Fabric finishing procedure
AssigneeBurlington Industries, Inc.
InventorsEllis Davis, Jr., James E. McFarland, Edward W. Teague
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cotton denim fabrics are treated to enhance abrasion and shade reduction thereby reducing stonewashing time and expense by embrittling the fibers with an acid, heat-activated finish.
Claims19
A process for providing a washed and worn appearance and softened hand to a ring dyed 100% cellulosic fabric comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying to ring dyed 100% cellulosic yarns or fabric an organic acid or an acid-forming compound in an amount sufficient to embrittle the outer cellulosic fibers and render them more susceptible to subsequent abrasion, which acid or compound when activated by heat causes embrittlement of the dyed cellulosic fibers on the outer surface of the fabric;
- (b) drying the thus-treated fabric;
- (c) heating the fabric to a temperature in the range of about 200.degree. F. to about 423.degree. F. and for a time sufficient to activate the acid or acid-forming compound and cause embrittlement of the outer portions of the ring dyed cellulosic fabric;
- and thereafter
- (d) abrading the fabric to remove the embrittled dyed cellulosic fibers therein revealing the underlying undyed portion of the cellulosic yarn to provide a fabric having a washed and worn appearance and softened hand.
A process of imparting a stonewashed, worn, soft appearance and hand to a 100% cellulosic fabric comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a solution of an acid or acid-forming compound which when heat activated causes embrittlement of dyed 100% cellulosic fibers to a fabric woven from ring dyed cellulosic yarns, the solution applied in an amount sufficient to embrittle the outer cellulosic fibers and render them more susceptible to subsequent abrasion;
- (b) drying the thus-treated fabric;
- (c) heating the treated and dried fabric to a temperature sufficient to activate the acid or acid forming salt or salts thereby causing embrittlement of the cellulosic fibers in the fabric;
- (d) optionally washing the modified fabric of step (c) to remove the acid or acid-forming compounds and dyeing;
- (e) compressively shrinking the fabric to essentially zero shrinkage;
- (f) constructing the fabric of step (e) into a garment;
- (g) tumbling the garment of step (f) with pumice stones and an aqueous hypochlorite solution to abrade and remove a portion of the outer surface of the embrittled ring dyed 100% cellulosic yarn to reveal the underlying undyed cellulose fibers and to impart a soft hand and worn, stone-washed appearance to the constructed garment.
A process for modifying the surface of 100% cellulosic yarn or fabric facilitating later removal of the modified fabric to provide a washed and worn appearance and softened hand to a ring dyed cellulosic fabric, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying to ring dyed 100% cellulosic yarns or fabric an organic acid or an acid-forming compound in an amount sufficient to embrittle the outer cellulosic fibers and render them more susceptible to subsequent abrasion which acid or compound when activated by heat causes embrittlement of the dyed 100% cellulosic fibers on the outer surface of the product;
- (b) drying the thus-treated product;
- (c) heating the fabric to a temperature in the range of about 200.degree. F. to about 425.degree. F. and for a time sufficient to activate the acid or acid-forming compound and cause embrittlement of the outer portions of the ring dyed cellulosic fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.