Launderable activated cotton garment

Abstract

A method for making water-resistant cotton garments and the water-resistant cotton garments are provided. An exemplary method includes treating cotton fabric with soda ash at a temperature of less than about 150° F. (about 66° C.) and a pH of about 9.5 and bleaching the cotton fabric with hydrogen peroxide at a temperature of less than about 150° F. (about 66° C.). The hydrogen peroxide is neutralized, and the pH is lowered with an organic acid to between about 6 and about 7. A garment is made from the cotton fabric and a wax lock is applied to the garment. The garment is dyed at a temperature of less than about 150° F. (about 66° C.), and dried.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making water-resistant cotton garments, comprising:
 treating cotton fabric 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 fabric 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;   making a garment from the cotton fabric;   applying a wax lock to the garment;   dying the garment at a temperature of less than about 150° F. (about 66° C.); and   drying the garment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein making the garment comprises:
 cutting pieces from the cotton fabric; and   sewing the pieces together to form the garment.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising adding a bleach activator with the soda ash. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising adding a sequestering agent with the soda ash. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising adding an arylesterase catalyst with the hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein neutralizing comprises adding an enzyme to degrade the hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic acid comprises citric acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the wax lock to the garment, comprises:
 treating the garment with sodium sulfate;   treating the cotton with soda ash to raise the pH to about 9.5; and   applying the wax lock to the garment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dying comprises:
 treating the garment with a dye solution;   rinsing the garment;   neutralizing the dye solution to a pH of about 6.5; and   rinsing the garment.   
     
     
         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 garment with an oxidant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising treating the garment with the wax lock. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising drying the garment 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 . A cotton garment formed from an activated cotton material, comprising a layer of natural wax locked to a surface of cotton fibers by a wax lock. 
     
     
         19 . The cotton garment of  claim 18 , comprising a dye. 
     
     
         20 . The cotton garment of  claim 18 , comprising a pre-reduced dye. 
     
     
         21 . The cotton garment of  claim 20 , wherein the pre-reduced dye comprises indigo. 
     
     
         22 . The cotton garment of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises a silicone compound. 
     
     
         23 . The cotton garment of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises an acrylic oligomer. 
     
     
         24 . The cotton garment of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises a natural plant material. 
     
     
         25 . The cotton garment of  claim 18 , wherein the wax lock comprises a natural plant material combined with a cross-linking agent.