Microcapsules With Functional Reactive Groups For Binding To Fibres and Process Of Application and Fixation

• US 20080193761A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Devan Micropolis, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Universidade do Minho
• Inventors: Naylor Rocha Gomes, Jaime Isidoro, Magalhaes Vaz Vieira, Raquel Maria, Pinto Cerqueira Barros, Sandra Maria
• Granted Patent: US 8,404,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/402.21
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/12 Processes in which the treating agent is incorporated in microcapsules making microcapsules B01J13/02
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/0016 Dye baths containing a dyeing agent in a special form such as for instance in melted or solid form, as a floating film or gel, spray or aerosol, or atomised dyes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2985 Solid-walled microcapsule from synthetic polymer

Abstract

Microcapsules for smart textile materials, containing an active product and with reactive groups, with the objective of chemically binding the microcapsules to the fibres. The microcapsules contain active products such as PCM (phase change materials), or can be of controlled release of products such as fragrances, essential oils, antibacterial and others with the objective to add specific functional properties to the textile materials. They can be applied by padding and spraying followed by thermofixation. In case of products such as knitwear the application process can also be by exhaustion process, given that the microcapsules acquire affinity towards the fibres and react with the fibres during the process. The chemical bond of the controlled release microcapsules with the fibres confers them a higher resistance to washing than the existing microcapsules glued to the fabric by printing or padding.

Claims

1. Microcapsules for intelligent textile materials, characterized for being composed by one sole shell or more than one shell of polymer, wherein the sole shell or outer shell contains reactive functional groups for chemical binding to textile fibres.

2. Microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the sole or outer shell contains functional reactive epoxy groups for chemical binding to the textile fibres with the following chemical formula:

3. Microcapsules according to claim 2, wherein the sole shell or the outer shell is made up of poly(glycidyl methacrylate), or copolymers of this polymer:

4. Microcapsules according to claim 2, wherein the sole or outer shell is based on urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, polyamide, acrylamide or chitosan, and the free amino (—

NH₂) or hydroxyl (—

OH) groups react with the —

CO—

(CH₂)_nCl group of the epichlorydrin, leaving the remaining epoxy group free to react with the fibre.

5. Microcapsules according to claim 2, wherein the sole or outer shell is based on urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, polyamide, acrylamide or chitosan, and the free amino (—

NH₂) or hydroxyl (—

OH) groups react with one of the epoxy group of a bifunctional product with two or more epoxy groups, leaving the remaining epoxy group free to react with the fibre.

6. Microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the sole or outer shell contains as functional reactive group the —

CO—

(CH₂)_nCl group for chemical binding to the textile fibres.

7. Microcapsules according to claim 6, wherein the sole or outer shell is based on urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, polyamide, acrylamide chitosan, and the free amino (—

NH₂) or hydroxyl (—

OH) groups react with the epoxy group of the epichlorydrin or derivatives, leaving the remaining —

CO—

(CH₂)_nCl group free to react with the fibre.

8. Microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the sole or outer shell contains as functional reactive group the di-chloro or tri-chlorotriazine group chemical for chemically binding to the textile fibres.

9. Microcapsules according to claim 8, wherein the sole or outer shell is based on urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, polyamide, acrylamide or chitosan and the free amino (—

NH₂) or hydroxyl (—

OH) groups react with the di-chloro or the tri-chlorotriazine group, in which one of the chlorine atoms is substituted in the reaction by the amino (—

NH₂) or hydroxyl (—

OH) group of the microcapsule and the other chorine atom is substituted in the reaction by the fibre.

10. Microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the sole or outer shell is based on polyvinylacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid or other vinyl polymers containing —

COOH groups, or copolymers of these polymers, and the —

COOH groups react with one of the epoxy groups of a bifunctional product with two or more epoxy groups, leaving the other epoxy group free to react with the fibre.

11. Microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the sole or outer shell contains as functional reactive group the —

CO—

CH═

CHR group, where R is a hydrogen or a halogen, for chemical binding to the textile fibres.

12. Microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the sole or outer shell contains as functional group an ammonium quaternary salt group, —

N⁺(R)₃, where R is an alkyl group, to bind via ionic bonds to anionic groups present in the fibres.

13. Microcapsules according to claim 1, characterised by containing in the interior an active product.

14. Microcapsules according to claim 13, wherein the active product is a phase change material (PCM) for temperature regulation such as n-octacosane, n-heptacosane, n-hexacosane, n-pentacosane, n-tetracosane, n-tricosane, n-docosane, n-heneicosane, n-eicosane, n-nonadecane, n-octadecane, n-heptadecane, n-hexadecane, n-pentadecane, n-tetradecane, n-tridecane, n-dodecane.

15. Microcapsules according to claim 13, wherein the active product is a thermochromic or photochromic material.

16. Microcapsules according to claim 13, wherein the active product is an aroma, an essential oil, a fragrance, an antimicrobial, an insect repellent, an insecticide, a disinfectant, a hydrant, an anti-cellulite, aloe-vera, an antioxidant or a vitamin for controlled release by rupture of the wall caused by friction, or another process of solubilization or degradation of the shell, of the type that is applied on fibres so that they produce a controlled release of the microencapsulated product.

17. Process of applying microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the microcapsules are applied to the textile fibres by an exhaustion process, wherein the microcapsules are absorbed by the fibres since they have affinity for the fibres.

18. Process of applying microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the microcapsules are applied to the textile fibres by a padding process, wherein the microcapsules are absorbed by the fibres in a short liquor bath, passing the material afterwards through squeezing rollers followed by a hot or cold chemical reaction.

19. Process of applying microcapsules according to claim 1, wherein the microcapsules are applied to the textile fibres by a spray process, followed by a hot or cold chemical reaction.

20. Process of applying microcapsules according to claim 17, wherein the textile fibre used is a cellulosic fibre, a polyamide fibre, a wool fibre or acrylic or modacrylic fibres.