US5154727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for improving polymer fiber properties and fibers produced thereby
Assignee: Intera Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1990-01-29
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Granted: 1992-10-13
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Expires: 2010-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for treating active hydrogen atom-containing polymer fibers or fibrous structures made thereof to permanently improve the antistatic, hygroscopic, dye receptive, soil release, inter-fiber adhesion and bonding, and fabric hand properties of the fibers and structures. The method involves contacting the fibers with an aqueous solution containing at least one unsaturated monomer and having an acid pH and a temperature between about 75 DEG C. and about 100 DEG C. After allowing the solution to uniformly disperse among the fibers, so that the monomer intimately contacts the fiber surfaces, the fiber is affected and has essentially single molecule addition of the monomer pendent to the polymer chain to form a branched polymer, graft polymerization of the monomer on the fiber surface is initiated by a polymerization initiator for the monomer, and the polymerization is continued for a sufficient time to allow substantial graft polymerization of the monomer on the fibers to modify the surface properties of the fibers. The fibers are preferably scoured prior to the treatment process, and after polymerization the fibers are rinsed to remove acid and excess homopolymer prior to dyeing and/or further processing of the fibers. The fibers may be in the form of knitted, woven or nonwoven fabrics, and may include amine-containing and/or hydroxy-containing polymers such as nylon, wool, silk, cotton, cellulosic, acetate and combinations thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael E. Dyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:14
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06M; D06M14/00; D06M14/08; D06M14/12; D06M14/14; D06M14/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of treating polymer fibers containing active hydrogen atoms to improve the hygroscopic, dye receptive and other surface properties of the fibers, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting fibers having amino or hydroxy groups with an acidic aqueous solution heated to a temperature of about 75° C. to about 100° C. comprising a polymerization initiator, at least one unsaturated monomer and having a pH of below about 7 for a period of time sufficient to allow intimate contact of the monomer with the fiber surfaces, (b) thereafter initiating polymerization of the unsaturated monomer on the fibers by means of said polymerization initiator, and (c) continuing polymerization of the monomer on the fibers until substantial polymerization has occurred to modify surface properties of the fibers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of treating polymer fibers containing active hydrogen atoms to improve the hygroscopic, dye receptive and other surface properties of the fibers, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting fibers having amino or hydroxy groups with an acidic aqueous solution heated to a temperature of about 75° C. to about 100° C. comprising a polymerization initiator, at least one unsaturated monomer and having a pH of below about 7 for a period of time sufficient to allow intimate contact of the monomer with the fiber surfaces, (b) thereafter initiating polymerization of the unsaturated monomer on the fibers by means of said polymerization initiator, and (c) continuing polymerization of the monomer on the fibers until substantial polymerization has occurred to modify surface properties of the fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is established and maintained below about 7 by addition of acid in step (a).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of formic, hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric, nitric, acetic, formic, oxalic, tartaric, monochloroacetic, dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is established and maintained below about 7 by using an acidic monomer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the solution is maintained below about 7 and the temperature of the solution is maintained between about 75° C. and 100° C. during step (b) and (c).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the polymerization is continued for a period not exceeding about 30 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said fibers are scoured and rinsed prior to step (a).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said fibers are made of a polymer containing amine groups, said polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon 6, wool, silk and nylon 6,6.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the solution is heated in step (a) to a temperature of about 80° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said fibers contain hydroxy groups, said fibers selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon and acetate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide and N,N'-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene)-bis-acrylamide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the solution is heated in step (a) to a temperature of about 85° C. to about 100° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide and N,N'-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene)-bis-acrylamide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises rinsing said fibers or fibrous structures after substantial polymerization has occurred to neutralize the pH and remove any excess homopolymers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said initiator is selected from the group consisting of peroxides, persulfates, organic and inorganic acids and ceric salts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide; N,N'-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene)-bis-acrylamide; reaction products of dimethyl sulfate, monochloroacetic acid, and formic acid with N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide and N,N'-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene)-bis-acrylamide; acrylic acid; 2-propyn-1-ol; crotonic acid and tetraethylene glycol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said monomer is between about 0.1 weight percent and about 10.0 weight percent based on the total weight of said solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said monomer is between about 0.02 weight percent and about 0.5 weight percent based on the total weight of said solution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polymerization has a duration of between about 0.5 minutes and about 2.0 hours.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polymerization has a duration of between about 1.0 minute and about 30 minutes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1, in which said polymer fibers are formed from a synthetic polymer and after polymerization said polymer comprises about 0.2 to about 1.0 weight percent of said polymerized monomer attached to said fibers to improve the hygroscopic, dye receptive and other surface properties of the fibers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer fiber is a nylon and said polymer comprises about 0.2% to about 1.0% or less of said polymerized monomer attached to said fiber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the nylon is selected from the group consisting of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said initiator is a ceric salt selected from the group consisting of ceric nitrate, ceric sulfate, ceric ammonium nitrate, ceric ammonium sulfate, ceric ammonium pyrophosphate and ceric iodate.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of treating polymer fibers containing active hydrogen atoms to improve the hygroscopic, dye receptive and other surface properties of the fibers, comprising the steps: (a) contacting fibers having amino or hydroxy groups with an acidic aqueous solution heated to a temperature of about 75° C. to about 100° C. containing at least one unsaturated monomer; (b) contacting said fibers with a polymerization initiator; (c) thereafter initiating polymerization of the unsaturated monomer on the fibers by means of a polymerization initiator for the monomer; and (d) continuing the polymerization of the monomer on the fibers until substantial polymerization has occurred.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of treating polymer fibers containing active hydrogen atoms to improve the hygroscopic, dye receptive and other surface properties of the fibers, comprising the steps: (a) contacting fibers having amino or hydroxy groups with an acidic aqueous solution heated to a temperature of about 75° C. to about 100° C. containing at least one unsaturated monomer; (b) contacting said fibers with a polymerization initiator; (c) thereafter initiating polymerization of the unsaturated monomer on the fibers by means of a polymerization initiator for the monomer; and (d) continuing the polymerization of the monomer on the fibers until substantial polymerization has occurred.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein the polymer is a polyamide.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein the polyamide is selected from the group consisting of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein said fibers after polymerization comprise about 0.2 to about 1.0 weight percent of said polymerized monomer attached to said fibers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The polymer fiber product produced by the method of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 3, 11, 13, 21, 22 or 25.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The polymer fiber product produced by the method of claims 8, 9, 23, 26, 27 or 28.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The polymer fiber product produced by the method of claims 10 or 12.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4743267A
Cited
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