Abstract The invention relates to the activation of polymers and more particularly to certain classes of high polymeric materials which are extremely difficult to dye or otherwise react with, whereby a functional group is linked to the surface of the polymeric material so that dyes, monomeric materials, etc., can be linked to the functional group and thereby linked to the polymeric material. More particularly, polymeric materials such as polyolefins, e.g., polypropylene, polyesters and polyvinylchloride are made susceptible to sulfonation by the deposition of colloidal silver on the surface thereof and are then sulfonated by means of a sulfonating agent in the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent, particularly a chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent. The resulting polymer, the surface of which has been sulfonated, can then be easily dyed or can be reacted with monomers or other dyeable polymers.
METHOD OF ACTIVATING A SURFACE OF A POLYMERIC MATERIAL SO AS TO RENDER THE SAME AMENABLE TO FURTHER TREATMENT SUCH AS DYEING, WHICH COMPRISES TREATING SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A WATER SOLUBLE SILVER SALT AND WITH A STRONG BASE WHEREBY COLLOIDAL SILVER BECOMES DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACE OF SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL, AND SUBJECTING THE THUS PRETREATED OF SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL TO THE ACTION OF A STRONGLY IONIC AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STRONG ACIDS AND STRONG BASES WHILE IN CONTACT WITH A HYDROCARBON SOLVENT, WHEREBY THE CORRESPONDING ION FROM SAID STRONGLY IONIC MATERIAL IS GRAFTED ONTO THE THUS PRETREATED SURFACE OF SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL, RENDERING THE SAME EASILY REACTABLE WITH REACTIVE AGENTS SUCH AS DYES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
METHOD OF ACTIVATING A SURFACE OF A POLYMERIC MATERIAL SO AS TO RENDER THE SAME AMENABLE TO FURTHER TREATMENT SUCH AS DYEING, WHICH COMPRISES TREATING SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A WATER SOLUBLE SILVER SALT AND WITH A STRONG BASE WHEREBY COLLOIDAL SILVER BECOMES DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACE OF SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL, AND SUBJECTING THE THUS PRETREATED OF SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL TO THE ACTION OF A STRONGLY IONIC AGENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STRONG ACIDS AND STRONG BASES WHILE IN CONTACT WITH A HYDROCARBON SOLVENT, WHEREBY THE CORRESPONDING ION FROM SAID STRONGLY IONIC MATERIAL IS GRAFTED ONTO THE THUS PRETREATED SURFACE OF SAID POLYMERIC MATERIAL, RENDERING THE SAME EASILY REACTABLE WITH REACTIVE AGENTS SUCH AS DYES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein said silver salt is selected from the group consisting of silver nitrate, silver acetate, silver sulfate, silver carbonate and silver perchlorate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method according to claim 2 wherein said strong base is an alkali metal hydroxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Method according to claim 3 wherein said hydrocarbon solvent is a chlorinated hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method according to claim 4 wherein said strongly ionic agent is a sulfonating agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method according to claim 5 wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters and polyvinylchlorides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method according to claim 6 wherein said chlorinated hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of ethylene dichloride, methylene dichloride, triethylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloride, chlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method according to claim 7 wherein a polymerizable monomer is then grafted onto the thus treated polymeric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method according to claim 7 wherein the thus treated polymeric material is then subjected to dyeing.