Spandex compositions

Abstract

The invention provides an improved spandex that is prepared from a polyurethane that is the reaction product of organic diisocyanates, polymeric glycols, and polyols that have an aromatic functionality, such as alkoxylated phenols. The spandex has improved resistance to high temperature dyeing with minimal loss of physical properties, such as elastic recovery.

1 . A spandex comprising a polyurethane which comprises at least one compound having an alkoxylated aromatic functionality.  
     
     
         2 . The spandex of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound having an alkoxylated aromatic functionality is selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated bisphenol A, alkoxylated bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, alkoxylated 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, alkoxylated 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)propane, alkoxylated 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dibromophenyl)propane, alkoxyl ated 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)propane, alkoxylated bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfide, alkoxylated bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, alkoxylated diphenylphenol, alkoxylated 2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylbutane, alkoxylated 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane, alkoxylated 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, alkoxylated 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulphide, and alkoxylated 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulphone.  
     
     
         3 . The spandex of  claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane is a polyurethane urea.  
     
     
         4 . A supply package comprising the spandex of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . An article of clothing comprising the spandex of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . A disposable personal care product comprising the spandex of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . The spandex of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a chlorine resistant additive, an antibacterial agent, an antioxidant, a thermal stabilizer, a UV light stabilizer, a gas resistant stabilizer, a pigment, a delustrant, an anti-tackiness additive, a heat setting additive, a dye, an emulsifier, a wetting agent, an antistatic agent, a pH regulator, a filament compacting agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a dispersing agent, and a lubricating agent.  
     
     
         8 . A spandex comprising a polyurethane which comprises an alkoxylated phenol.  
     
     
         9 . The spandex of  claim 8 , wherein the alkoxylated phenol is an alkoxylated bisphenol A.  
     
     
         10 . The spandex of  claim 8 , wherein the polyurethane is a polyurethane urea.  
     
     
         11 . A supply package comprising the spandex of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         12 . An article of clothing comprising the spandex of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         13 . A disposable personal care product comprising the spandex of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         14 . The spandex of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a chlorine resistant additive, an antibacterial agent, an antioxidant, a thermal stabilizer, a UV light stabilizer, a gas resistant stabilizer, a pigment, a delustrant, an anti-tackiness additive, a heat setting additive, a dye, an emulsifier, a wetting agent, an antistatic agent, a pH regulator, a filament compacting agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a dispersing agent, and a lubricating agent.  
     
     
         15 . A spandex comprising a polyurethane which comprises an ethoxylated bisphenol A.  
     
     
         16 . The spandex of  claim 15 , wherein the polyurethane is a polyurethane urea.  
     
     
         17 . The spandex of  claim 15 , wherein the ethoxylated bisphenol A comprises from 2 to 10 moles ethylene oxide.  
     
     
         18 . The spandex of  claim 15 , wherein the ethoxylated bisphenol A has a water content less than 550 ppm and a potassium content less than 25 ppm.  
     
     
         19 . A supply package comprising the spandex of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         20 . An article of clothing comprising the spandex of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         21 . A disposable personal care product comprising the spandex of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         22 . The spandex of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a chlorine resistant additive, an antibacterial agent, an antioxidant, a thermal stabilizer, a UV light stabilizer, a gas resistant stabilizer, a pigment, a delustrant, an anti-tackiness additive, a heat setting additive, a dye, an emulsifier, a wetting agent, an antistatic agent, a pH regulator, a filament compacting agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a dispersing agent, and a lubricating agent.  
     
     
         23 . A spandex produced from a polyurethane, wherein the polyurethane is made by a method comprising: 
 (a) mixing at least one polymeric glycol and at least one polyol having an alkoxylated aromatic functionality; and    (b) reacting the product of step (a) with at least one organic diisocyanate.    
     
     
         24 . The spandex of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises polymerizing the product of step (b) with at least one diamine.  
     
     
         25 . The spandex of  claim 23 , wherein the polymeric glycol is polymethyltetrahydrofuran, polybutylene glycol, polytetrahydrofuran, poly(tetramethylene ether)glycol, polypropylene glycol, poly(3-methyl-1,5-pentamethylene ether)glycol, poly(tetramethylene ether-co-3-methyltetramethylene ether)glycol, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The spandex of  claim 23 , wherein the polyol having an alkoxylated aromatic functionality is alkoxylated bisphenol A, alkoxylated bis(4 -hydroxyphenyl)methane, alkoxylated 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, alkoxylated 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)propane, alkoxylated 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dibromophenyl)propane, alkoxylated 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)propane, alkoxylated bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfide, alkoxylated bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, alkoxylated diphenylphenol, alkoxylated 2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylbutane, alkoxylated 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane, alkoxylated 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, alkoxylated 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulphide, alkoxylated 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulphone, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The spandex of  claim 23 , wherein the organic diisocyanate is 4,4′-methylene-bis(phenylisocyanate); 1,1′-methylenebis(4-isocyanatocyclohexane); 4-methyl-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate; 5-isocyanato-1-(isocyanatomethyl)-1,3,3-trimethylcyclohexane; 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate; toluene-2,4-diisocyanate; or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         28 . A method for making spandex comprising: 
 mixing at least one polymeric glycol and at least one polyol having an aromatic functionality to form a resin mixture;    mixing the resin mixture with at least one organic diisocyanate to form a isocyanate-capped glycol:    polymerizing the isocyanate-capped glycol to form a polyurethane; and    reaction spinning, melt spinning, dry spinning or wet spinning the polyurethane to form the spandex.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising polymerizing the isocyanate-capped glycol with at least one diamine to form a polyurethane urea; and reaction spinning, melt spinning, dry spinning or wet spinning the polyurethane urea to form the spandex.