Patent GB-1025562-A (GB)
Title: New copolymers for treatment of fibrous materials
Inventor: SMITH WILFRID BERNARD
IPC: D06M15/29
Filed: 1961-11-01
Abstract: N-Butoxymethyl acrylamide and N-cyclohexoxymethyl acrylamide are made by reaction between acrylamide (which may be obtained by the hydrolysis of acrylonitrile) and formaldehyde in the presence of, respectively, butanol and cyclohexanol.ALSO:Copolymers are prepared containing units of a C4+ alkyl acrylate or alkacrylate and at least 16% by weight of the copolymer of units of a C4-C12 alkyl or cycloalkyl ether of N-methylol acrylamide or an alpha-chloro, alpha-cyano or alpha-alkyl derivative thereof.  Also present in the copolymers may be units derived from other monomers, e.g. styrene, chlorostyrenes, alkyl-styrenes, acrylic and methacrylic acids and their nitriles, and 2-hydroxyethyl and 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylates. Preferred copolymers contain 16-35% of ether monomer, 20-70% of the ester monomer and 5-55% of one of the other specified monomers.  The monomers may be copolymerized in aqueous emulsion with the aid of emulsifiers and stabilizers, e.g. sodium lauryl sulphate, glyceryl monoricinoleate and disodium N-octadecyl sulphosuccinamate, and a catalyst mixture of potassium metabisulphite and ammonium bisulphite. The copolymerization may be carried out by a process in which the monomer mixture and the emulsifier-catalyst-water mixture are added separately and gradually to the reaction vessel.  The pH of the reaction mixture is preferably 8-11 prior to initiation, and 5-7 after copolymerization, with a final adjustment to 7.5-9.5.  The resulting emulsions are used for treating textiles, for which purpose there may be added to the emulsions aminoplast precondensates, e.g. precondensates of formaldehyde with urea, thiourea, urethane, guanidine, ethylene urea and melamine, e.g. dimethylol urea and dimethylol ethylene urea; softening agents, e.g. polyethylene emulsions; stiffening agents, e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, partially saponified polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylates and methacrylates, alkali salts of acrylic acid copolymers, alkyd resins and water-dispersible epoxy resins; water-repellent agents, e.g. waxes, stearic acid derivatives and polysiloxanes; oleophobic agents, e.g. fluorinated organic compounds; adducts of divinyl sulphone, sulphonium compounds or polyisocyanates; stabilizers, e.g. an alkyl phenyl polyethylene glycol ether; and thickeners, e.g. methyl cellulose.  The preparation of copolymers from the following monomer mixtures is described:  (a) butyl acrylate, styrene and N-butoxymethyl acrylamide, with or without methacrylic acid; (b) N-butoxymethyl acrylamide, styrene and ethyl and/or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; (c) N-butoxymethyl methacrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene; and (d) N-cyclohexoxymethyl acrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene.ALSO:Fabrics are coated with aqueous emulsions of copolymers containing units of a C4+ alkyl acrylate or alkacrylate and at least 16% by weight of units of a C4-C12 alkyl or cycloalkyl ether of N-methylol acrylamide or an alpha-chloro, alphacyano or alpha-alkyl derivative thereof (see Division C3). The copolymer is cured on the fabric by heating.  In the Examples: (12) four coatings of an aqueous composition containing a copolymer of N-butoxymethyl acrylamide, styrene, butyl acrylate and methacrylic acid, methyl cellulose and ammonium chloride are applied to nylon fabric with intermediate drying; the coated fabric is sprayed with an emulsion of two silicones, dried and heated at 150 DEG C. to produce a waterproof material; and (16) four coatings of an aqueous emulsion of a copolymer of N-cyclohexoxymethyl acrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene containing methyl cellulose and ammonium chloride are applied to cotton percale with intermediate drying, followed by heating at 150 DEG C. to yield a fabric impervious to wind and water.ALSO:Fabrics are treated with aqueous emulsions of copolymers containing units of a C4+ alkyl acrylate or alkacrylate and at least 16% by weight of the copolymer units of a C4-C12 alkyl or cycloalkyl ether of N-methyld acrylamide or an alphachloro, alpha-cyano or alpha-alkyl derivative thereof (see Division C3).  The copolymer is cured in the fabric by heating.  In the Examples: (6) viscose rayon webs are bonded by impregnating them with aqueous emulsions of copolymers of N-butoxymethyl acrylamide, styrene and ethyl and/or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, followed by curing at 140 DEG C; (7) the crease recovery of viscose rayon twill fabric is improved by impregnating it with an aqueous emulsion of a copolymer of N-butoxymethyl acrylamide styrene and butyl acrylate containing a urea-formaldehyde precondensate, followed by heating at 150 degrees; (8) as in (7), but using a copolymer containing a higher proportion of N-butoxymethyl acrylamide; (9) cotton fabric is impregnated with an emulsion of a copolymer of N-butoxymethyl acrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene, schreiner embossed at 350 DEG F. and then heated at 150 DEG C.; (10) the abrasion resistance of cotton poplin is improved by impregnating it with emulsions of copolymers of N-butoxymethyl acrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene containing dimethylol ethyleneurea, followed by heating at 150 DEG C; (13) the shrinkage of wool serge is reduced by impregnating it with emulsions of copolymers of N-butoxymethyl acrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene, followed by heating at 150 DEG C; and (18) the crease recovery of viscose rayon fabric is improved by impregnating it with emulsions of copolymers of N-cyclohexoxymethyl acrylamide, butyl acrylate and styrene containing dimethylol urea, followed by heating at 150 DEG C.