Method for producing water repellent down

Abstract

A method for producing water repellent down includes soaking cleaned down in an aqueous solution having a pH ranging from 4 to 7; adding to the solution a cross-linking agent composed of a material having an isocyanate or acrylic acid functional group to provide a solution having a weight ratio of the down and the cross-linking agent ranging between 1:0.005 and 1:0.06; adding to the solution a water-drawing agent composed of a material having a siloxane functional group to provide a solution having a weight ratio of the down and the water-drawing agent ranging between 1:0.01 and 1:0.1; stirring the solution for at least 15 minutes to react the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent and form a water repellent layer on the surface of the down; separating the down from the solution; and oven drying the down with hot air having a temperature of at least 120° C.

Claims

1. A method for producing water repellent down, comprising, in the order recited: soaking cleaned down in an aqueous solution having a pre-determined temperature and having a pH value ranging from 4 to 7; adding to the aqueous solution containing the cleaned down a cross-linking agent that is dissolved in water and that is comprised of a material having an isocyanate functional group or an acrylic acid functional group to provide an amended solution having a weight ratio of the cleaned down and the cross-linking agent ranging between 1:0.005 and 1:0.06; adding to the amended solution a water-drawing agent that is dissolved in water and that consists essentially of a material having a siloxane functional group to provide a second amended solution having a weight ratio of the cleaned down and the water-drawing agent ranging between 1:0.01 and 1:0.1; stirring the second amended solution for at least 15 minutes to react the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent and form a water repellent layer on the surface of the cleaned down and provide water repellent down separating the water repellent down from the second amended solution by draining; and oven drying the water repellent down with hot air having a temperature of at least 120° C.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaned down and the aqueous solution during soaking have a weight ratio of the cleaned down and the aqueous solution ranging between 1:20 and 1:35.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaned down and the cross-linking agent have a weight ratio of the cleaned down and the cross-linking agent ranging between 1:0.01 and 1:0.05.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaned down and the water-drawing agent have a weight ratio of the cleaned down and the water-drawing agent ranging between 1:0.05 and 1:0.07.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein stirring the second amended solution continues for 30 minutes at most.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to oven drying, the water repellent down is loosened by stirring.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hot air employed during oven-drying has a temperature ranging between 120° C. and 140° C.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pH value of the aqueous solution employed during soaking is adjusted by addition of glacial acetic acid to provide a pH value ranging between 4 to 5.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the pre-determined temperature of the aqueous solution during soaking is maintained through to and during stirring and ranges between 20° C. and 60° C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is the flow scheme of the production method of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(2) Down processing can be divided as pre-processing procedures (P0) and water repellent treatment procedures (S0). As shown in FIG. 1, pre-processing procedures (P0) can include a bleaching step (P1), a degreasing step (P2), a washing step (P3), and a sterilization step (P4). As mentioned above, the down disclosed in the present invention comprises a mixture of down and feather, which grow on bodies of animals such as duck and goose, and in order to be provided for daily use of people, they need to be put through appropriate processing. These processes include pre-processing procedures (P0) of the present invention, which comprise a bleaching step (P1) where the down is soaked into an oxidizing agent, a degreasing step (P2) where the down is soaked into ether, a washing step (P3) where washing by an alkaline detergent is carried out, and a sterilization step (P4) where disinfection process is carried out.

(3) Moreover, the water repellent down production method of the present invention mainly relates to the water repellent treatment procedures (S0) that come after the pre-processing procedures (P0). In these procedures, the down cleaned through the pre-processing procedures (P0) is used and water repellent down is manufactured through a soaking step (S1), a cross-linking agent addition step (S2), a water-drawing agent addition step (S3), a stirring step (S4), and a dehydration and oven-drying step (S5).

(4) The soaking step (S1) primarily relates to soaking of the cleaned down into a solution with a temperature between 20-60° C. and pH 4-7. Afterwards, the according to the cross-linking agent addition step (S2) and the water-drawing agent addition step (S3), the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent are added, respectively, wherein the cross-linking agent can be a cross-linking agent comprising an isocyanate or acrylic acid functional group, and the down-to-cross-linking agent weight ratio can be between 1:0.005 and 1:0.06; and the water-drawing agent can be a water-drawing agent comprising a fluorocarbon or siloxane functional group, and the ratio of the down and the water-drawing agent can be between 1:0.01 and 1:0.1. After the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent are added, stirring step (S4) is performed, wherein stirring is made continuously for 15-30 minutes to let the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent completely react and enable the solution have complete contact with the surface of the down, so that following the reaction, the water-drawing agent and the cross-linking agent can be adhered evenly on the surface of the down. When the reaction is completed (and after waiting until the end of the regular reaction time), dehydration and oven-drying step (S5) is performed, wherein draining and dehydration is made to separate the down and the solution, and the down is loosened by means of stirring after dehydration is complete. Afterwards, the down is oven-dried by dry air at around 120-140° C. After the down is oven-dried, it is cooled down to room temperature and thus the water repellent treatment procedures (S0) are completed.

(5) By means of the water repellent down production method provided with the present invention, after completion of the reaction, the water-drawing agent and the cross-linking agent can be adhered evenly on the surface of the down, and following oven-drying, an intact and durable water repellent layer is produced. The water repellent down produced with the production method of the present invention, and the product obtained with this down doesn't let water vapor remain on the down; and the water repellent layer formed by the present invention is even more durable and long-lasting, so that the down products can maintain their fluffiness and favorable heat retention property for longer time periods.

(6) According to the production method of the present invention, the types of water-drawing agents, two of the most preferred manufacturing process embodiments, and more detailed description for the way of use of the present invention are provided below:

(7) First embodiment: relates to the example where fluorocarbon functional group is used as the water-drawing agent, which comprises the steps of: 1. providing a water bath, adding 20-35 L of water into the water bath, keeping the water temperature between 35-40° C., and adjusting the pH value of the solution to be between 4-5 by adding glacial acetic acid, and then adding approximately 1 kg of cleaned down into the solution and allowing the cleaned down to be soaked completely; 2. adding the cross-linking agent comprising approximately 30-50 g of isocyanate (or acrylic acid) functional group dissolved in appropriate amount of water into the solution, and then adding the water-drawing agent comprising approximately 30-90 g of fluorocarbon functional group dissolved in appropriate amount of water into the solution; 3. actuating the stirring blades found in the water bath, and continuing the stirring operation for 15-30 minutes so that the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent would be completely reacted, and the water-drawing agent comprising fluorocarbon functional group can be evenly adhered on the surface of the down in order to form the water repellent layer; 4. said solution is discharged from the water bath and dehydration process is performed on the down, and following dehydration, stirring blades are kept working in order to loosen the down; 5. said down is baked by oven-drying for 40-60 minutes by means of dry air between the temperature of 120-140° C.; 6. following oven-drying of the down, it is cooled down to the room temperature, and thus water repellent down is produced.

(8) Second embodiment: relates to the example where siloxane functional group is used as the water-drawing agent, which comprises the steps of: 1. providing a water bath, adding 20-35 L of water into the water bath, keeping the water temperature between 40-50° C., and adjusting the pH value of the solution to be between 4-5 by adding glacial acetic acid, and then adding approximately 1 kg of cleaned down into the solution and allowing the cleaned down to be soaked completely; 2. adding the cross-linking agent comprising approximately 10-20 g of isocyanate (or acrylic acid) functional group dissolved in appropriate amount of water into the solution, and then adding the water-drawing agent comprising approximately 50-70 g of siloxane functional group dissolved in appropriate amount of water into the solution; 3. actuating the stirring blades found in the water bath, and continuing the stirring operation for 15-30 minutes so that the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent would be completely reacted, and the water-drawing agent comprising siloxane functional group can be evenly adhered on the surface of the down in order to form the water repellent layer; 4. said solution is discharged from the water bath and dehydration process is performed on the down, and following dehydration, stirring blades are kept working in order to loosen the down; 5. said down is baked by oven-drying for 40-60 minutes by means of dry air between the temperatures of 120-140° C.; 6. following oven-drying of the down, it is cooled down to the room temperature, and thus water repellent down is produced.

(9) In summation of the description above, the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art and properly controls the cost and improves the production capacity by a simple, easy and efficient operation process. While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.