Patent GB-661376-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the treatment of textile materials
IPC: C08B31/00
Filed: 1948-04-13
Abstract: Textile materials are impregnated with an aqueous solution of a condensation product obtained by reacting a condensation product of a polymeric polyhydric alcohol and an aldehyde with a ketone and an aldehyde or with a ketone-methylol in presence of an alkaline catalyst.  The impregnated materials are dried and heated in presence of an alkaline catalyst to cause reaction between the substance of the textile materials and the condensation product. The polymeric polyhydric alcohol may be starch, dextrine, cellulose, hydroxy ethyl cellulose, or polyvinyl alcohol.  It may be reacted with formaldehyde and the methylol compound obtained may be condensed with acetone-methylol.  There may be 1 part by weight of starch-methylol to 1.5-10 parts of acetone-methylol. The acetone-methylol may be produced from 1 mol. of acetone and 2-6 mols. of formaldehyde.  The catalyst may be sodium or potassium hydroxide and it may be used alone or mixed with a mild alkali such as sodium or potassium carbonate, phosphate, or sulphide.  The condensation reactants may contain 0.1-1.5 per cent of caustic soda and 0.2-3 per cent of sodium carbonate.  The condensation between starch-methylol and acetone-methylol is exothermic and is preferably effected in a closed container, e.g. a steel drum.  In an example, corn starch is mixed with formaldehyde solution and there is then added a solution of caustic soda and sodium carbonate.  The reaction causes the mixture to become viscous and then thin down to a clear fluid.  In another tank, formaldehyde and acetone are mixed together and then added to the starch-methylol solution.  The mixture is run into a closed container, e.g. a steel drum capable of withstanding the pressure developed during the subsequent condensation reaction. The pH at the time of filling the drums is regulated to 9-12. The temperature rises to about 97 DEG  C. and the pressure to about 16 p.s.i.  The product obtained is completely soluble in water. Cotton cloth, viscose rayon fabric, or other textile material is impregnated with the solution and then dried and heated to 305 DEG  F.  In another example, a water-soluble hydroxyethyl cellulose is used as the polymeric polyhydroxy alcohol.ALSO:Textile materials are rendered resistant to shrinking and resistant to creasing by impregnating them with an aqueous solution containing an alkaline catalyst and a water-soluble condensation product obtained by first reacting a polymeric polyhydric alcohol with an aldehyde in presence of an alkaline catalyst to obtain a first product, reacting a ketone and an aldehyde in presence of an alkaline catalyst to obtain a second product, and reacting the first and second products together in presence of an alkaline catalyst.  The treatment is completed by drying and heating the impregnated materials to cause reaction to take place between the condensation product and the substance of the textile materials.  The process may be modified by forming the condensation product by first reacting the polymeric polyhydric alcohol with an aldehyde in the presence of an alkaline catalyst and adding to the reaction product and unspent catalyst a mixture of a ketone and aldehyde and allowing the condensation to proceed.  The treated materials have good tensile strength and resistance to abrasion.  The polymeric polyhydric alcohol may be starch, cellulose, dextrine, polyvinyl alcohol, or hydroxy ethyl cellulose.  It may be reacted with formaldehyde and the methylol compound may be condensed with acetone-methylol.  There may be 1 part by weight of starchmethylol to 1.5-10 parts of acetone-methylol.  Potato or corn starch may be used, the latter giving a stiffer finish.  The acetone-methylol may be produced from 1 mol. of acetone and 2-6 mols. of formaldehyde.  The catalyst may be sodium or potassium hydroxide and it may be used alone or mixed with a mild alkali such as sodium or potassium carbonate, phosphate, or sulphide.  The condensation reactants may contain 0.1-1.5 per cent of caustic soda and 0.2-3 per cent of sodium carbonate.  The condensation between the starch-methylol and the acetone-methylol or mixture of acetone and formaldehyde to form a water-soluble product, is exothermic and preferably is allowed to take place in a closed container, e.g. a steel drum. In an example, the starch-formaldehyde-acetone product is dissolved in dilute sodium carbonate solution.  Cotton cloth is padded with the solution and then dried and heated to 305 DEG  F. on a tenter frame.  In another example, a water-soluble hydroxy ethyl cellulose is used as the polymeric polyhydric alcohol, a flat-drying finish being obtained on the fabric.  If desired, a cellulose ether may be incorporated in the starch condensation product or the cloth may be pre-treated with the cellulose ether and then treated with the starch compound.  In another example, viscose rayon is treated.