Odor-absorbing cellulosic fibrous substrates
The present invention is directed to durable finishes for cellulose-containing fibers and fibrous substrates. The active components of the finishes are hydroxyl-containing amines, and preferably trialkanol amines. When combined with a suitable crosslinker, the amines become attached to and crosslinked on the substrate fiber, and form a soft resinous coating that is durable to cleaning procedures. This polymeric coating imparts durable anti-microbial activity and renewable control of certain odors.
1 . A finish for a cellulosic fibrous substrate comprising i) primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxyl-containing amines, ii) a suitable crosslinker, and iii) a volatile solvent, wherein the finish provides anti-microbial properties to the fibrous substrate and wherein the finish is durable to cleaning procedures.
2 . A finish for a cellulosic fibrous substrate comprising i) primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxyl-containing amines, ii) a suitable crosslinker, and iii) a volatile solvent, wherein the finish provides the fibrous substrate with the ability to eliminate or greatly diminish offensive body odor and wherein the finish is durable to cleaning procedures.
3 . A finish according to claim 2 wherein the ability is rechargeable.
4 . A finish according to claim 1 , 2 or 3 wherein the hydroxyl-containing amines are alkanol amines selected from the group consisting of mono-, di-, and tri-alkanol amines.
5 . A finish according to claim 4 wherein the alkanol amines are trialkanol amines.
6 . A finish according to claim 5 wherein the trialkanol amines are selected from those of Formula (A):
wherein, each of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is independently selected from lower alkyl groups, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups; and each of X 1 , X 2 and X 3 is independently —OH or —H, with the proviso that at least one of X 1 , X 2 or X 3 is —OH.
7 . A treated cellulosic fibrous substrate having a finish comprising primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxyl-containing amines, which amines are crosslinked on the fiber surface of the fibrous substrate to form a resinous coating durable to cleaning procedures, the treated cellulosic fibrous substrate exhibiting durable anti-microbial properties.
8 . A treated cellulosic fibrous substrate having a finish comprising primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxyl-containing amines, which amines are crosslinked on the fiber surface of the fibrous substrate to form a resinous coating durable to cleaning procedures, the treated cellulosic fibrous substrate exhibiting the durable ability to eliminate or greatly diminish offensive body odor.
9 . A treated fibrous substrate according to claim 8 wherein the ability is rechargeable.
10 . A treated fibrous substrate according to claim 7 , 8 or 9 wherein the hydroxyl-containing amines are alkanol amines selected from the group consisting of mono-, di-, and tri-alkanol amines.
11 . A treated fibrous substrate according to claim 10 wherein the alkanol amines are trialkanol amines.
12 . A treated fibrous substrate according to claim 11 wherein the trialkanol amines are selected from those of Formula (A):
wherein, each of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is independently selected from lower alkyl groups, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups; and each of X 1 , X 2 and X 3 is independently —OH or —H, with the proviso that at least one of X 1 , X 2 or X 3 is —OH.
13 . A method for providing anti-microbial properties to a cellulosic fibrous substrate, the method comprising:
exposing the fibrous substrate to a treatment composition comprising i) primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxyl-containing amines, ii) suitable crosslinker, and iii) a volatile solvent; and
curing the fibrous substrate;
to give a cellulosic fibrous substrate exhibiting durable anti-microbial properties.
14 . A method for providing a cellulosic fibrous substrate with the ability to eliminate or greatly diminish offensive body odor, the method comprising:
exposing the fibrous substrate to a treatment composition comprising i) primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxyl-containing amines, ii) suitable crosslinker, and iii) a volatile solvent; and
curing the fibrous substrate;
to give a treated cellulosic fibrous substrate which exhibits the ability to durably eliminate or greatly diminish offensive body odor.
15 . A method according to claim 14 which comprises the further step of exposing the treated fibrous substrate to an aqueous solution with a pH at or above 10, to recharge the odor-absorptive ability of the fibrous substrate.
16 . A method according to any of claims 13 to 15 wherein the amines are partially reacted with the crosslinker prior to being placed in the volatile solvent.
17 . A method according to any of claims 13 to 16 wherein the hydroxyl-containing amines are alkanol amines selected from the group consisting of mono-, di-, and tri-alkanol amines.
18 . A method according to claim 17 wherein the alkanol amines are trialkanol amines.
19 . A method according to claim 18 wherein the trialkanol amines are selected from those of Formula (A):
wherein, each of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 is independently selected from lower alkyl groups, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups; and each of X 1 , X 2 and X 3 is independently —OH or —H, with the proviso that at least one of X 1 , X 2 or X 3 is —OH.