Process for improving the chemical and/or physical properties of a yarn or fabric

Abstract

A process for improving the chemical and/or the physical properties of a yarn which comprises the step of applying a chitosan-based reinforcement product, a later step of crosslinking the chitosan and a partial and calibrated desizing step for removing the crosslinked chitosan, and the desizing step being carried out by mechanical process.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A process for improving chemical and/or physical properties of a yarn made from natural animal fibers, vegetable fibers, synthetic polymer fibers and/or man-made natural polymer fibers, either in a pure state or blended together, the process comprising:
 a) providing a yarn made of natural animal fibers, vegetable fibers, synthetic polymer fibers and/or man-made natural polymer fibers, either in the pure state or a blended together;   b) preparing a sizing solution comprising a composition of chitosan and/or derivatives thereof as a reinforcement product;   c) sizing the yarn with the sizing solution to apply the reinforcement product comprising chitosan and/or derivatives thereof to the fibers of the yarn by at least partial impregnation and/or coating;   d) at least partially crosslinking the chitosan and/or derivatives thereof of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers by the sizing step c), to obtain a crosslinked reinforcement polymer from the chitosan and/or derivatives thereof, and the polymer being permanently anchored to the fibers of the yarn and   e) performing a desizing step, for partial and calibrated removal of the crosslinked reinforcement polymer derived from chitosan and/or derivatives thereof, and anchored to the fibers of the yarn, from such fibers of the yarn,   wherein the above mentioned desizing step e) for partial and calibrated removal of the crosslinked reinforcement polymer derived from chitosan and/or derivatives thereof from such fibers of the yarn is carried out by mechanical means,   
     
     
         17 . A process for improving the chemical and/or physical properties of a fabric or knit comprising yarns made from natural animal fibers, vegetable fibers, synthetic polymer fibers and/or man-made natural polymer fibers, either in a pure state or blended together, the process comprising:
 a) providing a yarn made of natural animal fibers, vegetable fibers, synthetic polymer fibers and/or man-made natural polymer fibers, either in the pure state or blended together;   b) preparing a sizing solution comprising a composition of chitosan and/or derivatives thereof as a reinforcement product;   c) sizing the yarn with the sizing solution to apply the reinforcement product comprising chitosan and/or derivatives thereof to the fibers of the yarn by at least partial impregnation and/or coating;   d) at least partially crosslinking the chitosan and/or derivatives thereof of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers by the sizing step c), to obtain a crosslinked reinforcement polymer from the chitosan and/or derivatives thereof, and the polymer being permanently anchored to the fibers of the yarn;   e) performing a step of warp-and-weft weaving of the yarns or a step of knitting of the yarns, wherein one or both of the warp and weft yarns, preferably the warp yarn only, used in this weaving step or in the knitting step, is a yarn that undergoes the process steps b), c) and d);   f) performing a desizing step, for partial and calibrated removal of the crosslinked reinforcement polymer derived from chitosan and/or derivatives thereof, from the fibers of the fabric or knit,   wherein the desizing step g) with partial and calibrated removal of the crosslinked reinforcement polymer derived from chitosan and/or derivatives thereof from such fibers of the yarn is at least partially carried out by acting upon the fibers by mechanical means.   
     
     
         18 . A process for improving the chemical and/or physical properties of a fabric, knit or garment comprising at least one yarn made from natural animal fibers, vegetable fibers, synthetic polymer fibers and/or man-made natural polymer fibers, either in a pure state or blended together, the process comprising:
 a) providing a finished fabric, knit or garment comprising at least one yarn made of natural animal fibers, vegetable fibers, synthetic polymer fibers and/or man-made natural polymer fibers at pure state or blended together:   b) preparing a sizing solution comprising a composition of chitosan and/or derivatives thereof as a reinforcement product;   c) sizing the fabric, knit or garment with the sizing solution to apply the reinforcement product comprising chitosan and/or derivatives thereof to the fibers of the fabric, knit or garment by at least partial impregnation and/or coating;   d) crosslinking the chitosan and/or derivatives thereof of the chitosan composition to obtain a crosslinked polymer from the chitosan and/or derivatives thereof, which is permanently anchored to the fibers of the fabric, knit or garment and   e) performing a desizing step, with partial and calibrated removal of the crosslinked polymer derived from chitosan and/or derivatives thereof, from the fibers of the fabric, knit or garment,   wherein the desizing step e) with partial and calibrated removal of the crosslinked reinforcement polymer derived from chitosan and/or derivatives thereof from the fibers of the fabric, knit or garment, is at least partially carried out by acting upon the fibers by mechanical means.   
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the partial and calibrated desizing step is at least partially carried out by mechanical desizing, whereby the fibers to be desized are physically acted upon by one of abrasion, rubbing, brushing and/or by treatments adapted to remove part of the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer from the fibers. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein the mechanical desizing step for physically acting upon the fibers to be desized by abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out on the yarn during the weaving step. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 19 , wherein the mechanical desizing step for physically acting upon the fibers to be desized by abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out by sliding the yarn in contact with rigid surfaces. 
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 21 , wherein the rigid surfaces consist of the surfaces of the reed dents, eye holes through which the yarn is slid during weaving, surfaces of rollers contacted by the yarn and/or the bristles of a brush. 
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step for removing the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer from the fibers is carried out by ultrasonic treatment of such fibers while the fibers are immersed in a bath. 
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the ultrasonic treatment of the fibers is carried out at the same time as a step weaving or finishing processing step, during which the fibers are already immersed in the bath. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step is carried out in addition to a chemical or an enzymatic desizing step. 
     
     
         26 . The process according to  16 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step by ultrasonic treatment of the fibers upon which the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer is applied is carried out substantially at the same time as the partial and calibrated chemical or enzymatic desizing step, using a same bath, 
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of crosslinking the chitosan of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers is preceded by the step of drying the fibers of the yarn and the chitosan of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers of the yarn, to thereby facilitate the later chitosan crosslinking step. 
     
     
         28 . A use of a reinforcement product comprising a composition of chitosan and/or derivatives thereof in the process according to  claim 16 , for improving the chemical and/or physical properties of a yarn. 
     
     
         29 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the partial and calibrated desizing step is at least partially carried out by mechanical desizing, whereby the fibers to be desized are physically acted upon by at least one of abrasion, rubbing, brushing and/or by treatments adapted to remove part of the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer from the fibers. 
     
     
         30 . The process according to  claim 29 , wherein the mechanical desizing step for physically acting upon the fibers to be desized by abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out on the yarn during the weaving step. 
     
     
         31 . The process according to  claim 29 , wherein the mechanical desizing step for physically acting upon the fibers to be desized by at least one of abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out by sliding the yarn in contact with rigid surfaces. 
     
     
         32 . The process according to  claim 31 , wherein the rigid surfaces consist of the surfaces of the reed dents, eye holes through which the yarn is slid during weaving, surfaces of rollers contacted by the yarn and/or the bristles of a brush. 
     
     
         33 . The process according to  claim 29 , wherein the mechanical desizing step for physically acting upon the fibers to be desized by abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out on the fabric, knit or garment. 
     
     
         34 . The process according to  claim 33 , wherein the mechanical desizing step by abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out by brushing the fabric, knit and/or garment, or by sliding the fabric in contact with rigid surfaces. 
     
     
         35 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step for removing the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer from the fibers is carried out by ultrasonic treatment of such fibers while the fibers are immersed in a bath. 
     
     
         36 . The process according to  claim 35 , wherein the ultrasonic treatment of the fibers is carried out at a same time as a step weaving or finishing processing step, during which the fibers are already immersed in a bath. 
     
     
         37 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step is carried out in addition to a chemical or enzymatic desizing step. 
     
     
         38 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step by ultrasonic treatment of the fibers upon which the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer is applied is carried out substantially at the same time as the partial and calibrated chemical or enzymatic desizing step, using the same bath. 
     
     
         39 . The process for improving the chemical and/or physical properties of a yarn according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of crosslinking the chitosan of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers is preceded by the step of drying the fibers of the yarn and the chitosan of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers of the yarn, to thereby facilitate the later chitosan crosslinking step. 
     
     
         40 . A use of a reinforcement product comprising a composition of chitosan and/or derivatives thereof in the process according to  claim 29  for improving the chemical and/or physical properties of a yarn. 
     
     
         41 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the partial and calibrated desizing step is at least partially carried out by mechanical desizing, whereby the fibers to be desized are physically acted upon by at least one of abrasion, rubbing, brushing and/or by treatments adapted to remove part of the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer from the fibers. 
     
     
         42 . The process according to  claim 41 , wherein the mechanical desizing step for physically acting upon the fibers to be desized by abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out on the fabric, knit or garment. 
     
     
         43 . The process according to  claim 42 , wherein the mechanical desizing step by abrasion and/or rubbing is carried out by brushing the fabric, knit and/or garment, or by sliding the fabric in contact with rigid surfaces. 
     
     
         44 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step for removing the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer from the fibers is carried out by ultrasonic treatment of such fibers, while the fibers are immersed in a bath. 
     
     
         45 . The process according to  claim 44 , wherein the ultrasonic treatment of the fibers is carried out at a same time as a step weaving or finishing processing step, during which the fibers are already immersed in a bath. 
     
     
         46 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step is carried out in addition to a chemical or an enzymatic desizing step. 
     
     
         47 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the partial and calibrated mechanical desizing step by ultrasonic treatment of the fibers upon which the crosslinked chitosan and/or chitosan-derived polymer is applied is carried out substantially at a same time as the partial and calibrated chemical or enzymatic desizing step, using a same bath. 
     
     
         48 . The process according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of crosslinking the chitosan of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers is preceded by the step of drying the fibers of the yarn and the chitosan of the reinforcement product applied to the fibers of the yarn, to thereby facilitate the later chitosan crosslinking step.