Launderable activated cotton

Abstract

An activated cotton material and a method for processing cotton to form the activated cotton material are provided. The activated cotton material includes a layer of natural wax that is locked to the surface of cotton fibers by a wax lock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating cotton, comprising:
 treating the cotton with soda ash at a temperature of less than about 150° F. (about 66° C.) and a pH of about 9.5;   bleaching the cotton with hydrogen peroxide at a temperature of less than about 150° F. (about 66° C.);   neutralizing the hydrogen peroxide;   lowering the pH with an organic acid to between about 6 and about 7;   dying the cotton at a temperature of less than about 150° F. (about 66° C.); and   treating the cotton with a wax lock.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising treating cotton fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising treating cotton yarn. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising adding a bleach activator with the soda ash. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising adding a sequestering agent with the soda ash. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising adding an arylesterase catalyst with the hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein neutralizing comprises adding an enzyme to degrade the hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic acid comprises citric acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dying comprises:
 treating the cotton with sodium sulfate;   treating the cotton with soda ash to raise the pH to about 9.5;   treating the cotton with a dye solution;   rinsing the cotton;   neutralizing the dye solution to a pH of about 6.5; and   rinsing the cotton.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dye solution comprises a pre-reduced dye. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising adding a reducing agent to the dye solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising adding a mordant to the dye solution. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising treating the cotton with an oxidant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising treating the cotton with the wax lock. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising drying the cotton at between about 300° F. (about 149° C.) and about 390° F. (about 199° C.). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wax lock comprises a silicone compound. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wax lock comprises an acrylic compound. 
     
     
         18 . An activated cotton material, comprising a layer of natural wax locked to the surface of cotton fibers by a wax lock. 
     
     
         19 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , comprising a dye. 
     
     
         20 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , comprising a pre-reduced dye. 
     
     
         21 . The activated cotton material of  claim 20 , wherein the pre-reduced dye comprises indigo. 
     
     
         22 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises a silicone compound. 
     
     
         23 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises an acrylic oligomer. 
     
     
         24 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises a natural plant material. 
     
     
         25 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises a natural plant material combined with a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         26 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , comprising cotton fabric. 
     
     
         27 . The activated cotton material of  claim 18 , comprising cotton yarn.