Method for the chlorine-free anti-felting treatment of wool

Abstract

The method for the chlorine-free anti-felting treatment of wool comprises the steps of: f) applying a solution onto the wool, wherein the solution has an oxidizing agent based on peroxomono sulphuric acid and a tenside, g) exposing the wool to the solution in order to complete the oxidation process, h) washing out the secondary reaction products from the wool, i) treating the wool using a reduction agent and j) post-washing,
wherein the steps are carried out continuously.

Claims

1. A method for the chlorine-free anti-felting treatment of wool, comprising the steps of: a) applying a solution onto the wool, wherein the solution has an oxidizing agent based on peroxomono sulphuric acid and a tenside, wherein the amount of the oxidizing agent based on peroxomono sulphuric acid is between about 5% to about 15% by weight based on the mass of wool, the amount of tenside is between 0.3% and 5% by weight based on the mass of wool, and the liquor uptake is between 70% and 150%; b) exposing the wool to the solution for at least 1.5 minute in order to provide oxidation of the wool; c) washing out secondary reaction products from the wool for at least 10 seconds; d) treating the wool using sulphite as a reduction agent in an amount of 5% to 15% by weight based on the mass of wool for a dwell time within a range of 10 to 60 seconds, at a temperature within a range of 20 to 55? C., and while maintaining a pH within a range of 8 to less than 12; and e) post-washing, wherein the steps are carried out continuously.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wool is provided as pure wool, a wool blend, loose fibres, sliver, yarn, fabric, crocheted fabrics, fleece, or a combination thereof.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises an inorganic monoperoxo compound.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the inorganic monoperoxo compound comprises peroxomono sulphuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.5), a salt thereof, or a combination thereof, wherein the tenside has a negative overall charge or a neutral charge of the surface active molecule part, and wherein the tenside is a non-ionic tenside.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of tenside is between 0.5% by weight and 4% by weight based on the mass of the wool.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the solution applied in step a) has a pH of <7.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the solution in step a) is up to 60? C.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein step d) is carried out in an aqueous solution.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising post-treating the wool after or concurrently with step e).

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the post-treating is carried out using a softening agent, a polymer or a combination thereof.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dwell time in step c) is within a range of 30 to 60 seconds.

12. A wool product formed according to the method of claim 1.

13. A method for the chlorine-free anti-felting treatment of wool, comprising the steps of: applying a solution onto the wool, wherein the solution has an oxidizing agent based on peroxomono sulphuric acid and a tenside, wherein the amount of the oxidizing agent based on peroxomono sulphuric acid is between about 5% to about 15% by weight based on the mass of wool, the amount of tenside is between 0.3% and 5% by weight based on the mass of wool, and the liquor uptake is between 70% and 150%; exposing the wool to the solution for at least 1.5 minute to provide oxidation of the wool; washing out secondary reaction products from the wool for a time between 10 and 60 seconds; treating the wool in a treatment bath using sulphite as a reduction agent for a dwell time within a range of about 10 to 60 seconds, at a temperature within a range of about 20 to 55 degrees C., and while maintaining an alkaline via dosing of alkaline agents and/or buffering agents; and post-washing the wool, wherein the steps are carried out continuously.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein treating the wool using a reduction agent includes a dwell time within a range of about 30 to 60 seconds.

15. A wool product formed according to the method of claim 13.

16. A method for the chlorine-free anti-felting treatment of wool, comprising the steps of: applying a solution onto the wool having a pH of less than 7, wherein the solution has an oxidizing agent based on peroxomono sulphuric acid and a tenside, wherein the amount of the oxidizing agent based on peroxomono sulphuric acid is between about 5% to about 15% by weight based on the mass of wool, the amount of tenside is between 0.3% and 5% by weight based on the mass of wool, and the liquor uptake is between 70% and 150%; exposing the wool to the solution for at least 1.5 minute to provide oxidation of the wool; washing out secondary reaction products from the wool for a time between 10 and 60 seconds; treating the wool in an aqueous treatment bath using sulphite as a reduction agent for a dwell time within a range of about 30 to 60 seconds, at a temperature within a range of about 20 to 55 degrees C., and while maintaining an alkaline pH within the treatment bath within a range of about 8 to about 12 via dosing of alkaline agents and/or buffering agents; post-washing the wool; and post-treating the wool with using a softening agent, a polymer or a combination thereof.

Description

EXAMPLES OF USE

(1) The percentages in the examples of use always relate to the amount of chemicals used, based on the amount of wool treated.

Example 1

(2) A sliver having an average wool fineness of 20.5 ?m is impregnated with a solution in the foulard. The bulk coating of potassium hydrogen peroxomonosulphate, hence, is approximately 7.6% of the wool mass at a liquor absorption of 100% of the good mass, and the bulk coating of the wetting agent is 1.5% of the wool mass. The solution is applied at 40? C., subsequently the product is then stored at least for 1.5 min at approx. 35? C.

(3) Following a rinsing step using water, the treatment is carried out in a sulphite solution (150 g/l sodium sulphite). The consumption of sodium sulphite is then approximately 8% of the wool mass. The treatment is realized at 35? C. for 30 s, followed by rinsing with water.

(4) The finalizing coating of 4% of the wool weight of a silicone-based polymer (40 g/l) is carried out by wet-in-wet coating, followed by a drying step. Shrinkage of the product in the washing tests is below 1%.

Example 2

(5) A sliver having an average wool fineness of 21.5 ?m is impregnated with a solution in the foulard. The bulk coating of potassium hydrogen peroxomonosulphate, hence, is approximately 5.4% of the wool mass at a liquor absorption of 100% of the good mass, and the bulk coating of the wetting agent is 1.5% of the wool mass. The solution is applied at 40? C., subsequently the product is then stored at least for 1.5 min at approx. 35? C. Following a rinsing step using water, the treatment is carried out in a sulphite solution (150 g/l sodium sulphite). The consumption of sodium sulphite is then approximately 8% of the wool mass. The treatment is realized at 35? C. for 30 s, followed by rinsing with water. The finalizing coating of 3% of the wool weight of a silicone-based polymer (30 g/l) is carried out by wet-in-wet coating, followed by a drying step. Shrinkage of the product in the washing tests is below 7.5%.

Example 3

(6) A sliver having an average wool fineness of 26.5 ?m is impregnated with a solution in the foulard. The bulk coating of potassium peroxomonosulphate, hence, is approximately 7% of the wool mass at a liquor absorption of 100% of the good mass, and the bulk coating of the wetting agent is 1.5% of the wool mass. The solution is applied at 40? C., subsequently the product is then stored at least for 1.5 min at approx. 35? C. Following a rinsing step using water, the treatment is carried out in a sulphite solution (150 g/l sodium sulphite). The consumption of sodium sulphite is then approximately 8% of the wool mass. The treatment is realized at 35? C. for 30 s, followed by rinsing with water. The finalizing coating of 2% of a silicone-based polymer is carried out by wet-in-wet coating, followed by a drying step. Shrinkage of the product in the washing tests is below 14.2%.