Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-05
2002-04-09
Kelly, Cynthia H. (Department: 1774)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
C510S434000, C510S477000, C510S479000, C008S115600, C008S139000, C008S495000, C008S537000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06369023
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the use of polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers in textile manufacturing and treating processes. The copolymers help stabilize bleach and reduce scale, prevent redeposition of particulate soils, prevent deposition of metals, and disperse dyes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heavy metal ions and salts deleteriously effect the desizing, scouring, bleaching, mercerising, and dyeing processes of textiles. For example, in the bleaching process, bleaching by hydrogen peroxide is generally carried out under an alkaline condition of a pH value of 10 to 14, and the reaction effectively improving the whiteness is represented by the formula: H
2
O
2
→HO
−
2
+H
+
, the active bleaching component is the perhydroxyl ion. However, under alkaline conditions (pH of at least 10), the side reaction represented by the formula: 2H
2
O
2
→2H
2
O+O
2
is promoted by heavy metal ions which are contained in cellulose fibers of cotton, flax or the like, and in a bleaching bath, such as iron, calcium, copper and manganese, and therefore, discoloration of the fibers occurs, and the fibers are made brittle.
To eliminate this disadvantage, sodium silicate is frequently used as a bleach stabilizer, but the use of sodium silicate is disadvantageous in that water-insoluble salts of calcium and magnesium, i.e., silicate scales, are formed, and these insoluble salts adhere to and are deposited on a bleached textile and a bleaching apparatus to cause a silicate scale problem.
Bleach stabilizers other than sodium silicate include polyphosphoric acid salts such as sodium tripolyphosphate, and aminocarboxylate organic chelating agents such as ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA). These bleach stabilizers do not cause a silicate scale problem, however, at a pH of 10 to 14, the chelating capacity is reduced. Moreover, these bleach stabilizers are insolubilized in the presence of an excessive amounts of hardness ions.
Heavy metal ions also cause problems in the desizing, scouring, mercerising, and dyeing processes of textiles by complexing with hydroxyl groups to form insoluble salts. The insoluble salts deposit on textiles and equipment causing scale problems and blemishes on textiles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a processing aid for use in a textile manufacturing or treating process, said processing aid comprises a polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymer having the structure
wherein M
+
is a cation wherein M is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, ammonia, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, zinc, copper, organic amines, amino acids, and amino saccharides; R
1
is the residue of an ethylenically unsaturated comonomer having at least one functional group which is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid and phosphonic acid; R
2
and R
3
are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; n is from about 2 to about 100; x
1
and x
2
are independently 0 or 1; a is from 0 to 100 mole percent; and b is from 100 to 0 mole percent, provided that (a +b) is 100 mole percent,
wherein said processing aid is present in an amount of from about 0.001 to about 50 weight percent, based on the weight of the solution or dispersion used in the textile process.
Another aspect of the invention is an improved bleaching process for preparing woven textiles comprising sizing fibers to be woven in the presence of from about 0.01 to about 10 weight percent of the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymer.
An additional aspect of the invention is an improved desizing process for textiles comprising desizing woven textile material in the presence of an alkaline substance and from about 0.001 to about 50 weight percent of the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymer.
A further aspect of the invention is an improved scouring process for textiles comprising scouring textiles in the presence of from about 0.001 to about 50 weight percent of the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymer.
The polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymer functions as a processing aid and complexes heavy metal ions in the manufacturing or treating of textiles. For example, the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers help stabilize hydrogen peroxide in the bleaching process, reduce scale and prevent deposition of heavy metal ions such as iron, calcium and magnesium during the scouring, desizing, mercerising, and bleaching processes. In addition, the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers prevent redeposition of particulate soils onto the textiles.
Furthermore, in the dyeing process, the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers disperse direct and dispersed dyes, and suspend unfixed dyes, and thus, provide a consistent and level dyeing of textiles. An additional advantage is that the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers complex salts, such as calcium, magnesium and iron salts, during the dyeing process which prevents the salts from depositing on the textiles and causing blemishes, or precipitating the dyes out of solution which reduces the efficiency of the dyes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a processing aid for use in a textile manufacturing or treating process. Such textile manufacturing and treating processes include desizing, scouring, mercerising, bleaching, and dyeing processes. As used herein, these terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Desizing” process is essentially a part of the scouring process, and rapid removal of size is important especially in continuous preparation processes. Desizing of sized fabrics is commonly carried out using water washing at varying temperatures or with enzymes. Desizing can also be carried out effectively with alkaline, preferably caustic solutions, and those alkaline solutions can be very dilute.
(2) “Scouring” process involves removing or reducing the level of fats, waxes, oils, dirt, and so forth on a textile. Apart from the aesthetic benefits of clean fabric, the major reason for scouring is to improve the extent and uniformity of absorbency for subsequent processes, especially dyeing. Scouring generally takes place using mild alkalinity and surfactants as wetting agents, such as alkylbenzenesulfonate and alkylphenol ethoxylates. It is noted that scouring is particularly important with natural fibers which contain much more extraneous matter than synthetic fibers. For example, cotton, requires high alkalinity scouring, which swells the fibers, allowing access to the lumen and removing soil from the surface.
(3) “Bleaching” process involves bleaching of the various types of textiles with a peroxide bleaching compound. Suitable peroxide compounds are water soluble peroxides, particularly alkali metal peroxides, preferably sodium peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide, the latter being particularly preferred. The peroxide bleaching is carried out in an alkaline medium. To achieve the alkaline conditions, it is advantageous to use an alkali metal hydroxide, preferably potassium or sodium hydroxide.
(4) “Mercerising” process is used to swell cotton fibers in order to increase their lustre, strength, and dyeability. Generally, a cold solution of sodium hydroxide is used, however, hot mercerising techniques and the use of acids, such as cresylic acid along with a cosolvent, may also be employed.
(5) “Dyeing” process involves the application of a solution or a dispersion of a dye to a textile followed by some type of fixation process. The dye solution or dispersion is almost always an aqueous medium, and a major objective of the fixation step is to ensure that the colored textile exhibits satisfactory fastness to subsequent treatment in aqueous wash liquors.
Suitable textiles to be treated with the polyether hydroxycarboxylate copolymers of the invention are, for example, cotton, polyacrylics, polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, rayons, wool, linen, jute, ramie, hemp, sisal, regenerated cellulosic fibers such as rayon or
Carrier Allen M.
Hazlewood Michael C.
Rodrigues Klein A.
Garrett Dawn L.
Kelly Cynthia H.
National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
Roland Thomas F.
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