Pad-dry cationization of textiles

Abstract

Described are methods and systems for cationizing and dyeing a natural fiber-containing textile, which uses a mono- or di-quaternized cationizing agent. The method includes a step of heating the textile to a temperature in the range of 90° C. to less than 110° C. for a period of time in the range of 1 min to 10 min to react the cationizing agent with the textile. The cationization step in the presence of heat using the halogenated cationization agent of the invention facilitates improved dyeing.

1 . A method for cationizing a textile including a natural fiber or derivative thereof, the method comprising
 treating a textile with an aqueous solution comprising an alkali metal hydroxide and a mono- or di-quaternized cationizing agent; and   heating the textile to a temperature in the range of 90° C. to less than 110° C. for a period of time in the range of 1 min to 10 min to react the cationizing agent with the textile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cationizing agent is a mono-quaternized nitrogen compound capable of generating a single epoxide group in the presence of alkali metal hydroxide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the mono-quaternized nitrogen is of formula I: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  is a C1-C6 alkylene group, R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , are independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl groups, and X and X′ are independently selected from halogen atoms. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of methylene, ethylene, propylene, and R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 , are independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and propyl. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the mono-quaternized compound is 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cationizing agent is a di-quaternized nitrogen compound capable of generating two epoxide groups in the presence of alkali metal hydroxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cationizing agent is a bis ether halogenated di-hydroxylated di-quaternized ammonium compound. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the cationizing agent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  and R 1′  are independently selected from C1-C6 alkylene groups, R 2 , R 2′ , R 3 , and R 3′ , are independently selected from C1-C6 alkyl groups, R 4  and R 4′  are independently selected from C1-C6 alkylene groups, and X-X″′ are independently selected from halogen atoms. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein R 1  and R 1′  are independently selected methylene, ethylene, and propylene, R 2 , R 2′ , R 3 , and R 3′ , are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and propyl, and R 4  and R 4′  are independently selected from C1-C6 alkylene. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the cationizing agent is bis[(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl dialkylammonium)alkyl]ether dichloride. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the molar ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide to the cationizing agent is in a range of from 3.5:1 to 8.0:1 or less. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method wherein the textile is treated at a temperature in the range of 90° C. to 109° C. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the textile is treated in heat for a period of time in the range of 1 to 10 minutes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  comprising mechanically removing a portion of the aqueous solution from the fabric after treating with the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the steps of treating with aqueous solution and mechanically removing are performed at one or more temperatures of less than 35° C., and for a total a period of time of not greater than 1 minute. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the wherein the steps of treating with aqueous solution and mechanically removing are performed for a total a period of time of not more than 45 seconds, not more than 30 seconds, in the range of 1 second to 1 minute, 1 second to 45 seconds, 1 second to 30 seconds, 1 second to 20 seconds, 1 second to 15 seconds, 1 second to 10 seconds, or 2 seconds to 5 seconds. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising neutralizing the fabric in an acid-containing solution following treating with heat. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dyeing the fabric with a composition comprising a dye. 
     
     
         23 . A system for cationizing and dyeing a textile including a natural fiber or derivative thereof, comprising
 a padding bath for treating a textile including a natural fiber or derivative thereof configured to hold an aqueous solution comprising an alkali metal hydroxide and a cationizing agent comprising a halogenated compound capable of generating two epoxide groups in the presence of the alkali metal hydroxide; and   a heating apparatus capable of treating the textile at a temperature in the range of 90° C. to less than 110° C. for a period of time in the range of 1 min to 10 min to react the cationizing agent with the textile.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising one or more of the following:
 a roller mechanism for mechanically removing a portion of the aqueous solution from the fabric; 
 a neutralization bath for neutralizing the fabric in an acid-containing solution. 
 
     
     
         25 . (canceled)