Patent GB-703432-A (GB)
Title: Process for increasing the crease resistance of textiles and urea-complex-formaldehyde treatment baths for use therein
IPC: D06M15/423
Filed: 1951-04-25
Abstract: Urea-formaldehyde resins are formed in situ on textiles to render then crease resistant by drying at about 90 DEG  C. textiles which have been immersed in a bath containing formaldehyde and a co-ordination complex of urea the cation of which is [Me(CON2H4)n] where Me is a metal of valency at least two and n is a whole number; (see Group IV (b)).  Preferably the formaldehyde (calculated as 40 per cent. formalin), is present in amount at least three times the weight of urea.  It is stated that no premature condensation occurs in the bath.  The complexes are preferably present as salts [Me(CON2H4)n]X where X is an acid radical.  During resinification the metal salt acts as a catalyst.  The treatment bath may contain various adjuncts for waterproofing or modifying the feel of the textile.  In examples: (1) a linen cloth was passed through a bath containing 7 kg. of [Al(CON2H4)6](HCOO)2OH and 25 kg. of 40 per cent. formalin made up to 100 litres, and dried at 90 DEG  C.  (2) a cotton cloth was treated as in (1).  (3) A cotton poplin was treated in a bath as in (1) but containing also a paraffin alumina emulsion.  (4) A material of 70 per cent. "zellwolle" and 30 per cent. wool was passed through a 100 litre bath containing 5.5 kg. of [Al(CON2H4)6](HCOO)2OH, 24 kg. of 40 per cent. formalin and 200 gr. of a polyethyleneoxide sequestering agent.  The material was dried at 85 DEG  C.  (5) An artificial satin was passed through a 100 litre bath containing 5.8 kg. of [Zn(CON2H4)6SO4 and 20 kg. of 40 pe cent. formalin, and dried at 90 DEG  C.  (6) an artificial georgette was passed through a bath containing 6.5 kg. of [Mg(CON2H4)6]SO4, 30 kg of 40 per cent. formalin and 150 gr. of a polyethyleneoxide sequestering agent, and dried at 90 DEG  C.  (7) a "zellwolle" material was dried at 90 DEG  C. after treatment in a bath containing 2.8 kg. of [Al(CON2H4)6](HCOO)2OH 2.7 kg. of [Mg(CON2H4)6]SO4 and 25 kg. of 40 per cent formalin.  The urea complexes [Al(CON2H4)6] (HCOO)3 and [Mg(CCN2H4]Cl2 are also referred to.ALSO:Co-ordination complexes of urea and metal salts, such as:-[Zn(CO N2 H4)6] SO4 [Mg (CO N2 H4]6] SO4 [Mg (CO N2 H4)6] Cl2 [Al (CO N2 H4) 6(H COO)3 [Al (CO N2 H4)6] (H COO)2 OH are prepared by fusing together the calculated quantities of metal salt and urea, if desired in the presence of some water, at 50-70 DEG C.  It is stated that the co-ordination number may be a number, e.g. 4, other than 6 as in the above compounds.ALSO:Urea-formaldehyde resins are formed in situ on textiles to render them crease-resistant by drying at about 90 DEG C. textiles which have been immersed in a bath containing formaldehyde and a co-ordination complex of urea the cation of which is [Me(CON2H4)n] where Me is a metal of valency at least 2 and n is a whole number; (see Group IV(b)).  Preferably the formaldehyde (calculated as 40 per cent formation) is present in amount at least three times the weight of urea.  It is stated that no premature condensation occurs in the bath.  The complexes are preferably present as salts [Me(CON2H4)n]X where X is an acid radical.  During resin formation the metal salt acts as a catalyst.  The treatment bath may contain various adjuncts for waterproofing or modifying the feel of the textile.  In examples: (1) a linen cloth was passed through a bath containing 7 kg. of [Al(CON2 H4)6] (HCOO)2 OH and 25 kg. of 40 per cent formalin made up to 100 litres, and dried at 90 DEG C.  The crease angle was increased from 65 degrees to 118 degrees; (2) a cotton cloth was treated as in (1), the crease angle increasing from 57 degrees to 130 degrees and the material having a soft feel; (3) a cotton poplin was treated in a bath as in (1) but containing also a paraffin alumina emulsion.  A waterproof fabric of crease angle 117 degrees (originally 55 degrees) was obtained; (4) a material consisting of 70 per cent "zellwolle" and 30 per cent wool was passed on a foulard through a 100-litre bath containing 5.5 kg. of [Al(CON2H4)6] (HCOO)2 OH, 24 kg. of 40 per cent formalin and 200 gr. of a polyethyleneoxide sequestering agent.  The material was dried at 85 DEG C.  The crease angle increased from 72 degrees to 135 degrees, the material having a soft solid feel; (5) an artificial silk crepe satin was passed through a 100-litre bath containing 5.8 kg. of [Zn(CON2H4)6]SO4 and 20 kg of 40 per cent formalin.  After drying at 90 DEG  C. the crease angle increased from 83 degrees to 145 degrees; (6) an artificial silk georgette was passed through a 100-litre bath containing 6.5 kg of [Mg(CON2H4)6]SO4, 30 kg. of 40 per cent formalin and 150 gr. of a polyethylene oxide sequestering agent. After drying at 90 DEG C. the material had a soft feel and a crease angle of 165 degrees (originally 98 degrees); (7) a "zellwolle" tartan material was dried at 90 DEG C after treatment in a 100-litre bath containing 2.8 kg. of [Al(CON2H4)6] (HCOO)2 OH, 2.7 kg. of [Mg(CON2H4)6] SO4 and 25 kg. of 40 per cent formalin.  The crease angle increased from 76 degrees to 128 degrees.  The urea complexes [Al(CON2H4)6] (HCOO)3 and [Mg (CON2H4)6] C12 also are referred to.