 5 percent;
and the polyester resin (2) and acrylic ester emulsion (4) were
replaced by 5 percent self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion (6),
namely, an aqueous emulsion of a copolymer of butyl acrylate and an
N-methylolacrylamide per U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,562.
Three fabrics (E, F and G) of the same construction as used in
Example 1 were processed in similar fashion with the thus modified
formulation and evaluated for wash/ wear appearance, crease
appearance and total shrinkage with the following results:
Wash/Wear Crease Total Fabric Appearance Appearance Shrinkage (E)
Polyester/cotton (50/50) 4.0 5.0 1.94 .times. 1.39 (F)
Polyester/cotton (50/50) 4.0 5.0 2.67 .times. 1.19 (G)
Polyester/cotton (50/50) 3.6 5.0 2.58 .times. 1.11
The indicated wash/wear, crease and shrinkage values are
satisfactorily within acceptable limits for these properties.
EXAMPLE 3
Example 2 was repeated except that the amount of zinc chloride
catalyst was increased to 6 percent and the amount of
self-crosslinking acrylic emulsion was reduced to 3 percent with
the following results indicating acceptable wash/wear, crease and
shrinkage properties.
Wash/Wear Crease Total Fabric Appearance Appearance Shrinkage
Polyester/cotton (50/50) 4.0 5.0 2.50 .times. .92 Polyester/cotton
(50/50) 4.3 5.0 2.02 .times. .36 Polyester/cotton (50.50) 4.3 5.0
2.78 .times. .72
EXAMPLE 4
Example 1 was repeated using the following aqueous formulation:
0.10 percent alkylaryl polyether alcohol (Triton X-155)
20.0 percent glyoxal resin (1)
5.00 percent fast curing acylic emulsion (3)
5.00 percent polyester resin (7)
3.00 quaternary ammonium softener (5)
3.00 percent zinc chloride catalyst solution, 50% in water
3.00 percent ammonium chloride solution, 25% in water
0.5 percent boric acid
The polyester resin (7) was Aerotex Resin DHB (American Cyanamid),
described as a 57 percent active, self-emulsifying cross-linkable
polyester resin in xylene, used for durable hand building.
The following results were obtained in fabric specimens as
indicated:
Tensile Wash/Wear Crease Fabric Strength Appearance Appearance lbs.
Polyester/cotton (50/50) 117 .times. 86 4.3 5.0 Polyester/cotton
(50/50) 101 .times. 73 4.0 5.0 100% cotton 67 .times. 57 4.0
4.0
A further embodiment of the invention contemplates the use of
catalyst combinations which will permit the application of the
desired durable press effects at even lower pressing temperatures
than those indicated above. It is possible, for example, by using
an aqueous solution comprising zinc chloride and 1-6 percent citric
acid as the catalyst to so lower the temperature at which a durable
press can be imparted (e.g., 260.degree.-300.degree.F. for 10-30
seconds) that the durable press can be accomplished at home using a
hand steam iron or a hot flat iron. In other words, the use of a
solution of 1-6 percent citric acid and, for example, zinc chloride
or the like in conventional amounts (e.g., from 1 to 6 percent)
makes it possible to reduce the effective pressing or curing
temperature of the system by from 20.degree.-30.degree.F. using
press times in the order of 10-30 seconds, advantageously 15-20
seconds. The presence of the citric acid also tends to reduce the
amount of total shrinkage in the processed fabric (i.e., heat
shrinkage and washed shrinkage). In other words, the citric acid
seems to stabilize the fabric without the need to sanforize.
Apparently the citric acid and zinc chloride or other catalyst
somehow coact to initiate partial reaction with one or more of the
resinous components of the finish during the initial drying
operation, after application of the finish to bring about the
desired results although the actual mechanism is not
understood.
The advantages of using citric acid in the catalyst system are
shown by the following additional examples:
EXAMPLE 5
A formulation was prepared as in Example 1 using the following
components in the indicated amounts:
0.10 percent alkylaryl polyester alcohol (Triton X-155)
0.50 percent nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol (Igepal
CO-897)
20.00 percent glyoxal resin (1)
7.50 percent fast curing acrylic emulsion (3)
7.50 percent self crosslinking acrylic emulsion (6)
2.00 percent tall oil ester softener
6.00 percent zinc chloride solution, 50 percent in water
6.00 percent citric acid solution, 40 percent in water
Polyester/cotton (50/50) fabrics as in Example 1 were padded
through the above formulation, dried at 300.degree.F. for 11/2
minutes and subsequently pressed. One set of fabrics was pressed on
the hot head press at 325.degree.F. for 15 seconds, another set was
pressed at 290.degree.F. for 15 seconds, with the following crease
values and wash/wear results, after five home launderings.
Pressed at 325.degree.F. Pressed at 290.degree.F. 15 seconds 15
seconds Fabric Weight Wash/Wear Wash/Wear Ozs./Sq.Yd. Crease
Appearance Crease Appearance 5.40 5.0 4.8 5.0 4.8 6.50 5.0 4.8 5.0
4.8 8.50 5.0 4.8 5.0 4.8
EXAMPLE 6
Example 5 was repeated except that the amount of citric acid used
was reduced to 4 percent and the fabrics tested were as shown below
with the following results:
Pressed at 290.degree.F. 15 seconds Total Fabric Fabric Crease
Wash/Wear Shrinkage Weight Blend Appearance Appearance (Heat/Wash)
6.30 Polyester/rayon 5.0 4.6 1.83 .times. 0.93 65/35 6.0
Polyester/cotton 50/50 5.0 4.6 1.75 .times. 0.67
The above results show that the exemplified process, using citric
acid as a catalyst component, gives outstanding crease and
wash/wear properties and dimensional stability using lower than
normal pressing temperatures.
EXAMPLE 7
The following formulations were prepared in warm water by adding
the components in the order listed.
Formula I Formula II 0.10% 0.10% alkylaryl polyether alcohol
(Triton X-155) 0.50% 0.50% nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol
(Igepal CO-897) 20.00% 20.00% glyoxal resin (1) 7.50% 7.50% fast
curing acrylic emulsion (3) 7.50% 7.50% self crosslinking acrylic
emulsion (6) 3.00% 3.00% high density polyethylene, 29% aqueous
emulsion (Aqualene N) 6.00% 3.00% zinc chloride solution, 60% in
water 3.00% citric acid solution, 40% in water
Two light weight fabrics (50/50 polyester/cotton blend and a white
100 percent cotton) were treated with the above formulas. Wet
pickup was 65-75 percent, fabrics dried for 11/2 minutes at
300.degree.F. Pant legs were made and were creased and pressed with
a hand steam iron for approximately 30 seconds on each side. The
following data show wash/wear and crease appearance after five home
launderings and the tensile strength and abrasion properties.
Hand Steam Iron Hand Steam Iron 100% Cotton 50/50 Polyester/Cotton
Formula Formula Formula Formula I II I II Tensile-Warp 54 55 62 61
(Pounds) Filling 50 50 39 46 Crease Appearance 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Wash/Wear Appearance 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 Abrasion 429 492 2000+ 2000+
Untreated Tensile-Warp 65 65 65 65 (Pounds) Filling 59 59 38 38
EXAMPLE 8
The following formulation was prepared in warm water by adding the
components in the order listed.
0.10 percent alkylaryl polyether alcohol (Triton X-155)
0.50 percent nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol (Igepal
CO-897)
20.00 percent glyoxal resin (1)
7.50 percent fast curing acrylic emulsion (3)
5.00 percent acrylic latex (Hycar 2679)
2.00 high density polyethylene, 29 percent aqueous emulsion
(Aqualene N)
6.00 percent zinc chloride solution, 60 percent in water
4.00 percent citric acid solution, 40 percent in water
Approximately 18,000 yards of a 50/50 polyester/cotton fabric were
treated by padding the above formula, tenter drying followed by
running the fabric over the palmer unit of a sanforizer.
Several samples were taken throughout the run. Pant legs were made
and pressed for 15 seconds at 280.degree.F. with 70 pounds of air
on pressing head.
The following data is the average of these several sample
representing 18,000 yards.
Fabric Weight Tensile Crease Wash/Wear %Shrinkage Ozs./Sq.Yd. (Grab
Appear- Appear- Stabilization lbs.) ance* ance* 7.42 174 .times.
109 5.0 4.3 2.15 .times. 0.73 *as measured after 5 home
launderings
EXAMPLE 9
The following formulation was prepared in warm water by adding the
components in the order listed.
0.10 percent alkylaryl polyether alcohol (Triton X-155)
0.50 percent nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol (Igepal
CO-897)
20.00 percent glyoxal resin (1)
7.50 percent fast curing acrylic emulsion (3)
7.50 percent self crosslinking acrylic emulsion (6)
2.00 percent tall oil ester softener
6.00 percent zinc chloride solution, 60 percent in water
- %* citric acid solution, 40 percent in water
The fabric used was a 50/50 polyester/cotton blend. Fabric
specimens were pressed at 290.degree.F. for 15 seconds. Washed five
times.
Crease Wash/Wear Experiment % Citric Acid Appearance Appearance No.
1 0.0 5.0 4.0 No. 2 1.0 5.0 5.0 No. 3 2.0 5.0 5.0 No. 4 3.0 5.0
5.0
As can be seen from the above data acceptable crease and wash and
wear appearance were obtained with and without the use of citric
acid by pressing the treated fabric at 280.degree.F. although wash
and wear appearance was maximized with the addition of 1 percent or
more of citric acid.
It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made in
the invention described herein. Hence the scope of the invention is
defined in the following claims wherein:
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