Treatment Of Textile Fabrics

Abstract

Textile fabrics comprising not less than 70% by weight of cellulose are treated with solutions of one or more silicon compounds in liquid ammonia. Cellulose molecules are crosslinked by the treatment, producing good wrinkle resistance and good water retention capacity.

1 . A process for treating a textile fabric having a cellulosic fiber content in the range from 70% to 100% by weight with a solution in liquid ammonia of a silicon compound or a mixture of silicon compounds, which process comprises applying this solution to the textile fabric and then drying the fabric, wherein at least one of the silicon compounds used conforms to one of the formulae (I) to (IV)
   (RO) n Si(R 1 ) 4-n   (I)     (RO) t Si(R 1 ) 4-t-y (R 2 ) y   (II)     (R 1 ) b (RO) a Si—(CH 2 ) c —Si(OR) a (R 1 ) d   (III) and     (RO) a (R 1 ) b —Si—O[Si(R 1 ) 2 ] d —O—Si(R 1 ) b (OR) a   (IV)   
       where
 all R radicals are independently hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, 
 all R 1  radicals are independently an alkyl radical having 1 to 18 carbon atoms or phenyl, 
 the R 2  radical is a radical of the formula (V) or of the formula (VI)
   —(CH 2 ) e -Ep  (V) 
   —(CH 2 ) e —O—CH 2 -Ep  (VI) 
 
 where Ep is a univalent radical derived from ethylene oxide or is an epoxycyclohexyl radical, 
 n is from 2 to 4, 
 a is from 1 to 3, 
 b is 3−a, 
 c is from 1 to 4, 
 d is from 1 to 5, 
 e is from 1 to 4, 
 t is from 1 to 3, 
 y is from 1 to 3, 
 t+y is from 2 to 4. 
 
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a curing operation is carried out subsequent to the drying step. 
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the solution in the liquid ammonia comprises from 0.1 to 0.7 part by weight of silicon compound or compounds of the formulae (I) to (IV) per 100 parts by weight of ammonia. 
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the applying of the solution to the textile fabric is effected by a padding operation and at a temperature for the solution in the range from −40 to −60° C. 
     
     
         5 . A process according to  claim 1   4 , characterized in that the textile fabric is Sanforized before being dried. 
     
     
         6 . A process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the solution in liquid ammonia further comprises a catalyst in an amount from 1% to 3% by weight, based on the total amount of silicon compounds of the formulae (I) to (IV) present in the solution. 
     
     
         7 . A process according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the catalyst is a sterically hindered amine or a mixture of sterically hindered amines. 
     
     
         8 . A process according to  claim 7 , wherein the catalyst is diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane or 4-dimethylaminophydine.