Process for producing textile articles and textile articles obtained therefrom

Abstract

The present invention relates to a white fabric with increased opacity as obtainable a process comprising the step of: a) providing at least a fabric; b) treating at least part of said fabric with an aqueous composition comprising titanium dioxide and at least a cross-linkable binder; and c) heating the fabric obtained in step b).

1 . A process for producing a fabric, comprising the step of:
 a) providing at least a fabric,   b) treating at least part of said fabric with an aqueous composition comprising titanium dioxide and at least a binder, and   c) heating the fabric obtained in step b).   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said step c) comprises heating said fabric at a first temperature to dry said fabric and then heating said fabric at a second temperature to cross-link said binder on said fabric, said second temperature preferably being higher than said first temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said fabric provided in said step a) is stretched in at least one direction, so that the fabric is in a stretched condition during the treatment with the aqueous composition according to step b) of the process of the invention 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein said fabric provided in said step a) is stretched between 0.5% and 75% with respect to the initial dimension of the fabric, at least in weft direction. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein in said step b), said aqueous composition is provided to said fabric by padding. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said binder is selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymers, acrylic copolymers, resins, polyurethanes, blocked isocyanates, poly-isocyanates, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said binder has a glass transition temperature (Tg) in the range from −30° C. to 0° C. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said binder has a Shore A hardness that is ≤30° Shore A. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said fabric is included into a garment before said step b). 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said titanium dioxide in said composition is in the range from 5 to 500 g/L. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said titanium dioxide has average particle size in the range from 0.25 μm to 4 μm. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said binder in said composition is in the range of from 1 to 100 g/L. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises at least one brightening agent. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the amount of said brightening agent in said composition is in the range of from 5 to 40 g/L. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein said first temperature is in the range of 90° C. to 200° C. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein said second temperature is in the range of 150° C. to 200° C. 
     
     
         17 . A fabric as obtainable through a process according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A fabric according to  claim 17 , wherein said fabric is a woven fabric comprising weft and warp yarns woven together, and wherein at least part of said titanium dioxide and of said binder is located in the spaces defined by two adjacent warp yarns and two adjacent weft yarns that float over or under said warp yarns. 
     
     
         19 . A fabric according to  claim 18 , wherein said fabric is twill fabric. 
     
     
         20 . A fabric according to  claim 17 , wherein the said titanium dioxide has average particle size in the range of 0.25 μm to 4 μm. 
     
     
         21 . A fabric according to  claim 17 , wherein the amount of said titanium dioxide is in the range from 3% to 10% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         22 . A fabric according to  claim 17 , wherein the amount of said binder is in the range from 0.5% to 4% by weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         23 . A garment comprising a fabric according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         24 . An aqueous composition for treating a textile, comprising:
 titanium dioxide in an amount in the range from 5 to 500 g/L; and   at least one binder in an amount in the range from 1 to 100 g/L.   
     
     
         25 . An aqueous composition according to  claim 24 , further comprising at least one brightening agent in an amount in the range from 5 to 40 g/L. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein brightening agent is stilbene. 
     
     
         28 . The process according to  13 , wherein said brightening agent is triazine stilbene disulphonic acid. 
     
     
         29 . A fabric according to  claim 22 , wherein the amount of said binder is in the range from 2% to 3% by weight of the total weight of said fabric.