Methods of treating and cleaning fibers, carpet yarns and carpets

Abstract

Methods of enhancing stain resistance of fibers, carpet yarns and carpets are disclosed. Treating compositions used to enhance the stain resistance of fibers, carpet yarns and carpets are also disclosed.

1 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 ) An aqueous treating composition comprising tannic acid having a gallic acid content of less than about 3.0 parts by weight (pbw), wherein the tannic acid is present in the aqueous treating composition at up to about 0.5 pbw, based on a.total weight of the aqueous treating composition.  
     
     
         46 ) The treating composition of  claim 45 , wherein the tannic acid has a gallic acid content of less than about 2.0 pbw.  
     
     
         47 ) The treating composition of  claim 45 , wherein the tannic acid is present in the composition at from about 0.005 pbw to about 0.4 pbw.  
     
     
         48 ) The aqueous treating composition of  claim 45  having a pH of less than about 3.0.  
     
     
         49 ) The aqueous treating composition of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 a) a stain resist compound;    b) a crosslinking agent;    c) a fluorochemical; or    d) an organosilicate material.    
     
     
         50 ) The aqueous treating composition of  claim 49 , wherein the stain resist compound is present and comprises: 
 a) a polymer or copolymer of methacrylic acid;    b) a phenolic resin;    c) styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, or    d) an aqueous emulsion of polymerized monomers, wherein the monomers comprise (meth)acrylic acid, alkyl (meth)acrylic acid, and a substituted or unsubstituted styrene.    
     
     
         51 ) The aqueous treating composition of  claim 49 , wherein the stain resist compound is present at from greater than 0.0 pbw to about 2.0 pbw solids, based on a total weight of the aqueous treating composition.  
     
     
         52 ) The aqueous treating composition of  claim 49 , wherein the crosslinking agent is present and comprises antimony potassium tartrate or stannous chloride.  
     
     
         53 ) The aqueous treating composition of  claim 49 , wherein the fluorochemical is present at from about 0.0001 pbw to about 5.0 pbw, based on a total weight of the aqueous treatment composition.  
     
     
         54 ) A method of treating fiber, yarn or carpet comprising: 
 a) applying a first aqueous treating composition to fiber, yarn or carpet, wherein the first aqueous treating composition comprises tannic acid and a crosslinking agent; and    b) applying a second aqueous treating composition to the fiber, carpet or yarn, wherein the second aqueous treating composition comprises: 
 i) a stain resist compound;  
 ii) one or more a crosslinking agents;  
 iii) a fluorochemical; or  
 iv) an organosilicate material.  
   
     
     
         55 ) The method of  claim 54 , wherein the tannic acid has a gallic acid content of less than about 3.0 parts by weight.  
     
     
         56 ) The method of  claim 54 , wherein the treated fiber, yarn or carpet has up to about 5.0 owf tannic acid, based on a total weight of the dried fiber, yarn or carpet.  
     
     
         57 ) The method of  claim 54 , wherein the crosslinking agent in the first aqueous treating solution comprises antimony potassium tartrate.  
     
     
         58 ) The method of  claim 54 , wherein the stain resist compound is present in the second aqueous treating composition and comprises: 
 a) a polymer or copolymer of methacrylic acid;    b) a phenolic resin;    c) styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer; or    d) an aqueous emulsion of polymerized monomers, wherein the monomers comprise (meth)acrylic acid, alkyl (meth)acrylic acid, and a substituted or unsubstituted styrene.    
     
     
         59 ) The method of  claim 54 , further comprising a heating step between a) and b) at a temperature of from about 160° F. to about 260° F. for a period of time ranging from about 15 to about 60 minutes.  
     
     
         60 ) The method of  claim 54 , wherein the first aqueous treating solution further comprises: 
 a) a stain resist compound;    b) a fluorochemical; or    c) an organosilicate material.    
     
     
         61 ) The method of  claim 60 , wherein the stain resist compound is present in the first aqueous treating composition and is applied to the fiber, yarn or carpet at up to about 4.0 owf.  
     
     
         62 ) The method of  claim 60 , wherein the stain resist compound is present in the first aqueous treating composition and is applied to the fiber, yarn or carpet at from about 0.25 to about 3.0 owf.  
     
     
         63 ) The method of  claim 60 , wherein the stain resist compound is present in the first aqueous treating composition and comprises: 
 a) a polymer or copolymer of methacrylic acid;    b) a phenolic resin;    c) styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer; or    d) an aqueous emulsion of polymerized monomers, wherein the monomers comprise (meth)acrylic acid, alkyl (meth)acrylic acid, and a substituted or unsubstituted styrene.    
     
     
         64 ) The method of  claim 60 , wherein the fluorochemical is present in the second aqueous treating composition and is applied to the fiber, yarn or carpet in an amount ranging from about 100 to about 800 ppm, based on a total weight of the dried fiber, yarn or carpet.  
     
     
         65 ) The method of  claim 60 , wherein the crosslinking agent is present in the second aqueous treating composition and comprises stannous chloride.  
     
     
         66 ) The method of  claim 54 , wherein either or both of the first and second aqueous treating compositions has a pH of less than about 3.  
     
     
         67 ) A method of treating fiber, yarn or carpet comprising: 
 a) applying a first aqueous treating composition to fiber, yarn or carpet, wherein the aqueous treating composition comprises tannic acid, and wherein the tannic acid has a gallic acid content of less than about 3.0 parts by weight.