Textile substrates having improved durable water repellency and soil release and method for producing same

Abstract

A process for imparting durable water and oil repellency and durable soil release characteristics comprises the application of an aqueous mixture having a water repellent component such as a fluorocarbon polymer and a separate hydrophilic soil release polymer to a textile substrate, followed by a drying step. Optionally, a curing or thermosetting step may also be employed, if desired. This process is carried out in a preferred embodiment in a generally mild pH, which allows the process to be performed on a wide variety of textile substrates that may not be capable of withstanding more extreme pH values. Polyamides, aramids, polyesters, and poly/cotton substrates, when treated according to the present process, have all yielded improved performance with respect to durable water and oil repellency and durable soil release characteristics. A novel mixture or bath and novel treated substrates are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.