Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Chemical modification of textiles or fibers or products thereof – With coating – sizing – or lubricating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-25
2002-04-09
Hardee, John (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Chemical modification of textiles or fibers or products thereof
With coating, sizing, or lubricating
C510S505000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06368358
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
NOT APPLICABLE.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the conventional production of textile fibers and fabrics made from synthetic polymers, it is customary to add certain chemicals to the polymer for various reasons. These additives include pigments for color, antioxidants, ultraviolet screening compounds, delusterants, antistatic agents, whiteners, and the like.
Antioxidants are typically added to synthetic textile fibers and fabrics in order to inhibit yellowing thereof caused by the oxidation of the polymer with the various compounds present in the atmosphere. For example, it is known from the art to add various phenyl phosphinate salts and combinations thereof to nylon polymers in order to inhibit yellowing of the resultant nylon yarns.
The treatment of polymeric fibers and fabrics with conventional hydrophobic additives such as those listed above requires that said additives first be emulsified in a solvent, prior to their application onto the polymeric textile substrate. Once the hydrophobic additives are effectively emulsified in the solvent, the resultant composition may then be applied, along with any other auxiliaries such as surfactants and the like, onto the polymeric textile substrate. Upon application thereon, the polymeric textile substrate, such as nylon fabric, is then either air-dried or heat-treated in order to effectively adhere the additive onto the substrate.
A problem associated with the application of these types hydrophobic additives onto the polymeric textile substrate relates to the solvents used to emulsify the additive. Conventional organic solvents such as n, methyl pyrollidone are toxic and non-biodegradable. Consequently, their use poses a threat to the environment.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a composition for use on synthetic textile substrates in order to inhibit color degradation caused by oxidation, the composition containing:
(a) an antioxidant component;
(b) a dibasic ester solvent;
(c) a surfactant component; and
(d) optionally, water.
The present invention is also directed to a process for inhibiting the autoxidation of synthetic textile substrates, the process involving:
(a) providing a composition containing:
(i) an antioxidant component;
(ii) a dibasic ester solvent;
(iii) a surfactant; and
(iv) optionally, water; and
(b) applying the composition onto the synthetic textile substrate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
NOT APPLICABLE.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients and/or reaction conditions are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”.
The term “synthetic textile substrate” as defined herein, relates to a polymeric textile fiber or fabric either by itself or blended with a natural fiber or fabric such as, for example, cotton.
The present invention is based on the surprising discovery that an antioxidant used for the purpose of inhibiting the yellowing, i.e., color degradation, of synthetic fibers/fabrics, can be effectively emulsified in a dibasic ester solvent which is both non-toxic and biodegradable, as compared to conventional organic solvents.
Antioxidants are substances that retard oxidation by atmospheric oxygen. Autoxidation is a free-radical chain reaction and, therefore, can be inhibited at the initiation and propagation steps. Autoxidation often has a long kinetic chain length. Therefore, agents that interrupt the propagation step markedly reduce the oxidation rate. Suitable antioxidants for use in the present invention include, in general, amines, phenols, phosphites, sulfides and metal salts of dithioacids. Hindered phenols and secondary alkylaryl- and diarylamines, due to their commercial availability, are preferred propagation inhibitors. A particularly preferred antioxidant is a dibenzylhydroxylamine. It should be noted, however, that any antioxidant component capable of inhibiting the autoxidation and related yellowing effect of a synthetic textile substrate may be used, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Dibasic esters are generally defined as dialkyl esters of dicarboxylic acids capable of undergoing reactions at the ester group, including both hydrolysis and saponification. The acid portion of the dibasic ester may be derived from such dibasic acids as oxalic, malonic, pimelic, suberic and azelaic acids, as well as mixtures thereof.
Examples of suitable dibasic esters for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, dimethyladipate, dimethyl glutarate, dimethyl succinate, and mixtures thereof. Dibasic esters are commercially available from companies such as E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del. under the tradenames DBE, DBE-2, DBE-3, DBE-4, DBE-5, DBE-6 and DBE-9, and Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo. under the tradenames SANTOSOL® DME, DME-2, DME-3, DMG, DMA and DMS. A particularly preferred dibasic ester is a mixture of dimethyl adipate, dimethyl glutarate, and dimethyl succinate in varying weight ratios.
The surfactant component aids in both emulsifying the dibasic ester plus antioxidant emulsion and facilitates the enhanced uptake of the composition onto the surface of the synthetic textile substrate. Suitable surfactants which may be employed include, but are not limited to, nonionics, anionics, cationics, amphoterics and zwitterionics.
Suitable nonionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols. In general, the polyethylene oxide condensates are preferred. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration with the alkylene oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the ethylene oxide is present in an amount equal to from about 5 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include IGEPAL® CO-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation; and TRITON® X-45, X-114, X-100, and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company. This category includes, for example, alkyl phenol alkoxylates such as the alkylphenol ethoxylates.
The condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms with from about 2 to about 18 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include TERGITOL® 15-S-9 (the condensation product of C
11
-C
15
linear secondary alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), TERGITOL® 24-L-6 NMW (the condensation product of C
12
-C
14
primary alcohol with 6 moles ethylene oxide with a narrow molecular weight distribution), both marketed by Union Carbide Corporation; NEODOL® 45-9 (the condensation product of C
14
-C
15
linear alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), NEODOL® 23-6.5 (the condensation product of C
12
-C
13
linear alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide), NEODOL® 45-7 (the condensation product of C
14
-C
15
linear alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide), NEODOL® 45-4 (the condensation product of C
14
-C
15
linear alcohol with 4 moles of ethylene oxide), marketed by Shell Chemical Company, and KYRO® EOB (the condensation product of C
13
-C
15
alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), marketed by The Proctor & Gamble Company. These surfactants are commonly referred to as alkyl ethoxylates.
The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds preferably has a molecular weight of
Cole A. Howard
Glenn Susan C.
Smith Kenneth L.
Cognis Corporation
Drach John E.
Hardee John
Trzaska Steven J.
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