Fluorochemical-containing textile finishes that exhibit wash-durable soil release and moisture wicking properties

Abstract

Wash-durable fluorochemical-containing textile and/or fiber treatments that simultaneously impart soil resistance (or soil-release) properties and moisture wicking characteristics to target fabric substrates are provided. Such treatments surprisingly impart these two simultaneous effects to target fabrics and/or fibers because fluorochemicals generally provide moisture repellency rather than moisture wicking capabilities. As prior soil release/moisture wicking treatments do not function properly, or, alternatively, compromise hand or other properties of certain target textiles after treatment application, a new, effective, soil release/moisture wicking formulation for such purposes was needed. The inventive treatment is extremely durable on such fabric substrates; after a substantial number of standard launderings and dryings, the treatment does not wear away in any appreciable amount and thus the substrate retains its soil release/moisture wicking properties. The method of adherence to the target yarn, fiber, and/or fabric may be performed any number of ways, most preferably through the utilization of a jet dyeing system or through a steam-transfer method. The particular methods of adherence, as well as the treated textile fabrics and individual fibers are also encompassed within this invention.

1 . A method of treating a textile article comprising the steps of 
 a) providing a textile article;    b) providing a finish formulation comprising at least one soil release fluorochemical and at least one hydrophilic agent; and    c) applying said finish formulation of step “b” to said textile article.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step “c” is accomplished using an exhaustion procedure.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said exhaustion procedure utilizes a jet dyeing apparatus.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step “c” is accomplished by pad coating.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said treated textile article comprises at least 25% by weight of a synthetic fiber component.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said treated article exhibits a soil release property in excess of or equal to 3.0 as measured by AATCC Test Method 130-2000 and a moisture wicking property less than or equal to 10 seconds as measured by a water-drop surface spreading test protocol; wherein said soil release property and said moisture wicking properties are exhibited by said treated textile article after exposure to at least 5 industrial launderings.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said textile article comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, polyaramides, any blends thereof, any blends thereof with other synthetic fibers, and any blends thereof with natural fibers.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said fibers are polyester.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said fibers are present in a configuration selected from the group consisting of spun synthetic yarn, tightly woven filament fibers, microdenier polyester fibers, nonwoven synthetic fibers, flat non-textured synthetic fibers, and any blends with each other or with other types of natural or synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydrophilic agent is selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated polyesters, sulfonated polyesters, cellulose ethers, ethoxylated polyamides, copolymers of vinyl acetate and hydrophilic crosslinking agents, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       11 . A method of treating a textile article comprising the steps of 
 a) providing a textile article;    b) providing a finish formulation comprising at least one soil release fluorochemical and at least one hydrophilic agent; and    c) applying said finish formulation of step “b” to said textile article through an exhaustion procedure.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said step “c” is accomplished using a jet dyeing apparatus.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said treated textile article comprises at least 25% by weight of a synthetic fiber component.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said treated article exhibits a soil release property in excess of or equal to 3.0 as measured by AATCC Test Method 130-2000 and a moisture wicking property less than or equal to 10 seconds as measured by a water-drop surface spreading test protocol; wherein said soil release property and said moisture wicking properties are exhibited by said treated textile article after exposure to at least 5 industrial launderings.  
   
   
       15 . A method of treating a textile article comprising the steps of 
 a) providing a textile article;    b) providing a first finish formulation comprising at least one soil release fluorochemical;    c) introducing said textile article of step “a” within a jet dyeing apparatus;    d) applying said first finish formulation of step “b” to said textile article within said jet dyeing apparatus;    e) providing a second finish formulation comprising at least one hydrophilic agent;    f) introducing said textile article of step “d” within a jet dyeing apparatus; and    g) applying said second finish formulation of step “e” to said textile article of step “d” within said jet dyeing apparatus.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said exhaustion procedure is accomplished using a jet dyeing apparatus.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said treated textile article comprises at least 25% by weight of a synthetic fiber component.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said treated textile article exhibits a soil release property in excess of or equal to 3.0 as measured by AATCC Test Method 130-2000 after exposure to at least 5 industrial launderings.  
   
   
       19 . A method of treating a textile article comprising the steps of 
 a) providing a textile article;    b) providing a finish formulation comprising at least one soil release fluorochemical and at least one hydrophilic agent; and    c) applying said finish formulation of step “b” to said textile article via pad coating techniques.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said treated textile article comprises at least 25% by weight of a synthetic fiber component.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said treated textile article exhibits a soil release property in excess of or equal to 3.0 as measured by AATCC Test Method 130-2000 and a moisture wicking property less than or equal to 10 seconds as measured by a water-drop surface spreading test protocol; wherein said soil release property and said moisture wicking properties are exhibited by said treated textile article after exposure to at least 5 industrial launderings.