GB1118876A - Improvements in the treatment of synthetic polyester shaped articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A composition suitable for treating filaments, fibres, fabrics and films made from a synthetic, essentially linear, crystalline polyester containing an optical brightener, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing a water-insoluble, cocrystallizable polymeric compound which is a copolyester containing at least one polyoxyalkylene group and sufficient repeat units identical with those forming the crystalline portions of the polyester from which the treated materials are made to confer crystallizability on the copolymer, 0.2-1% by weight based on the weight of the polymeric compound of a hindered phenol antioxidant and 0.2-2% by weight base on the weight of the polymeric compound of a compound A having the formula <FORM:1118876/C3/1> , <FORM:1118876/C3/2> , <FORM:1118876/C3/3> and <FORM:1118876/C3/4> in which R, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are alkyl or aryl groups or are such that RH, R1H, R2H, R3H groups or are such that RH, R1H, R2H, R3H and R4H are plyalkylene glycols, or being dipropylene glycol pentol triphosphite having the formula <FORM:1118876/C3/5> The hindered phenol may be 2,4-dimethyl - 6-a -methylcyclohexylphenol, 2,6-ditertiarybutyl 2,6-ditertiarybutyl 4 - methylphenol, bis - (2 - hydroxy - 3 - a - methylcyclohexyl - 5 - methyl phenyl) - methane or bis - (3 - methyl - 6 - tert. - butylphenol) 4,41disulphide and suitable phosphorus compounds are di-isodecylphenyl phosphite, dioctadecylpentaerythritol disphosphite, tris-dipropyleneglycol phosphate, dipropylene glycolpentol triphosphite and tris-dipropylene glycol phosphite. The polyoxyalkylene glycol group of the co-crystallizable polymeric compound may be derived from a polyoxyalkylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 300 or above and the relative viscosity of the co-crystallizable polymeric compound containing at least one polyoxyalkylene as measured in a 1% by weight solution in orthochlorophenol at 25 DEG C. may be not less than 1.1.ALSO:Filaments, fibres and fabrics made from a synthetic, essentially linear, crystalline polyester containing an optical brightener are rendered hydrophilic and antistatic by treating them with an aqueous dispersion containing a water insoluble, co-crystallisable polymeric compound which is a copolymer containing at least one polyoxyalkylene group and sufficient repeat units identical with those forming the crystalline portions of the polyester from which the treated materials are made to confer crystallisability on the copolymer, 0.2-1% by weight based on the weight of the polymeric compound of a hindered phenol antioxidant and 1.2-2% by weight based on the weight of the polymeric compound of a compound A having the formula <FORM:1118876/D1-D2/1> <FORM:1118876/D1-D2/2> <FORM:1118876/D1-D2/3> in which R, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are alkyl or aryl groups or are such that RH, R1H, R2H, R3H and R4H are polyalkylene glycols, or being dipropylene glycol pentol triphosphite having the formula <FORM:1118876/D1-D2/4> and then heating them at a temperature above 90 DEG C. The optical brightener, e.g. 1:2-bis (6 - methyl benzoxazol - 2 - yl) ethylene, 2:5 - bis (tert. butyl - benzoxazol - 2 - yl) thiophene, 2 - cyano - 4 - naphthotriazoyl - 41 - chloro stilbene and 3\sv - methylpyrazol - 1\sv - yl - 3 - phenylcoumarin, may be added to the starting materials or to the final polyester or may be applied to the materials treated during or after formation. The hindered phenol may be 2, 4 - dimethyl - 6 - a - methylcyclohexylphenol, 2, 6 - ditertiarybutyl - 4 - methylphenol, bis (2 - hydroxy - 3 - a - methylcyclohexyl - 5 -methyl phenyl) - methane or bis (3 - methyl - 6 - tert. butylphenol) - 4 4\sv - disulphide and suitable phosphorus compounds are di-isodecylphenyl phosphite, dioctadecyl pentaerythritol disphosphite, tris - dipropyleneglycol phosphite, dipropylene glycolpentol triphosphite and tris - dipropylene glycol phosphite. The polyoxyalkylene glycol group of the co-crystallisable polymeric compound may be derived from a polyoxyalkylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 300 or above and the viscosity ratio of the cocrystallisable polymeric compound containing at least one polyoxyalkylene as measured in a 1% by weight solution in orthochlorophenol at 25 DEG C may be not less than 1.1. Polyester fibres alone or in admixture with cotton, wool or regenerated cellulose fibres may be treated.