Methods and systems for drying lipophilic fluid-containing fabrics

Abstract

Methods and/or systems for reducing the drying time of lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles are provided.

1 . A method for reducing the drying time of lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles comprising the steps of: 
 a. treating fabric articles with a lipophilic fluid thereby producing lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles;    b. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles to a rinse liquor;    c. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-contain fabric articles to an electromagnetic energy source;    wherein steps (b) and (c) are applied to the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles while the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles are being tumbled.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic fluid is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic siloxanes, perfluorinated amines, C6 or higher diols, polyol polyesters, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the rinse liquor is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic siloxanes, perfluorinated amines, C6 or higher diols, polyol polyesters, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic fluid and the rinse liquor each comprises a cyclic siloxane.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the rinse liquor further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of bleaches, emulsifiers, fabric softeners, perfumes, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, brighteners, dye fixatives, dye abrasion inhibitors, anti-crocking agents, wrinkle reduction agents, wrinkle resistance agents, soil release polymers, sunscreen agents, anti-fade agents, waterproofing agents, stainproofing agents, soil repellency agents, and mixtures thereof  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic energy source is selected from the group consisting of infrared source, microwave source, radio frequency source, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising a step selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. adding heat to the lipophilic fluid prior to contacting the fabric articles with the lipophilic fluid;    b. contacting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles with a co-solvent having a vapor pressure of at least bout 3 mm Hg at 20° C.;    c. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles to a vacuum pressure of less than 1 atm;    d. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles to a fabric article spin velocity of at least about 200 G;    e. blowing heated gas onto the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles; and    f. combinations thereof.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of: methylol, ethylol, butylol, hydrofluoroethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the co-solvent comprises a hydrofluoroether.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the co-solvent comprises methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.  
   
   
       11 . A method for reducing the drying time of lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles comprising the steps of: 
 a. treating fabric articles with a lipophilic fluid thereby producing lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles;    b. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles to a rinse liquor;    c. blowing heated gas onto the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles;    wherein steps (b) and (c) are applied to the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles while the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles are being tumbled.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the lipophilic fluid is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic siloxanes, perfluorinated amines, C6 or higher diols, polyol polyesters, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the rinse liquor is selected from the group consisting of linear or cyclic siloxanes, perfluorinated amines, C6 or higher diols, polyol polyesters, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the lipophilic fluid and the rinse liquor each comprises a cyclic siloxane.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the rinse liquor further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of bleaches, emulsifiers, fabric softeners, perfumes, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, brighteners, dye fixatives, dye abrasion inhibitors, anti-crocking agents, wrinkle reduction agents, wrinkle resistance agents, soil release polymers, sunscreen agents, anti-fade agents, waterproofing agents, stainproofing agents, soil repellency agents, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, steam, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising a step selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. adding heat to the lipophilic fluid prior to contacting the fabric articles with the lipophilic fluid;    b. contacting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles with a co-solvent having a vapor pressure of at least bout 3 mm Hg at 20° C.;    c. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles to a vacuum pressure of less than 1 atm;    d. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-containing fabric articles to a fabric article spin velocity of at least about 200 G;    e. subjecting the lipophilic fluid-contain fabric articles to an electromagnetic energy source; and    f. combinations thereof.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of: methylol, ethylol, butylol, hydrofluoroethers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the co-solvent comprises a hydrofluoroether.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the co-solvent comprises methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein the electromagnetic energy source is selected from the group consisting of infrared source, microwave source, radio frequency source, and combinations thereof.