Treatment of fibrous substrates to impart repellency, stain resistance, and soil resistance
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJohn C. Clark, John C. Newland, Robert F. Kamrath, Malcolm B. Burleigh, Kevin R. Schaffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process is described which imparts exceptional antisoiling, anti-staining and repellent properties to carpets. The process makes use of a water-based exhaustion process wherein the water-based treating solution contains (1) glassy fluorochemical material, glassy hydrocarbon material, or combinations thereof; (2) a stainblocking material; (3) a polyvalent metal salt, acid, or combinations thereof; and (4) water. Subsequent to exhaustion, the wet treated carpet is heated, usually in a steaming step, rinsed, and dried in a dry heat oven.
Claims215
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- and
- applying to the substrate a composition comprising (a) a salt, (b) a fluorochemical having a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 65°, and (c) a liquid medium;
- wherein the salt is of a type, and is present in the composition in sufficient quantity, to enhance the exhaustion of the fluorochemical from the liquid medium onto the substrate.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- and
- immersing the substrate in an aqueous composition comprising (a) a metal salt, and (b) a non-cationic fluorochemical having at least one pendant fluoroaliphatic moiety and having (i) a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 65°, and (ii) a glass transition temperature within the range of about 20° C. to about 130° C.;
- wherein the salt is of a type, and is present in the composition in sufficient quantity, to enhance the exhaustion of the fluorochemical onto the substrate.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- providing a composition comprising (i) a liquid medium, and (ii) a fluorochemical having a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 65° and having at least one pendant fluoroaliphatic moiety;
- and
- exhausting the fluorochemical from the liquid medium onto the substrate with the aid of a salt.
A method for treating carpeting, comprising the steps of:
- providing carpeting;
- and
- immersing the carpeting in an aqueous emulsion having a pH of less than about 5 and comprising (a) a metal salt, (b) a stainblocker, and (c) a non-cationic fluorochemical having at least one pendant fluoroaliphatic group;
- wherein the fluorochemical has a glass transition temperature within the range of about 20° C. to about 130° C. and has a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 65°, and wherein the salt is of a type, and is present in the emulsion in sufficient quantity, to enhance the exhaustion of the fluorochemical onto the substrate.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- and
- applying to the substrate an aqueous composition comprising a non-cationic fluorine-free material containing at least one hydrocarbon moiety and having a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 35°.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- and
- immersing the substrate in an aqueous composition comprising (a) a metal salt, and (b) a non-cationic, fluorine-free material having at least one pendant aliphatic group;
- wherein said fluorine-free material has a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 35° and a glass transition temperature within the range of about 20° C. to about 130° C.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- providing a fluorine-free material having a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 35° and having at least one pendant aliphatic moiety;
- and
- exhausting the fluorine-free material onto the substrate with the aid of a salt.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- and
- immersing the substrate in a mixture comprising (i) a fluorochemical having a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 65°, and (ii) a fluorine-free composition having at least one pendant aliphatic group and having a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 35°.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- immersing the substrate in a treatment comprising a non-cationic, fluorine-free material having at least one pendant aliphatic group and having a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 35°, thereby forming a first treated substrate;
- and
- applying a fluorochemical to the first treated substrate, thereby forming a second treated substrate.
A method for treating a fibrous substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fibrous substrate;
- and
- immersing the substrate in an aqueous composition comprising (a) a stainblocker, and (b) a non-cationic, fluorine-free material having at least one pendant aliphatic group;
- wherein the fluorine-free material has a receding contact angle to n-hexadecane of at least about 35° and a glass transition temperature within the range of about 20° C. to about 130° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.