Method for reducing wrinkles and improving feel in fabrics

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for treating a material to impart wrinkle reduction and temporary crease resistance thereto, and improve feel. The method involves: applying to said material a solution of a treatment composition in an amount effective to impart temporary crease and stain resistance, said treatment composition contains a hydroxy urea or hydroxy amide compound; and allowing said treatment composition to dry at ambient temperature, wherein said hydroxy urea compound comprises one urea and at least one hydroxyl group and said hydroxy amide compound comprises at least one amide group and at least one hydroxyl group. The material treatment is useful in reducing wrinkles in clothing, improving the feel of fabrics, and increasing the moisture adsorbence and retention in natural and synthetic fabrics.

1 . A method for treating a material to impart wrinkle reduction and temporary crease resistance thereto, and improve feel, comprising: 
 a) applying to said material a treatment composition in an amount effective to impart temporary crease and stain resistance, said treatment composition comprising a hydroxy compound; and    b) allowing said treatment composition to dry at ambient temperature without requiring application of an external heat source,    wherein said hydroxy compound comprises either: 
 1) a hydroxy urea comprising one urea and at least one hydroxyl moiety; or  
 2) a hydroxy amide comprising at least one amide and at least one hydroxyl moiety.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydroxy compound comprises a (hydroxyalkyl)urea, β-hydroxyalkylamide, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said treatment composition further comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of surfactants; buffers; dyes; electrolytes; builders; modified or unmodified cellulosic compounds; modified or unmodified starch; polymers which are cationic, nonionic or zwitterionic; enzymes; cyclodextrins; silicones; and fragrances.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein 
 a) said (hydroxyalkyl)urea has the structure  
                     
 R 2  is H or R 5 , R 3  is H or R, and R 4  is H, R 1 , or R 5 , wherein  
                     
 wherein R 8  is H, methyl or ethyl, R 9  is H, methyl or ethyl, and R 10  is H, methyl or ethyl; and  
 b) said β-hydroxyalkylamide has the structure  
                     
 wherein A is a bond, hydrogen, a monovalent or polyvalent organic radical derived from a saturated or unsaturated alkyl containing from 1 to 60 carbon atoms, aryl, tri-lower alkyleneamino or an ethylenically unsaturated radical; R 11  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and hydroxyalkyl having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R 12  and R 13  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain lower alkyl having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and one of the R 12  and R 13  radicals joined together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a cycloalkyl; n is an integer of 1 or 2 and n′ is an integer of 0 to 2; n being 2 when n′ is 0.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said material comprises a natural or synthetic material  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, linen, leather, silk, polyester/cotton, polyester/rayon, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said hydroxy compound is selected from the group consisting of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)urea, tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)urea, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)urea, N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)urea, N,N′-bis(3-hydroxypropyl)urea, N,N′-bis(4-hydroxybutyl)urea, 2-urea-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, N-hydroxyethylurea, N-methyl-D-glocourea, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said β-hydroxyalkylamide has the structure  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein m is 0 to 8; R 11  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and hydroxyalkyl having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and R 13  is selected from hydrogen or straight or branched chain lower alkyl having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said β-hydroxyalkylamide has the structure  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 13  is hydrogen or methyl.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said β-hydroxyalkylamide is selected from the group consisting of bis[N,N-di(beta-hydroxyethyl)] adipamide, bis[N,N-di(beta-hydroxypropyl)] succinamide, N-2-hydroxyethylurea, bis[N,N-di(beta-hydroxyethyl)] azelamide, bis[N-N-di(beta-hydroxypropyl)] adipamide, and bis[N-methyl-N-(beta-hydroxyethyl)] oxamide.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the hydroxy compound is present in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.00001 to about 10 weight percent of hydroxy compound in the material based on the oven-dry weight of the material.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the treatment composition further comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of surfactants; buffers; dyes; electrolytes; builders; modified or unmodified cellulosic compounds; modified or unmodified starch; polymers which are cationic, nonionic or zwitterionic; enzymes; cyclodextrins; silicones; and fragrances.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said treatment composition is applied as a solution.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the treatment composition is applied to the material by means of a spray or mist.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said solution has a pH of from about 1 to about 10.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said solution has a pH of from about 2 to about 7.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said solution has a pH of from about 3 to about 5.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said treatment composition comprises a portion of a laundry detergent or fabric softener composition.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said detergent or fabric softener composition comprises from 0.001 to 20 percent by weight of said hydroxy compound.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said treatment composition is applied to the material by means of transfer from another material which has been impregnated with said treatment composition.  
     
     
         21 . A material treated by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . A method for increasing the feel, and moisture absorption and retention of a material comprising: 
 b) applying to said material a treatment composition in an amount effective to impart temporary crease and stain resistance, said fabric treatment composition comprising a hydroxy compound; and    c) allowing said treatment composition to dry at ambient temperature,    wherein said hydroxy urea compound comprises either: 
 1) a hydroxy urea comprising one urea and at least one hydroxyl moiety; or  
 2) a hydroxy amide comprising at least one amide and at least one hydroxyl moiety.