Patent GB-696029-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to the finishing of fabrics
Inventor: EVANS JOHN GWYNANT
IPC: D06M13/395
Filed: 1949-12-16
Abstract: Mechanically produced effects or finished, e.g. pressing, calendering, schreinering, embossing, beetling, rippling, pleating and mechanically-enforced shrinking or stretching such as is produced by the machines described in Specifications 359,759 and 372,803, [both in Group VIII], on woven, knitted or felted fabrics containing fibres of natural or regenerated cellulose or cellulose esters or ethers, are rendered more resistant to aqueous treatment by applying to the fabric an organic mono- or polyfunctional isocyanate or isothiocyanate in the form of an organic solvent solution thereof or as a vapour or gas, and heating, e.g. for 1 to 15 minutes at 100-200 DEG  C., to cause the isocyanate or isothiocyanate to react with the material after the mechanical effect has been initiated or produced thereon.  Application of the isocyanate or isothiocyanate may be effected before or after the application of the mechanical effect. Local or patterned effects may be obtained by local application of the isocyanate or isothiocyanate.  Both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates and isothiocyanates may be employed, but monofunctional aliphatic isocyanates and isothiocyanates having an aliphatic chain of more than 8 carbon atoms, e.g. octadecyl isocyanate, are excluded, except in so far as they may be employed in conjunction with other isocyanates and isothiocyanates.  Specified suitable compounds are ethyl isocyanate, phenyl isocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene di-isocyanate and the corresponding isothiocyanates, allyl isothiocyanate, toluene 2 : 4-di-isocyanate, toluene 2 : 4 : 6-tri-isocyanate, mixtures of toluene 2 : 4- and 2 : 6-di-isocyanates, methylene bis-p-phenylene isocyanate, the mixture of polyisocyanates in xylene solution known under the Registered Trade Mark "Vulcafor," and isocyanate " donors " such as the adducts of diethyl malonate, acetyl acetone or acetoacetic ester with hexamethylene di-isocyanate.  Specified organic solvents are benzene, toluene, xylene, trichlorethylene and carbon tetrachloride.  An amide, thioamide or sulphonamide, e.g. urea, thiourea, acetamide, benzene sulphonamide or p-toluene sulphonamide, an amidine, e.g. dicyandiamide, guanidine or aminoguanidine, or an aminotriazine, e.g. melamine, may also be applied to the fabric so as to be present during the reaction. Numerous examples are given of the treatment applied to fabrics of cotton, cellulose acetate and viscose rayon. Specifications 571,975, 586,549 and U.S.A.  Specifications 2,284,895 and 2,284,896 also are referred to.ALSO:In example 13, the diethyl malonate adduct of hexamethylene di-isocyanate, for use in the treatment of textiles (see Group IV (c)), is prepared by mixing hexamethylene di-isocyanate, diethyl malonate and a saturated solution of sodium in methanol, the reaction proceeding until the temperature reaches 90 DEG  C., whereupon the mixture is cooled, the resulting solid mass is worked with methanol in a ball mill and the solid adduct is filtered off.ALSO:Mechanically produced effects or finishes, e.g. pressing, calendering, schreinering, embossing, beetling, rippling, pleating and mechanically enforced shrinking or stretching such as is produced by the machines described in Specifications 359,759 and 372,803, [both in Group VIII], on woven, knitted or felted fabric containing fibres of natural or regenerated cellulose, cellulose esters or ethers or natural silk, are rendered more resistant to aqueous treatment by applying to the fabric an organic mono- or polyfunctional isocyanate or isothiocyanate in the form of an organic solvent solution thereof or as a vapour or gas, and heating, e.g. for 1 to 15 minutes at 100-200 DEG  C., to cause the isocyanate or isothiocyanate to react with the material, after the mechanical effect has been initiated or produced thereon. Application of the isocyanate or isothiocyanate may be effected before or after the application of the mechanical effect.  Local or patterned effects may be obtained by local application of the isocyanate or isothiocyanate.  Both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates and isothiocyanates may be employed, but monofunctional aliphatic isocyanates and isothiocyanates having an aliphatic chain of more than 8 carbon atoms, e.g. octadecyl isocyanate, are excluded, except in so far as they may be employed in conjunction with other isocyanates and isothiocyanates.  Specified suitable compounds are ethyl isocyanate, phenyl isocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene di-isocyanate and the corresponding isothiocyanates, allyl isothiocyanate, toluene 2 : 4-di-isocyanate, toluene 2 : 4 : 6-tri-isocyanate, mixtures of toluene 2 : 4-and 2 : 6-di-isocyanates, methylene bis-p-phenylene isocyanate, the mixture of polyisocyanates in xylene solution known under the Registered Trade Mark "Vulcafor," and isocyanate "donors" such as the adducts of diethyl malonate, acetyl acetone or acetoacetic ester with hexamethylene di-isocyanate. Specified organic solvents are benzene, toluene, xylene, trichlorethylene and carbon tetrachloride.  An amide, thioamide or sulphonamide, e.g. urea, thiourea, acetamide, benzene sulphonamide or p-toluene sulphonamide, an amidine, e.g. dicyandiamide, guanidine or aminoguanidine, or an aminotriazine, e.g. melamine, may also be applied to the fabric so as to be present during the reaction. Numerous examples are given of the treatment applied to fabrics of cotton, cellulose acetate and viscose rayon.  Specifications 571,975, 586,549 and U.S.A.  Specifications 2,284,895 and 2,284,896 also are referred to.