METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR PROTECTING TEXTILE MATERIALS

Abstract: Ultra-violet screening compounds have been combined with hydrophobic fluid and solid-repellent compounds to provide a spray, and ultimately a thin solid adherent layering, deposit or coating for fabrics and the like that simultaneously imparts both fade or photodegradiation-­ resisting properties, and fluid and soil repellent proper­ ties.

Description: The present invention relates to methods of and materials for protecting fibers and fabrics or textiles and the like from both fading and other deletereous effects of ultra-violet radiation and from the soiling effects of water, oil and other soiling elements. The art is replete with ultra-violet radiation screening or stabilizing agents for incorporation with synthetic fibers and other articles useable to form fabrics for household furnishings and other purposes and articles of clothing and the like that are to be protected from fading, degradation, deterioration and discoloring by the ultra violet rays. Among such, for example, are US-A-3 888 821 (disclosing the use of a substituted benzotriazole, benzophenone or triazine, for example, absorbed in an aromatic polyamide fiber); US-A-3 379 675 (disclosing benzotriazole and a tris-phenol, for example, for stabilizing polyether-based spandex fibers); and 4 251 433 (disclosing the coating of the extruded organic fibers or other articles with heterocyclic ester ultra-violet stabilizers). The mechanism for such screening action is believed to reside in one or more of filtering action or preferential absorption of deleterious incident wavelengths with dissipation through heat fluorescence or similar phenomena. Sometimes the UV-screening compounds are "spun-in" prior to fiber extrusion, sometimes "dyed in", sometimes "coated-on", and sometimes microdispersed. Similar compounds have also been used for UV-absorption when applied to the human skin (US-A-3 004 896, for example) and to photographic dye images and the like (US-A-4 447 511 and 4 308 328, as illustrations). As an entirely separate and heretofore unrelated art of fabric or textile treatment, numerous different-propertied compounds have been coated on the fabric material, or the same has otherwise been finished therewith, for imparting water, soil, grease or oil repellency, durability against laundering and abrasion and related purposes quite different from UV screening and the phenomena underlying the same. Examples of such finishing compounds are disclosed in, as illustrations, US-A-3 549 698; 3 733 357; 3 786 089; 3 949 112; 4 077 770; 4 192 754; 4 219 625; 4 401 780; 4 472 466; 4 473 371; 4 518 649; 4 539 006. Suitable compounds for this very different function include fluorinated polyesters, fluoromethylated diene polymers and copolymers, fluorochemical soil release agents, polyfluoroalkyl compositions and similar compounds. It has not heretofore been apparent that either there is or can be a relationship between the very differently performing types of compounds used for ultra-violet screening phenomena and those imparting repellent properties by very different phenomena, or that such compounds can be somehow combined or unitized without interfering or chemical interacting or other property-destroying effects, so as to permit the functioning of these distinct screening and repellent phehomena simultanteously; and particularly with a thin enough combined layering or absorption that also maintains the hand, color, strength and other original properties of the fibers or fabric, and that, in such combination, can, where desired, be efficaciously sprayed. Underlying the present invention is just such a discovery wherein it has surprisingly been found possible to combine ultra-violet screening agents and water, soil and grease-repelling agents as a thin film fabric finish or spray deposition or the like, without impairing the UV or stabilizing or absorbing properties imparted by the former or the efficacy of the repellency properties imparted by the latter and without deleterious chemical interaction or impaired adhesion even though combined together in such thin film. An object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide a new and improved method of and composite material for simultaneously imparting ultra-violet screening and absorbing properties and fluid and soil repellent properties to organic and related fibres and fabrics or textiles, and without sacrificing the desired hand, coloration, flexibility or other original properties of the same. A further object is to provide a thin solidified admixed layer or coating imparting such novel properties. Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and are more particularly delineated in the appended claims. According to the invention, there is provided a method of simultaneously providing UV screening and fluid and soil repellent properties to organic fibre fabrics and the like comprising combining a fluid and soil repellent solution with a UV screening compound soluble in and non-reactive with said solution characterised in that said repellent solution is selected from the group consisting of acrylates and fluoropolymers, and the UV screening agent is selected from the group consisting of o-hydroxybenzonphenones and o-hydroxyphenylbenzatriazole, thoroughly dissolving the said screening compound in the repellent solution in a ratio range from 2-30% and 98-70% to provide sprayable particles, and spraying the same as a thin deposit upon the fabric. Thus the present invention provides a novel composition of matter containing an appropriate ultra-violet screening agent combined with a suitable water-repellent coating, formulated so that the composition can be applied to the surface of a variety of substrates, especially dyed fabrics, to protect them simultaneously from photodegradation and from staining as by various soiling agents, with the compoisition being applied by spraying or coating, to maximise efficiency. Preferred and best mode steps and materials are hereinafter set forth. As before stated, underlying the invention is the discovery that a particular combining of ultra-violet screening agents and fluid and soil repellent agents, and the thin film application thereof to preferably organic fibre fabric or textile materials, for example, can result in the simultaneous imparting of both fade-resistant (and other deterioriation) properties and resistance or repellence to wetting or soiling. As will be more evident from the experimental results delineated in the following examples, preferred compositions comprise from about 2% to 30% of the screening agent (preferably hydroxyl benzotriazoles) in about 98% to 70% of preferably a binder as of the fluorinated type used in 3M's "Scotchguard" trademark product (see, for example, 3M US-A-3 981 928 and 4 043 923) or Dupont's polyfluorinated polymers marketed under the trademark "Teflon". Other screening agents which are useful are hydroxybenzophenones, e.g., Cyasorb 24, sold by American Cyanamid Co., etc. Other fluorinated binders, as well as binders which lack fluorine, but possess similar functional properties, i.e., hydrophobic character (e.g. polystyrene methyl methacrylate), can also be used. The weight percentage is based on solid binder, which may contain a plasticizer. Optionally, moreover, if desired, the spray composition may contain a fugitive dye which will permit the user to determine which areas of the surface have been sprayed. Examples of useful fugitive dyes are conventional indicator dyes, in combination with a volatile base, e.g., a mixture of phenpohthalein with ammonia, or well-known oxygen-reactive color fading dyes. Example 1 An acrylate solution (Rohm & Haas B72) was mixed with Riedel-DeHaen AG film and plastic discoloration UV inhibiter compounds Type HMB ("Riedel" (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone) soluble in and non-reactive in the acrylate solution, in the ratio of approximately 4 parts to 98 parts of acrylate solution, and the combination was thoroughly admixed and mutually dispersed. The mixture was reduced with solvent to spraying viscosity. The same was then sprayed from an atomizing spray device in droplets of average size of about 5 microns as a thin layer (of the order of about 20 microns) on dry polyester fabric, and permitted to dry in an adhered thin film form. The fabric was subjected to ultra-violet rays from a carbon arc lamp for 100 hours with noticeable improvement in fading properties. Water and oil droplets applied to the protected fabric were readily wiped off without strain both before and after the UV tests. Example 2 Three grams of o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole UV-absorber material (C₂₇ H₃₆ Cl 0₃--5-tertiary butyl-3-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-hydroxy-benzene-propionic acid octyl ester--Ciba Geigy "Tinuvin 10f", sometimes referred to as T-109) were dissolved, as above, in 50 grams of a fluorinated binder solution containing 12% solids (340 grams solution, 41 grams solids), as marketed under the trademark "Scotchguard", before referenced, to form a sprayable composition of about 5% UV screening agent and 95% repellent solution. The same was used as a spray with fluorinated hydrocarbon (DuPont's "Freon" solvents and "Freon"-ethanol mixtures) producing spray particles of the order of a few microns. Two sprayings upon dyed fabric, from about 15 cms (6 inches) away, were found to apply a thin adherent solid layer or coating that in dried spray particle form (1.2 grams of solid admixed coating consisting of 0.4 grams T-109), producing satisfactory fade stability and stain repellency results similar to those now reported for Example 3. Example 3 Another Ciba-Geigy o-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole UV absorber ("Tinuvin 343") was mixed in the same "Scotchguard" type repellent solution of Example 2 (20% solids) and stirred to get all of the UV-absorber into solution, but in the ratio of 2 grams of T-343 to 50 grams of repellent solution. The solution was placed in a 100 ml bottle attached to a Chromist Spray apparatus (Gelman Instrument Co., Ann Arbor, Michigan), and a fine spray of several micron particle size was directed on dyed fabric (of nylon and cotton and polyester fibers) of red, blue and yellow colors for comparison with (1) unsprayed areas of the fabric and (2) unsprayed fabric areas fronted with an opaque cardboard layer. The same was exposed to a carbon arc generating substantial UV radiation for 160 hours with the following results as determined by fadeometer observations: 8 of 9 of the unsprayed fabric samples of all three colors showed definite photodegradation or fading effects as compared with the areas covered by the opaque cardboard; while all of the sprayed fabric samples showed either no signs of fading whatsoever or negligible degradation. The sprayed fabric simultaneously maintained its water repellency, as well. Example 4 A screening agent of o-hydroxybenzophenones ("Cyasorb 24" of American Cyanamid Co.) dissolved in "Scotchguard" fluorinated binder in the ratio of 7 to 93%, and spray-dried upon fabric. Example 5 "Tinuvin" 343 and/or 109 in hydrophobic polystyrene methyl methacrylate repellent solution (in proportions as in Example 2), with a "Freon TA" propellant. Example 6 The formulation of Example 3 with a fugitive dye indicator (phenophthalein-ammonia) to show the sprayed areas combined with an ammonia volatile base. Alternatively, thymolphthalein indicator may be used that changes from blue to colourless on pH change. With UV screening elements of the type of the T-109 and T-343, etc. preferred limits of weight per unit area are from about 0.18 milligrams/sq cm (0.1 gm/ft²) to about 1.8 milligrams/sq cm (1 gram/ft²), if slight yellowing is not desired. For brown or red coloured fabrics that do not show the yellowing or shade shift, up to several milligrams can be used. The preferred limits of the "Scotchguard" type repellent is up to about 3.2 milligrams/sq cm (3 grams/ft²) depending upon the degree of repellency protection desired. The dried spray particle combination layer, indeed, appears to make more effective use of the UV absorber than without the repellancy product combined therewith.

Claims: A method of simultaneously providing UV screening and fluid and soil repellent properties to organic fibre fabrics and the like comprising combining a fluid and soil repellent solution with a UV screening compound soluble in and non-reactive with said solution characterised in that said repellent solution is selected from the group consisting of acrylates and fluoropolymers, and the UV screening agent is selected from the group consisting of o-hydroxybenzonphenones and o-hydroxyphenylbenzatriazole, thoroughly dissolving the said screening compound in the repellent solution in a ratio range from 2-30% and 98-70% to provide sprayable particles, and spraying the same as a thin deposit upon the fabric. A method as claimed in claim 1 and in which the limits of weight per unit area of spray application are between 0.18 milligrams/sq cm and 1.8 milligrams/sq cm of screening compound and up to 3.2 milligrams/sq cm of repellent. A fade resistant and fluid and soil repellent spray comprising a mixture of a UV screening compound dissolved in a non-reactive repellent solution to permit of spraying of particles thereof the order of microns characterised in that the UV screening agent is selected from the group consisting of acrylates and fluoropolymers and the repellent solution is selected from the group consisting of hydroxybenzophenones and o-hydroxyphenylbezotriazole. A fade resistant and fluid and soil repellent spray as claimed in claim 3 and in which the ratio range of screening agent and repellent solution is in the range 2-30% to 98-70%. A fade resistant and fluid and soil repellent spray as claimed in claim 4 and in which the limits of weight per unit area of spray are from 0.18 milligrams/sq cm to 1.8 milligrams/sq cm of screening compound and up to 3.2 milligrams/sq cm of repellent. A spray as claimed in claim 3 and in which the spray is combined with a fluorinated hydrocarbon propellent. A spray as claimed in claim 6 and in which the repellent is a hydrophobic binder comprising one of fluorinated binders and polyester methyl methacrylates. A spray as claimed in any preceding claim and in which a fugative dye indicator is admixed. A spray as claimed in claim 6 and in which the screening agent comprises one of "Tinuvin" 109 and 343 and the repellent is a hydrophobic binder comprising one of "Scotchguard" and "Teflon" binders and the propellent comprises one of "Freon" and "Freon"-methanol mixtures.

Inventors: THOMPSON, PETER BRIAN
Applicants: FADEGUARD INC
Application year: 1987
Main classification: D06M15
IPC codes: D06M23, D06M13, D06M101, D06M15