Water-repellent and soil-resistant finish for textiles

Abstract

The present invention is directed to polymeric treatment preparations for textiles and other fibrous substrates that impart water and oil repellency to fibers, yarns, textiles, or other fibrous substrates. More particularly, this invention comprises an aqueous solution, emulsion or suspension of (a) a fluorinated polymer that contains reactive groups that can complex with metal atoms that have a formal charge of 2 or greater, and (b) one or more metal atoms that have a formal charge of 2 or greater. The invention is further directed to the process for treating fibrous substrates with textile preparations in one step that provide water/soil repellency that is durable to repeated cleanings and to abrasion. This invention is further directed to the yarns, fibers, fabrics, textiles, webs, finished goods, or nonwovens (encompassed herein under the terms “textiles” and “fibrous substrates”) treated with the textile-reactive water- and soil-resistant preparation of the invention. Such fibrous substrates exhibit a greatly improved, durable water and soil repellency or resistance, even after multiple launderings.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A textile treatment preparation comprising, in aqueous solution, emulsion or suspension, (a) a fluorinated polymer that contains reactive groups that can complex with metal atoms that have a formal charge of 2 or greater, and (b) one or more metal atoms that have a formal charge of 2 or greater.  
     
     
         2 . A textile treatment preparation according to  claim 1  wherein at least some of said metal atoms are incorporated into said fluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         3 . A textile treatment preparation according to  claim 2  wherein said metal atoms are present as a metal salt.  
     
     
         4 . A textile treatment preparation according to  claim 2  wherein said metal atoms are selected from the group consisting of calcium (II), magnesium (II), zirconium (IV), aluminum (III), and chromium (III).  
     
     
         5 . A textile treatment preparation according to  claim 2  wherein said fluorinated polymer comprises one or more fluorinated monomers of the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: 
 m is 0 to 2;  
 n is 0 or 1;  
 o is 1 or 2;  
 A is —SO 2 —, —N(W)—SO 2 —, —CONH—, —CH 2 —, or —CF 2 —;  
 R is a linear, branched, or cyclic fully- or partially-fluorinated hydrocarbon;  
 W is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4  lower alkyl; and  
 X is acrylate (H 2 C═CHCO 2 —), methacrylate (H 2 C═C(CH 3 )CO 2 —), or a carbon-carbon double bond (H 2 C═CH—).  
 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating a fibrous substrate, the method comprising: 
 placing a fibrous substrate into contact with a solution, emulsion or suspension comprising (a) a fluorinated polymer that contains reactive groups that can complex with metal atoms that have a formal charge of 2 or greater and (b) one or more metal atoms that have a formal charge of 2 or greater;    removing said treated fibrous substrate from said solution, emulsion or suspension; and    drying said treated fibrous substrate;    to give a treated fibrous substrate having a durable water and soil repellency.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein at least some of said metal atoms are incorporated into said fluorinated polymer.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  which further comprises the step of curing said treated fibrous substrate.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said metal atoms are present as a metal salt.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said metal atoms are selected from the group consisting of calcium (II), magnesium (II), zirconium (IV), aluminum (III), and chromium (III).  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein said fluorinated polymer comprises one or more fluorinated monomers of the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: 
 m is 0 to 2;  
 n is 0 or 1;  
 o is 1 or 2;  
 A is —SO 2 —, —N(W)—SO 2 —, —CONH—, —CH 2 —, or —CF 2 —;  
 R is a linear, branched, or cyclic fully- or partially-fluorinated hydrocarbon;  
 W is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4  lower alkyl; and  
 X is acrylate (H 2 C═CHCO 2 —), methacrylate (H 2 C═C(CH 3 )CO 2 —), or a carbon-carbon double bond (H 2 C═CH—).  
 
     
     
         12 . A fibrous substrate treated by the method of  claim 7  wherein said fibrous substrate has a durable water and soil repellency.  
     
     
         13 . A copolymer comprising i) an acid-containing monomer, ii) a metal-containing monomer, and iii) a fluorinated monomer, said copolymer having reactive groups that will coordinately bind with a metal.  
     
     
         14 . A copolymer according to  claim 13  wherein said fluorinated monomer has the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: 
 m is 0 to 2;  
 n is 0 or 1;  
 o is 1 or 2;  
 A is —SO 2 —, —N(W)—SO 2 —, —CONH—, —CH 2 —, or —CF 2 —;  
 R is a linear, branched, or cyclic fully- or partially-fluorinated hydrocarbon;  
 W is hydrogen or C 1 -C 4  lower alkyl; and  
 X is acrylate (H 2 C═CHCO 2 —), methacrylate (H 2 C═C(CH 3 )CO 2 —), or a carbon-carbon double bond (H 2 C═CH—).  
 
     
     
         15 . A copolymer according to  claim 13  wherein said metal-containing monomer is selected from the group consisting of calcium acrylate, magnesium acrylate, aluminum acrylate, potassium acrylate, chromium acrylate, and styrene sulfonate.  
     
     
         16 . A copolymer according to  claim 13  wherein said copolymer is a diblock copolymer comprising at least one block of said acid-containing monomers and at least one block of said fluorinated monomers.