Formaldehyde-free, aqueous composition for discharge printing of fabric

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for discharge printing of fabric, a discharge printing process for printing said composition to the fabric, the use of the composition for discharge printing and to a fabric treated with the composition in a discharge printing process according to the invention.

1 . A formaldehyde-free, aqueous composition for discharge printing of fabric, the composition comprising:
 at least one reducing agent,   at least one synthetic thickener,   at least one wetting agent,   at least one pH modifier,   optionally at least one pigment, and   optionally at least one binder.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one synthetic thickener is a polyacrylic compound. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one binder is based on poly(butyl acrylate), copolymer of two or more of butyl(acrylate), ethyl(acrylate) and styrene, polyvinyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent is selected from urea, glycerin, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the reducing agent comprises a sulfinic acid derivative. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more components selected from the group of crosslinking agents, softeners, emulsifiers, antifoaming agents, rheology modifiers, oxidation protection agents, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is free from any natural thickener. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises
 from 3 to 30% by weight of the at least one reducing agent,   from 0.05% to 6% by weight of the at least one synthetic thickener,   from 3 to 45% by weight of at the least one wetting agent,   from 0.05 to 4% by weight of the at least one pH modifier,   from 0 to 30% by weight of the at least one binder,   from 0 to 2% by weight of at least one emulsifier,   from 0 to 1% by weight of at least one anti foaming agent,   from 0 to 3% by weight of at least one crosslinking agent,   from 0 to 3% by weight of at least one softener,   from 0 to 2% by weight of at least one rheology modifier,   from 0 to 2% by weight of at least one oxidation protection agent,   from 0 to 6% by weight of at least one pigment dispersion, and   the remainder to 100% by weight is water,   wherein the % by weight is based on the total weight of the composition.   
     
     
         9 . A process for manufacturing a formaldehyde-free, aqueous composition for discharge printing of fabric comprising the following Step A and optionally Steps B and C:
 Step A: Mixing and homogenizing all components for the composition including:   at least one reducing agent,   at least one synthetic thickener,   at least one wetting agent,   at least one pH modifier,   optionally at least one pigment, and   optionally at least one binder,   in case the at least one pigment is present in the composition, then further comprising   Step B: Adding at least one dispersion comprising the at least one pigment to the mixture obtained in Step A, and   Step C: Mixing and homogenizing the mixture obtained in Step B.   
     
     
         10 . A method of using the formaldehyde-free, aqueous composition of  claim 1  for a discharge printing processes. 
     
     
         11 . A discharge printing process for printing fabric, the process comprising the following steps:
 Step 1: providing a colored fabric,   Step 2: in a printing step, printing the colored fabric using the formaldehyde-free, aqueous composition according to  claim 1 ,   Step 3: in a first drying step, drying the fabric obtained in step 2,   Step 4: in a washing step, washing the fabric obtained in step 3, wherein the fabric is rinsed with a rinsing fluid and/or is soaped with a soaping fluid, and   Step 5: in a second drying step, drying the fabric obtained in step 4.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the washing step comprises
 a first cold and/or hot rinsing step wherein the printed fabric is rinsed with a rinsing fluid selected from cold water or aqueous H 2 O 2  solution and/or,   a hot soaping step wherein the printed fabric is washed with a soaping fluid, selected from soapy water at temperatures from 40 to 80° C. and/or,   a second cold rinse step wherein the printed fabric is rinsed with a second rinsing fluid selected from cold water.   
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the first drying step is performed at temperatures from 140° C. to 180° C., and/or wherein
 the second drying step is performed at temperatures of from 120° C. to 160° C. 
 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the process does not comprise a curing step and or a steaming step. 
     
     
         15 . Fabric treated with a composition according  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one synthetic thickener is an acrylic acid copolymer. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one synthetic thickener includes high density oil and auxiliaries. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the discharge printing processes include white discharge or color discharge printing processes of fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 11  wherein the first drying step is performed for 1 to 5 minutes and/or wherein the second drying step is performed for 8 to 20 minutes.