Solvent treatment of fabric articles

Abstract

Solvent treatment methods for treating fabric articles, more particularly it relates to oxygenated solvent treatment methods are provided by the present invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a fabric article in need of treatment comprising contacting the fabric article with a solvent that has an ozone reactivity of less than 0.30 gramO 3 /gram.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the solvent has an ozone reactivity of less than 0.30 gramO 3 /gram.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of carbonate solvents, succinate solvents and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the solvent comprises a carbonate solvent selected from the group consisting of methyl carbonates, ethyl carbonates, propylene carbonates, glycerine carbonates and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the solvent comprises a succinate solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl succinates and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises contacting the fabric article with an adjunct solvent.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the adjunct solvent comprises a lipophilic fluid.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the lipophilic fluid comprises a linear siloxane, a cyclic siloxane and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises a lipophilic fluid selected from the group consisting of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and is substantially free of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises contacting the fabric article with a polar phase.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said polar phase comprises water.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein said polar phase comprises at least about 0.1% water by weight of the fabric article.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said polar phase comprises at most about 5% water by weight of the fabric article.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said polar phase comprises alcohol.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises contacting said fabric article with an emulsifier.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises contacting said fabric article with a surfactant.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises contacting said fabric article with an adjunct ingredient.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the method occurs at less than about 80° C.  
     
     
         21 . A method for treating a fabric article in need of treatment comprising contacting the fabric article with a solvent that has a vapor pressure of less than or equal to 0.1 mm Hg.  
     
     
         22 . A method for treating a fabric article in need of treatment comprising contacting the fabric article with a solvent that has a vapor pressure of greater than 0.1 mm Hg, and an ozone reactivity of less than 0.30 gramO 3 /gram.  
     
     
         23 . A fabric article treated by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         24 . A fabric article treated by the method of  claim 21 .  
     
     
         25 . A fabric article treated by the method of  claim 22 .  
     
     
         26 . A fabric article treating apparatus comprising a fabric article treatment chamber and a source of a solvent selected from the group consisting of solvents that have an ozone reactivity of less than 0.30 gramO 3 /gram, solvents that have a vapor pressure of less than or equal to 0.1 mm Hg, solvents that have a vapor pressure greater than 0.1 mm Hg and an ozone reactivity of less than about 0.30 gramO 3 /gram, and mixtures thereof.