FIBER SIZING AGENT

Abstract: A textile sizing agent wherein satisfactory fluff binding effect, a cohesion force and wear resistance which polyvinyl alcohol resin intrinsically has are not impaired, preparation of a sizing liquid is easily made, dividing properties at the time of sizing is good, sizing with very few troubles of thread breakage at the time of sizing is possible, and shedding properties of a sized yarn obtained at the time of weaving and a disadvantage of thread breakage can be greatly improved, thereby improving the weaving efficiency. The textile sizing agent is composed of polyvinyl alcohol resin (I), modified starch (II) and water-soluble cellulosic compound (III) as active ingredients, and their compounding ratios by weight satisfy the relation: (I)/((II) + (III)) ≧ 80/20, and is formed of an aqueous solution satisfying the following conditional expressions 1 - 3, 0.27X - 0.7 ≦ log₁₀Y ≦ 0.27X + 0.6 (expression 1), 20 ≦ Y ≦ 300 (expression 2), (A)/(B) ≦ 0.5 (expression 3), where X, Y, (A) and (B) are as defined in the specification.

Description: The present invention relates to a size for threads. More particularly, it pertains to a size for threads capable of preventing thread break at the time of sizing as well as insufficient division of the warp sheet and thread break at the time of weaving, thereby greatly enhancing weaving efficiency. There have heretofore been used, as the warp size, starch, modified starch, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol resin, acrylic ester polymer, vinyl acetate-maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, etc. Among them, polyvinyl alcohol resin is especially widely used as the water-soluble size because of its non-putrefactiveness, preservability for a long period of time and favorable feeling at the time of sizing. The polyvinyl alcohol resin has an excellent film-formability as compared with the other water-soluble substances and forms an extremely strong film, and therefore, is used as the primary ingredient of warp size. However, excessively high content of polyvinyl alcohol resin in the size has sometimes caused the adverse effect that at the time of splitting sized warp sheet into each sized thread after a sheet is formed by adhering a size solution thereto in sizing and dried, the high film strength of the polyvinyl alcohol resin causes a counter effect resulting in the occurrence of thread break, decrease in thread strength or increase in yarn hairiness owing to the high resistance in splitting of yarns. As countermeasures against the above-mentioned problems, the following sizes for threads have been known: (1) A size for threads comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin, starch (non-modified starch, modified starch, etc.) and carboxymethylcellulose. (A formulation example includes 2.8 parts by weight of polyvinyl alcohol resin having a degree of polymerization of 1700, 0.5 part by weight of non-modified starch and 0.3 part by weight of carboxymethylcellulose, said size having a concentration of 4% by weight) [Poval (Japanese Polymer Publication Association, 1984, Nagano, Toyoshima, Yamane)]; (2) A binary size for threads comprising, as effective ingredients, 1 to 99 parts by weight of a polyvinyl alcohol resin and 99 to 1 parts by weight of a polymer soluble in water at less than 50°C (carboxymethylcellulose, modified starch, alginate or the like), said size having a concentration of 5 to 30% by weight (As an example, a size for thread with 26.5% by weight of concentration comprising by weight, 20.5 parts of polyvinyl alcohol resin having a degree of polymerization of 600 and 4.5 parts by weight of carboxymethylcellulose) (JP-A-56-134269 (1981)); and (3) A size for thread comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin and starch (As an example, a size for threads with 10% by weight of concentration comprising 6.0 parts by weight of polyvinyl alcohol resin having a degree of polymerization of 1860, 1.0 part by weight of modified starch and 1.5 part by weight of non-modified starch (JP-A-1-111073 (1989)). However, any of the aforestated sizes for threads is poor in stability of size solution and weavability and is far from satisfactory to practical application. The result of intensive research and investigation made by the present inventors on the development of a size for threads excellent in stability of size solution, sizing property and weavability which can overcome the foregoing drawbacks of the conventional sizes for threads has led to the accomplishment of the present invention. Specifically, the present invention provides a size for threads in the form of an aqueous solution which comprises as effective ingredients, a polyvinyl alcohol resin (I), a modified starch (II) and a water-soluble cellulose compound (III), the compounding ratio thereof based on weight being (I)/[(II) + (III)] ≧ 80/20, said aqueous solution simultaneously satisfying the numerical expressions 0.27X - 0.7 ≦ log₁₀Y ≦ 0.27X + 0.6 20 ≦ Y ≦ 300 wherein X is the solid concentration in % by weight and Y is the viscosity in mPa·s at 90°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹; and (A)/(B) ≦ 0.5 wherein (A) is the viscosity (mPa·s) of said solution at 60°C and a shear rate of 10,000 sec⁻¹, and (B) is viscosity (mPa·s) of said solution at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹, both (A) and (B) are based on a solution which is adjusted in concentration so as to give a viscosity of 100 mPa·s at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹ with the compounding ratio of the components kept constant. A composition which comprises, as effective ingredients, said polyvinyl alcohol resin (I) in powder form, said modified starch (II) in powder form and said water-soluble cellulose compound (III) in powder form, the compounding ratio thereof based on weight being (I)/[(II) + (III)] ≧ 80/20, can be used for the preparation of a size for threads in form of an aqueous solution thereof simultaneously satisfying the aforestated numerical expressions (1), (2) and (3). Moreover, the present invention provides a thread to which is adhered the above-mentioned size for threads, said size forming a film with a tensile strength of 1.0 kg/mm² or more after one week of humidity control at 20°C and 65% RH (relative humidity). The use of the aforestated size for threads facilitates the preparation of a size solution and enables the sizing minimized in the trouble relating to thread break, without impairing the favorable effect of hairiness binding, cohesion and abrasion resistance each being inherent to the polyvinyl alcohol resin, at the time of sizing by virtue of its satisfactory breakability of sized yarns. As the result, the use of the size for threads according to the present invention can contrive to enhance the weaving effect owing to the great improvement in the defect of poor division of the warp sheet and thread break at the time of weaving even in the weaving of the fabric with a large yarn count, which means a thin yarn, using the sized yarns with a relatively low size addition of 3 to 12% by weight. Fig. 1 is a semilogarithmic graph showing the scopes of X and Y each satisfying the numerical expressions (1) and (2). To the polyvinyl alcohol resin (I) to be used in the present invention is applicable a wide variety of the compounds obtained, for example, by the hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate or vinyl acetate copolymer by the known process which is obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing vinyl acetate by the known polymerization process such as bulk, solution, suspension or emulsion polymerization process. The polyvinyl alcohol resin may be of unary one or binary ones in which at least two different polyvinyl alcohol resins are blended. In place of or along with the vinyl acetate, available is other vinyl ester such as vinyl formate, vinyl propionate, vinyl valerate, vinyl caprate, vinyl laurate, vinyl stearate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl pivalate or vinyl versatate. The above-mentioned polyvinyl alcohol resin may be copolymerized with other comonomer or modified at an end of the polymer by a chain-transfer agent. The ethylenic monomer to be copolymerized with a vinyl ester is not specifically limited in as much as the monomer is copolymerizable therewith and is exemplified by α-olefins such as ethylene, propylene, n-butene, isobutene and 1-hexadecene; carboxylated monomers such as (meth)acrylic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride and salt thereof: (meth)acrylic esters such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, propyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate and stearyl (meth)acrylate; esters such as dimethyl fumarate, dimethyl itaconate, dimethyl maleate, monomethyl maleate and methyl crotonate; vinyl ethers such as methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, butyl vinyl ether, lauryl vinyl ether and stearyl vinyl ether; sulfonated monomers such as vinyl sulfonate, allyl sulfonate, methallyl sulfonate and 2-acryl-amide-2-methylpropane sulfonate and salts thereof; amide group-containing monomers such as (meth)acrylamide, N-methyl (meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl (meth)acrylamide, N-methylol(meth)acrylamide, N-tert-butoxy (meth)acrylamide, N-tert-octyl (meth)acrylamide and N-vinylpyrrolidone; amino group-containing monomers such as dimethylamino ethyl (meth)acrylamide; quaternary ammonium salt-containing monomers such as (meth)acrylamide-propyltrimethylammonium chloride; silyl group-containing monomer such as vinylhydroxy silane and (meth)acryloxypropyl 3-trimethoxy silane; hydroxyl group-containing monomers such as allyl alcohol, dimethylallyl alcohol and isopropenyl alcohol; and acetyl group-containing monomer such as allyl acetate, dimethylallyl acetate and isopropenyl acetate. The degree of hydrolysis of the aforestated polyvinyl alcohol resin is not specifically limited, but is desirably 60 to 99.9 mol%, more desirably 70 to 99.5 mol%, still more desirably 80 to 99 mol%. A degree of hydrolysis less than 60 mol% is sometimes unfavorable because it lowers the solubility of the polyvinyl alcohol resin in water. The average degree of polymerization of the polyvinyl alcohol resin to be used in the present invention may be suitably selected according to various situations but is desirably 300 to 30,000, more desirably 1,000 to 10,000, still more desirably 1,500 to 5,000, most desirably 2000 or more, especially 2000 to 3500. The average degree of polymerization of the polyvinyl alcohol resin as used herein is the viscosity-average degree of polymerization obtained by the conventional method from the viscosity of the aqueous solution of the completely hydrolyzed product of said polyvinyl alcohol resin. The average degree of polymerization of said resin less than 300 is sometimes unfavorable since it is apt to cause such trouble as blocking at a high temperature and humidity for sized threads obtained by sizing. Secondly, the modified starch (II) to be used in the present invention may be any one so long as it is soluble in water at 100°C or lower, and exemplified by α-starch (sized), oxidized starch, esterified starch, etherfied starch such as hydroxyethyl starch and hydroxypropyl starch, grafted starch and carboxymethylated starch. The viscosity of the aqueous solution of the modified starch is not specifically limited but is desirably 5 to 500 mPa·s, more desirably 5 to 200 mPa·s in terms of the viscosity of a solution with 10% by weight of the modified starch in water at 90°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹. Non-modified starch such as non-modified corn starch, potato starch and wheat starch is unfavorable since it makes gelatinization thereof difficult without the use of a high pressure cooker, thus disenabling the easy preparation of the size solution which is one of the objects of the present invention. A variety of water-soluble cellulose compounds (III) to be used in the present invention are available and exemplified as favorable ones by methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose. A water-soluble cellulose compound other than the above can be employed as one of the components of the size for threads according to the present invention provided that the compound is endowed with the commonly necessary properties of being water-soluble and the greater dependence of the size-solution viscosity upon the shear rate than that of the aqueous solution of the conventional warp size. The viscosity of the aqueous solution of a water-soluble cellulose compound is not specifically limited but is desirably 10 to 2000 mPa·s, more desirably 10 to 200 mPa·s in terms of the viscosity of a solution with 1% by weight of the water-soluble cellulose compound at 25°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹. In the size for threads according to the present invention, a water-soluble polysaccharide may be employed in combination with the aforestated three essential components (polyvinyl alcohol resin (I), modified starch (II) and water-soluble cellulose compound (III)). In the size for threads according to the present invention, the compounding ratio by weight of the polyvinyl alcohol resin (I) to the sum of the modified starch (II) and the water-soluble cellulose compound (III), that is, (I)/[(II)+(III)] is 80/20 or more, desirably 80/20 to 99/1, more desirably 85/15 to 95/5. The percentage of polyvinyl alcohol resin exceeding 99 sometimes increases thread break at the time of sizing causing a trouble in weaving, whereas that less than 80 is undesirable because of increase in the trouble of warp break in weaving. The compounding ratio of the modified starch (II) to the water-soluble cellulose compound (III) is not specifically limited but is preferably, (II)/(III) is 20/80 to 80/20 by weight. It is necessary in the size for threads according to the present invention that the size solution simultaneously satisfies the numerical expressions 0.27X-0.7≦log₁₀Y≦0.27X+0.6 20≦Y≦300 wherein X is solid concentration in % by weight and Y is viscosity in mPa·s at 90°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹; and (A)/(B)≦0.5 wherein (A) is viscosity of said solution at 60°C and shear rate of 10,000 sec⁻¹ and (B) is viscosity of said solution at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹. In this case, both (A) and (B) are based on the solution which is adjusted in concentration so as to give a viscosity of 100 mPa·s at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹ with the compounding ratio of the components kept constant. In the case where log₁₀Y>0.27X+0.6 in the numerical expression (1), the trouble of warp break increases during the weaving of sized threads and the object of the present invention can not be attained. On the other hand, in the case where log₁₀Y<0.27X-0.7 in the same, the trouble such as woof stop increase during the weaving of sized threads. In the case where Y>300 in the numerical expression (2), thread break increases at the time of splitting at a dividing rod during sizing, whereas in the case of Y<20, the size addition to the sized threads become too low resulting in decrease in the thread strength and increase in the trouble of weaving. At any rate, the object of the present invention can not be achieved. In the size for threads according to the present invention, the relationship between the solid concentration (X, % by weight) and the viscosity of the aqueous solution at 90°C ;and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹ (Y, mPa·s) can be represented by the numerical expressions (1) and (2) as described hereinbefore and also is illustrated in Fig 1. The desirable relationship between X and Y is 0.27X-0.6≦log₁₀Y≦0.27X+0.5 with 25≦Y≦250, more desirable 0.27X-0.5≦log₁₀Y≦0.27X+0.4 with 30≦Y≦200. The concentration of the aqueous solution of the size for threads according to the present invention at the time of sizing is not specifically limited but may be suitably determined according to each situation, and is usually 3 to 12% by weight, desirably 6 to 10% by weight. A concentration lower than 3% by weight is undesirable since it unreasonably lowers the size addition of the size for the threads during the usual slasher sizing resulting in remarkable decrease in the thread reinforcing effect which is the essential object of the present invention. Conversely, a concentration higher than 12% by weight is not economical since it unreasonably increases the size addition of the size for the threads during the usual slasher sizing. The addition of the size for threads varies depending on the kind of the textile, but the use of the size for threads according to the present invention enables sufficient weaving performance to be attained even at a low addition of 3 to 12% by weight. The size for threads according to the present invention comprising a polyvinyl alcohol resin, modified starch and water-soluble cellulose compound has a greater dependence of the viscosity of aqueous solution of the size on the shear rate than that of the aqueous solution of the conventional warp size. Specifically, the relation 3(A)/(B)≦0.5 is needed as defined by the above-described numerical expression (3), desirably 0.2≦(A)/(B)≦0.5 , more desirably 0.3≦(A)/(B)≦0.5 , still more desirably 0.4≦(A)/(B)≦0.5 . Here, a ratio (A)/(B) more than 0.5 lowers the sizing workability, especially the splitting property at a dividing rod, thereby deteriorating the weavability. In more detail, a ratio (A)/(B) more than 0.5 is unsuitable, since it increases the splitting force at the time of splitting a lot of threads that are sized and dried during slasher sizing into each piece of thread, thus incresing the possibility of thread break in sizing. In the size for threads according to the present invention, it is indispensable that a dependence of the viscosity of pseudo-plastic flow upon a shear rate in which the ratio (A)/(B) is less than 0.5 is exhibited in the aqueous solution of the size. The size for threads according to the present invention, however, may be used in combination with a size of acrylic ester series, sizing wax or other auxiliary such as antifoaming agent, antistatic agent or mildewproofing agent within the extent that the use thereof does not impair the expected effect of the present invention. When a sizing wax is used in combination, it is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 20% by weight based on the weight of total solids. The kind of thread which may be the object of the size of the present invention is not specifically limited, but cotton yarn and blend yarn of cotton and polyester are particularly desirable. In addition, the size of thread to be used is not specifically restricted but is particularly desirably 50 to 500 denier, that is, 5.56 to 55.6 tex (cotton yarn count of 106 to 10.6). The size composition for threads which can be used according to the present invention, as described hereinbefore, comprises as effective components said polyvinyl alcohol resin (I), said modified starch (II) and said water-soluble cellulose compound each in the form of powder, the compounding ratio thereof based on weight being (I)/[(II)+(III)]≧80/20 . Moreover, the dilution of the composition with water should give an aqueous solution of the size satisfying the above-mentioned numerical expressions (1), (2) and (3). The average particle size of each of the powdery components (I), (II) and (III) is not specifically limited but is preferably in the range of 1 mm (16 mesh) pass to 0.149 mm (100 mesh) on. The appropriate values of various parameters as described in relation to the foregoing size for threads are applicable to the aforesaid size composition for threads. Furthermore, the present invention provides a thread to which is adhered the size for threads which comprises, as effective components, the above-described components (I), (II) and (III), the compounding ratio by weight being (I)/[(II)+(III)]≧80/20 . The tensile strength of a film obtained by the composition adhering to the threads is 9,8 MPa (1.0 kg/mm²) or more, preferably 19.6 MPa (2.0 kg/mm²) or more after one week of humidity control thereof at 20°C and 65% RH. A tensile strength thereof of less than 9.8 MPa (1.0 kg/mm²) is undesirable since it increases yarn hairiness at the time of weaving of the threads. The tensile strength of the film farmed from the size for threads is measured by a method wherein the threads are poured into water, boiled at 100°C for 3 hours and the size for threads dissolved in the above water is made into a film of 50 to 100 µm in thickness by the use of a drum at 70°C, which is subsequently adjusted for humidity at 20°C, 65% RH for one week, followed by measuring the tensile strength of the film of 10 mm in width at a chuck distance of 50 mm and a tensile rate of 500 mm/min using an autograph. The appropriate values of various parameters as described in relation to the foregoing size for threads are applicable to the threads to which is adhered the size for threads. In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the examples. In the examples, part, parts and % mean part by weight, parts by weight and % by weight, respectively, unless otherwise specified; the degree of polymerization of polyvinyl alcohol stands for, as mentioned in the text, the viscosity-average degree of polymerization of the same obtained from the viscosity of the aqueous solution of the same by the conventional method; the value expressed merely as "size addition" is the observed value by a method wherein the part of yarn hairiness fall at the time of desizing is calibrated, which method is described in "warp sizing" (Fukada Kaname, Ichimi Teruhiko, published by Japan Fiber Machinery Association, pp. 299 to 302); the ratio of the viscosity at a shear rate of 10,000 sec⁻¹ to the viscosity at a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹, (A)/(B) was obtained from the viscosity of the size solution at 60°C and a shear rate of 10,000 sec⁻¹ measured with a Hercules high-shear viscometer produced by Kumagai Riki Kogyo Co., Ltd., said solution being adjusted in concentration in advance so as to give a viscosity of 100 mPa·s at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹ by the use of a Brookfield type viscometer produced by Tokyo Keiki Co., Ltd., with the compounding ratio of the components kept constant; and the viscosity at 90°C was measured at a rotar revolution of 60 rpm by the use of a Brookfield type viscometer produced by Tokyo Keiki Co., Ltd. Example 1 27 kg of polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization of 2400 and a degree of hydrolysis of 88 mol%, 1.5 kg of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC 1120®, produced by Daicel Chemical Industries), 1.5 kg of modified starch (Hasbinedy S-210 D® produced by Shikishima Spinning Co., Ltd.) and 2 kg of sizing wax (Wapset 600®, produced by Takemoto Oil & Fat Co., Ltd.) were poured into water. The resultant mixture was heated by steaming with stirring to raise the temperature to 95°C, where the steaming was stopped to finish the dissolving of the size. The size solution thus obtained gave satisfactory gelatinization state without phase separation. Then, to the thus obtained size solution some warm water was added to adjust the concentration and viscosity of the size solution to a solid concentration of 7.8% and a viscosity at 90°C of 70 mPa·s. The size solution was used for sizing and weaving under the conditions described below with the results given in Table 1. The film from the size composition for threads adhered to the sized thread by the method described in this text had a tensile strength of 29,4 MPa (3.0 kg/mm²) as the result of measurement. Then, measurement was made for the viscosity at 60°C and a shear rate of 10,000 sec⁻¹ of the size solution which had been adjusted in concentration in advance so as to give a viscosity of 100 mPa·s at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹ with the compounding ratio of the components as mentioned above. The result was 48 mPa·s, giving a ratio (A)/(B) of 0.48. (1) Sizing condition Original yarn : cotton in 100%, yarn count of 50 (106 denier), single yarn. Size solution temperature : 90°C Drying temperature : 120°C Sizing rate : 36,6 m/min (40 yard/min) (2) Weaving condition Weaving machine : air-jet loom, ZA-207 produced by Tsudakoma Industries Ltd. Article : Broad cloth Density : 144 Nos. of warps/2,54 cm x 76 Nos. of woofs/2,54 cm Cloth width : 1,22 m (48 inch) Revolution of loom : 720 rpm Air conditioning : 25°C, 65% RH (a) Result of sizing The size addition to the sized threads was 10.5% by weight. The splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was satisfactory with negligible thread break and minimized hairiness of sized threads at the time of splitting. (b) Result of weaving test The result showed favorable weavability with the number of warp break of 0.25 Nos./hour and the number of woof stop of 0.75 Nos./hour. Examples 2 and 3 The procedure in Example 1 was repeated except that a polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization and a degree of hydrolysis different from those in Example 1 was used in place of the polyvinyl alcohol as used in Example 1 to prepare the size for thread and carry out sizing and weaving tests. The results are given in Table 1. Examples 4 and 5 The procedure in Example 1 was repeated using polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose, modified starch and sizing wax (Wapset 600®, produced by Takemoto Oil and Fat Co., Ltd.) as used in Example 1 except that the compounding ratio of carboxymethylcellulose or modified starch was altered to prepare the size for threads and carry out sizing and weaving tests. The results are given in Table 1. Examples 6 and 7 The procedure in Example 1 was repeated except that carboxymethylcellulose (CMC 1190®, produced by Daicel Chemical Industries) or modified starch of high viscosity type (Hasbinedy S-210 M®, produced by Shikishima Spinning Co., Ltd.) was used in place of that used in Example 1 to prepare the size for threads and carry out sizing and weaving test. The results are given in Table 1. Example 8 The procedure in Example 5 was repeated except that a polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization of 1700 was used in place of that used in Example 5 to prepare the size for threads and carry out sizing and weaving tests. The results are given in Table 1. In the above-mentioned examples, the splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was satisfactory with negligible thread break and minimized hairiness of sized threads at the time of splitting. The results are given in Table 1. Comparative Example 1 The procedure in Example 1 was repeated except that carboxymethylcellulose and modified starch were excluded from the components as used in Example 1 to carry out sizing and weaving test. As the result, the splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was poor. The results are given in Table 2. The weaving test was not conducted because of the above poor splitting property. Comparative Example 2 The procedure in Example 1 was repeated except that modified starch was excluded from the components used in Example 1 to carry out sizing and weaving tests. As the result, the splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was poor. The results are given in Table 2. The weaving test was not carried out because of the above poor splitting property. Comparative Example 3 The procedure in Example 1 was repeated except that carboxymethylcellulose was excluded from the components used in Example 1 to carry out sizing and weaving tests. The splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was favorable with negligible thread break of sized thread at the time of splitting. In the weaving test, weaving troubles clearly increased as compared with the aforestated examples. The results are given in Table 2. Comparative Example 4 22 kg of polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization of 1700 and a degree of hydrolysis of 88 mol%, 3 kg of oxidized starch (Mermaid M-200®, produced by Shikishima Starch Ltd.), 5 kg of corn starch and 2 kg of sizing wax (Wapset 600®, produced by Takemoto Oil and Fat Co., Ltd.) were poured Into water. The resultant mixture was heated by steaming with stirring to raise the temperature to 95°C, where the steaming was stopped to finish the dissolving of the size. The thus obtained size solution gave insufficient gelatinization of the corn starch along with phase separation. Thus, the subsequent sizing and weaving were not carried out. The results are given in Table 2. Comparative Example 5 24.6 kg of polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization of 1700 and a degree of hydrolysis of 88 mol%, 5.4 kg of carboxymethylcellulose and 2 kg of sizing wax (Wapset 600®, produced by Takemoto Oil and Fat Co., Ltd.) were poured Into water. The resultant mixture was heated by steaL[iing under stirring to raise the temperature to 95°C, where the steaming was stopped to finish the dissolving of the size. The size solution thus obtained gave satisfactory gelatinization state without phase separation. Then, to the size solution thus obtained was added some warm water to adjust the concentration and viscosity of the size solution to a solid concentration of 9.0% and a viscosity at 90°C of 150 mPa·s. The thus adjusted size solution was used for sizing and weaving. The splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was favorable with negligible thread break of sized threads at the time of splitting. In the weaving test, however, weaving troubles clearly increased as compared with the foregoing examples. The results are given in Table 2. Comparative Example 6 The size solution in Comparative Example 5 was diluted to prepare a diluted size solution having a solid concentration of 8.0% and a viscosity at 90°C of 80 mPa·s, which was used to carry out sizing and weaving. The splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was favorable with negligible thread break of sized threads at the time of splitting. In the weaving test, however, weaving troubles increased even when compared with Comparative Example 5. The results are given in Table 2. Comparative Example 7 The degree of polymerization of the polyvinyl alcohol as used in Example 1 was decreased to obtain a size solution satisfying the relation log₁₀Y < 0.27X-0.7, where X is the concentration and Y is the viscosity as previously defined, and the sizing and weaving tests were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are given in Table 2. Although the splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was not bad, the number of woof-stop troubles at the time of weaving markedly increased. Comparative Example 8 Sizing was carried out with the formulation in which polyvinyl alcohol in Example 1 was used together with a high-viscosity carboxymethylcellulose. The results are given in Table 2. The splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing was rather bad, and in the weaving test weaving troubles clearly increased as compared with the foregoing examples. Comparative Example 9 21.3 kg of polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization of 1700 and a degree of hydrolysis of 88 mol%, 2.3 kg of carboxymethylcellulose, 6.4 kg of corn starch and 2 kg of sizing wax (Wapset 600®, produced by Takemoto Oil and Fat Co., Ltd.) were poured Into water. The resultant mixture was heated by steaming under stirring to raise the temperature to 95°C, where the steaming was stopped to finish the dissolving of the size. The thus obtained size solution gave insufficient gelatinization of the corn starch along with phase separation, but sizing and weaving tests were carried out with stirring. The results are given in Table 2. Although the sizing was favorable, the weaving was impossible on account of remarkably increased weaving troubles. Measurement was made for the tensile strength of the film formed with the size composition adhered to the threads by the same method as in Example 1. The result was 4,9 MPa (0.5 kg/mm²) Comparative Example 10 23.5 kg of polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of polymerization of 1700 and a degree of hydrolysis of 98 mol%, 2.5 kg of carboxymethylcellulose, 4 kg of corn starch and 2 kg of sizing wax (Wapset 600®, produced by Takemoto Oil and Fat Co., Ltd.) were poured Into water. The resultant mixture was heated by steaming under stirring to raise the temperature to 95°C, where the steaming was stopped to finish the dissolving of the size. The thus obtained size solution gave insufficient gelatinization of the corn starch along with phase separation. Thus, the subsequent sizing and weaving tests were not carried out. The results are given in Table 2. Comparative Example 11 Experiment was made in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the size solution with a viscosity of 17 mPa·s which was lower than 20 mPa·s was used. Although the sizing workability was satisfactory, weaving was impossible on account of the remarkably increased weaving troubles. The results are given in Table 2. Comparative Example 12 Experiment was made in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the size solution with a viscosity of 470 mPa·s which was greater than 300 mPa·s was used. However, weaving test was not carried out on account of remarkably worsened sizing workability, especially splitting properties at a dividing rod. The results are given in Table 2. Industrial Applicability According to the size for threads of the present invention, preparation of size solution is facilitated and splitting property at a dividing rod at the time of sizing is improved without losing favorable effect of hairiness binding, cohesion and abrasion resistance that are inherent to polyvinyl alcohol resin. Consequently, the present invention enables the production of sized threads minimized in such troubles like thread break and hairiness at the time of sizing, and markedly improved in weavability. The present invention is therefore, extremely valuable in the industrial field and is effectively utilized in a wide variety of applications to sizing of threads such as cotton yarn and blended yarn of cotton and polyester.

Claims: A size for threads in the form of an aqueous solution which comprises as effective ingredients, a polyvinyl alcohol resin (I), a modified starch (II) and a water-soluble cellulose compound (III), the compounding ratio thereof based on weight being (I)/[(II)+(III)]≧80/20, said aqueous solution simultaneously satisfying the expressions 0.27X-0.7≦log₁₀Y≦0.27X+0.6 20≦Y≦300 wherein X is the solid concentration in % by weight and Y is the viscosity in mPa·s at 90°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹; and (A)/(B)≦0.5 wherein (A) is the viscosity (mPa·s) of said solution at 60°C and a shear rate of 10,000 sec⁻¹, and (B) is the viscosity (mPa·s) of said solution at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹, both (A) and (B) are based on the solution, which is adjusted in concentration so as to give a viscosity of 100 mPa·s at 60°C and a shear rate of 10 sec⁻¹ with the compounding ratio of the components kept constant. The size for threads according to Claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin (I) has an average degree of polymerization of at least 2,000. Use of a composition which comprises as effective ingredients, a polyvinyl alcohol resin (I) in powder form, a modified starch (II) in powder form and a water-soluble cellulose compound (III) in powder form, the compounding ratio thereof based on weight being (I)/[(II)+(III)]≧80/20, for the preparation of a size for threads in form of an aqueous solution as defined in Claim 1. Use according to Claim 3, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin (I) has an average degree of polymerization of at least 2000. A thread to which is adhered a size composition for threads according to claim 1 which comprises as effective ingredients, a polyvinyl alcohol resin (I), a modified starch (II) and a water-soluble cellulose compound (III), the compounding ratio thereof based on weight being (I)/[(II)+(III)]≧80/20, where a tensile strength of a film obtained from said composition is 1.0 kg/mm² or more after one week of humidity control at 20°C and 65% RH (relative humidity).

Inventors: KATAYAMA TETSUYA, MARUYAMA HITOSHI, MIYAZAKI HIROTOSHI, ONISHI KOJI, KATAYAMA, TETSUYA, MARUYAMA, HITOSHI, MIYAZAKI, HIROTOSHI, ONISHI, KOJI
Applicants: KURARAY CO, KURARAY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: D06M15
IPC codes: D06M15