Patent GB-611829-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the treatment of textile fibrous materials with vinyl compounds
IPC: D06M14/02
Filed: 1946-05-09
Abstract: Fibrous textile material is immersed in a bath of an emulsion of a vinyl monomer containing a cationic emulsifying agent, with or without prior treatment of the fibrous material with an anionic emulsifying agent, and the monomer on the fibrous material is polymerized while still in the bath.  Alternatively, the fibrous material is first treated with a cationic emulsifying agent and then immersed in a bath of an emulsion of a vinyl monomer containing an anionic emulsifying agent.  As a further modification of the process, the fibrous material may be treated with an aqueous solution of a polyvalent metal salt, e.g. calcium chloride or basic aluminium acetate, either before or during immersion in a bath of vinyl monomer containing an anionic emulsifying agent.  The vinyl monomer may be vinyl chloride, styrene, vinylidene chloride, or methyl methacrylate. Polymerization is preferably effected in presence of a catalyst such as benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, potassium persulphate and ammonium persulphate.  The cationic emulsifying agent may be quaternary ammonium salt containing a substituent having a carbon chain of at least eight carbon atoms, such as cetyl pyridinium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide or stearamido methyl pyridinium chloride.  The anionic emulsifying agent may be an alkali salt of a sulphated alcohol containing at least eight carbon atoms, such as sodium oleyl sulphate, or the sodium salt of an alkylated naphthalene sulphonic acid, or sodium dibenzyl sulphanilate.  The fibrous material may be wool, cotton, rayon or a mixture of these. In an example, methyl methacrylate and benzoyl peroxide are emulsified in water containing cetyl pyridinium bromide.  All-wool knitted fabric is introduced into the liquid which is maintained at 100 DEG  C.  After 2 hours, the wool is removed, squeezed and dried. In another example, wool fabric is immersed in an emulsion of methyl methacrylate containing benzoyl peroxide, a sodium salt of an alkylated naphthalene sulphonate and calcium chloride, and the bath is heated to 80 DEG  C. The methyl methacrylate may be plasticized with diethyl phthalate.ALSO:Fibrous textile material is immersed in a bath of an emulsion of a vinyl monomer containing a cationic emulsifying agent, with or without prior treatment of the fibrous material with an anionic emulsifying agent, and the monomer on the fibrous material is polymerized while still in the bath. Alternatively, the fibrous material is first treated with a cationic emulsifying agent and then immersed in a bath of an emulsion of a vinyl monomer containing an anionic emulsifying agent.  As a further modification of the process, the fibrous material may be treated with an aqueous solution of a polyvalent metal salt either before or during immersion in a bath of a vinyl monomer containing an anionic emulsifying agent.  In all cases, the monomer is polymerized on the fibrous material while still in the bath.  The treatment results in a fuller handle and improved abrasion resistance of the fibrous material.  In the case of wool, the material is rendered resistant to felting and shrinking.  Calcium chloride or basic aluminium acetate may be used as the polyvalent metal salt.  The vinyl monomer may be vinyl chloride, styrene, vinylidene chloride and methyl methacrylate. Polymerization is preferably effected in presence of a catalyst such as benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, potassium persulphate and ammonium persulphate.  The cationic emulsifying agent may be a quaternary ammonium salt containing a substituent having a carbon chain of at least eight carbon atoms, such as cetyl pyridinium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, or stearamido methyl pyridinium chloride.  The anionic emulsifying agent may be an alkali salt of a sulphated alcohol containing at least eight carbon atoms, such as sodium oleyl sulphate, or the sodium salt of an alkylated naphthalene sulphonic acid, or sodium dibenzyl sulphanilate.  The fibrous material may be wool, cotton, rayon, or a mixture of these. In an example, methyl methacrylate and benzoyl peroxide are emulsified in water containing cetyl pyridinium bromide. All-wool knitted fabric is introduced into the liquid which is maintained at 100 DEG  C.  After 2 hours, the wool is removed, squeezed and dried. In another example, wool fabric is immersed in an emulsion of methyl methacrylate containing benzoyl peroxide, a sodium salt of an alkylated naphthalene sulphonate, and calcium chloride, and the bath is heated to 80 DEG  C.  The methyl methacrylate may be plasticized with diethyl phthalate.