The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Darrell J Donaldson

Wilson A Reeves

Donald J Daigle

George L Drake

John V Beninate

Robert J Harper, Jr

Clark M Welch

Bethlehem K Andrews

George L Drake, Jr

Floyd L Normand

Nancy M Morris

Catalysts for the rapid esterification and crosslinking of fibrous cellulose in textile form by polycarboxylic acids at elevated temperatures are disclosed. The catalysts are acidic or weakly basic salts selected from the alkali metal dihydrogen phosphates and alkali metal salts of phosphorous, hypophosphorous, and polyphosphoric acids. Suitable polycarboxylic acids include saturated, unsaturated and aromatic acids, as well as alpha-hydroxy acids. The textiles so treated exhibit high levels of wrinkle resistance and smooth drying properties durable to repeated laundering in alkaline detergents, and do not contain or release formaldehyde. Textiles treated by the polycarboxylic acids and alkali metal phosphite or hypophosphite catalysts, and having residues of these catalysts present, may be identified by infrared spectroscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, because these textiles exhibit the presence in infrared spectra of the phosphorus-hydrogen bond and the ester groups of cellulose crosslinked with the polycarboxylic acids, and the presence of trivalent phosphorus in spectra from electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis.

Catalysts and processes for formaldehyde-free durable press finishing of

Smolder resistance is imparted to cotton and cotton-containing fabrics by applying a certain boron-nitrogen-phosphorus system to the fabric, employing conventional equipment. An inorganic boron compound is placed in solution with a phosphorus-containing compound, then a nitrogen-containing compound is added. The aqueous mixture is applied using conventional textile equipment, dried, and cured by standard methods.

Method of imparting smolder resistance to cotton-containing textiles

Textile treating compositions containing the elements phosphorus, nitrogen, and bromine and the processes for imparting flame resistance to organic fibrous materials have been prepared. This is accomplished by impregnating the textile treating compositions consisting of (1) tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine mixed with nitrogenous compounds containing at least two members of the group hydrogen and methylol radicals (--CH.sub.2 OH) attached to trivalent nitrogen atoms, or (2) soluble methylol phosphine adducts which contain one or more methylol phosphine radicals (P--CH.sub.2 OH) prepared by reacting tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine with an amide or amine which contains one or more hydrogens attached to a trivalent nitrogen with an organic bromine containing material with at least 10% bromine in the form of bromine atoms attached to carbon atoms, in proportions selected so that generally the phosphorus contained in structures of the group (--CH.sub.2).sub.3 P amount to a small portion of the total weight of the mixture, and heating to cause insolubilization in or on the fibrous structure.

Phosphorus, nitrogen, bromine containing polymers and process for

Methylol phosphines, methylol phosphines in combination with amine or amido compounds or water soluble adducts of these methylol phosphines and amides or amines when mixed and reacted with mono, di or polyisocyanates wherein the isocyanate groups are attached to carbon atoms are particularly valuable for the preparation of thermosetting flame resistant polymers. The polymers which are produced are crosslinked phosphorus and nitrogen containing polymers in which the reoccurring structure units each contain a phosphorus atom, that is a component of a radical of the group tris(methylene)-phosphine (--CH.sub.2).sub.3 P and is linkd to at least one isocyanate radical by connecting urethane structure. The polymer forming solutions are also valuable for the preparation of flame-, glow-, wrinkle- and shrink-resistant textiles by impregnating fabrics with these solutions and causing reaction and polymer formation by application of heat.

Fire resistant organic products and method for production

Textile treating compositions containing the elements phosphorus, nitrogen, and bromine and the processes for imparting flame resistance to organic fibrous materials have been prepared. This is accomplished by impregnating the textile treating compositions consisting of (1) tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine mixed with nitrogenous compounds containing at least two members of the group hydrogen and methylol radicals (--CH.sub.2 OH) attached to trivalent nitrogen atoms, or (2) soluble methylol phosphine adducts which contain one or more methylol phosphine radicals (P--CH.sub.2 OH) prepared by reacting tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine with an amide or amine which contains one or more hydrogens attached to a trivalent nitrogen with an organic bromine containing material with at least 10% bromine in the form of bromine atoms attached to carbon atoms, in proportions selected so that generally the phosphorus contained in structures of the group (--CH.sub.2).sub.3 P amounts to a small portion of the total weight of the mixture, and heating to cause insolubilization in or on the fibrous structure.

Phosphorus, nitrogen, bromin containing polymers and process for

Organic fibrous materials especially cellulosic and other textiles are rendered flame resistant upon treatment with an emulsion containing either (1) an organic bromine containing material having at least 65% bromine such as polyvinylbromide, (2) polyvinylbromide and an N-methylol agent such as trimethylolmethylglycoluril, (3) polyvinylbromide and a metal oxide such as antimony oxide, and (4) polyvinylbromide, N-methylol agent and metal oxide. The emulsions are applied to various fibers by the pad-dry-cure technique. The finish contained the added quality of wrinkle resistance and rot resistance. The treated textiles, including polyester/cotton blends remain highly flame resistant through innumerable laundry cycles.

Growing community of inventors

Metairie, LA, United States of America

Darrell J Donaldson