Patent GB-601995-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the treatment of wool and other protein fibres
IPC: D06M15/263
Filed: 1945-06-19
Abstract: An aqueous emulsion for treating wool or other protein fibres comprises a synthetic butadiene polymer, a non-cationic emulsifying agent, and an electrolyte, the pH being below 7, and the proportions of the ingredients being adjusted so that the emulsion is stable until brought into contact with the wool, silk, casein, or other protein material.  A simple butadiene polymer or a copolymer of butadiene with a vinyl compound or acrylic or methacrylic compound may be used.  Butadiene, isoprene, dimethyl butadiene, ethoxy butadiene, and cyano-butadiene, are specified butadienes.  The electrolyte may be a sodium, potassium, lithium, caesium, or other salt and it may be a sulphate, halide, phosphate, sulphite, nitrate, acetate, or sulphamate, or it may be zinc chloride.  The emulsifying agent may be an anion-active substance such as sodium lauryl sulphonate, sodium dioctyl sulpho-succinate, or a sodium alkyl naphthalene sulphonate, or it may be a neutral substance such as mannitol monolaurate, a reaction product of a protein degradation product with an acid chloride, or an ethylene oxide reaction product with a fatty acid or fatty alcohol.  On addition of electrolyte to the emulsion of butadiene polymer containing a non-cationic emulsifying agent, a reversal of the electrical charge on the colloidal particles appears to take place.  In an example, a butadiene-isopropenyl methyl ketone polymer is obtained in the form of an aqueous emulsion using sodium lauryl sulphate as emulsifying agent and a buffer solution of pH 10 comprising disodium and trisodium phosphates.  The emulsion is diluted with water and then acetic acid and sodium sulphate are added.  Knitted wool fabric is immersed in the emulsion at 55 DEG  C. and boiled to secure complete exhaustion of the polymer upon the wool.  An antioxidant such as b -phenyl naphthylamine may be added to the butadiene polymer emulsions.ALSO:Wool or other protein fibres are rendered resistant to felting and shrinking by heating them with an aqueous emulsion containing a synthetic butadiene polymer, a non-cationic emulsifying agent, and an electrolyte, the pH of the bath being below 7 and the proportions of the ingredients being adjusted so that the emulsion is stable until it is brought into contact with the wool or other fibre. Instead of wool, silk or casein fibres may be treated. The polymer may be a simple butadiene polymer or a copolymer of butadiene with a vinyl compound or acrylic or methacrylic compound.  Instead of butadiene, homologues such as isoprene, dimethyl butadiene, ethyl butadiene, ethoxy- and methoxybutadiene, and cyano-butadiene, may be used as the basis of the polymer.  Vinyl acetate, vinyl phenyl ketone, vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl pyridine, styrene, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, ethyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate, may be used in forming the co-polymers.  The electrolyte may be a sodium, potassium, lithium, caesium, or other salt and it may be a sulphate, halide, phosphate, sulphite, nitrate, acetate, or sulphamate.  Zinc chloride may be used.  The emulsifying agent may be an anion-active substance such as sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate, or a sodium alkyl naphthalene sulphonate, or it may be a neutral substance such as mannitol monolaurate, a reaction product of a protein degradation product with an acid chloride, or an ethylene oxide reaction product with a fatty acid or fatty alcohol. The butadiene polymer may be subjected to vulcanization before or after it has been deposited on the fibres.  Sulphur, dinitro-benzene, or alkyl phenol sulphides, may be used as vulcanizing agents, and thiuram disulphide may be used as accelerator.  In an example, an emulsion is made by heating butadiene, isopropenyl methyl ketone, hydrogen peroxide, sodium lauryl sulphate, and a buffer solution of pH 10.  The emulsion of butadieneisopropenyl methyl ketone is diluted with water, and acetic acid and sodium sulphate are added. Knitted wool fabric is immersed in the bath at 55 DEG  C., and boiled for 1 1/2 hours to secure complete exhaustion on the wool. In another example, butadiene is mixed with hydrogen peroxide, sodium lauryl sulphate, and a buffer solution of pH 10.  The mixture is heated to effect polymerization.  Knitted wool fabric is immersed in the diluted emulsion conditioned with sodium sulphate.  In other examples, emulsions are made by emulsion polymerization of butadiene and methyl methacrylate, of isoprene and isopropenyl methyl ketone, of butadiene and styrene, of butadiene and acrylonitrile, of isoprene and methyl methacrylate, and of butadiene and ethyl acrylate. Hydrogen peroxide is used as catalyst and sodium lauryl sulphate as emulsifying agent.  The emulsions are diluted with water and conditioned with sodium sulphate and then used for treating wool fabrics.  In some cases, b -phenyl naphthylamine is added to the emulsion to act as an antioxidant.  In other examples sodium chloride, zinc chloride, or sodium acetate is used as the electrolyte.  When making a copolymer of butadiene and methyl methacrylate, butadiene may be condensed in a pressure reactor cooled to below -5 DEG  C.  Previously distilled methyl methacrylate is added and then a buffer solution of pH 11, hydrogen peroxide and sodium lauryl sulphate.  The buffer solution comprises an appropriate mixture of disodium phosphate and trisodium phosphate.  The reactor is removed from the freezing mixture, closed, and heated up to 45 DEG C. until complete polymerization has occurred.  A butadiene and ethyl or butyl methacrylate copolymer may be made in a similar manner. Both reagents may be cooled to - 5 DEG  C. before mixing.ALSO:Wool or other protein fibres are rendered resistant to felting and shrinking by heating them with an aqueous emulsion containing a synthetic butadiene polymer, a non-cationic emulsifying agent, and an electrolyte, the pH of the bath being below 7 and the proportions of the ingredients being adjusted so that the emulsion is stable until it is brought into contact with the wool or other fibre.  Instead of wool, silk or casein fibres may be treated. The fibres may be in the form of loose fibres, or yarns, or knitted or woven goods.  The polymer may be a simple butadiene polymer or a copolymer of butadiene with a vinyl compound or acrylic or methacrylic compound.  Instead of butadiene, homologues such as isoprene, dimethyl butadiene, ethyl butadiene, ethoxy and methoxy butadiene, and cyanobutadiene may be used as the basis of the polymer.  Vinyl acetate, vinyl phenyl ketone, vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl pyridine, styrene, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate may be used in forming the copolymers.  The electrolyte may be a sodium, potassium, lithium, caesium, or other salt and it may be a sulphate, halide, phosphate, sulphite, nitrate acetate, or sulphamate.  Zinc chloride may be used.  The emulsifying agent may be an anion-active substance such as sodium lauryl sulphonate, sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate, or a sodium alkyl naphthalene sulphonate, or it may be a neutral substance such as mannitol monolaurate, a reaction product of a protein degradation product with an acid chloride, or an ethylene oxide reaction product with a fatty acid or fatty alcohol. The butadiene polymer may be subjected to vulcanization before or after it has been deposited on the fibres.  Sulphur, dinitrobenzene or alkyl phenol sulphides, may be used as vulcanizing agents, and thiuram disulphide may be used as accelerator.  In an example, an emulsion is made by heating butadiene, isopropenyl methyl ketone, hydrogen peroxide, sodium lauryl sulphate and a buffer solution of pH 10.  The emulsion of butadiene - isopropenyl methyl ketone is diluted with water, and acetic acid and sodium sulphate are added.  Knitted wool fabric is immersed in the bath at 55 DEG  C. and boiled for 1 1/2 hours to secure complete exhaustion on the wool.  The treated wool may contain 1-25 per cent of the polymer.  In another example, butadiene is mixed with hydrogen peroxide, sodium lauryl sulphate and a buffer solution of pH 10.  The mixture is heated to effect polymerization.  Knitted wool fabric is immersed in the dilute emulsion conditioned with sodium sulphate.  In another example, emulsions are made by emulsion polymerization of butadiene and methyl methacrylate, of isoprene and isopropenyl methyl ketone, of butadiene and styrene, of butadiene and acrylonitrile, of isoprene and methyl methacrylate, and of butadiene and ethyl acrylate.  Hydrogen peroxide is used as catalyst and sodium lauryl sulphate as emulsifying agent. The emulsions are diluted with water and conditioned with sodium sulphate and then used for treating wool fabrics.  In some cases, b -phenyl naphthylamine is added to the emulsion to act as an antioxidant.  In other examples, sodium chloride, zinc chloride, or sodium acetate is used as the electrolyte.