Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Chemical modification of textiles or fibers or products thereof
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2002-07-09
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Chemical modification of textiles or fibers or products thereof
C008S115600, C008S116100, C524S837000, C524S860000, C524S861000, C524S862000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06416558
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable. REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a water based fiber treatment agent and method for treating fibers. In particular, the water based fiber treatment agent can impart to fibers either perfect smoothness, lubricating properties, reduced tackiness, or pleasant tactile sensation. The invention is also directed to methods of treating fibers to impart to the fibers perfect smoothness, lubricating properties, reduced tackiness, or pleasant tactile sensation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water based fiber treatment agents composed of silicone oil emulsions are disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Applications [Kokai] Sho 55-34228 and Hei 4-198321. Furthermore, [Kokai] Sho 64-45466/U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,398 (Jan. 2, 1990) and [Kokai] Hei 3-152275/U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,611 (Aug. 3, 1993) each disclose water based fiber treatment agents in which such an emulsion is combined with a polyorganosilsesquioxane powder.
However, these water based fiber treatment agents either cannot impart to fibers sufficient smoothness, lubricating, and adhesion prevention properties, or they have low stability.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide water based fiber treatment agents which impart to fibers a perfect smoothness, lubricating properties, reduced tackiness, or pleasant tactile sensation. Another object is to provide methods of treating fibers to impart to the fibers perfect smoothness, lubricating properties, reduced tackiness, or pleasant tactile sensation.
These and other features of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Not applicable.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The water based fiber treatment agent of this invention is characterized by being made from a silicone oil emulsion of crosslinked silicone particles with an average diameter of 0.01 to 100 &mgr;m which are in silicone oil drops with an average diameter of 0.05 to 500 &mgr;m, which are in turn dispersed in water. The diameter of the crosslinked silicone particles is smaller than the diameter of the silicone oil drops.
The method of the invention for treating fibers is characterized in that the fibers are treated with a water based fiber treatment agent made of a silicone oil emulsion of crosslinked silicone particles with an average diameter of 0.01 to 100 &mgr;m in silicone oil drops having an average diameter of 0.05 to 500 &mgr;m, which are dispersed in water. Again, the diameter of the crosslinked silicone particles is smaller than the diameter of the silicone oil drops.
Following is a more detailed description of the silicone oil emulsion of the present invention. Thus, the treatment agent of the invention is characterized by comprising a silicone oil emulsion that contains crosslinked silicone particles in silicone oil drops which are then dispersed in water. The crosslinked silicone particles contained in the emulsion are obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone composition.
This composition can be prepared by causing a hydrosilation crosslinking reaction, a condensation crosslinking reaction, an organic peroxide type crosslinking reaction, or a high energy ray crosslinking reaction. The most preferable reactions are hydrosilation crosslinking reactions or condensation crosslinking reactions.
There are no special limitations relative to the type of silicone oil used for forming the silicone oil drops, but the silicone oil preferably should have a completely linear, partially branched linear, cyclic, or branched chain molecular structure. The most preferable structure is a linear molecular structure. It is preferred that a silicone oil be used which does not participate in the crosslinking reaction during formation of the crosslinked silicone particles.
Thus, the silicone oil should not participate in the reaction or be obstructive to the reaction. For example, where the crosslinked silicone particles are formed by a hydrosilation crosslinking reaction, the silicone oil should be a silicone oil which does not contain in its molecules any alkenyl groups and silicon bonded hydrogen atoms. In this regard, the silicone oil can be a dimethylpolysiloxane having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, a methylphenylpolysiloxane having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, a copolymer of methylphenylsiloxane and dimethylsiloxane having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, a copolymer of methyl-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)-siloxane and dimethylsiloxane having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, a cyclic dimethylpolysiloxane, or a cyclic methylphenylsiloxane.
Among these silicone oils, part of the hydrogen atoms in any hydrocarbon group in a side chains and on a molecular terminal can be substituted by polyether groups, carboxyl groups, or epoxy groups. When the crosslinked silicone particles are formed by means of a condensation crosslinking reaction, the silicone oil can be a compound which does not contain in its molecule silanol groups, silicon bonded hydrogen atoms, or silicon bonded hydrolyzable groups. Representative silicone oils are dimethylpolysiloxanes having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, methylphenylpolysiloxanes having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, copolymers of methylphenylsiloxane and dimethylsiloxane having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, copolymers of methyl-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)-siloxane and dimethylsiloxane having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, cyclic dimethylpolysiloxanes, cyclic methylphenylsiloxanes, dimethylpolysiloxanes having both molecular terminals capped with dimethylvinylsiloxy groups, copolymers of methylvinylsiloxane and dimethylsiloxane having both molecular terminals capped with dimethylvinylsiloxy groups, methylvinylpolysiloxanes having both molecular terminals capped with trimethylsiloxy groups, or cyclic methylvinylsiloxanes. Again, some of the hydrogen atoms in hydrocarbon groups on the molecular terminals and in the side chains of these types of silicone oils can be substituted by amino groups, amide groups, epoxy groups, carboxyl groups, or polyether groups.
Although there are no special limitations with regard to the viscosity of these silicone oils, it is preferred that the viscosity be within the range of 1 to 100,000,000 mPa·s at 25° C., most preferably 5 to 10,000,000 mPa·s, at 25° C.
It is, however, necessary that the average diameter of silicone oil drops in the emulsion be within a range of 0.05 to 500 &mgr;m, and preferably within a range of 0.05 to 200 &mgr;m. This is for the reason that an average diameter of silicone oil drops below the lower limit or above the upper limit of this range causes the water based fiber treatment agent to lose its stability.
It is also necessary that the average diameter of crosslinked silicone particles in the emulsion be within a range of 0.01 to 100 &mgr;m, and preferably within a range of 0.05 to 50 &mgr;m. This is for the reason that emulsions with an average diameter of crosslinked silicone particles below the lower limit or above the upper limit of this range possess low stability.
In addition, and as should be apparent, in emulsions of this invention the diameter of the crosslinked silicone particles should be smaller than the diameter of the silicone oil drops.
The crosslinked silicone particles may have a spherical, thread like, flat, or an irregular shape. A spherical shape is preferred. Furthermore, irrespective of the characteristics of the crosslinked silicone particles, the emulsion can be obtained in a gel like, rubber like, or similar elastomeric form.
Silicone oil emulsions of the invention can be prepared by a number of different methods. Ac
Ishikawa Hiroki
Kobayashi Kazuo
Morita Yoshitsugu
Naganawa Tsutomu
Ona Isao
De Cesare Jim L.
Dow Corning Toray Silicone Co. Ltd.
Gupta Yogendra N.
Hamlin Derrick
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