Durable hydrophilic polymer coatings

Details Durable hydrophilic polymer coatings Durable hydrophilic polymer coatings

1999-07-27

2002-03-19

Short, Patricia A. (Department: 1712)

Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser

Synthetic resins

Mixing of two or more solid polymers; mixing of solid...

C525S437000, C525S444000, C528S069000, C528S076000, C528S300000, C008S115600

Reexamination Certificate

active

06359079

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to certain polymer compositions and their use to impart a durable hydrophilic coating to woven and non-woven polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene fabrics or fibers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene woven and non-woven fabrics have many applications for which their hydrophobic characteristics are undesirable. These include applications where a high ability to transmit water is desirable, such as for diapers, adult incontinence pads, agricultural fabrics for landscaping or mulching, and some filtration devices; applications where wicking away of moisture is desirable for comfort reasons, such as for certain clothing and sportswear purposes; and applications where it is desirable to make the surface of a fiber more hydrophilic for better adhesion or easier incorporation into water-borne compositions such as cement mixtures or paper pulps.
Polypropylene or polyethylene is commonly used as the liner (coverstock) in baby diapers and adult incontinence pads, and in these applications it is next to the wearer's skin. By design, moisture must pass through the polypropylene or polyethylene layer into the absorbent layer below. Since polypropylene or polyethylene is naturally hydrophobic, it must be treated to allow the moisture to pass through quickly and not run off the top of the diaper or pad.
In diaper manufacture in the U.S. the above liner is commonly treated with a small amount of a surfactant wetting agent, such as an alcohol ethoxylate, to improve moisture transport through the polypropylene or polyethylene layer. Since the alcohol ethoxylate is usually water soluble, it dissolves and reduces the surface tension of the water. This causes the moisture to wet the polypropylene or polyethylene and pass through more quickly. The use of an alcohol ethoxylate has two important drawbacks, however. Since it dissolves off, little remains to improve passage of any second or subsequent exposures to moisture. The capacity of the absorbent layer is reduced as well, since its absorptivity is based on capillary action, which is adversely affected by absorption of the alcohol ethoxylate.
A coating is needed which would allow moisture to pass through the polypropylene or polyethylene liner quickly, but that will not readily wash off. The present invention provides such a coating and a process for its application.
Polypropylene, polyethylene or polyester are also commonly used in generation of nonwovens used in protective garments such as medical, surgical, laboratory and other garments. Such garments can be uncomfortable due to poor hand and lack of moisture transport. A coating or treatment is needed which softens the nonwoven fabrics or fibers and wicks away moisture to enhance comfort. The present invention provides such a coating or treatment. Thus the compositions, methods, fabrics and fibers of the present invention are useful in clothing applications and other applications where improved wicking or moisture transport through a woven or non-woven fabric of polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene is important. Other potential applications include usage as a softener or soil release treatments for polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, cotton, polyamide, or polyaramid garments and slickeners for polyester fiberfill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises the following compositions:
1. A mixture comprising
A. a polymer of the following Formula I
R
4
HNCH(CH
3
)CH
2
—[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—O—CH
2
CH(CH
3
)R
5
 wherein x is 6-100; R
1
is C
1
-C
24
alkyl C
1
-C
24
aryl, C
1
-C
24
alkylaryl, or C
1
-C
24
alkenyl; R
2
is H or R
1
; R
3
is H, CH
3
, or CH
2
CH
3
wherein the ratio of (CH
3
+CH
2
CH
3
)/H in the repeat unit is greater than or equal to 6; R
4
is R
2
, R
1
C(═O), R
1
N(R
2
)C(═O), or R
1
—[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—O—CH
2
CH(CH
3
)—N(R
2
)C(═O) and R
5
is NHR
4
or OR
1
wherein x, R
1
and R
4
are as defined above, and
B. a hydrophilic polyester copolymer with repeating segments of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the polymeric compound is between 2:1 and 6:1.
2. A mixture comprising
A. a polymer of the following Formula II
 x is 6-100; R
4
is R
2
, R
1
C(═O), R
1
N(R
2
)C(═O) or R
1
[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—O—CH
2
CH(CH
3
)—N(R
2
)C(═O); R
1
is C
1
-C
24
alkyl, C
1
-C
24
aryl, C
1
-C
24
alkylaryl, or C
1
-C
24
alkenyl; R
2
is H or R
1
; R
3
is H, CH
3
, or CH
2
CH
3
wherein the ratio of (CH
3
+CH
2
CH
3
)/H in the repeat unit is greater than or equal to 6; and R
5
is R
1
—[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—O—CH
2
CH(CH
3
)— wherein R
1
, R
3
and x are as defined above, and
B. a hydrophilic polyester copolymer with repeating segments of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the polymeric compound is between 2:1 and 6:1.
3. A polymer of the following Formula III,
R
6
—[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—O—C(═O)NHR
1
 wherein x is 4-100; R
1
is C
1
-C
24
alkyl, C
1
-C
24
aryl, C
1
-C
24
alkylaryl, or C
1
-C
24
alkenyl; R
2
is H or R
1
; R
3
is H, CH
3
, or CH
2
CH
3
wherein the ratio of (CH
3
+CH
2
CH
3
)/H in the repeat unit is greater than or equal to 6; and R
6
is R
2
or R
1
NHC(═O).
4. A polymer of the following Formula IV,
R
1
—{[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—O—C(═O)NH—R
1
—NHC(═O)—}
y
[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—OR
1
wherein y is 1-5; x is 4-100; R
1
is C
1
-C
24
alkyl, C
1
-C
24
aryl, C
1
-C
24
alkylaryl or C
1
-C
24
alkenyl; and R
3
is H, CH
3
, or CH
2
CH
3
wherein the ratio of (CH
3
+CH
2
CH
3
)/H in the repeat unit is greater than or equal to 6; and the molecular weight is below about 10,000.
5. A mixture comprising a polymer of Formula III as defined above and a hydrophilic polyester copolymer with repeating segments of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the polymeric compound is between 2:1 and 6:1.
6. A mixture comprising a polymer of Formula IV as defined above and a hydrophilic polyester copolymer with repeating segments of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the polymeric compound is between 2:1 and 6:1.
7. A polymer of the following Formula V
R
2
—{[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—O—C(═O)—R
1
—C(═O)—}
y
[OCH
2
CH(R
3
)]
x
—OR
2
wherein R
1
is C
1
-C
24
alkyl, C
1
-C
24
aryl, C
1
-C
24
alkylaryl or C
1
-C
24
alkenyl; R
2
is H or R
1
; R
3
is H, CH
3
, or CH
2
CH
3
and the ratio of (CH
3
+CH
2
CH
3
)/H in the polymer is greater than or equal to 6; x=6-70; and y is 1-30.
8. A mixture comprising a polymer of Formula V as defined above and a hydrophilic polyester copolymer with repeating segments of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the polymeric compound is between 2:1 and 6:1.
The present invention further comprises the

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Durable hydrophilic polymer coatings does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Durable hydrophilic polymer coatings, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Durable hydrophilic polymer coatings will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2826308