Fabric treatment for stain release

Abstract

A fabric treatment composition that includes a hydrophobic agent with a melting point or glass transition temperature below 100° C. and optionally, a fluoropolymer, that imparts fabric protection benefits, including improved stain and soil resistance, oil repellency, water repellency, softness, wrinkle and damage resistance, and better handfeel to treated fabrics. Compositions may further include a zeta potential modifier in an amount sufficient to adjust the zeta potential of the composition to be positive and greater, than zero millivolts. The composition can be used as a pretreatment prior to drying or ironing, through soaking or direct spray application, or used prior to or during the drying cycle of an automatic drying machine or clothing refresher machine, or used prior to or in conjunction with an ironing device. The fabric treatment is complete when the fabric treated by contact with the protective composition is then cured by drying and/or heating. The invention further includes a kit providing a means for convenient dispensing of the protective composition to effect treatment and curing of fabric articles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application filed Apr. 9, 2002, Ser. No. 60 / 371,452, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and of U.S. patent application filed Jan. 8, 2003, Ser. No. 10 / 338,350, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and of U.S. patent application filed Mar. 22, 2004, Ser. No. 10 / 806,850, which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a fabric treatment composition for imparting fabric protection benefits, including stain and soil resistance, oil repellency, water repellency, softness, wrinkle and damage resistance, and improved handfeel. The composition can be used as a pretreatment prior to washing, through soaking or direct spray application, or added to a treatment cycle, such as the wash or rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine, or used prior to or during the drying cycle of an automatic drying machine or refresher mach...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention is based in part on the discovery that compositions containing a hydrophobic agent and an optional fluoropolymer when applied to fabrics and cured by drying and/or heating will impart numerous fabric protection benefits, including stain resistance, oil repellency, water repellency, softness, wrinkle and damage resistance, and improved handfeel. Fabric protection benefits include minimiz

Problems solved by technology

Usually, a thick or uneven coat results, which gives areas of incomplete oil and water repellency and a fabric hand feel that lacks softness.

These products can also decrease the porosity of fabric, resulting in uncomfortable conditions for the wearer during use.

An additional drawback of direct application products is that they cannot be used on fabrics that are already stained or soiled because they lock in stains and soils.

Additionally the coating should be cured at temperatures that are attainable in com

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