Process for treatment of a fabric

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for treatment of a fabric comprising the steps of contacting the fabric with polymers A and B in an aqueous medium, wherein; (a) polymer A is selected from the class of homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl alcohol, alkylene glycol, saccharides, and carboxylic acid, and; (b) polymer B is selected from the class of homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone, alkylene oxide, saccharides and carboxylic acid, and; where polymers A and B are not of the same class and the aqueous medium has pH less than 6. The invention also provides a composition and a kit for treatment of a fabric.

1 . A process for treatment of a fabric comprising the steps of contacting the fabric with polymers A and B in an aqueous medium, wherein;
 (a) polymer A is selected from the class of homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl alcohol, alkylene glycol, saccharides, and carboxylic acid, and;   (b) polymer B is selected from the class of homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone, alkylene oxide, saccharides and carboxylic acid, and;   where polymers A and B are not of the same class and the aqueous medium has pH less than 6.   
     
     
         2 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the aqueous medium comprises no more than 200 ppm anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         3 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said polymer A is selected from homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl alcohol or carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         4 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said polymer B is selected from homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone or alkylene oxide. 
     
     
         5 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said homopolymer or copolymer of carboxylic acid is polyacrylic acid or a copolymer thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous medium comprises an electrolyte. 
     
     
         7 . A process as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said electrolyte is from 0.001 to 5% by weight of said medium. 
     
     
         8 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein pH of said aqueous medium is from 1 to 10. 
     
     
         9 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is contacted with the polymers A and B either sequentially in any order, or simultaneously. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled)