COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING TEXTILE FIBERS
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating textile fibers and, in particular, to compositions and methods for treating fibers of carpet and other floor coverings. In one aspect, the present invention provides compositions and methods that can reduce energy consumption and conserve water resources in the production of dyed fibrous substrates having desirable repellency and stain resistant properties.
1 . An aqueous composition for treating a fibrous substrate comprising:
a dye component; and
at least one fluorochemical.
2 . The aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the dye component comprises at least one acid dye, cationic dye, dispersed dye, vat dye or fiber reactive dye or mixtures thereof.
3 . The aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluorochemical comprises a fluorinated organic compound.
4 . The aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the fluorinated organic compound comprises a fluoromonomer, fluorinated oligomer, fluoropolymer or mixtures thereof.
5 . The aqueous composition of claim 4 , wherein the at least one fluorochemical comprises a plurality of fluoropolymers.
6 . The aqueous composition of claim 4 , wherein the fluorinated organic compound is present in the aqueous composition at a concentration ranging from about 0.01 g/L to about 100 g/L.
7 . The aqueous composition of claim 1 further comprising an acid component.
8 . The aqueous composition of claim 7 , wherein the acid component comprises a urea salt.
9 . The aqueous composition of claim 7 having a pH of less than about 3.5.
10 . The aqueous composition of claim 8 , wherein the urea salt is present at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 g/L to about 30 g/L.
11 . The aqueous composition of claim 1 further comprising a stain resistant chemical species.
12 . The aqueous composition of claim 11 , wherein the stain resistant chemical species comprises one or more sulfonated aromatic condensation polymers.
13 . The aqueous composition of claim 12 , wherein the stain resistant chemical species is present at a concentration ranging from about 0.01 g/L to about 100 g/L.
14 . A fibrous substrate comprising:
at least one fiber treated with an aqueous composition, the aqueous composition comprising a dye component and at least one fluorochemical.
15 . The fibrous substrate of claim 14 , wherein the dye component comprises at least one acid dye, cationic dye, dispersed dye, sulfur dye, vat dye or fiber reactive dye or mixtures thereof.
16 . The aqueous composition of claim 14 , wherein the at least one fluorochemical comprises a fluorinated organic compound.
17 . The aqueous composition of claim 16 , wherein the fluorinated organic compound comprises a fluoromonomer, fluorinated oligomer, fluoropolymer or mixtures thereof.
18 . The aqueous composition of claim 14 further comprising a stain resistant chemical species.
19 . A method of treating a fibrous substrate comprising:
providing an aqueous composition comprising a dye component and at least one fluorochemical; and
applying the aqueous composition to at least one fiber of the fibrous substrate.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the dye component comprises at least one acid dye, cationic dye, dispersed dye, vat dye or fiber reactive dye or mixtures thereof.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the at least one fluorochemical comprises a fluorinated organic compound.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the fluorinated organic compound comprises a fluoromonomer, fluorinated oligomer, fluoropolymer or mixtures thereof.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the at least one fluorochemical comprises a plurality of fluoropolymers.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the fluorinated organic compound is present in the aqueous composition at a concentration ranging from about 0.01 g/L to about 100 g/L.
25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the aqueous composition further comprises an acid component.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the acid component comprises a urea salt.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the aqueous composition has a pH of less than about 3.5.
28 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the aqueous composition further comprises a stain resistant chemical species.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the stain resistant chemical species comprises one or more sulfonated aromatic condensation polymers.
30 . The method of claim 19 further comprising heating the fibrous substrate.
31 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate does not receive an additional application of the fluorinated organic compound separate from the dye component.
32 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the fibrous substrate does not receive an additional application of the stain resistant chemical species separate from the dye component.
33 . The method of claim 22 , wherein fibrous substrate has an oil repellency of at least 5 according to the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Test Method 118 after treatment with the aqueous composition.
34 . The method of claim 22 , wherein fibrous substrate has an oil repellency of at least 7 according to the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Test Method 118 after treatment with the aqueous composition.
35 . The method of claim 22 , wherein fibrous substrate has a water/alcohol repellency of at least 7 according to the AATCC Test Method 193 after treatment with the aqueous composition.
36 . The method of claim 28 , wherein fibrous substrate has a stain rating of at least 4 on the grey scale of AATCC Test Method 130 after treatment with the aqueous composition.