Lyocell fabric treatment to reduce fibrillation tendency
AssigneeCourtaulds Fibres (Holdings) Limited
InventorsChristopher David Potter, James Martin Taylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The fibrillation tendency of lyocell fabrics, and the degree of fibrillation of fibrillated lyocell fabrics, can be reduced by treating such fabrics with a cross-linking agent in the presence of an acid catalyst. Good results may be obtained when the ratio by weight of the catalyst to the optional cross-linking agent is at least about 0.5:1. Good results may be obtained when the amount of cross-linking agent fixed on the fabric is in the range 0.5 to 1.5 percent on weight of fabric.
Claims38
A method of providing a lyocell fabric with a reduced fibrillation tendency, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the fabric with an aqueous liquor which is a solution of an acid catalyst selected from the group consisting of a metal salt catalyst which is a Lewis acid, an amine salt catalyst, and a water-soluble organic acid, and mixtures thereof, said acid catalyst present in the absence of a separate crosslinking agent;
- and
- (b) heating the fabric.
The method according to 8 wherein the acid catalyst is citric acid.
A method of reducing the degree of fibrillation of a lyocell fabric, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the fabric with an aqueous liquor which is a solution of an acid catalyst selected from the group consisting of a metal salt catalyst which is a Lewis acid, an amine salt catalyst, a water-soluble organic acid and mixtures thereof, said acid catalyst present in the absence of a separate crosslinking agent;
- and
- (b) heating the fabric.
The method according to 13 wherein the acid catalyst is citric acid.
A method of providing a lyocell fabric with a reduced fibrillation tendency, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the fabric with an aqueous liquor containing (i) an acid catalyst capable of catalysing the reaction of cellulose with a N-methylol resin crosslinking agent, and (ii) up to about 2 parts by weight of a N-methylol crosslinking agent for each part by weight of the acid catalyst, and
- (b) heating the fabric, wherein the amount of crosslinking agent fixed on the fabric is no more than 1.5 percent on weight of fabric.
The method according to 24 wherein the acid catalyst is citric acid.
A method of reducing the degree of fibrillation of a lyocell fabric, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the fabric with an aqueous liquor containing (i) an acid catalyst capable of catalysing the reaction of cellulose with a N-methylol resin crosslinking agent, and (ii) up to about 2 parts by weight of a N-methylol crosslinking agent for each part by weight of the acid catalyst, and
- (b) heating the fabric, wherein the amount of crosslinking agent fixed on the fabric is no more than 1.5 percent on weight of fabric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.