Alkoxylated-polyethylenimine and composition containing the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an alkoxylated polyethylenimine, for use in textile treatment in textile industry, especially in textile finishing processes.

1 . An alkoxylated polyethylenimine, having alkylene oxide segments attached to the nitrogen atoms of the polyethylenimine,
 wherein the alkylene oxide segments are selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide segment and C 3 -C 6 -alkylene oxide segments;   wherein the amount of alkylene oxide segments is on average in the range of from 1 to 120 alkylene oxide segments per nitrogen atom, and   wherein the weight average molecular weight (M w ) of the alkoxylated polyethylenimine is from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mole,   for use in a textile treatment process, especially in a textile finishing process.   
     
     
         2 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 1 , wherein the alkylene oxide segments consist of ethylene oxide segment and C 3 -C 6 -alkylene oxide segments. 
     
     
         3 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 2 , wherein the molar ratio of ethylene oxide segment to the remaining alkylene oxide segment is in the range of 1:10 to 6:1. 
     
     
         4 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 1 , wherein the alkylene oxide segments in the alkoxylated polyethylenimine are ethylene oxide segments, the amount of the ethylene oxide segments is in the range of from 15 to 25 ethylene oxide segments per nitrogen atom, and the weight average molecular weight of the alkoxylated polyethylenimine is in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 g/mol. 
     
     
         5 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 2 , wherein the alkylene oxide segments are comprised of ethylene oxide segment and C 3 -alkylene oxide segments, and the amount of alkylene oxide segments is on average in the range of from 35 to 70 alkylene oxide segments per nitrogen atom, and the weight average molecular weight of the alkoxylated polyethylenimine of the present invention is in the range of from 35,000 to 40,000 g/mol. 
     
     
         6 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 1 , wherein the alkylene oxide segments in the alkoxylated polyethylenimine are C 3 -C 6 -alkylene oxide segments. 
     
     
         7 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 1 , wherein the C 3 -C 6 -alkylene oxide segments in the alkoxylated polyethylenimine are C 3 -C 4 -alkylene oxide segments. 
     
     
         8 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 1 , wherein the C 3 -C 6 -alkylene oxide segments in the alkoxylated polyethylenimine are C 3 -alkylene oxide segments. 
     
     
         9 . A textile softening composition comprising:
 (a) hydrophobic textile softener; and   (b) the alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . The textile softening composition of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobic textile softener is selected from the group consisting of amino modified silicone oil, wax, ester, long carbon chain alcohol, and quaternary ammonium compounds. 
     
     
         11 . The textile softening composition of  claim 9 , wherein the amount of component (b) is in the range of from 0.1 to 75% by weight, based on the total weight of component (a) and component (b). 
     
     
         12 . The textile softening composition of  claim 9 , wherein the textile softening composition further comprises additives. 
     
     
         13 . The textile softening composition of  claim 9 , wherein the textile to be treated is prepared from natural or synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         14 . A process for treating a textile, comprising
 contacting the textile softening composition of  claim 9  with the textile.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , which is selected from exhaust process or padding process. 
     
     
         16 . A water-repellant composition, which comprising
 (A) water-repellant agent, and   (B) the alkoxylated polyethylenimine of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         17 . The water-repellant composition of  claim 16 , wherein the water-repellant agent is fluoro-containing water-repellant agent or silicon-containing water-repellant agent. 
     
     
         18 . The water-repellant composition of  claim 16 , wherein the amount of component (B) is in the range of from 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of component (A) and component (B). 
     
     
         19 . The use of the alkoxylated polyethylenimine as defined in  claim 1  as an additive in a textile softening composition for treating a textile. 
     
     
         20 . The alkoxylated polyethylenimine as defined  claim 1  for use as an additive in a water-repellant composition for treating a textile. 
     
     
         21 . A process for treating a textile, comprising a step of contacting the water-repellant composition of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the textile is prepared from cotton; polyester; polyamide; and polypropylene.