A wax emulsion for finishing cotton fibers and a method for preparing the same

Abstract

The application provides a wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing and a preparation method thereof, and relates to the technical field of cotton fiber finishing. The wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing comprises 36-38 parts of paraffin wax and Brazil palm wax, 4-6 parts of an emulsifier, 0.01-0.2 parts of an acid and 56-60 parts of water. The mass ratio of the paraffin wax and the Brazil palm wax is (8-12):1. The mass ratio of the total amount of the paraffin wax and the Brazil palm wax to the emulsifier is (6-9):1. The emulsifier comprises non-ionic emulsifiers and cationic emulsifiers in a mass ratio of (1-5):1. The non-ionic emulsifiers are fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers. The wax emulsion has a small amount of emulsifier, a particle size of less than 100 nm, and does not separate or precipitate at room temperature. The wax emulsion can be effectively combined with cotton fibers, can be used for yarn softening finishing, can improve the wear resistance and softness of cotton fibers, and can ensure a high strength retention of cotton fibers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cotton fiber finishing technology, and in particular to a wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Wax emulsions form uniform films with good coverage and are easily compounded with aqueous solutions or emulsions of other substances. They can significantly improve the softness and lubricity of fabric fibers, thereby enhancing fabric quality and loom efficiency. Simultaneously, wax crystal deposition on the surface reduces fabric fuzzing and improves surface smoothness. Due to its oil content, wax significantly reduces foaming during product use compared to other types of smoothing agents, minimizing issues such as color bleeding and defects during processing. Furthermore, oxidation and saponification processes can introduce numerous active groups into the wax, endowing it with various superior properties.

[0003] Currently, the market commonly uses high amounts of nonionic alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ethers or sorbitan fatty acid esters as emulsifiers to prepare paraffin emulsions with smaller particle sizes, or uses alkyl sulfonates or sulfates to prepare anionic paraffin emulsions, or uses high-energy emulsification to homogenize larger-particle-size wax emulsions into nano-sized emulsions. However, the ionic nature of the above-mentioned paraffin emulsions makes it difficult to bind well with cotton fibers, thus making them unsuitable for cotton fiber finishing. Moreover, the emulsification system also has many drawbacks, such as environmental restrictions on the type of emulsifier (alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether), excessive emulsifier dosage affecting product performance, and high energy consumption in high-energy emulsification methods. In addition, due to the limitations of paraffin properties and emulsifier emulsification capabilities, it is difficult to directly emulsify paraffin into high-concentration nano-sized paraffin emulsions. The mainstream method is to modify paraffin through high-temperature oxidation and then emulsify it by adding active groups to the alkyl chain, but this emulsification process is cumbersome, costly, and difficult, while the improvement in activity is limited and the amount of emulsifier used is large.

[0004] Patent CN101168686A discloses a positively charged paraffin nanoemulsion and its preparation method, in which the oil phase is liquid paraffin, but liquid paraffin is not suitable for finishing cotton fabrics; the emulsifier dosage is high (wax: <5:1); the use of fatty acid ester emulsifiers poses a risk of hydrolysis, and the wax emulsion is prone to stratification during storage. Patent CN106188572A discloses a high-solids-content paraffin emulsion, in which aluminum sulfate is added. Aluminum sulfate is a strong electrolyte, which compresses the double layer of cationic paraffin particles, reduces electrostatic repulsion, and also has a "bridging" effect and salting-out effect, accelerating the stratification and demulsification of the wax emulsion; the presence of aluminum sulfate can also lead to problems such as stiff fabric feel, excessive wastewater, and equipment corrosion.

[0005] Therefore, there is currently a lack of wax emulsions for cotton fiber finishing that require a small amount of emulsifier and have high stability. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this application is to address the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing and its preparation method. The wax emulsion uses a small amount of emulsifier, has an average particle size of <100nm, does not separate or precipitate wax when stored at room temperature, can effectively combine with cotton fibers, can be used for yarn softening finishing, greatly improves the abrasion resistance and softness of cotton fibers, and can ensure high strength retention of cotton fibers.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0008] According to one aspect of this application, a wax emulsion for finishing cotton fibers is provided, comprising the following components by weight:

[0009] 36-38 parts of paraffin wax and carnauba wax;

[0010] 4-6 parts emulsifier;

[0011] Acid 0.01–0.2 parts;

[0012] 56-60 parts water;

[0013] The mass ratio of paraffin wax to carnauba wax is (8-12):1;

[0014] The total amount of paraffin wax and carnauba wax to the emulsifier is in a mass ratio of (6-9):1;

[0015] The emulsifier comprises a nonionic emulsifier and a cationic emulsifier in a mass ratio of (1-5):1;

[0016] The nonionic emulsifier is a fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether; the structural formula of the cationic emulsifier is shown in formula (I) below:

[0017] (I);

[0018] In formula (I), R1 is a saturated or unsaturated C10-C22 alkyl chain, R2 is methyl or ethyl, and X is selected from Cl, Br, I, HSO4 or NO3.

[0019] This application uses carnauba wax in combination with paraffin wax. Carnauba wax molecules contain a large number of polar groups, which readily form electrostatic and hydrogen bond attraction with the cationic groups of cationic emulsifiers, and are firmly adsorbed at the oil-water interface. The combination of carnauba wax and emulsifier also provides anchoring points for the non-polar ends to bond with paraffin wax. The presence of polar functional groups in carnauba wax will disrupt the regular crystallization of wax molecules, reduce crystallinity and crystallization rate, so that wax molecules will not form dense large crystals during cooling, but will be dispersed in the form of microcrystals near the interface film, filling the gaps between the main emulsifier molecules and forming a "rigid-flexible" composite interface film, thereby improving the stability of the emulsion.

[0020] Further, the emulsifier comprises a nonionic emulsifier and a cationic emulsifier with a mass ratio of (1-5):1; for example, the mass ratio can be 1:1, 1.1:1, 1.2:1, 1.3:1, 1.4:1, 1.5:1, 1.6:1, 1.7:1, 1.8:1, 1.9:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1 or any range therebetween.

[0021] Further, the fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether is selected from the combination of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether A and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether B, and the mass ratio of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether A to fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether B is (0.1-10):1; for example, the mass ratio can be 0.1:1, 0.2:1, 0.3:1, 0.4:1, 0.5:1, 0.6:1, 0.7:1, 0.8:1, 0.9:1, 1:1, 1.1:1, 1.2:1, 1.3:1, 1.4:1, 1.5:1, 1.6:1, 1.7:1, 1.8:1, 1.9:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1 or any range therebetween; wherein,

[0022] The HLB value of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether A is 5-10, preferably any one or a combination of several of AEO3, Peregal O-3, Peregal O-5; more preferably, the HLB value of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether A is 6-7 or 8-9;

[0023] The HLB value of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether B is 12-18, preferably any one or a combination of several of Peregal O-15, Peregal OS-15, Peregal O-20, Peregal O-30, oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 10EO, oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 25EO, oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 50EO; more preferably, the HLB value of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether B is 12-13, 14-15 or 15-16.

[0024] Traditional paraffin emulsions are oil-in-water (O / W) emulsions, which are typically thermodynamically unstable systems. This application uses two fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers in combination to prepare paraffin emulsions. Compared to a single emulsifier, the combination of two fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers has the advantages of higher paraffin anchoring ability and emulsion stability. This is mainly due to the dual effects of precise HLB value matching and synergistic stabilization of the interfacial film: one end of the emulsifier has a lipophilic group, anchoring the oil phase of paraffin, while the other end has a hydrophilic group, forming an adsorption in the aqueous phase. Only when strong adsorption occurs at both the hydrophilic and lipophilic ends, and a relatively thick interfacial film is formed in the oil-water phase, can emulsion stability be maintained. A single emulsifier has a fixed ratio of lipophilic to hydrophilic phases, lacking flexibility. The anchoring force is weak, and the emulsion is likely to break down. This application uses a combination of specific high-EO and low-EO emulsifiers to prepare paraffin emulsions. On the one hand, the HLB value of the emulsion system can be precisely controlled to the range required for emulsifying paraffin. On the other hand, by controlling the ratio of high-HLB emulsifier to low-HLB emulsifier, the two emulsifiers can maximize their lipophilic and hydrophilic effects, forming a dense interfacial film and effectively improving the stability of the emulsion. At the same time, the combination of the two emulsifiers results in higher emulsification efficiency, requires less dosage than a single emulsifier, and is more efficient, lower in cost, and has more stable emulsion performance.

[0025] Preferably, the cationic emulsifier is selected from any one or a combination of several of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate, and 1-octadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

[0026] Paraffin molecules contain only C-C and CH bonds, lacking any polar functional groups and having few anchoring sites. This prevents them from forming strong, directional adsorption interactions with cationic emulsifiers. Therefore, paraffin emulsions are mostly nonionic or anionic, but the softness of the finished yarn decreases significantly. The traditional method involves emulsifying a nonionic paraffin emulsion with a large amount of emulsifier (typically, paraffin:nonionic emulsifier < 1:3), followed by cationization with cationic substances. Because the carbon chains of the nonionic emulsifiers used to emulsify paraffin are relatively long, they easily become bent and entangled after combining with cationic substances due to changes in intermolecular forces. This leads to emulsion coagulation, stratification, and poor stability. Furthermore, a large amount of emulsifier negatively impacts performance.

[0027] This application selects a specific cationic emulsifier, which forms strong hydrogen bonds and electrostatic attraction with carnauba wax. Simultaneously, its nonpolar end binds to paraffin wax, ultimately forming an oil-in-water emulsion. Due to the increased amount of cationic charge at the molecular interface, the repulsive force between droplets is enhanced, effectively inhibiting droplet collision and aggregation, and improving the emulsion's resistance to electrolyte interference. This solves the industry-wide problems of incompatibility between nonionic and cationic paraffin wax emulsions, the difficulty in preparing cationic paraffin wax emulsions, and their poor stability. Furthermore, the cationic emulsifier in the wax emulsion exhibits good synergy with the nonionic emulsifier and carnauba wax, significantly improving emulsification ability and reducing the ratio of emulsifier to wax.

[0028] Furthermore, the acid is selected from any one or a combination of several of glacial acetic acid or its solution, citric acid monohydrate or its solution, hydrochloric acid solution, and sulfuric acid solution, and the mass concentration of the solution is higher than 3%. For example, the mass concentration can be 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, or any range thereof.

[0029] Furthermore, the water in the aforementioned wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing is partially added in the form of hot water and partially added in the form of ice cubes or an ice-water mixture, wherein the amount added in the form of ice cubes or an ice-water mixture accounts for 2 / 5 of the total water volume.

[0030] Furthermore, the solids content of the aforementioned wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing is 40-45%.

[0031] According to another aspect of this application, a method for preparing the above-mentioned wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing is provided, comprising the following steps:

[0032] (1) Mix paraffin wax, carnauba wax and nonionic emulsifier, heat to melt, and turn on stirring to 150 rpm to obtain mixture I;

[0033] (2) Add cationic emulsifier to mixture I and mix evenly. Slowly increase the stirring speed to 300-800 rpm to obtain mixture II;

[0034] (3) Maintain a stirring speed of 300-800 rpm, add water at 80-100℃ to mixture II, and continue stirring for 20-50 min after the addition is complete to obtain mixture III;

[0035] (4) When the temperature of mixture III drops to 75-80℃, add acid and stir for 10-20 minutes; maintain a stirring speed of 300-800 rpm during this process;

[0036] (5) Reduce the stirring speed to 100-200 rpm, then add ice or ice-water mixture, and at the same time stop heating and turn on circulation to cool down to below 35°C.

[0037] Furthermore, in step (1), the heating and melting temperature is 85-90°C.

[0038] Furthermore, in step (3), the water addition time is controlled to be 40-60 minutes.

[0039] At room temperature, paraffin is a highly crystalline alkane. Compared with other cooling methods, adding ice can accelerate the crystallization process of emulsion paraffin, quickly form an interfacial film at the oil-water interface, inhibit crystal growth, improve emulsion stability, and avoid performance degradation after long-term storage.

[0040] According to another aspect of this application, a method for finishing cotton fibers with the aforementioned wax emulsion for finishing cotton fibers is provided, comprising the following steps:

[0041] Mix the cotton fiber finishing wax emulsion with soft water evenly, dilute with soft water to 5g / L~20g / L to obtain the finishing agent, adjust the pH to 3.5~4.5 to obtain the finishing agent; place the cotton fiber in the finishing agent (liquor ratio of 1:5~1:15) and treat in a water bath at 50~60℃ for 20~25 minutes; after treatment, take out the yarn and dry it to obtain the finishing agent.

[0042] In the above-mentioned pH adjustment process, pH adjusters well known in the art are used, such as one or more of hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide, without any particular limitation.

[0043] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0044] 1. This application provides a method for preparing a wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing. By adding a small amount of carnauba wax as a co-emulsifier, the amount of emulsifier used is reduced, and the average particle size of the prepared emulsion is <100nm. It does not separate or precipitate wax when stored at room temperature, and its stability is improved.

[0045] 2. This application solves the common problems in the industry, such as the incompatibility between nonionic and cationic paraffin emulsions, the difficulty in preparing cationic paraffin emulsions, and their poor stability, by adding cationic emulsifiers in combination with nonionic emulsifiers.

[0046] 3. The wax emulsion prepared in this application can effectively combine with cotton fibers and can be used as a yarn softening agent, etc. It can also improve the abrasion resistance and softness of cotton fibers, as well as ensure the high strength retention of cotton fibers. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 This is a particle size test diagram of the wax emulsion in Example 1 of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The following non-limiting embodiments are intended to enable those skilled in the art to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this application, but do not limit this application in any way. The following content is merely an exemplary description of the scope of protection claimed in this application, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the invention based on the disclosed content, which should also fall within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0049] Unless otherwise specified, all chemical reagents used in the embodiments of this application were obtained through conventional commercial channels. Where specific conditions are not specified in the embodiments, they were carried out under conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer. Paraffin wax was purchased from China National Petroleum Corporation (CAS 8004-74-2), and carnauba wax was purchased from Shanghai Maclean Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd. (CAS 8015-86-9).

[0050] The present application will be further described below by way of specific embodiments.

[0051] Example 1

[0052] A wax emulsion for finishing cotton fibers, comprising, by weight, the following raw materials:

[0053] 36 parts of paraffin wax and carnauba wax;

[0054] 4 parts emulsifier;

[0055] 0.01 parts of glacial acetic acid;

[0056] 60 parts water; of which,

[0057] The mass ratio of paraffin wax to carnauba wax is 8:1;

[0058] The emulsifiers are selected from nonionic and cationic emulsifiers in a mass ratio of 1:1;

[0059] The nonionic emulsifier contains Pingpingjia O-3 and oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 10EO in a mass ratio of 1:10;

[0060] The cationic emulsifier is 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

[0061] The preparation method of the above-mentioned wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing includes the following steps:

[0062] (1) Mix paraffin wax, carnauba wax and nonionic emulsifier, heat to 85°C to melt, and start stirring to 150 rpm to obtain mixture I;

[0063] (2) Add cationic emulsifier to mixture I and mix evenly. Increase the stirring speed to 300 rpm to obtain mixture II;

[0064] (3) Maintain a stirring speed of 300 rpm, add water at 85°C (accounting for 3 / 5 of the total water volume) to mixture II, control the addition time to 40 min, and continue stirring for 20 min after the addition is complete to obtain mixture III;

[0065] (4) When the temperature of mixture III drops to 75°C, add acetic acid solution with a mass concentration of 50% and stir for 10 min;

[0066] (5) Reduce the stirring speed to 100 rpm, then add ice (accounting for 2 / 5 of the total water volume), and at the same time stop heating, turn on the circulation and start the cooling pump, and cool down to below 35°C within 5 minutes.

[0067] Example 2

[0068] A wax emulsion for finishing cotton fibers, comprising, by weight, the following raw materials:

[0069] 38 parts of paraffin wax and carnauba wax;

[0070] 6 parts emulsifier;

[0071] 0.2 parts of citric acid monohydrate;

[0072] 56 portions of water; of which,

[0073] The mass ratio of paraffin wax to carnauba wax is 12:1;

[0074] The emulsifiers are selected from nonionic and cationic emulsifiers in a mass ratio of 5:1;

[0075] The nonionic emulsifier contains Pingpingjia O-5 and oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 50EO in a mass ratio of 10:1;

[0076] The cationic emulsifier is 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

[0077] The preparation method of the above-mentioned wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing includes the following steps:

[0078] (1) Mix paraffin wax, carnauba wax and nonionic emulsifier, heat to 90°C to melt, and turn on stirring to 150 rpm to obtain mixture I;

[0079] (2) Add cationic emulsifier to mixture I and mix evenly. Slowly increase the stirring speed to 800 rpm to obtain mixture II;

[0080] (3) Maintain the stirring speed at 800 rpm, add 100°C water (accounting for 3 / 5 of the total water volume) to mixture II, control the addition time to 60 min, and continue stirring for 20 min after the addition is complete to obtain mixture III;

[0081] (4) When the temperature of mixture III drops to 80°C, add acetic acid solution with a mass concentration of 50% and stir for 20 minutes;

[0082] (5) Reduce the stirring speed to 200 rpm, then add ice (accounting for 2 / 5 of the total water volume), and at the same time stop heating, turn on the circulation and start the cooling pump, and cool down to below 35°C within 5 minutes.

[0083] Comparative Example 1

[0084] The difference from Example 1 is that carnauba wax was not added, and the total wax content remained unchanged. The resulting product solidified and failed to form a stable emulsion.

[0085] Comparative Example 2

[0086] The difference from Example 1 is that the nonionic emulsifier was replaced with Span 80 and Tween 80 in a mass ratio of 1:2.6, while the total amount of nonionic emulsifier remained unchanged. The HLB value of the replaced nonionic emulsifier was comparable to that of Example 1.

[0087] Comparative Example 3

[0088] The difference from Example 1 is that the nonionic emulsifier used was only Pingpingjia O-3. The resulting product wax separated from the aqueous phase and failed to form a stable emulsion.

[0089] Comparative Example 4

[0090] The difference from Example 1 is that the nonionic emulsifier is replaced with an equal mass of oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 10EO.

[0091] Comparative Example 5

[0092] The difference from Example 1 is that the nonionic emulsifier is replaced with an equal amount of Tween-80.

[0093] Comparative Example 6

[0094] The difference from Example 1 is that the cationic emulsifier was replaced with an equal amount of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. The resulting product was more viscous and failed to form an emulsion.

[0095] Comparative Example 7

[0096] The difference from Example 1 is that the cationic emulsifier was replaced with an equal amount of quaternary ammonium salt-27 (CAS: 86088-85-9). The resulting product was a viscous gel-like substance that failed to form a stable emulsion.

[0097] Comparative Example 8

[0098] The difference from Example 1 is that the cationic emulsifier is replaced with an equal amount of 1-methyl-3-n-octyl imidazole chloride.

[0099] Comparative Example 9

[0100] The difference from Example 1 is that the mass ratio of nonionic emulsifier to cationic emulsifier is 1:2, while the total amount of emulsifier remains unchanged.

[0101] Comparative Example 10

[0102] The difference from Example 1 is that the emulsifier is only a nonionic emulsifier, and the total amount of emulsifier remains unchanged.

[0103] Comparative Example 11

[0104] The difference from Example 1 is that the emulsifier is only a cationic emulsifier, and the total amount of emulsifier remains unchanged.

[0105] Comparative Example 12

[0106] The difference from Example 1 is that the ratio of the total amount of paraffin wax and carnauba wax to the emulsifier is increased to 1:3, while the total amount remains unchanged.

[0107] Comparative Example 13

[0108] The difference from Example 1 is that no ice is added during the preparation process, and water is added at 85°C. The cooling pump is turned on directly during the cooling process, and the temperature is reduced to below 35°C within 5 minutes.

[0109] Experimental Example 1

[0110] The following tests are performed on wax emulsions:

[0111] (1) Particle size: The wax emulsion was diluted 150 times with water and its average particle size was measured using a Malvern Nano ZS90new nanoparticle size analyzer.

[0112] (2) Storage stability: The wax emulsion was stored at 50℃ for 3 days, and the changes in its state were observed and the average particle size was tested; the evaluation criteria for the changes in state were:

[0113] Good: The lotion has a blue sheen, produces little foam, and has no wax residue on the bottle walls;

[0114] Good: The lotion has a slight blue sheen, produces less foam, and has some wax residue on the bottle walls;

[0115] Poor: The emulsion has no blue light, produces a lot of foam, and has wax residue on the bottle wall.

[0116] (3) Acid and alkali resistance: The pH of the emulsion was adjusted to 4.0 and 8.0 respectively using 10% NaOH solution and 10% acetic acid solution. The state of the emulsion at different pH values ​​was observed and evaluated. The evaluation criteria are as follows:

[0117] Good: The emulsion showed no significant changes at pH 4.0 and 8.0.

[0118] Generally: slight particle precipitation may occur in the emulsion at pH 4.0 and 8.0.

[0119] Poor: The emulsion exhibits obvious stratification, wax precipitation, and coagulation at pH 4.0 and 8.0;

[0120] (4) Shear stability: After mixing 10g of wax emulsion with 90g of water evenly, the mixture was sheared at 20000rpm for 5min. The state of the emulsion was observed and evaluated. The evaluation criteria are as follows:

[0121] Good: The foam in the emulsion disappears immediately after dispersion, with no obvious changes;

[0122] Generally: After dispersion, the emulsion has slightly floating particles or a little foam on the surface;

[0123] Poor: The emulsion has many particles on the surface after dispersion, or produces a lot of foam.

[0124] The test results are shown in Table 1 below. Figure 1 As shown.

[0125] Table 1. Properties of wax emulsions for cotton fiber finishing

[0126]

[0127] As shown in the table, the average particle size of the wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing provided in this application is <100nm, exhibiting good storage stability, acid and alkali resistance, and shear resistance, thus overcoming the shortcomings of existing technologies. In Comparative Example 1, without the addition of carnauba wax, the particle size of the resulting wax emulsion increased significantly, and its stability decreased. In Comparative Examples 2-11, replacing the emulsifier with commonly used emulsifiers, using a single emulsifier, or changing the emulsifier ratio failed to form a stable emulsion, resulting in emulsions with poor stability. In Comparative Example 12, increasing the ratio of emulsifier to wax significantly increased the average particle size of the resulting wax emulsion. Although its storage stability and acid resistance were good, its alkali resistance and shear resistance decreased.

[0128] This demonstrates that by combining carnauba wax and paraffin wax with a specific ratio of emulsifier, the wax emulsion provided in this application can achieve an average particle size of less than 100 nm and good stability.

[0129] Experiment Example 2

[0130] The cotton fiber finishing wax emulsion prepared using the above examples and comparative examples is used to finish the cotton fiber, and the specific method is as follows:

[0131] Add 0.5g of cotton fiber finishing wax emulsion to 99.5g of soft water and stir until well mixed. Adjust the pH to 4.0 to obtain the finishing agent. Add 10g of yarn and place the flask in a 55℃ water bath for 21 minutes. After treatment, remove the yarn and dry it to obtain the finishing agent.

[0132] Test the dynamic friction coefficient, breaking strength, and softness of the yarn before and after finishing, and calculate the breaking strength loss rate;

[0133] The formula for calculating the fracture strength loss rate is: Fracture strength loss rate = (Initial fracture strength - Fracture strength after treatment) / Initial fracture strength × 100%;

[0134] Softness: The softness is assessed by touch, with 6 people rating the material and the average value is taken. The rating is based on three aspects: softness, smoothness, and fluffiness (1-5, with 1 being the best and 5 being the worst). (This rating method is a recognized and feasible test method in the textile industry.)

[0135] The results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0136] Table 2. Cotton Fiber Properties

[0137]

[0138] As shown in the table, the cotton fibers treated with the wax emulsion provided in this application exhibit good abrasion resistance and softness, with relatively little decrease in breaking strength. Compared to the examples, in Comparative Examples 2-11, replacing the emulsifier with a commonly used emulsifier, using a single emulsifier, or changing the emulsifier ratio resulted in wax emulsions that, after treating cotton fibers, retained less abrasion resistance, softness, and strength than the examples. In Comparative Example 12, increasing the ratio of emulsifier to wax resulted in a decrease in softness, abrasion resistance, and breaking strength retention of cotton fibers treated with the wax emulsions of Comparative Examples 2-11. This demonstrates that the wax emulsion provided in this application, prepared by combining carnauba wax and paraffin wax with a specific ratio of emulsifier, can also improve the abrasion resistance of cotton fibers and reduce the decrease in softness and strength.

[0139] The above description of the embodiments is provided to enable those skilled in the art to understand and use the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to these embodiments, and the general principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without inventive effort. Therefore, this application is not limited to the above embodiments, and any improvements and modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the disclosure of this application without departing from the scope of this application should be within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A wax emulsion for finishing cotton fibers, characterized in that, By weight, it contains the following ingredients: 36-38 parts of paraffin wax and carnauba wax; 4-6 parts emulsifier; Acid 0.01–0.2 parts; 56-60 parts water; The mass ratio of paraffin wax to carnauba wax is (8-12):1; The total amount of paraffin wax and carnauba wax to the emulsifier is in a mass ratio of (6-9):1; The emulsifier comprises a nonionic emulsifier and a cationic emulsifier in a mass ratio of (1-5):1; The nonionic emulsifier is a fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether; the structural formula of the cationic emulsifier is shown in formula (I) below: （I）； In formula (I), R1 is a saturated or unsaturated C10-C22 alkyl chain, R2 is methyl or ethyl, and X is selected from Cl, Br, I, HSO4 or NO3; The fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether is selected from a combination of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether A and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether B in a mass ratio of (0.1 to 10):1; the HLB value of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether A is 5 to 10; and the HLB value of fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether B is 12 to 18. The water is added partly in the form of hot water at 85-100°C and partly in the form of ice or an ice-water mixture, wherein the amount added in the form of ice or an ice-water mixture accounts for 2 / 5 of the total water volume.

2. The wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing according to claim 1, characterized in that, Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether A is selected from any one or a combination of several of AEO3, Pingpingjia O-3, and Pingpingjia O-5; Fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether B is selected from any one or a combination of several of the following: Pingpingjia O-15, Pingpingjia OS-15, Pingpingjia O-20, Pingpingjia O-30, oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 10EO, oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 25EO, and oleyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether 50EO.

3. The wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cationic emulsifier is selected from any one or a combination of several of the following: 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate, and 1-octadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride.

4. The wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acid is selected from any one or a combination of several of the following: glacial acetic acid or its solution, citric acid monohydrate or its solution, hydrochloric acid solution, and sulfuric acid solution.

5. The wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The solids content of the wax emulsion used for cotton fiber finishing is 40-45%.

6. The method for preparing the wax emulsion for cotton fiber finishing according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Mix paraffin wax, carnauba wax and nonionic emulsifier, heat to melt, and turn on stirring to 150 rpm to obtain mixture I; (2) Add cationic emulsifier to mixture I and mix evenly. Slowly increase the stirring speed to 300-800 rpm to obtain mixture II; (3) Maintain a stirring speed of 300-800 rpm, add water at 85-100℃ to mixture II, and continue stirring for 20-50 min after the addition is complete to obtain mixture III; (4) When the temperature of mixture III drops to 75-80℃, add acid and stir for 10-20 minutes; maintain a stirring speed of 300-800 rpm during this process; (5) Reduce the stirring speed to 100-200 rpm, then add ice or ice-water mixture, and at the same time stop heating and turn on circulation to cool down to below 35°C.

7. The preparation method according to claim 6, characterized in that, In step (1), the heating and melting temperature is 85-90℃.

8. The preparation method according to claim 6, characterized in that, In step (3), the water addition time is controlled to be 40-60 minutes.

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