Patent ID: 6177367
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: D04H,D06M,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for making synthetic fibers or nonwoven substrates hydrophilic made from the synthetic fibers comprising applying an effective amount of a finish composition onto the fibers or nonwoven substrates, the finish composition containing:(a) from 50 to 95% by weight of a hydrophilic agent selected from the group consisting of at least one quaternary ester amine salt corresponding to formula I: ##STR5##wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic alkyl group containing from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is either (CH.sub.2).sub.n --O--COR.sup.1 or an alkyl group containing from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently of one another, represent (CH.sub.2).sub.n --R.sup.5, where R.sup.5 is H or OH and n is a number from 1 to 3, and X is either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion, a quaternary ester amine salt corresponding to formula II: ##STR6##wherein COR.sup.6 is an aliphatic acyl group containing from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds, R.sup.7 is H or OH, n has a value of 1, 2 or 3 and X is either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion, and mixtures thereof; and(b) from 5 to 50% by weight of at least one alkyl glycoside corresponding to formula III:RO(G).sub.x (III)wherein R is a primary linear or methyl-branched aliphatic radical containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a glycoside unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms and x is a number from 1 to 10, all weights being based on the total weight of the composition.