Patent ID: 6841198

Claim:
A process for reducing wrinkle and crease problems in a fabric article, the process comprising the steps of: a) applying to the article a treatment composition comprising a phosphonate- or phosphinate-containing cross-linking agent and a suitable cross-linking catalyst wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of i) homopolymers of ethylenically-α-β-unsaturated carboxylates having the formula: wherein R is independently H, OH, OM, or a unit having the formula: where X is independently selected from H, OH, or OSO 3 M; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 are independently selected from H, CH 3 , C 1 -C 12 alkyl, aryl, CO 2 M, or (CH 2 ) n CO 2 M, where n is from 1 to 12, and at least one of R 1 , R 2 , or R 3 contains a CO 2 M moiety; M is H, or a salt forming cation; the indices x, y, and z are each independently greater than or equal to 0; x+y+z is greater than or equal to 1, Q is H, OH, OM but not H when both x and z are greater than or equal to 1; ii) copolymers of ethylenically-α-β-unsaturated carboxylates having the formula wherein R is independently H, OH, OM, or a unit having the formula where X is independently selected from H, OH, or OSO 3 M; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 are independently selected from H, CH 3 , C 1 -C 12 alkyl, aryl, CO 2 M, or (CH 2 ) n CO 2 M, where n is from 1 to 12, and at least one of R 1 , R 2 , or R 3 contains a CO 2 M moiety; M is H, or a salt forming cation; the indices x, y, and z are each independently greater than or equal to 0; x+y+z is greater than or equal to 1, Q is H, OH, OM but not H when both x and z are greater than or equal to 1; iii) copolymers of ethylenically-α-β-unsaturated carboxylates polymerized with vinyl-containing monomers where the copolymers have the formula wherein R is independently H, OH, OM, or a unit having the formula where X is independently selected from H, OH, or OSO 3 M; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 are independently selected from H, CH 3 , C 1 -C 12 alkyl, aryl, CO 2 M, or (CH 2 ) n CO 2 M, where n is from 1 to 12, and at least one of R 1 , R 2 , or R 3 contains a CO 2 M moiety; M is H, or a salt forming cation; R 4 , R 5 , R 6 are independently selected from H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, carboxy or alkylcarboxy, ester and functionalized esters, anhydride, amide, cyano, urea, alcohol, ether, acetal, phosphino, phosphano, sulfonate, sulfonamide, heterocycles such as imidazole, thiol, thioester, and mixtures thereof; the indices x, y, and z are each independently greater than or equal to 0; x+y+z is greater than or equal to 1, Q is H, OH, OM but not H when both x and z are greater than or equal to 1; and iv) mixtures thereof; and b) subjecting the treated article to a heating step to effect cross-linking of the cross-linking agent whereby the heating step comprises the application of heat via post mill application techniques.