Patent GB-1088984-A (GB)
Title: Modifying treatment of shaped articles derived from polyesters
Inventor: MCINTYRE JAMES ERIC
IPC: C08G63/688
Filed: 1963-06-05
Abstract: Polymers suitable for use in the treatment of shaped articles made from a synthetic essentially linear crystallizable polyester comprise water-insoluble crystallizable polymeric compounds containing repeat units identical with those forming the crystallizable portions of the shaped articles and linked to the polyester repeat units by groups containing ester or amide linkage at least one active group serving to modify the surfaces of the treated articles selected from an acidic group which is a sulphonic, phosphonic or carboxylic acid or an ionizable salt thereof, a nitrogenous basic group or ionizable salt thereof, a water-solvatable polymeric polyoxyalkylene group derived from a polyalkylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 300-6000, an antioxidant group, e.g. a sterically hindered phenol, aromatic amine or dithiopropionyl group, a silicon-or fluorine-based water repellent group, and a polymeric group containing a plurality of -CO-NH- or alcoholic hydroxyl radicals, and having a melting point above 100 DEG  C. measured by the temperature of disappearance of birefringence.  The polymers may be random copolymers, block copolymers or graft copolymers or may be homopolymers with active end groups, may have a viscosity ratio as measured in a 1% by weight solution in orthochlorophenol at 25 DEG  C. of 1.1-1.5 and may be applied to the shaped articles as an aqueous dispersion or as a solution in benzyl alcohol together with antioxidants, e.g. pyrogallol, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate, zinc dinonyl dithiocarbamate or 2-a -methylcyclohexyl-4,6-dimethylphenol. In the examples polymers are produced from (a) dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and dimethyl sodium sulphoisophthalate, (b) di-methyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol and N,N-dimethylhydrazine, (c) poly(ethyleneterephthalate) and poly(ethylene N-methylimine)-diacetate, (d) dimethyl terephthalate, poly(oxyethylene)glycol and ethylene glycol, (e) dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol and methoxypoly(oxyethylene) glycol, (f) dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol and a glycerolethylene oxide or pentaerythritol-ethylene oxide condensate, (g) dimethyl terephthalate, 1,4-bis-hydroxymethyl cyclohexane and poly(oxyethylene) glycol and (h) dimethyl terephthalate, tetramethylene glycol and poly(oxyethylene)-glycol.ALSO:Textile materials made from synthetic essenitally linear crystallisable polyester fibres are treated with a water-insoluble crystallisable polymeric compound which contains repeat units identical with those forming the crystallisable portions of the polyester fibres and linked to the polyester repeat units by groups containing ester or amide linkages at least one active group serving to modify the surface of the treated materials selected from an acidic group comprising a sulphonic acid, phosphonic acid or carboxylic acid group or an ionisable salt thereof, a nitrogenous basic group or an ionisable salt thereof, a water solvatable polymeric polyoxyalkylene group, an antioxidant group, a group which contains silicon-or fluorine - based water - repellent groups, a polymeric group containing a plurality of alcoholic hydroxyl radicals and a polymeric group containing a plurality of -CO-NH-radicals, the crystallisable polymeric compound having a melting point above 100 DEG C measured by the temperature of disappearance of birefringence, and then subjected to a thermal treatment at a temperature above 90 DEG C.  The water-solvatable polymeric polyoxyalkylene groups are polymeric groups derived from a polyalkylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 300 to 6,000.  The viscosity ratio of the crystallisable polymeric compound as measured in a 1% by weight solution in orthochlorophenol at 25 DEG C preferably lies in the range 1.1-1.5. If the active group is a basic group the materials are rendered receptive to acid dyestuffs or acidic polymers.  If the active group is acidic the materials are rendered more receptive to basic dyestuffs.  When the active group is a water solvatable polymeric polyoxyalkylene group the materials are rendered antistatic and have increased adhesion to adhesives, gums and sizes, e.g. polyacrylic acid.  Suitable antioxidant groups are sterically hindered phenols, aromatic amines and the dithiodipropionyl group.  The silicon and fluorine-based water repellent groups may be polymeric silicone or polymeric fluorocarbon groups.  The crystallisable polymeric compound may be applied as the molten material, as a solution in a plasticiser for the polyester being treated, as a solution in a solvent which does not plasticise the polyester being treated or as a suspension or dispersion in a liquid medium, preferably water.  The textile materials may be treated with an anti-oxidant, e.g. pyrogallol, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate, zinc dinonyl dithiocarbamate or 2-a -methylcyclohexyl-4,6-dimethylphenol, either together with or separately from the crystallisable polymeric compound prior to the thermal treatment.  Fabrics comprising polyester fibres alone or in admixture with cotton or wool fibres may be treated.