Spacer fabric treated wtih c6 based perfluoroalkyl polymer and method of preparing thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to treated spacer fabrics and a method of preparing such spacer fabrics and more particularly to a spacer fabric being treated for imparting the spacer fabric with at least one or all of the properties selected from good flame retardancy, good oil repellency, high spray rating and low volatile emissions. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a specific liquid treating composition for preparing a treated spacer fabric having at least one or all of the properties selected from good flame retardancy, good oil repellency, high spray rating and low volatile emissions.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of preparing a treated spacer fabric, comprising the following steps:
 providing a spacer fabric of a thermoplastic polymer;   providing a liquid treating composition comprising at least one C6-perfluoralkyl based fluoropolymer(s) and a solvent;   treating the spacer fabric by immerging the spacer fabric into a bath of the liquid treating composition;   removing excessive treating composition from the treated spacer fabric;   drying the treated spacer fabric; and   fixing the treated spacer fabric.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the solvent is water and the liquid treating composition additionally comprises at least one emulsifier. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, in at least one of said providing and said treating steps, no flame retardants are added. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said removing step comprises separating at east a major part of the treating composition from the bath. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the concentration of the at least one C6-perfluoralkyl based fluoropolymer in the provided liquid treating composition is 0.3 to 10 g/l. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after said fixing step, the treated spacer fabric is free of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoic acid, and flame retardants. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after said fixing step, the treated spacer fabric has a velocity of burning according to FMVSS 302 of less than 100 min/minute in at least five of six measurements in cross direction, three measurements on a first side and three measurements on a second side, and the treated spacer fabric has a total emission according to VDA 277 of less than 100 μgC/g. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after said fixing step, the treated spacer fabric has at least one of:
 a spray test rating according to AATCC 22 of at least 70;   an oil repellency rating according to AATCC 118 of at least 4;   a fogging according to DIN 75201-B of less than 100 mg;   a smell according to VDA 270-2 of not worse than grade 3; and   a emission of formaldehyde according to VDA 275 of less than 3.0 mg/kg.   
     
     
         25 . A treated spacer fabric, comprising:
 at least one spacer fabric; and   at least one C6-perfluoralkyl based fluoropolymer, the treated spacer fabric being free of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoic acid, and flame retardants.   
     
     
         26 . The treated spacer fabric of  claim 25 , wherein the treated spacer fabric has a velocity of burning according to FMVSS 302 of less than 100 mm/minute in at least five of six measurements in cross direction, three measurements on a first side and three measurements on a second side, and the treated spacer fabric has a total emission according to VDA 277 of less than 100 μgC/g. 
     
     
         27 . The treated spacer fabric of  claim 25 , wherein the treated spacer fabric comprises 0.03 to 1.0% by weight of the at least one C6-perfluoralkyl based fluoropolymer based on the weight of the spacer fabric. 
     
     
         28 . The treated spacer fabric of  claim 25 , wherein the treated spacer fabric has at least one of:
 a spray test rating according to AATCC 22 of at least 70;   an oil repellency rating according to AATCC 118 of at least 4;   a fogging according to DIN 75201-B of less than 100 mg;   a smell according to VDA 270-2 of not worse than grade 3;   a emission of formaldehyde according to VDA 275 of less than 3.0 mg/kg.