Composition for drop on demand finishing of a textile article

Abstract

A finishing composition is described for deposition by dot-on-demand inkjet technique onto a textile substrate. The composition comprising a dispersion or emulsion of a functional finishing agent in a vehicle, wherein the size of particles in the dispersion or emulsion of the finishing composition is less than about 2 microns. By ensuring sufficient fineness of the particles, effective and reliable droplet deposition may proceed without clogging. Of significance, the composition should not be subject to flocculation or sedimentation during use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to finishing textiles and more particularly to finishing of textiles by digital droplet deposition using drop-on-demand inkjet (DoD) techniques. It relates furthermore to finishing compositions specially adapted to this purpose and methods of performing such finishing.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The production of textiles traditionally takes place in a number of distinct processes: the fibre production; spinning of the fibres; the manufacture of cloth (for instance woven or knitted fabrics, tufted material or felt and non-woven materials); the upgrading of the cloth; and the production or manufacture of end products. Textile upgrading is a totality of operations which have the purpose of giving textile the appearance and physical characteristics that are desired by the user. Textile upgrading comprises of, among other things, preparing, bleaching, optically whitening, colou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024]The term “finishing composition” herein encompasses aqueous solutions, aqueous dispersions, organic solutions, organic dispersions, curable liquid mixtures and molten compounds that comprise an active component. According to an important advantage of the invention, the composition may be non-reactive with the substrate. In this manner, the composition may be applied to a greater diversity of substrates than would otherwise be the case.

[0025]Furthermore, the term “textile” is intended to encompass all forms of textile article, including woven textiles, knitted textiles and non-woven textiles. The term is intended to exclude fibrous articles having two-dimensional rigidity such as carpets, paper and cardboard. These fibrous articles, although sometimes referred to as textiles, are internally linked in such a way that they maintain a substantially fixed two-dimensional form. Even though they may be flexible in a third dimension they are not generally free to stretch or distort within the plane of the fibre layer, as is inherent in a true textile. Preferably the textile substrate is more than 100 meters in length and may be provided on a roll having a width of greater than 1 meter. Preferred textiles comprise cotton and / or other treated cellulosic fibres and also polyesters, polyamides, polyacrylnitril and acetates and triacetates or blends thereof.

[0026]According to a preferred embodiment for use with most common finishing agents, the vehicle is distilled, de-mineralized and / or de-ionized water, preferably present at between 60 and 90 wt % in the jetted composition.

[0027]According to the present invention there may also be provided a co-solvent. Suitable co-solvents include 2-pyrrolidone and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) present at from 0 to 5 wt %. The co-solvent can be used to improve the solubility of the finishing agent and / or its compatibility with other agents. Incompatibility between materials is a common formulation issue.

[0028]According to an important aspect of the present invention, considerably greater quantities of residual solids may be deposited according to the present composition. The finishing composition may comprise a total of residual solids in the jetted composition of more than 5 wt %, preferably more than 10 wt % and most preferably more than 15 wt %. This leads to considerably less energy use in drying and allows greater operational speed. Particularly in the case of piezo actuation, up to 20% residual solids may be jetted. In this example, the particular case of UV cure formulations is excluded, as with these formulations effectively 100% residual solids may remain on curing.

[0029]According to a yet further feature of the invention, the finishing composition may further comprise a humectant, preferably present at from 10 to 35 wt % in the jetted composition. The humectant may usually be in the form of a low volatility, high boiling point liquid that helps prevent crusting of the nozzle when the jets are not active. Suitable humectants for water based systems include polyhydric alcohols, glycols, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, glycerol and n-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP). Although with certain formulations it may appear that more than 5% humectant is being used, it is in fact the case that the same material may also be present as a viscosity modifier.

Problems solved by technology

Even though they may be flexible in a third dimension they are not generally free to stretch or distort within the plane of the fibre layer, as is inherent in a true textile.

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