Fiber-reactive polymeric dyes

Abstract

The invention is directed to fiber-reactive polymeric dyes, which comprise a dye covalently bound to a carboxyl-containing polymer. By “fiber-reactive” is meant that the polymeric dye will form a chemical covalent bond with the fiber, textile, or web to be treated, via functional groups for binding or attachment to the fibers of the webs to be dyed. The invention also encompasses textile dye preparations comprising a solution or suspension of the fiber-reactive polymeric dye. The resulting polymeric dye preparations have improved colorfastness and retention on the textile or web fiber structure, even after a large number of washings. The textiles or webs treated with the fiber-reactive dye are also included in the invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A polymeric dye comprising a dye covalently bound to a carboxyl-containing polymer, the polymeric dye being fiber-reactive.  
     
     
         2 . A polymeric dye according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and copolymers that contain acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, and itaconic anhydride.  
     
     
         3 . A polymeric dye according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         4 . A polymeric dye according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is a copolymer of butadiene/maleic anhydride.  
     
     
         5 . A method of synthesizing a fiber-reactive polymeric dye comprising: 
 dispersing a carboxyl-reactive dye and a carboxyl-containing polymer in a suitable solvent; and    heating the reaction solution such that the dye and the polymer react together by covalent bonding to give a fiber-reactive polymeric dye.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  which comprises a further step of reacting a reactive monomer with a dye comprising aromatic hydroxyl or amine groups to synthesize the carboxyl-reactive dye.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the reactive monomer is selected from the group consisting of glycidyl methacrylate, acryloyl chloride, methacryloyl chloride, maleic anhydride, and itaconic anhydride.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 5  which comprises a further step of reacting poly(vinyl alcohol) and a commercially available reactive dye to synthesize a composite dye-PVA polymer as the carboxyl-reactive dye.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and copolymers that contain acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, and itaconic anhydride.  
     
     
         10 . A polymeric dye according to  claim 5  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         11 . A polymeric dye according to  claim 5  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is a copolymer of butadiene/maleic anhydride.  
     
     
         12 . A web comprising a covalently attached polymeric dye.  
     
     
         13 . A web according to  claim 9  wherein the polymeric dye comprises a dye covalently bound to a carboxyl-containing polymer.  
     
     
         14 . A web according to  claim 13  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and copolymers that contain acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, and itaconic anhydride.  
     
     
         15 . A web according to  claim 13  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         16 . A web according to  claim 13  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is a copolymer of butadiene/maleic anhydride.  
     
     
         17 . A dye preparation comprising a solution or suspension of a fiber-reactive polymeric dye, the polymeric dye comprising a dye covalently bound to a carboxyl-containing polymer.  
     
     
         18 . A dye preparation according to  claim 17  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and copolymers that contain acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, and itaconic anhydride.  
     
     
         19 . A dye preparation according to  claim 17  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         20 . A dye preparation according to  claim 17  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is a copolymer of butadiene/maleic anhydride.