Fabric treatment for stain repellency

• US 10,900,168 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gregory Van Buskirk
• Original Assignee: Gregory Van Buskirk
• Inventors: van Buskirk, Gregory, Casella, Victor M., Mills, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Delcotto, Gregory R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kumar, Preeti
• Application Number:
  US14/549,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20160145795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,258 Days
• Field of Search: 510521, 510522, 510475, 510504, 510515
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/62 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/44 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/001 Softening compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0015 liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3749 Polyolefins; Halogenated polyolefins; Natural or synthetic rubber; Polyarylolefins or halogenated polyarylolefins
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/02 with hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/227 of hydrocarbons, or reaction products thereof, e.g. afterhalogenated or sulfochlorinated
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/256 containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/277 containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/295 containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/353 containing fluorine

Abstract

A fabric treatment composition is provided that includes at least one zeta potential modifier, a fluoropolymer and a hydrophobic agent with a melting point or glass transition temperature below 100° C., for imparting fabric protection benefits to a fabric, such as improved stain and soil resistance, oil repellency, water repellency, softness, wrinkle and damage resistance, and better hand feel. Fabric treatment compositions can be used as a pretreatment prior to washing, through soaking, or added to the treatment liquor, that is either the wash or rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine, to first provide and then maintain and refresh the fabric protection benefits imparted to the fabric. Following use of a first treatment composition, protective benefits are maintained and refreshed by means of a second treatment operation employing a second treatment composition. The second treatment composition may have lower active levels of the protective agents to provide for economical and periodic maintenance of the imparted fabric protection benefits.

Claims

1. A method for treating fabrics in a washing machine to provide at least one fabric protective property to a fabric, comprising the steps of:

(1) depositing a first fabric treatment composition onto the fabric in a first treatment liquor, wherein the first fabric treatment composition comprises;

a) a first amount of from 5 to 30 weight % of a hydrophobic agent that does not cause any significant color change, nor impart any discoloration to a fabric, characterized as having a melting point or glass transition temperature of less than 100°

C.;

b) a first amount of a fluoropolymer; and

c) a first effective amount of a zeta potential modifier, such that the first treatment liquor has a zeta potential that is positive and greater than zero millivolts; and

(2) curing the fabric at a drying temperature above ambient temperatures but less than 100°

C.;

wherein;

i) the fabric protective property is selected from the group comprising;

increased water repellency, increased oil repellency, stain and soil resistance, and any combination thereof;

ii) the zeta potential modifier comprises a cationic or cationically modified material;

iii) the weight % ratio of hydrophobic agent (a) to zeta potential modifier (c) is from 1;

1 to 300;

1;

iv) the hydrophobic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic waxes, polyvinyl chloride, low molecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyurethane, emulsifiable waxes, oxidized polyethylene and polymers produced from ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and

v) the fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbonylimino biurets, fluoroesters, fluoroester carbamates, fluorinated polymers of acrylic fluoro-substituted monomers and methyl acrylate or ethyl acrylate, and fluorinated polymers of methacrylic fluoro-substituted monomers and methyl acrylate or ethyl acrylate.

2. A method for treating fabrics in a washing machine to provide at least one fabric protective property to a fabric, comprising repeating step (1) and step (2) of claim 1 a plurality of times.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (1) is repeated at least once.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(3) depositing a second fabric treatment composition onto the fabric in a second treatment liquor, wherein the second fabric treatment composition comprises;

d) a second amount of from 5 to 30 weight % of a hydrophobic agent that does not cause any significant color change, nor impart any discoloration to a fabric, characterized as having a melting point or glass transition temperature of less than 100°

C.;

e) a second amount of a fluoropolymer; and

f) a second effective amount of a zeta potential modifier, such that the second treatment liquor has a zeta potential that is positive and greater than zero millivolts;

wherein;

i) the first fabric treatment composition may be the same as or different from the second fabric treatment composition;

ii) the second amounts of hydrophobic agent, fluoropolymer and zeta potential modifier, respectively, are independently equal to or not equal to the first amounts of hydrophobic agent, fluoropolymer and zeta potential modifier, respectively;

iii) the hydrophobic agent is selected from the group;

hydrophobic waxes, polyvinyl chloride, low molecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyurethane, emulsifiable waxes, oxidized polyethylene and polymers produced from ethylenically unsaturated monomers;

iv) the fluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbonylimino biurets, fluoroesters, fluoroester carbamates, fluorinated polymers of acrylic fluoro-substituted monomers and methyl acrylate or ethyl acrylate, and fluorinated polymers of methacrylic fluoro-substituted monomers and methyl acrylate or ethyl acrylate; and

v) the weight % ratio of hydrophobic agent (d) to zeta potential modifier (f) is from 1;

1 to 300;

1.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (3) is repeated at least once prior to step (2).

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

(4) curing the fabric at a drying temperature above ambient temperatures but less than 100°

C.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (3) together with any repetitions thereof together with step (4) occur after the completion of step (1) and any repetitions thereof, together with step (2).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fabric treatment composition comprises:

b) 0.5 to 60 weight % fluoropolymer;

c) 0.1 to 30 weight % of a zeta potential modifier.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the second fabric treatment composition comprises:

e) 0.5 to 60 weight % fluoropolymer; and

f) 0.1 to 30 weight % of a zeta potential modifier.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first fabric treatment composition comprises:

b) 0.5 to 60 weight % fluoropolymer; and

c) 0.1 to 30 weight % zeta potential modifier;

and wherein the second fabric treatment composition comprises;

e) 0.1 to 30 weight % fluoropolymer; and

f) 0.1 to 30 weight % zeta potential modifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cationic material is a cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of mono and di-methyl fatty amines, alkyl trimethyl ammonium salts, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts, alkyl amine acetates, trialkylammonium acetates, alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, dialkylmethylbenzyl ammonium salts, alkylpyridinium halide and alkyl (alkyl substituted) pyridinium salts, alkylthiomethylpyridinium salts, alkylamidomethylpyridinium salts, alkylquinolinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, N,N-alkylmethylpyrollidinium salts, 1,1-dialkylpiperidinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium salts, 4,4-dial-kylthiomorpholinium-1-oxide salts, methyl bis(alkyl ethyl)-2-alkyl imidazolinium methyl sulfate (and other salts), methyl bis(alkylamido ethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate (and other salts), alkylamidopropyl-dimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, carboxyalkyl-alkyldimethyl ammonium salts, alkylamine oxides, alkyldimethyl amine oxides, poly(vinylmethylpyridinium) salts, poly(vinylpyridine) salts, polyethyleneimines, trialkyl phosphonium bicarbonates (and other salts), trialkylmethyl phosphonium salts, alkylethylmethylsulfonium salts, and alkyldimethylsulfoxonium salts.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the cationically modified material is selected from the group consisting of cationically modified organic polymers, cationically modified biopolymers, cationically modified clays, cationically modified silicas, cationically modified nanoparticles, and mixtures thereof.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the cationic material is a cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of mono and di-methyl fatty amines, alkyl trimethyl ammonium salts, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts, alkyl amine acetates, trialkylammonium acetates, alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, dialkylmethylbenzyl ammonium salts, alkylpyridinium halide and alkyl (alkyl substituted) pyridinium salts, alkylthiomethylpyridinium salts, alkylamidomethylpyridinium salts, alkylquinolinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, N,N-alkylmethylpyrollidinium salts, 1,1-dialkylpiperidinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium salts, 4,4-dialkyl-thiomorpholinium-1-oxide salts, methyl bis(alkyl ethyl)-2-alkyl imidazolinium methyl sulfate (and other salts), methyl bis(alkylamido ethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate (and other salts), alkylamidopropyl-dimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, carboxyalkyl-alkyldimethyl ammonium salts, alkylamine oxides, alkyldimethyl amine oxides, poly(vinylmethylpyridinium) salts, poly(vinylpyridine) salts, polyethyleneimines, trialkyl phosphonium bicarbonates (and other salts), trialkylmethyl phosphonium salts, alkylethylmethylsulfonium salts, and alkyldimethylsulfoxonium salts.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the cationically modified material is selected from the group consisting of cationically modified organic polymers, cationically modified biopolymers, cationically modified clays, cationically modified silicas, cationically modified nanoparticles, and mixtures thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fabric treatment composition further comprises 20 to 80 weight % of an aqueous liquid carrier that includes a low molecular weight organic solvent.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the second fabric treatment composition further comprises 20 to 80 weight % of an aqueous liquid carrier that includes a low molecular weight organic solvent.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic agent has a melting point or glass transition temperature between 45°

C. and 100°

C.

18. The method as in any of the preceding claims, wherein curing step (2) occurs at a drying temperature above ambient temperatures but less than about 70°

C.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic agent is a water-repelling hydrophobic agent.