Ethylene urea compositions useful as permanent press promoting chemicals

• US 4,770,668 A
• Filed: 01/19/1988
• Issued: 09/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Starch And Chemical Corporation (Ingredion Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: National Starch And Chemical Corporation (Ingredion Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ray-Chaudhuri, Dilip K., Skoultchi, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEMANSKI, HELENE G
• Application Number:
  US07/145,022
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 8/181, 8/185, 8/189, 8/195, 8/585, 427/393.2, 548/317, 548/319, 252/8.8
• US Class Current: 8/181
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/423 Amino-aldehyde resins

Abstract

This invention provides novel adducts of cyclic ethylene urea which are useful as permanent press agents. These adducts include acid, polyacid, ester, and multiester derivatives of cyclic ethylene urea and can be produced by the reaction of the cyclic ethylene urea with glyoxylic acid and glyoxylic acid derivatives, specifically ester acetals of glyoxylic acid. Such materials impart a high degree of permanent press properties to cellulose and cellulose/polymer blend fabrics.

Claims

1. A compound having the structure ##STR18## wherein:

R₁ is alkyl or ##STR19## R₂ and R₃ are OH, H, or combine to form ##STR20## where R₁ may be the same at each position or different and the N atoms attach to the molecule at positions R₂ and R3;

R₄ is alkyl, H, or hydroxyalkyl; and

R₅ is alkyl, H, or hydroxyalkyl.

2. The compound of claim 1, wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl.

3. The compound of claim 1, wherein R₄ and R₅ are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, and hydroxybutyl.

4. The compound of claim 1, wherein R₂ and R₃ are OH, R₅ is H, R₄ is alkyl, and R₁ is ##STR21##

5. A method for producing a wrinkle-resistant and self-smoothing fabric composed partially or entirely of cellulose or cellulose-like materials which comprises:

a. treating said fabric with an effective amount of a composition containing a compound having the general formula ##STR22## wherein;

R₁ is alkyl or ##STR23## R₂ and R₃ are OH, H, or combine to form ##STR24## where R₁ may be the same at each position of different and the N atoms attach to the molecule at positions R₂ and R₃ ;

R₄ is alkyl, H, or hydroxyalkyl; and

R₅ is alkyl, H, or hydroxyalkyl; and

b. subsequently drying and curing said fabric for a sufficient time such that crosslinking of the cellulose and cellulose-like fibers occurs to render said fabric wrinkle-resistant and self-smoothing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein R₄ and R₅ are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, and hydroxybutyl.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein R₂ and R₃ are OH, R₅ is H, R₄ is alkyl, and R₁ is ##STR25##

9. The method of claim 8, wherein R₄ is methyl or ethyl.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the composition is present in an aqueous solution containing the compound at a concentration of 0.1-10% by weight.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a curing agent selected from the group consisting of citric acid and magnesium chloride and an effective amount of ethanol such that dissolution of the compound is achieved.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the curing agent is present in the aqueous solution at a concentration of about 0.175%.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the fabric is cotton.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the drying is accomplished in a press at 150°

C. and the curing is accomplished at 170°

C.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the drying in the press is preceded by drying the fabric in an oven at a temperature below 150°

C. for a sufficient time to achieve removal of 75-90% of the water.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the oven drying is performed at 105°

C.

20. A wrinkle-resistant and self-smoothing fabric produced by the method of claim 5.

17. A compound which imparts permanent press properties to cellulose and cellulose-like textiles comprising the structure ##STR26## wherein:

R₁ is alkyl or ##STR27## R₂ and R₃ are OH, H, or combine to form ##STR28## where R₁ may be the same at each position or different and the N atoms attach to the molecule at positions R₂ and R₃ ;

R₄ is alkyl, H, or hydroxyalkyl; and

R₅ is alkyl, H, or hydroxyalkyl.

18. The compound of claim 17, wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl.

19. The compound of claim 17, wherein R₄ and R₅ are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, and hydroxybutyl.