Compositions – Durable finishes for textile materials – or processes of... – Textile softening
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2002-06-25
Dawson, Robert (Department: 1712)
Compositions
Durable finishes for textile materials, or processes of...
Textile softening
C106S287110, C252S008620, C428S447000, C524S837000, C524S838000, C525S477000, C528S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06409934
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to polyester fiber treatment agent compositions, and more particularly to a polyester fiber treatment agent composition that provides polyester fiber with properties such as smoothness, rebound, compression recovery, and fatigue resistance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Polyester fiber has a higher compression modulus and a better compression recovery than nylon, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene fibers. These advantages make polyester fiber well-suited for use as staple fiber for padding, wadding, or filling used in futons, comforters, quilts, pillows, cushions, and stuffed toys, and polyester fiber has become widely employed in these applications. It is known to treat polyester fiber with compositions containing organoalkoxysilanes, e.g., aminoflnctional alkoxysilanes or epoxyfunctional alkoxysilanes, to impart a feather-like or fur-like handle to the fiber, Japanese Application Sho 49-133698; Sho 50-48293; Sho 58-214585; and Sho 62-41379. This treatment provides the fiber with properties such as softness, flexibility, smoothness, rebound, and compression recovery. At the same time, the alcohol produced from the alkoxysilane can contaminate the working environment and can create a fire risk.
Polyester fiber can also be treated with a mixture of aminofunctional polysiloxane and epoxyfinctional polysiloxane, Japanese Application Sho 48-17514; and Japanese, Application Hei 5-59673. This method, however, requires a high temperature thermal treatment to produce its intended effects, and the use of heat can cause deterioration of the polyester fiber.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a polyester fiber treatment agent composition that can impart a very good handle to polyester fiber, particularly to polyester fiber wadding, padding, or fill.
These and other features and objects of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a polyester fiber treatment agent composition that is a water-based emulsion comprising
(A) an aminofunctional organopolysiloxane with the general formula
in which R denotes a C
1
to C
20
substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, R
1
denotes a C
1
to C
10
divalent hydrocarbon group, R
2
and R
3
are each selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a C
1
to C
20
substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, A denotes a C
1
to C
20
alkyl group, m and n are each integers with a value of at least 1, and a is 0-5,
(B) an aminofunctional organopolysiloxane with the general formula
in which R denotes a C
1
to C
20
substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, R
1
denotes a C
1
to C
10
divalent hydrocarbon group, R
2
and R
3
are each selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a C
1
to C
20
substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, x and y are each integers with a value of at least 1, and a is0-5,
where the ratio of component (A):component (B) is from 1:0.1 to 1:10 on a weight basis, (C) a nonionic surfactant, and (D) water.
The aminofunctional organopolysiloxane (A) used in the composition is the essential component for conferring durability and rebound to polyester fiber. This organopolysiloxane (A) undergoes an increase in its molecular weight due to the condensation reaction of its terminal alkoxy groups. The larger molecular weight enables it to become intertwined with and anchored to the polyester fiber, resulting in the improvement in durability and rebound. Component (A) has the following general formula.
R in the formula denotes a C
1
to C
20
substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group and can is exemplified by saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, and tetradecyl; unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups such as vinyl and allyl; saturated alicyclic hydrocarbon groups such as cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; aromatic hydrocarbon groups such as phenyl, tolyl, and naphthyl; and groups afforded by replacing part of the hydrogen atoms in any of the preceding groups with halogen or epoxyfunctional organic groups. The R groups in the formula may all be the same or may be different, but R is preferably methyl.
R
1
for component (A) denotes a C
1
to C
10
divalent hydrocarbon group. R
1
can be exemplified by alkylene groups such as ethylene, propylene, and butylenes; and by arylene groups such as phenylene, but it is preferably ethylene or propylene.
R
2
and R
3
are each a hydrogen atom or a C
1
to C
20
substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group. Monovalent hydrocarbon groups encompassed by R
2
and R
3
can be exemplified by the same groups as R. R
2
and R
3
can be the same or they may differ.
A in the formula for (A) denotes a C
1
to C
20
alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, and tetradecyl.
The subscripts m and n are each integers with a value of at least 1. While the upper limit on these subscripts is not critical, in order to impart softness, flexibility, smoothness, and compression recovery, the subscripts preferably have a value to provide a kinematic viscosity at 25° C. for the organopolysiloxane of at least 50 mm
2
/s, and more preferably in the range of 300 to 30,000 mm
2
/s. Subscript a is an integer with a value of 0-5, but it will generally be 0 or 1.
The siloxane unit bonding in the formula for component (A) can be random or block. One method for synthesizing aminoflmctional organopolysiloxane (A) is reaction of a diorganopolysiloxane or diorganosilane with the general formula
in which R is the same as defined above, and p is an integer with a value of at least 1; and an organoalkoxysilane with the general formula
in which R, R
1
, R
2
, R
3
, A, and a, are the same as defined above.
The diorganopolysiloxane used in this synthesis can be exemplified by an hydroxyl-endblocked dimethylpolysiloxane having a kinematic viscosity at 25° C. of 10-30,000 mm
2
/s. The organoalkoxysilane used in this synthesis can be exemplified by the composition N-&bgr;-(aminoethyl)-&ggr;-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane. The diorganopolysiloxane and the organoalkoxysilane can be reacted with each other with heating, or with heating in the presence of a basic catalyst followed by neutralization of the basic catalyst with an acid. The basic catalyst can be exemplified by potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or lithium hydroxide.
The following compositions are examples of aminofunctional organopolysiloxane (A).
Aminofunctional organopolysiloxane (B) is the essential component for conferring an excellent smoothness, flexibility, and softness to the polyester fiber. An additional and significant improvement in the rebound characteristics can be induced by reaction of a portion of hydroxyl in organopolysiloxane (B) and alkoxy in component (A).
Component (B) is defined by the general formula
in which R, R
1
, R
2
, R
3
, and a, are the same as defined above. Subscripts x and y are each integers with a value of at least 1. While the upper limits on the value of these subscripts is not critical, in order to impart softness, flexibility, smoothness, and compression recovery, it should have a value to provide a kinematic viscosity at 25° C. for the organopolysiloxane of at least 50 mm
2
/s, more preferably in the range from 300-30,000 mm
2
/s. The siloxane unit bonding for component (B) can be random or block.
One method for synthesizing aminofunctional organopolysiloxane (B) comprises the base catalyzed reaction of a diorganosilane or diorganosiloxane with the general formula
in which R and p are the same as defined above, and q is an integer with a value of at least 3; with the hydrolysis and condensation product of an organoalkoxysilane with the general formula
in which R, R
1
, R
2
, R
3
, A, and a, are the same as defined above.
The diorganosiloxane used in this synthesis is exemplified by hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, octamethylcy
Naganawa Tsutomu
Ona Isao
Takimoto Tadashi
Cesare James L. De
Dawson Robert
Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co. Ltd.
Zimmer Marc S.
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