Processes for modifying textiles using ionic liquids

Abstract

Processes for modifying a textile to improve its performance which comprise the steps of a) contacting a textile comprising fibers with a treating composition comprising an ionic liquid under conditions sufficient to modify at least surfaces of the fibers, thereby provide a performance improvement to treated textile; b) optionally, contacting a textile comprising fibers with a composition comprising a benefit agent; and c) at least partially removing the treating composition from the textile. In specific embodiments, the surface modification comprises a partial dissolution of at least one outer layer of the fibers and/or crystal structure change in at least surfaces of the fibers. The surface modification can impart improvements to the textile or allow embedding or attachment of a benefit agent in the fibers.

1 . A process for modifying a textile to improve performance of the textile, the process comprising: 
 a) contacting a textile comprising fibers with a treating composition comprising an ionic liquid under conditions sufficient to modify at least a portion of the surface of the fibers;    b) optionally, contacting the textile with a composition comprising a benefit agent; and    c) at least partially removing the treating composition from the textile.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modification comprises a partial dissolution of at least one outer layer of the fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modification results in crystal structure change in at least the surfaces of the fibers.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the treated textile exhibits improved property selected from the group consisting of: wrinkle resistance, smoothness, softness, shape retention, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modification enables embedding and/or attachment of at least one benefit agent in the surfaces of the fibers.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the benefit agent is selected from the group consisting of perfumes, dyes, dye fixative agents, sizings, skin conditioning actives, vitamins, enzymes, surfactants, anti-abrasion agents, wrinkle resistant agents, stain resistant agents, water resistant agents, flame retardants, antimicrobial agents, metal bleach catalysts, bleaching agents, fabric softeners, anti-pilling agents, water repellant agents, ultraviolet protection agents, brighteners, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the benefit agent is adapted for controlled release from the surface of the fiber.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the treating composition comprises at least about 50% by weight of the composition of the ionic liquid.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is conducted during an additional treatment selected from the group consisting of sizing, desizing, bleaching, scouring, mercerization, dyeing, printing, finishing, coating, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid includes an anionic component comprising one or more anions selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkoxy sulfates, alkyl alkoxy sulfates, monoesters of sulfosuccinates, diesters of sulfosuccinates, methyl ester sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl glycerol ether sulfonates, diphenyl ethers, linear carboxylates, cyclic carboxylates, alkyl oxyalkylene carboxylates, monosulfonates of diphenyl oxides, mid-chain branched alkyl sulfates, mid-chain branched alkylaryl sulfonates, mid-chain branched alkyl polyoxyalkylene sulfates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphate esters, sarcosinates, taurates, sulfated oils and fatty acids, sulfonated oils and fatty acids, alkyl phenol ethoxy sulfates, alkyl phenol ethoxy sulfonates, fatty acid ester sulfonates, substituted salicylanilides, substituted phenol anions, substituted thiophenol anions, polyamino polycarboxylates, aminopolyphosphates, sweetener-derived anions, ethoxylated amide sulfates, sodium tripolyphosphate; dihydrogen phosphate; fluroalkyl sulfonate; bis-(alkylsulfonyl) amine; bis-(fluoroalkylsulfonyl)amide; (fluroalkylsulfonyl) (fluoroalkylcarbonyl)amide; bis(arylsulfonyl)amide; carbonate; tetrafluorborate (BF 4   − ); hexaflurophosphate (PF 6   − ); and anionic bleach activators having the general formula: R 1 -CO—O—C 6 H 4 -R 2 , wherein R 1  is C8-C18 alkyl, C8-C18 amino alkyl, or mixtures thereof, and R 2  is sulfonate or carbonate, and mixturees thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid includes a cationic component comprising one or more cations selected from the group consisting of amine oxide cations, phosphine oxide cations, sulfoxide cations, betaines, diester quaternary ammonium (DEQA) cations, alkylene quaternary ammonium cations, difatty amido quaternary ammonium cations, C 8-22  quaternary surfactants, cationic esters, 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-isothiazolone, quaternary amino polyoxyalkylenes, alkyl oxyalkylene cations, alkoxylate quaternary ammoniums, substituted and unsubstituted pyrrolidinium, imidazolium, benzimidazolium, pyrazolium, benzpyrazolium, thiazolium, benzthiazolium, oxazolium, benzoxazolium, isoxazolium, isothiazolium, imdazolidenium, guanidinium, indazolium, quinuclidinium, triazolium, isoquinuclidinium, piperidinium, morpholinium, pyridazinium, pyrazinium, triazinium, azepinium, diazepinium, pyridinium, piperidonium, pyrimidinium, thiophenium; and phosphonium, cationic bleach activators having a quaternary ammonium moiety, cationic anti-microbial agents, alkylated caffeine cations, alkyl poly amino carboxylates, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises loose fibers, a yarn, a woven textile, a nonwoven textile, a knitted textile, or a fabric article.  
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step is performed by a non-immersive method selected from the group consisting of spraying, misting, foaming, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is in the form of droplets.  
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is removed from the textile by rinsing with water, pressing, squeezing, padding, centrifugation, vacuum extraction, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising the step of collecting the composition removed from the textile.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein energy is applied to the composition prior to or during the contacting step.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein energy is selected from heat, microwave, infrared, ultrasonic, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein pressure is applied during the contacting step.