Patent GB-930541-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to non-woven fabrics
Inventor: RUSSELL DENNIS MERVYN
IPC: D04H1/65
Filed: 1958-05-17
Abstract: Non-woven fabrics made from a mixture of fibres of which not less than 10% by weight are nylon fibres and which are bonded together by means of a resin or elastomer are treated with a solution of a phenolic swelling agent for the nylon fibres so that the nylon fibres shrink whilst the remaining fibres do not shrink or shrink less than the nylon fibres, the swelling agent is removed from the fabric and the fabric washed and dried, the treatment being such that the fabric shrinks both in the machine direction and at right angles to the machine direction by at least 12% calculated on the dimensions of the fabric before treatment. The remaining 90% or less of fibres which do not shrink or shrink less than the nylon fibres and which are mixed with the nylon fibres to make the fabric may be cellulosic fibres, e.g. viscose rayon and cellulose acetate staple fibres, synthetic fibres, e.g. polyester fibres, or protein fibres, e.g. wool.  The fibres may be bonded by resins, e.g. polyvinyl chloride, melamine-formaldehyde and polyacrylic resins, or elastomers which may be natural or synthetic rubbers, e.g. copolymers of acrylonitrile and butadiene, the amount of bonding agent preferably being from 15 to 20% by weight calculated on the weight of the fabric.  The nylon fibres are preferably uniformly distributed throughout the fabric, although fabrics in which the quantity nylon fibres is greater in some parts than in others may be treated, the fabrics shrinking to a greater extent in such parts than elsewhere.  Specified phenolic swelling agents are phenol, cresol, xylenol, thymol, p-butylphenol, o-chlorophenol, resorcinol, catechol and pyrogallol, the extent of shrinkage produced by the phenolic swelling agent being increased by pretreatment of the nylon fibres with formaldehyde.  The shrinkage occurs not only during treatment with the phenolic swelling agent but also during washing, for which an alkaline medium, e.g. aqueous sodium carbonate, is preferred, and during drying.  Specifications 553,442 and 659,088 are referred to.ALSO:Non-woven fabrics made from a mixture of fibres of which not less than 10% by weight are nylon fibres and which are bonded together by means of a resin or elastomer are treated with a solution of a phenolic swelling agent for the nylon fibres so that the nylon fibres shrink whilst the remaining fibres do not shrink or shrink less than the nylon fibres, the swelling agent is removed from the fabric and the fabric washed and dried, the treatment being such that the fabric shrinks both in the machine direction and at right angles to the machine direction by at least 12% calculated on the dimensions of the fabric before treatment. The remaining 90% or less of fibres which do not shrink or shrink less than the nylon fibres and which are mixed with the nylon fibres to make the fabric may be cellulosic fibres, e.g. viscose rayon and cellulose acetate staple fibres, synthetic fibres, e.g. polyester fibres, or protein fibres, e.g. wool.  The fibres may be bonded by resins, e.g. polyvinyl chloride, melamine-formaldehyde and polyacrylic resins, or elastomers which may be natural or synthetic rubbers, e.g. copolymers of acrylonitrile and butadiene, the amount of bonding agent preferably being from 15% to 20% by weight calculated on the weight of the fabric.  The nylon fibres are preferably uniformly distributed throughout the fabric, although fabrics in which the quantity nylon fibres is greater in some parts than in others may be treated, the fabrics shrinking to a greater extent in such parts than elsewhere.  Specified phenolic swelling agents are phenol cresol, xylenol, thymol, p-butylphenol, o-chlorophenol, resorcinol, catechol and pyrogallol, the extent of shrinkage produced by the phenolic swelling agent being increased by pretreatment of the nylon fibres with formaldehyde. The shrinkage occurs not only during treatment with the phenolic swelling agent but also during washing, for which an alkaline medium, e.g. aqueous sodium carbonate is preferred, and during drying.  The strength, abrasion resistance, extensibility, elasticity, appearance, softness, draping qualities sewability and crease resistance of the fabrics are improved and the tendency for the fibres on the surface of the fabric to become free on rubbing and form undesirable fluff is reduced by the treatment. The fabrics may be used for interlinings in suits and overcoats, for lining the backs of collars of suits, as backings for coated fabrics, e.g. leather cloth, and in compositions which are to be moulded.  Specifications 553,442 and 659,088 are referred to.