Cellulase compositions and methods that introduce variations in color density into cellulosic fabrics, particularly indigo dyed denim
First Claim
1. A gelled concentrate composition that can be used in aqueous solution to introduce, into the surface of dyed cellulosic fabrics, local areas of variations in color density, which consists essentially of:
- (a) about 25-90 wt-% of a cellulase enzyme;
(b) about 0.01-10 wt-% of a thickener selected from the group consisting of a hydratable alkali metal or alkaline earth metal inorganic salt, a polyethylene oxide polymer, a polypropylene oxide polymer, a polyvinyl alcohol polymer, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer, a polyalkyloxazoline polymer, a xanthum gum and mixtures thereof;
(c) about 0.1-50 wt-% of a buffer than can maintain the pH of the aqueous solution to about the optimum pH for enzyme activity;
wherein the variation in color density is substantially the same as that produced by conventional pumice stone processing.
8 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aqueous processes and compositions of the invention for obtaining a "stone-washed", distressed or "used and abused" look in clothing, particularly in the panels and seams of denim jeans and jackets involve compositions that are stone-free that avoid mechanical abrasion of the fabric. In particular, the process and composition of the invention used to obtain the distressed, "stone-washed" or "acid washed look" are free of common pumice or pumice-bleach compositions, used in large institutional-size laundry machines, and rely solely on the chemical action of aqueous treatment compositions. The aqueous treatments can be made from liquid or solid concentrates.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A gelled concentrate composition that can be used in aqueous solution to introduce, into the surface of dyed cellulosic fabrics, local areas of variations in color density, which consists essentially of:
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(a) about 25-90 wt-% of a cellulase enzyme; (b) about 0.01-10 wt-% of a thickener selected from the group consisting of a hydratable alkali metal or alkaline earth metal inorganic salt, a polyethylene oxide polymer, a polypropylene oxide polymer, a polyvinyl alcohol polymer, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer, a polyalkyloxazoline polymer, a xanthum gum and mixtures thereof; (c) about 0.1-50 wt-% of a buffer than can maintain the pH of the aqueous solution to about the optimum pH for enzyme activity; wherein the variation in color density is substantially the same as that produced by conventional pumice stone processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A liquid concentrate composition that can be used in aqueous solution to introduce, into the surface of dyed cellulosic fabric, local areas of variation and color density which consists essentially of:
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(a) at least 25 wt-% of cellulase enzyme that can provide to an aqueous treatment solution at least 1,500 CMC units of enzyme per liter of solution; (b) a alcoholic diluent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, tertiary butanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, oligomers of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol and mixtures thereof; and (c) a buffer that can maintain the pH of the aqueous solution at about the cellulase enzyme optimum pH; wherein the variation in color density is substantially the same as that produced by conventional pumice stone processing.
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6. A method of introducing into the surface of dyed cellulosic fabrics, localized area of variation and color density, which method comprises contacting the fabric with an aqueous composition consisting essentially of:
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(a) a major proportion of water; (b) at least 25 wt-% of a cellulase enzyme and at least 1,500 CMC units of cellulase enzyme per liter of aqueous composition; and (c) a buffer that can maintain the pH of the aqueous solution at about the cellulase enzyme optimum pH; wherein the fabric is contacted with the aqueous composition at a ratio of about 2-8 milliliters of aqueous solution per gram of dyed cellulosic fabric, and wherein the variation in color density is substantially the same as that produced by conventional pumice stone processing. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification