Method for bleaching and abrading fabrics
AssigneeElf Atochem North America, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Milora, David M. Shank, Peter A. Curato
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods are provided for abrading dyed fabric to produce a stonewashed effect by tumbling the fabric with stones of a chemical composition that is soluble in wash or rinse liquid for the fabric, where the stones are of sufficient size and hardness to effect abrasion of the fabric without substantial mechanical disintegration of the stones and in a manner simulating the action of pumice stone. The chemical stonewashing composition may be a compacted powder, agglomerate, coagulate, or other integral mass or solid formed from an alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate, bicarbonate, silicate, sulfate, borate, halide, hydroxide or hydrate or peroxyhydrate thereof, for example.
Claims12
A method for abrading and bleaching dyed fabric to produce a stonewashed effect comprising tumbling said fabric with stones of a chemical composition which is soluble in tumble, wash or rinse liquid for the fabric, said stones comprising integral masses of soluble ingredients and being of sufficient size and hardness to effect abrasion of said fabric without substantial mechanical disintegration of the stones during tumbling and essentially completely dissolving during the tumble, wash, or rinse cycle so that little or no subsequent residues are left to be removed from the fabric or the equipment plumbing, said stones comprising at least one bleaching compound.
In a method for abrading and bleaching dyed fabric by tumbling the fabric in a liquid with stones for a period of time such that portions of the dye are removed from the fabric to produce a stonewashed look in the fabric, the improvement comprising said stones being formed of integral masses of a chemical composition which is slowly soluble in said liquid such that the stones will not substantially dissolve with tumbling in said liquid in less than three minutes, said chemical composition being sufficiently compacted to yield stones with a hardness which will resist mechanical disintegration during tumbling with the fabric and will effect such abrasion, said stones comprising at least one bleaching compound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.