Patent GB-890702-A (GB)
Title: Measuring the amount of a finish applied to fibrous materials
IPC: D06L3/12
Filed: 1960-10-14
Abstract: The amount of finish which has been applied to never-dried viscose rayon staple fibre is measured by adding to the finish, prior to its application to the fibre, a predetermined proportion of a fluorescent substance miscible with the finish but not substantive to the fibrous material, irradiating the fibrous material to which the finish containing the fluorescent substance has been applied with radiation capable of actuating the fluorescent substance, and measuring the intensity of the fluorescence, which is then a measure of the amount of finish which has been applied to the fibre and may be measured by visual comparison with a sample of the fibrous material containing a known proportion of the finish and fluorescent agent or by a fluorimeter.  The finish may be a softening agent, e.g. a surface-active substance having a hydrophobic group derived from vegetable, animal or mineral oils such as a dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, heptadecenyl, stearyl or oleyl group, and a hydrophilic group, e.g. sulphate, sulphonate, phosphate, carboxyl, aminosulphate, quaternary ammonium or polyoxyalkylene, a film-forming finish, e.g. starch, a synthetic resin such as a urea-formaldehyde, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylate or methacrylate or polystyrene resin, a protein such as gelatin or glue, a gum, a dulling or delustering agent, e.g. a dispersion of a pigment such as TiO2, ZnO or ZnS in oils or other media, or a corrective finish, e.g. a water repellent, a flame inhibitor, a moth repellent, a dimensional stabilizer, a crush retarder or an antiseptic agent.  The fluorescent substance, which preferably dissolves in the finishing agent and may be water-insoluble, may be stilbene, a substituted stilbene in which one or both the phenyl groups of the stilbene molecule are substituted by 1-5 amino, hydroxy, alkyl or alkoxy groups, or an anthracene derivative.  The fluorescent substance may be mixed with the finish in proportions of 0,1-1% based on the weight of the finishing agent, which normally leads to a concentration of fluorescent substance on the fibre of 1-100 parts per million. The finish is preferably applied to the fibrous material as an emulsion containing 0,1-2% by weight of the finishing agent.ALSO:The amount of finish which has been applied to a fibrous material is measured by adding to the finish, prior to its p  application to the fibre, a predetermined proportion of a fluorescent substance miscible with the finish but not substantive to the fibrous material, irradiating the fibrous material to which the finish containing the fluorescent substance has been applied with radiation capable of actuating the fluorescent substance, and measuring the intensity of the fluorescence, which is then a measure of the amount of finish which has been applied to the fibre and may be measured by visual comparison with a sample of the fibrous material containing a known proportion of the finish and fluorescent agent or by a fluorimeter. The finish may be a softening agent, e.g. a surface-active substance having a hydrophobic group derived from vegetable, animal or mineral oils, such as a dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, heptadecenyl, stearyl or oleyl group, and a hydrophilic group, e.g. sulphate, sulphonate, phosphate, carboxyl, aminosulphate, quaternary ammonium or polyoxyalkylene, a film-forming finish, e.g. starch, a synthetic resin such as a urea-formaldehyde, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylate or methacrylate or polystyrene resin, a protein such as gelatin or glue, a gum, a dulling or delustering agent, e.g. a dispersion of a pigment such as TiO2, ZnO or ZnS in oils or other media, or a dimensional stabilizer, crush retarder or antiseptic agent.  The fluorescent substance, which preferably dissolves in the finishing agent and may be water-insoluble, may be stilbene, a substituted stilbene in which one or both the phenyl groups of the stilbene molecule are substituted by 1-5 amino hydroxy, alkyl or alkoxy groups, or an anthracene derivative.  The fluorescent substance may be mixed with the finish in proportions of 0.1%-1% based on the weight of the finishing agent, which normally leads to a concentration of fluorescent substance on the fibre of 1-100 parts per million. The finish is preferably applied to the fibrous material as an emulsion containing 0.1%-2% by weight of the finishing agent. Specified fibres, which may be in the form of staple, continuous filaments, tows, yarns or fabrics, are natural and regenerated cellulose, cellulose esters and ethers, acrylic fibres, nylon and polyester fibres.