Patent GB-742885-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to processes for imparting synthetic resin finishes to textile fabrics
IPC: D06M15/333
Filed: 1953-03-16
Abstract: Cellulosic fabrics are impregnated with an aqueous composition, comprising a thermosetting resin precondensate and polyvinyl alcohol, which is substantially free of unreacted aldehyde or other constituents having a tendency to react preferentially with polyvinyl alcohol, and are then dried and cured in the presence of a catalyst at temperatures above 250 DEG  F., whereby the thermosetting resin and polyvinyl alcohol are copolymerised to an insoluble stage.  The catalyst may be a softener for the fabric or may be included with a softener in the composition, or the catalyst may be applied to the fabric prior to the resin impregnation.  The thermosetting resin precondensate may be a condensate of melamine or urea with formaldehyde, e.g. methylol melamine, methylated methylol melamine or methylol ethylene urea, or a dito quaternary methylol derivative of acetylene urea or a ketone aldehyde precondensate or a mixture of these compounds. The composition may also include ammonia, ammonium thiocyanate, methyl hydroxy propanolamine hydrochloride, trimethylammonium sulphate of monostearyl-metaphenylene diamine, 3 - di - [1 - (2 - stearamidoethyl)] urea monoacetate, stearamidomethyl pyridinium chloride, a tetra-alkyl quaternary ammonium chloride, sulphonated castor oil or a mixture of these compounds, starch, a dyestuff or a pigment.  The curing may be effected in a drying oven with circulating air at temperatures up to 450 DEG  C., in drying cans, by infra-red radiation or whilst the fabric is being mechanically processed.ALSO:Fabrics composed of natural or regenerated cellulose fibres or mixtures thereof are impregnated with an aqueous composition, comprising a thermosetting resin precondensate and polyvinyl alcohol, which is substantially free of unreacted aldehyde or other constituents having a tendency to react preferentially with polyvinyl alcohol, and are then dried and cured in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature above 250 DEG F., whereby the thermosetting resin and polyvinyl alcohol are copolymerized to an insoluble stage.  From 0.5 per cent to two-thirds by weight of the resin constituents may be polyvinyl alcohol, and the amount of resin taken up may be from 2 to 26 per cent by weight of the area treated.  The catalyst may be included in the resin composition or may be applied to the fabric prior to the resin treatment.  The thermosetting resin precondensate may be methylol melamine, methylated methylol melamine, methylolethylene urea, a ketone-aldehyde precondensate, a di-to quarternary methylol derivative of acetylene urea, a urea-formaldehyde precondensate, or a mixture of these compounds.  The impregnating composition may also include ammonium thiocyanate, ammonia, methyl hydroxy propanolamine hydrochloride, trimethylammonium sulphate of monostearyl-meta-phenylene diamine, sulphonated castor oil, s-di(1-(2 stearamidoethyl)) urea monoacetate, stearamidomethyl pyridinium chloride or a tetra-alkyl quarternary ammonium chloride or a mixture of these compounds, starch, a dyestuff or a pigment.  The fabric may be presized or predyed, and may be impregnated over its whole area or pattern-printed with the resin composition it may be mechanically finished, e.g. by calendering or embossing, before or during the curing operation.  The curing may be effected in a drying oven with circulating air at temperatures up to 450 DEG F. or in drying cans or by infra-red radiation.  The treated fabric may be over-dyed or treated, with or without tension and before or after washing, with a caustic soda, cuprammonium, sodium zincate or calcium thiocyanate solution or with sulphuric acid or with a supercooled caustic soda solution which is afterwards neutralized and which, when the resin is applied in a pattern, increases the contrast and may produce a crinkled or pliasse-like effect.  The caustic treatment may be followed by a light steaming.