Patent GB-425044-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the manufacture of artificial textile materials
IPC: D06M13/137
Filed: 1933-09-04
Abstract: Filaments, threads, and the like of organic derivatives of cellulose have their physical properties improved, so as to render them more amenable to mechanical processing such as weaving and knitting, by treating them with formals consisting of cyclic compounds obtainable by condensing aldehydes with hydroxycarboxylic acids, acyclic compounds obtainable by condensing aldehydes with alcohols, or acyclic compounds obtainable by condensing aldehydes with partial ethers of polyhydric alcohols.  Suitable aldehydes are formaldehyde (or trioxymethylene or paraformaldehyde), acetaldehyde, and benzaldehyde, and suitable alcoholic bodies are a -hydroxy isobutyric acid, a -hydroxy n-butyric acid, glycollic acid, lactic acid, and like acids, and mono-methyl and mono-ethyl ethers of ethylene glycol. In the application of the condensation products, preferably those are employed which are relatively non-volatile, having a boiling point above 140 DEG  C., and which are soluble in or miscible with water. It is advantageous to incorporate in the condensation products, oily lubricants, for example, olive oil, castor oil, peanut oil, palm oil, or other non-drying oils, together if necessary, with a free fatty acid such as oleic acid or stearic acid to promote miscibility.  The oils may be pre-oxidized to obviate difficulties due to ageing.  The conditioning liquid may also contain relatively non-volatile hygroscopic substances such as diethylene glycol, glycerin, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, mono-ethyl ether of ethylene glycol, and other ethers of glycols or other polyhydric alcohols. The condensation products may be incorporated in the textile material in any manner, for example, they may be added to the spinning solution in an amount to yield products containing 0,5 to 15 per cent of the condensation product on the weight of the cellulose acetate or the like present.  They may also be applied by immersing the hanks of yarn in the liquid, or by applying the liquid to the travelling material, for example, by means of pads, wicks, rollers, or discs. Again, the conditioning liquid may be sprayed on to the yarn.  In examples: (1) a solution of cellulose acetate containing a product obtained by condensing formaldehyde with a -hydroxy isobutyric acid, is extruded into an evaporative atmosphere; (2) textile materials are treated with a composition containing a condensation product of formaldehyde with mono-methyl ether of ethylene glycol, oxidized olive oil, diethylene glycol, and water; (3) filaments leaving a dry or wet spinning cell are treated with a conditioning liquid comprising the product of condensation of formaldehyde with mono-methyl ether of ethylene glycol and olive oil.  Examples are given of the production of a condensation product of paraformaldehyde and mono-methyl ether of ethylene glycol using hydrated ferric chloride as catalyst, and of paraformaldehyde and a -hydroxy isobutyric acid using sulphuric acid as catalyst.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 refers generally to the treatment of filaments, yarns, threads, films, foils and the like, of cellulose derivatives by means of cyclic and acyclic products obtainable by the condensation of aldehydes or ketones with polyhydric alcohols, or partial ethers or esters thereof, or hydroxy carboxylic acids, and includes examples of the preparation of cyclic ethers by the condensation of para-formaldehyde with diethylene glycol and with glycerol (or polyglycerol).  It refers also to the use of the condensation products for softening filaments, yarns, films, and the like, in stretching processes, for example, those of Specifications 370,430, 371,461, and 392,185, and also in processes for shrinking filaments and the like to improve their extensibility, as described in Specifications 389,823 and 403,106.  Other applications of the products are in reducing the tendency of fabrics to slip, split, or ladder, as is described in Specification 280,990, [Class 42 (i)]; in relustring fabrics which have been delustred by the action of moist steam or hot aqueous media as described in Specification 259,265, [Class 2 (ii)]; and p  in scouring, dyeing, and other finishing treatments.  The following example is included: (1) a number of cellulose acetate threads are led in the form of a warp through a bath containing an aqueous solution of the product of condensation of formaldehyde with glycollic acid, and stretched. Specifications 401,679, 424,837, and 424,838 also are referred to. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.