Hydrophilic finish for fibrous substrates

Abstract

This invention is directed to fabric finishes or treatment preparations for nylon, polyester, and other textile and fibrous substrate materials that will render them hydrophilic. The finishes of the invention are comprised primarily of polymers that contain carboxyl groups, salts of carboxyl groups, or moieties that can be converted to carboxyl groups by some chemical reaction.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a synthetic fibrous substrate, the method comprising: 
 placing an untreated fibrous substrate into contact with a solution or suspension comprising a carboxyl-containing polymer;    removing the fibrous substrate from the solution; and    drying and curing the fibrous substrate;    to give a treated fibrous substrate that exhibits hydrophilic characteristics that are not present in the untreated fibrous substrate.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the solution or suspension further comprises at least one cross-linking agent.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is cross-linked.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is branched.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer has a molecular weight between about 250 kilodaltons and about 1,250 kilodaltons.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, β-carboxyethyl acrylate, maleic acid, monoesters of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, monoesters of fumaric acid, acrylic anhydride, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, itaconic acid, monoesters, of itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, saccharides that contain carboxyl groups, saccharides that contain carboxylate groups, saccharides that contain moieties that can be converted into carboxyl or carboxylate groups through a chemical reaction, macromonomers that contain carboxyl groups, macromonomers that contain carboxylate groups, and macromonomers that contain moieties that can be converted into carboxyl or carboxylate groups through a chemical reaction; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is a poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the untreated fibrous substrate is hydrophobic.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the hydrophobic fibrous substrate is nylon or polyester.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the solution or suspension comprises: 
 a) from about 0.001 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of a carboxyl-containing polymer;  
 b) from 0 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of a cross-linking agent;  
 c) from 0 wt. % to about 4 wt. % of a catalyst; and  
 d) from 0 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of a wetting agent.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is cross-linked.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is branched.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer has a molecular weight between about 250 kilodaltons and about 1,250 kilodaltons.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, β-carboxyethyl acrylate, maleic acid, monoesters of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, monoesters of fumaric acid, acrylic anhydride, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, itaconic acid, monoesters of itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, saccharides that contain contain carboxyl groups, saccharides that contain carboxylate groups, saccharides that contain moieties that can be converted into carboxyl or carboxylate groups through a chemical reaction, macromonomers that contain carboxyl groups, macromonomers that contain carboxylate groups, and macromonomers that contain moieties that can be converted into carboxyl or carboxylate groups through a chemical reaction; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is a poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         17 . A treatment preparation for providing durable hydrophilic characteristics to hydrophobic fibrous substrates, the treatment preparation comprising a carboxyl-containing polymer.  
     
     
         18 . A treatment preparation according to  claim 18  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, β-carboxyethyl acrylate, maleic acid, monoesters of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, monoesters of fumaric acid, acrylic anhydride, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, itaconic acid, monoesters of itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, saccharides that contain contain carboxyl groups, saccharides that contain carboxylate groups, saccharides that contain moieties that can be converted into carboxyl or carboxylate groups through a chemical reaction, macromonomers that contain carboxyl groups, macromonomers that contain carboxylate groups, and macromonomers that contain moieties that can be converted into carboxyl or carboxylate groups through a chemical reaction; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A treatment preparation according to  claim 18  wherein the carboxyl-containing polymer is a poly(acrylic acid).  
     
     
         20 . A treated synthetic fibrous substrate comprising carboxyl-containing polymer chains that are affixed onto fibers of the substrate and wherein the treated fibrous substrate exhibits hydrophilic characteristics in comparison to an untreated synthetic fibrous substrate of the same fiber type.