COMPOSITION FOR THE PERMANENT HYDROPHILIC FINISHING OF TEXTILE FIBERS AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS

Abstract

A composition to be used for providing permanent hydrophilic finishing of textile fibers and textile products made thereof consists of at least one anionic surfactant based on a neutralized phosphoric acid ester of a fatty alcohol having at least 12 C-atoms in a proportion of 25 to 80 weight percent, a non-ionic consistency enhancer in a proportion of 10 to 50 weight percent, a hydrophilically modified polyalkylsiloxane in a proportion of 3 to 35 weight percent and a hydrotropic dispersion additive in a proportion of 0 to 5 weight percent, each based on the total weight of the composition. The composition is preferably present as a granulate and has a melting point of at least 45° C.

Claims

1. A composition for the permanent hydrophilic finishing of polyolefin fibers, polyester fibers and bicomponent fibers made of polyolefins and polyesters, and textile products made thereof, consisting of: (A) at least one anionic surfactant based on a neutralized phosphoric acid ester of a fatty alcohol having at least 12 C-atoms in a proportion of 25 to 80 weight percent; (B) a non-ionic consistency enhancer in a proportion of 10 to 50 weight percent, the consistency enhancer having a melting point of at least 40° C. and being selected from the group consisting of optionally alkoxylated C12-C28 fatty acid esters and alkoxylates of polyfunctional alcohols, C12-C22 alkyl polyglycosides, C16-C28 fatty alcohols and alkoxylated C12-C28 fatty alcohols, optionally alkoxylated C12-C28 fatty acid amides, C12-C28 fatty acid alkoxylates, synthetic and natural waxes and any mixture thereof; (C) a hydrophilically modified polyalkylsiloxane in a proportion of 3 to 35 weight percent; and (D) a hydrotropic dispersion additive in a proportion of 0 to 5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition; the composition having a melting point of at least 45° C.

2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the melting point of the composition is at least 55° C.

3. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the neutralized phosphoric acid ester is present in a proportion of 40 to 70 weight percent.

4. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the phosphoric acid ester corresponds to the following formula I:
P(═O)(OR.sup.1)(OR.sup.2)(OR.sup.3)   (I) wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are, independently from each other, (i) an alkoxylated alkyl group or alkenyl group having at least 12 C-atoms in the hydrocarbon chain, the number of alkoxy groups per alkyl or alkenyl group being between 1 and 10 and each alkyl group or alkenyl group possibly being branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated; (ii) an alkyl group or an alkenyl group having at least 12 C-atoms, which can each be branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated, and/or (iii) hydrogen, with at least one of the residues R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 not being hydrogen.

5. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the phosphoric acid ester is neutralized with a compound selected from the group consisting of LiOH, NaOH, KOH, NH.sub.3, amines and mono-, di- or trialkanolamines and any mixture thereof.

6. The composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the phosphoric acid ester, on average, has at least 14 C-atoms in the hydrocarbon chain of the alkyl groups or alkenyl groups.

7. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition includes a consistency enhancer having a melting point of at least 55° C.

8. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the consistency enhancer comprises an optionally alkoxylated C12-C28 fatty acid ester with a polyfunctional alcohol, the polyfunctional alcohol being selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, neopentylglycol, glycerol, trimethanolpropane, pentaerythritol and polyglycerol, glucose and polyglycosides and any mixture thereof.

9. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the consistency enhancer comprises an alkoxylated C12-C28 fatty alcohol having up to 15 alkoxy groups.

10. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrophilically modified polyalkylsiloxane comprises a cationically modified polyalkylsiloxane having a quaternary ammonium group.

11. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrophilically modified polyalkylsiloxane corresponds to one of the following formulas IIa or IIb: ##STR00003## wherein R.sup.4 is ##STR00004## R.sup.5 is, independently from each other, —CH.sub.3 or —C.sub.2H.sub.4OH, R.sup.6 is —(CH.sub.2).sub.x—X—CO—R.sup.7, R.sup.7 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain with 9 to 23 C-atoms, X is an oxygen atom or NH, Y.sup.− is one of the anions CH.sub.3OSO.sub.3.sup.−, C.sub.2H.sub.5OSO.sub.3.sup.−, CH.sub.3COO.sup.−, Cl.sup.−, phosphate or lactate, Q is an integer from 3 to 18, r and s are, independently from each other, an integer from 1 to 50; X is an integer from 2 to 10, Y is an integer from 8 to 22, and Z is an integer from 0 to 10.

12. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition contains at least one, optionally hydroxylated, C16-C32 fatty alcohol.

13. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispersion additive is selected from a group consisting of polyphosphate alkaline salts, polyvinyl alcohols and polyacrylates and any mixture thereof.

14. The composition according to claim 1, consisting of: 60 to 70 weight percent of the anionic surfactant of component (A); 15 to 30 weight percent of the consistency enhancer of component (B), selected from the group consisting of C12-C28 fatty acid esters, C12-C28 fatty alcohol ethoxylates, vegetable waxes and C12-C22 alkyl polyglycosides and any mixture thereof; 10 to 15 weight percent of the cationically modified polyalkylsiloxane of component (C); and 0 to 5 weight percent of the polyphosphate alkaline salt as the hydrotropic dispersion additive of component (D).

15. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the composition is present as a granulate or as a dispersion having a solids content of at least 10 weight percent, preferably 15 weight percent.

16. A use of a composition according to claim 1 as a spin finish for providing permanent hydrophilic finishing of polyolefin fibers or polyolefin filaments, polyester fibers or polyester filaments as well as bicomponent fibers and filaments made of polyolefins and polyesters.

17. A use of a composition according to claim 1 as a means for providing permanent hydrophilic finishing of non-woven textile fabrics produced from polyolefin fibers or polyolefin filaments and/or polyester fibers or polyester filaments, especially polyolefin spun-bonded non-wovens and non-wovens made of polyolefin/polyester bicomponent fibers and filaments.

18. A textile fiber or textile filament made of polyolefin and/or polyester, provided or treated with a composition according to claim 1 as a permanent hydrophilic finish.

19. A non-woven textile fabric made of polyolefin fibers or filaments and/or polyester fibers or filaments wherein the non-woven textile fabric is provided with the composition according to claim 1 as a permanent hydrophilic finish.

Description

EXAMPLES 1 AND 2

[0103] To produce the compositions specified in the following Table 1 the acidic phosphoric acid ester was melted and neutralized with KOH while stirring. Then the other components were added and mixed with each other while stirring. Any water present from neutralization of the phosphoric acid ester was evaporated until the melt reached a residual water content of less than 5 weight percent. Granules of a medium grain size of approximately 5 mm were obtained from the melt. A 5% aqueous dispersion was produced from the granules so obtained. This dispersion was applied onto a SSS spun-bonded non-woven made of polypropylene fibers having a weight per unit area of 15 g/m.sup.2. The oil pick-up in Examples 1 and 2 was set to 0.5%, based on the dry weight of the non-woven.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Components Example 1 Example 2 Component (A) C12/C18 alkyl phosphoric acid ester, potassium 67.8 62.7 salt (1:4 mixture) Component (B) Kahlwax ™ 5115 7.5 Glycerol monolaurate and C22 fatty alcohol 17.9 16.6 ethoxylate 7EO (2:1) Component (C) Cationically modified siloxane 12.0 11.0 Component (D) Polyphosphate sodium salt 2.3 2.2

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

[0104] For comparison with the compositions according to the invention a finishing agent commercially available as an aqueous dispersion was set to a content of active components of 5% and applied with an OPU of 0.5% onto a SSS spun-bonded non-woven made of polypropylene fibers having a weight per unit area of 15 g/m.sup.2.

[0105] For testing the compositions pursuant to Examples 1 and 2, in conjunction with the PP spun-bonded non-woven provided with them as a finish, and the commercially available product used as a comparison, the tests described below were performed.

[0106] Multiple Strike-Through

[0107] Pursuant to standard test EDANA WSP 70.7 (11) the time needed for 5 ml of a synthetic urine solution to permeate a prepared non-woven and to access the underlying absorption layer made of filter paper is measured. The measurement is performed on the same non-woven fife times in a row, with the absorption filter paper changed every time, to test whether the hydrophilizing finish is washed off or is indeed permanently hydrophilizing. The five measured values are stated in seconds. A permanent hydrophilization is deemed achieved if the measured values meet the following limits: <2/<3/<5/<5/<5.

[0108] Multiple Run-Off Test

[0109] Following WSP method 80.9 the PP spun-bonded non-woven is put on a filter paper serving as an absorption layer at an angle of 25°. A defined amount of a synthetic urine solution is applied. Any test liquid that is not adsorbed is collected in a collecting tray and the amount is determined by weighing. The test is repeated twice on the same non-woven. Ideally, the amount of artificial urine solution not absorbed should be 0% in the first run.

[0110] 10 Drop Test

[0111] In the 10 drop test according to an in-house test method a metal template having 10 wells is placed on a piece of non-woven as an absorption layer. 1 drop of a synthetic urine solution (0.9% NaCl) is successively added into each well of the metal template by means of a pipette. A test field is considered as passed if the amount of liquid is absorbed within 2 seconds by the underlying absorption layer. To obtain an assessment on the permanence of a fiber preparation, the test is repeated after a waiting time of 3 minutes without exchanging the absorption layer. The test result specifies the number of test fields passed.

[0112] Wash-Off Test

[0113] According to an in-house test method the surface tension of a wash solution resulting from the wash-off of a 6×6 cm piece of non-woven with 40 ml demineralized water is measured. The non-woven is stirred in the water for 10 seconds at room temperature (25° C.). Then, the non-woven is removed using tweezers and the surface tension of the washing water at 25° C. is measured by means of a platinum ring. The wash solution should exhibit a surface tension of at least 60 mN/m.

[0114] Wetback

[0115] Pursuant to standard test EDANA WSP 80.10 (09) A the amount (in grams) of liquid flowing back in dry filter paper laid across a wetted non-woven loaded with a 4 kg weight is measured. The wetback test is considered as passed if the amount of liquid flowing back is less than 0.6 g.

[0116] Dry Migration

[0117] During dry migration according to an in-house test method the migration of the hydrophilic fiber preparation components into surrounding hydrophobic non-woven material is simulated. To this end, alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers are piled and stored under pressure (loading pressure 10 kg) at an increased temperature of 60° C. for 48 h. The hydrophobic layers of non-woven are placed into a solution of synthetic urine and the wetting of the layers of non-woven material is evaluated. Ideally, the hydrophobic non-woven is not wetted. Evaluation is performed by means of the following criteria:

[0118] Grade 1: no wetting visible;

[0119] Grade 2: a maximum of 5 wetted sites with a diameter of <2 mm visible;

[0120] Grade 3: 5 to 15 wetted sites with a diameter of <2 mm visible;

[0121] Grade 4: more than 15 wetted sites with a diameter of <2 mm or wetted sites with a diameter of >2 mm visible.

[0122] Wet Migration

[0123] During wet migration according to an in-house test method the detachment of fiber preparations and their transfer from hydrophilic to hydrophobic areas in contact with a liquid are tested. To this end, a hydrophilic piece of non-woven provided with a fiber preparation as a finish is placed into a petri dish with synthetic urine and a hydrophobic piece of non-woven is placed on top of it. After 30 seconds wetting of the hydrophobic non-woven is evaluated. Ideally, the hydrophobic non-woven is not hydrophilized. Evaluation is performed by stating the wetted surface in percent.

[0124] The test results obtained for the comparative example and the compositions according to Examples 1 and 2 are stated in Table 2 below.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Test results Comparison (commercially Nominal available Property value Example 1 Example 2 dispersion) 1. Strike-through (s) <2 1.83 1.66 1.57 2. Strike-through (s) <3 2.85 2.73 2.90 3. Strike-through (s) <5 2.95 2.89 3.16 4. Strike-through (s) <5 3.09 2.96 3.79 5. Strike-through (s) <5 3.43 3.21 6.19 1. Run-off (%) 0 0 0 0 2. Run-off (%) <5 1.6 0.9 0 3. Run-off (%) <30 11.5 22.9 14.5 10 drop test 10/10/10 10/10/10 10/10/10 10/10/9.3 Wash-off/STR >60 68.3 69.0 70.0 (mN/m) Wetback (g) <0.6 0.13 0.13 0.24 Dry migration 1 1 1 1 (grade) Wet migration (%) >15 0 0 70

[0125] Examples 1 and 2 according to the invention meet the requirements for a fast and permanent hydrophilization of the polyolefin non-woven.

[0126] In addition, the compositions according to the invention are storage stable for at least 12 months at room temperature and, in the form of granules, do not show any visible changes in the warm storage test for 3 days at 50° C.