US3778226A - Durable-press and soil-release compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A durable-press soil-release agent comprising a durable-press aminoplast resin precursor, a selected water soluble organic acid or sulfonic acid salt containing amino or hydroxyl groups, and a selected surface active agent.

Description

I United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,778,226

Kissa Dec. 11, 1973 [54] DURABLE-PRESS AND SOIL-RELEASE 3,377,249 4/1968 Marco 8/1 16.3 COMPOSITIONS 3,521,993 7/1970 Swidler et al..... 8/116.3 3,165,374 1/1965 Hushebeck 13/1163 Inventor: Erik Klssa, Wflmmgton, 1361- 3,429,651 2/1969 r1161 et a1 8/1 16.3 [73] Assignee: E 1. du Pont de Nemours and C0., FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS wllmmgton 1,081,034 11/1965 Great Britain 8/116.3 [22] Filed: Apr. 15, 1970 OTHER PUBLICATIONS [21] Appl Marsh, J. T., Crease Resisting Fabrics, New York,

- Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 133-140 (1962) [52] US. Cl 8/1l5.5, 8/115.6, 8/l15.7,

8/1 16.2, 8/116.3, 8/D1G. 4, 8/DIG. 21, Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Lesmes 3 -7, 252/8-75, 252/8-3, Assistant Examiner-J. Cannon 252/8.9, 252/431, 252/434, 252/438, Att0rneyGa1'y A. Samuels 252/440, 260/294 R, 260/3097, 38/144 [51] Int. Cl. D06m 15/56, D06m 15/58 [58] Field of Search 8/ll5.6, 116.3, 116.2, [57] ABSTRACT 3/1155 115 1 131; 2 0/294; 252/8 7 A durable-press soil-release agent. comprising a dura- 3 75 g3 39 431 434 43 440 ble-press aminoplast resin precursor, a selected water soluble organic acid or sulfonic acid salt containing [56] References Ci amino or hydroxyl groups, and a selected surface active agent.

3 Claims, No Drawings DURABLE-PRESS AND SOIL-RELEASE COMPOSITIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a. Field of the Invention This invention relates to novel compositions for imparting a permanent crease (durable-press) and soilrelease properties to textile fabrics. More specifically, this invention is directed to compositions comprising a durable-press aminoplast resin precursor, an organic carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid salt, containing an amino or hydroxyl group, and a selected surface active agent.

b. Description of the Prior Art Permanent press or durable-press treatments of fabrics have gained widespread acceptance as a means of imparting permanent creases in textiles such as trousers, shirts, blouses and the like, even after repeated washing and cleaning. However, these treatments have resulted in poor soil release properties in the treated fabrics, i.e., once the treated fabric is soiled, the fabric is difficult to clean. There has, therefore, been a need for a composition that is compatible with the permanent crease resin and which promotes the removal of soil particles or stains from the fibers making up the fabric. Attempts to provide such a soil-release agent compatible with a durable-press resin have in general been unsatisfactory, leading to pad bath instability (i.e., incompatibility of ingredients in the bath used to pad or treat the textile), running of treated fabric, poor hand in the fabric (i.e., stiffness of the treated fabric), or slimy feel to washed textiles.

Accordingly, it is one purpose of this invention to provide a durable-press soil-release composition which results in treatment procedures and treated textiles that are free of the above listed deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A durable-press soil-release composition comprising:

A. a permanerltpress aminoplast resin precursor that is formed by reacting an aqueous solution of formaldehyde, glyoxal and urea in a mole ratio of about 2.52.0/1.0/1.0 at a pH of about 4 to about 6 and at a temperature of between about 25-95C. for between about one-half hour and 72 hours;

B. a water soluble organic acid or salt thereof selected from 1. a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of between two and nine carbon atoms which can contain up to three carboxyl groups and which contains between one and five substituents selected from hydroxyl, amino or both,

2. an alkali metal, ammonium or lower alkyl substituted ammonium salt of a hydrocarbon sulfonic acid of between two and ten carbon atoms, which can contain up to four sulfonic groups and between one and six substituents selected from hydroxyl, amino or both,

3. proline or,

4. hydroxyproline C. at least one surface active agent selected from 1. anionic surface active agents selected from RO- SO M, R(SO M) RO(C H O),,SO M,

wherein R is alkyl, alkaryl or alkenyl of 10-26 carbon atoms; M is a cation selected'from alkali metal, ammonium, ammonium substituted with l-4 lower alkyl groups, or ammonium substituted with 1-3 lower hydroxyalkyl groups, R is alkyl of two to 10 carbon atoms, x is a cardinal number of 1 through 6, n is a car dinal number of4 through 40, y is l or 2, z is a cardinal number of 1 through 5 and a is a cardinal number of 1 through 3; or

2. amphoteric surface active agents selected from where R" is alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms and b is 1 or 2; and

where R" is alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms; the weight ratio of organic acid to durable-press resin being between 1:12 and 10:3, and the weight ratio of surface ac- 'tive agent to durable-press resin being between 1:60 to DESCRIPTION The compositions of this invention impart durable press characteristics to textiles while at the same time imparting soil-release properties The durable-press aminoplast resin precursor is de scribed in greater detail in U. S. Pat. No. 3,049,446. The product of the reaction described is probably 1,3- bis-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5-dihydroxy-Z-imidazolidinone,

The reaction probably produces some low molecular weight polymer, however, the major part of the crosslinking of the precursor occurs after application of the composition of this invention to the textile when the precursor is cured at elevated temperatures. The liquid product can be mixed, after cooling, with the other ingredients of the compositions of this invention or may be diluted with water before such mixing.

The water soluble organic acid component of the composition of this invention are all known carboxylic acids or sulfonic acid salts. Representative such components include glycolic acid [HOCl-l CO H], lactic acid [CH CH(OH)CO H], glyceric acid [HOCH C- H(OH)CO,H], 3-hydroxypropionic acid [HOCH CH- CO H], gluconic acid [HOCH,(CHOH) CO,H], glycine [NH Cl-l CO l-ll, B-alanine [NHzCHgCHzCOgH], 4-aminobutyric acid [NH (CH CO H], 2-

3 aminobutyric acid [CH CH CH(NH )CO l-I], 2- aminooctanoic acid [CI-I (CH CH(NH )CO H],

)CO I-I], proline (2-carboxypyrrolidine) and hydroxy proline (4-hydroxy-2-carboxypyrrolidine), tartaric acid [HO CCI-I(OH)CH(OH)CO H], malic acid [I-IO CC- H(OH)CH CO H], citric acid [HO CCI-I C(OH)- (CO H)CH CO H], isocitric acid [HO CCI-I(OH)CH- (CO H)CH CO H], glutamic acid [HO CCH(NH )(CI-I CO H], aspartic acid [HO CCH(NH )CH CO I-I], dihydroxyglutaric acid, taurine [H N -Cl-I CH SO sodium isethionate [HOCH CH SO Na], sodium l-hydroxy-3-propane sulfonate. Preferably they are saturated hydrocarbon acids and salts of two to 6 carbon atoms, thereof. Preferably also the substituents on the acid or sulfonic salt are hydroxyl or amino.

The R groups of the anionic surface active agents are represented by alkyl, alkaryl, or alkenyl. Representative alkyl groups include decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, docosyl, tetracosyl, hexacosyl, and the like. Preferably the aryl group in the alkaryl substituent in phenyl or naphthyl, Representative such alkaryl groups include dodecylphenyl, isopropylnaphthyl, butylphenyl, eicosylphenyl, methylnaphthyl, hexadecylnaphthyl, and the like. Representative alkenyl groups include oleyl, decenyl, hexaeicosenyl and the like. Thus, the alkyl, alkaryl and alkenyl groups may contain straight chain moieties or branched chain moieties. Moreover, the CI-I chains may be aliphatic or cycloaliphatic in nature. Preferred surface active agents include the sodium salts of alkanesulfonic acids of the formula R"'(SO ,Na),, where R is alkyl of 10-26 carbon atoms (most preferably 12-20), and x is a cardinal number of 1 through 3; the sodium salts of sulfate esters of fatty alcohols of the formula R' O- SO Na where R is alkyl of 10-20 carbon atoms; and the sodium sulfate mono-esters of ethoxylated alkylphenols of the formula R O(C H O),,SO Na wherein R is alkylphenyl of 12-20 carbon atoms and n is a cardinal number of 4-40.

The cations used in the anionic surface active agent can be alkali metal, e.g., Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs; ammonium or lower alkyl substituted ammonium, i.e. R "'N where each R is hydrogen or lower alkyl (C -(I or lower hydroxy alkyl substituted ammonium, i.e. R NH where each R'' is hydrogen or C C hydroxyalkyl.

In the compositions of this invention the three ingredients are combined in the weight ratios as desired in the treating baths from which the textiles are padded. The compositions, on a dry solids or active component basis, should contain from 1/12 to 10/3 parts organic acid per part of durable-press resin and from l/60 to /1 part of anionic or amphoteric surface active agent per part of durable-press resin. That is the ratio of organic acid to durable-press resin will be from 1:12 to :3, while the ratio of surface active agent to durablepress resin will be from 1:60 to 5: 1. These ratios are all calculated on a dry solids or active ingredient basis and it must be borne in mind that the permanent press resin and surface active agents used herein may not be 100 percent active ingredient products. Indeed some may be percent or more inactive ingredient.

Preferred compositions of this invention include those wherein the water soluble organic acid is the saturated hydrocarbyl carboxylic acid defined as in the Summary above, especially those where the acid contains between two and six carbons and between one and five such substituents. Most preferably the acid is gluconic acid or tartaric acid. Preferred compositions of this invention also include those wherein the surface active agent is anionic, especially wherein the surface active agent is a mixture of C -C alkane sulfonate salts of an alkali metal. The most preferred composition of this invention is one comprising about 1 part of gluconic acid (component B) and about 0.5 part of the C C alkane sulfonate sodium salt mixture per part of the durable press resin precursor.

In preparing the compositions of this invention for application to textiles, the solids or active ingredients are diluted with water to the desired concentration. This concentration will thus depend on how much is to be applied to the textile. Preferably the amount of durable-press resin precursor present in the pad bath should be such as to supply from about 3 to about 12 percent on weight of fabric (OWF) of the resin; while the amount of the water soluble organic acid should be sufficient to supply from about 1 to about 10 percent OWF of the acid, and the amount of the surface active agent should supply from about 0.2 to about 15 percent OWF. The preferred composition will be such as to supply about 6 to about 8 percent OWF of resin, about 8 percent OWF of gluconic acid and about 5 percent OWF of the mixed C C alkane sulfonate.

The amount of each ingredient of the composition of this invention needed in the pad bath (called on weight of bath, or OWB) to provide a desired OWF figure can be determined by the formula percent OWF percent OWB X wet pickup/) Percent wet pickup is the percent increase in weight of the textile just after treatment compared to its dry weight prior to treatment. Thus if a percent OWF of 10 percent is desired, and if the fabric just after immersion in the bath is squeezed to provide a percent wet pickup of 50 percent, then the percent OWB must be 20 percent, and the components are added to the pad bath to provide a 20 percent OWB.

The compositions are generally applied to textiles by padding or dipping, removing excess liquid from the textile to obtain the required wet pickup, and drying the textile. In commercial practice, the drying temperature is usually kept to a minimum to avoid curing at this point. The curing of the treated textile can occur prior to any cutting or shaping operation (called precure) or it may occur after the textile is converted into a garment and creases have been pressed in (called delayed or post cure). Curing temperatures are usually in the range of 220 to 340F. (104174C.).

In addition to the compositions of the invention, pad baths from which the compositions are padded onto the textiles may also contain additional optional components. One type of such component is an acid catalyst sometimes used to aid curing of durable press resins. Since the compositions of this invention contain acids as a necessary component, the acid curing catalysts are not required except for those amino acids which normally exist as internal salts, for example taurine, and the sulfonic acid salts. The amount of catalyst may be in the range of 1/30 to one-third part catalyst per part durable-press resin. Known useful catalysts include acidic metal salts such as magnesium chloride, zinc nitrate or zinc chloride, amine hydrochlorides and mixtures of aluminum glycollate and glycollic acid.

Another optional component is a buffer which may be used to control the pH of the pad bath to avoid premature curing of the resin. The type and amount of buffer used will depend on the original and desired pH in the bath.

The compositions of this invention are primarily useful on textiles of cotton or hydrophobic fibers such as polyesters or polyamides, or to blends thereof. Heretofore, permanent press resins were not generally applied to pure cotton fabrics because of the loss of strength by the cotton after curing. The compositions of this invention may be used on cotton with less strength loss.

As was indicated earlier, the compositions of this invention impart soil-release properties to permanent press fabrics. Basically, this simply means that fabrics treated with the compositions of this invention are more readily and effectively cleaned by laundering than fabrics treated with the permanent press resin only. The effect is reasonably permanent, that is the soil-release properties persist through a fairly large number of launderings. The hand of fabrics treated with the compositions of the invention has been found quite acceptable. Selectively in choosing the surface active agent will help in achieving the hand desired.

The Examples which follow illustrate the compositions of this invention and their use. The method used in the Examples for testing treated fabrics to determine the ease or difficulty with which stains are removed by normal washing procedures employs the reflectance of treated and untreated samples as determined instrumentally. The testing methods used in the following Examples use percent reflectance as determined with a Photovolt Reflectance Meter, Model 670, Photovolt Corp., New York, N. Y. The expression Soiling Value has been defined as reflectance of soiled, washed sample reflectance of unsoiled, washed sample 2X providing an objective, quantitative measure of soiling value. Since the numerical value of this expression as calculated above is usually fractional, the number used to contrast the effect of various treatments shown in the examples is W X The nature of the cloth used in testing its weave, density, weight etc. has an effect on the absolute values attained and shown by W X 10 therefore an absolute value denoting satisfactory soil resistance cannot be given. The contrast between good and bad treatments is quite apparent however by this measure, lower numbers indicating better soil release properties.

The recently developed AATCC test for soil-release described in Textile Chemist and Colorist l, 45

% reflectance of soiled, washed sample) reflectance of unsoiled, washed sample) (1969) gives results parallel to the test described herein but depends on visual rather than instrumental (Reflectance Meter) measurement. i

The oily soil used in most of the tests in the following Examples was used oil," i.e.,.oil that has been used in automobile engines. This oil offers a more stringent test than Nujol, which is sometimes used. Laundering of the samples is carried out in a Sears Roebuck & Co. Kenmore Model 600 automatic washer using AATCC Standard Detergent 124 (with Brightener), and drying with a Kenmore" Model 600 Automatic Dryer. The test procedure is as follows: Soil is applied either before laundering or after one or more llaunderings to a one 6% inch by 6% inch swatch of each fabric to be tested, by mounting the swatch evenly on a 5 inch embroidery hoop and placing 0.10 ml, by means of a microburet, of the oily soil on the center of the swatch. After the oil has soaked into the cloth, the swatch is hung by two adjacent corners to complete the wicking and diffusion of the oil in the cloth for 18 hours. After 18 hours of the total wicking time, the swatches are washed in the washer by filling the washer with water at 55C., adding g. of detergent, agitating to dissolve the detergent, adding as ballast 4.5 lbs. of cotton poplin cut in 24 inch X 36 inch sections, and finally adding the soiled swatches. The washer is run through its normal wash cycle, and the swatches are then dried in the automatic electric dryer for about 25 minutes. The reflectance of the soil treated area and of the unsoiled area is measured, making 4 measurements of the soiled part and two measurements of the unsoiled area. The instrument is calibrated between readings for the different swatches to avoid drift as a source of instrument error.

Many of the Examples, in defining the anionic surface active agent present, refer to it as White Oil Number 30, 40 or 50. The White Oils are petroleum products which are mixtures of aliphatic and alicyclic branched chain hydrocarbons having definite specific gravities, boiling ranges and viscosity. The number (30, 40 or 50) of the White Oil is the Saybolt Viscosity Number. Although the composition of these White Oils can vary somewhat, in general, No. 30 White Oil contains a major amount of C -C hydrocarbons; No. 40 White Oil contains a major amount of C -C hydrocarbons and No. 50 White Oil contains a major amount of C C hydrocarbons.

In the Examples, percents and parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1 A solution was prepared containing 18.0 percent Permafresh 168, a durable-press resin composition sold by the Sun Chemical Corp., New York, N. Y., and believed to be awater solution containing about 40 percent of OHzOH I I-OHOH 1 I-CHOH (3112011 and prepared according to procedures described in US. Pat. No. 3,049,446, about 8.0 percent of a 31.5 percent aqueous solution (2.52 percent active ingredient) of sodium alkane sulfonates derived from No. 40 White Oil, and 0.04 gram molecular weight of an organic acid (which is specifically named in Table I below) per 100 grams of solution, the remainder being Tficflrbellylie 86 38 76 Tarlromc 109 73 86 water. A 65/35 polyester/cotton undyed outerwear Mane 77 54 78 cloth of medium weight was padded in the solution and Tartaric 42 70 x3 Citric 29 57 76 squeezed to 100 percent w et p1ckup, then placed '11- Aspamc 77 64 81 mediately In an oven at 280 F. for 6 minutes to dry and 5 Glutamic 76 59 90 cure in one operation. The treated cloth was then i 62 lsethromc acid.sodium tested for its SO11 release properties as described above. salt 85 33 H9 Table I below gives soiling value for a number of com- Y Y- pane Sulfonrc 90 81 73 positions which contain the organic acid listed. The Acidsodium first column of numbers in Table I lists the soiling values obtained with the various acids when the treated EXAMPLE 2 fabric Sample was solled with 5011, then laundered, This experiment illustrates soiling values on the h te'sted y reflectance mehsuremehis; The Second 65/35 polyester/cotton fabric of Example 1 obtained and third columns of numbers list the soiling values obusing p f h 1 (described in Example 1 as mined when treated fabric Samples were lauhdfil'ed 15 the durable-press resin, either gluconic or tartaric acid Once and five respectlvelyi before exposure to the the quantities shown are 100 percent of technical y 5011, and Subsequently laundered Once and tested grade chemicals and the same alkane sulfonate surby reflectance meas When cloth samples were factant described in Example 1. The first two tests are treated with the same solution described above but i ff controls, h fi t w of figures in Table II without the soil release composition of the invention sh win soilin values obtained with durable-press the soiling values obtained were in the range of resin only, and the second row of figures showing soil- 250-260. ing values obtained with a coapplication of the surface active agent and the resin but without the organic acid TABLE I of the composition of the invention. Acid Soiling Value w x 10 Catalyst UTX used in these and some of the other One Five tests herein is an amine hydrochloride similar to those Laundflmg Lmmdermgs disclosed on lines 35 and 36 of column 6 of U. S. Pat. Cure l? 9 No. 3,049,446. Catalyst X4 is a zinc nitrate catalyst.

Sorhng Soilmg Glycolic 69 66 75 Lactic 62 64 63 EXAMPLE 3 3-Hydroxypropionic 74 67 67 Glyceri? 87 :2 g? This experiment illustrates treatment as in Example 8:33; i; 59 33 2, but using 65/35 polyester/cotton light-weight shirt- 3-Aminopropanoic ing fabric. The surfactant was the same as used in Ex- 79 91 ample l and Example 2. Results are shown in Table III. 4-Ammobutanolc 74 67 104 Aconitic 78 e7 The acid used was gluconic acid.

TABLE 11 Percent on weight of fabric Soiling value, W 103 Surface active agent (31.5% active After 1 laundering 5 launderings Resin (about 40% active ingredient) Acid ingredient) cure before soiling before soiling 18.0, Permafresh 168; 2.4, Catalyst X4 5 18.0, Permairesh 168; 2.4, Catalyst UTX 1 3 18.0, Permafresh 168 9.0, gluconic acid. 69 18.0, Iermafresh 168. ..d0 87 20.0, Perrnal'resh 168. 4.0, gluconic acid. 65 25.0, Permafresh 168. 8.0, gluconic acid. 79 15.0, Pcrrnafresh 168. 1.0, gluconic acid. 105 15.0, Permafresh 168. 2.0, gluconic acid. ..do 32 15.0, Permafresh 168. 1.0, tartaric acid.... ..d0 32 15.0, Permafrcsh 168- 15.0, gluconic acid. 10.0, 6 min. at 289 F 78 18.0, Permafrcsh 168.-. 8.0 tartaric acid 8.0, 6min. at 250 F.; 6min. at 340 F 8.0, Permafrcsh 168 4.0, gluconic acid 2.0, 6 min. at 280 F 100 TAB LE III Percent on weight of fabric Resin, Perma- Soiling values, W 10 EXAMPLE 4 This experiment illustrates a number of surface active'agents in the compositions of the invention. The

Alkane sulfonate from largely I I I20 No. 50 White Oil contains unreacted oils and sodium laurate about 50% sulfonated product 5 resin used in these tests was Permafresh 183, another The relatively poor results when octane and butane product of Sun Chemical Co. having essentially the sulfonates were tested are apparent, these compounds same character as Permafresh 168 already denot being withi'n the definition of the surface active scribed. The acid used was tartaric acid. The amounts agent employed were 12.0 percent on weight of fiber of resin The next table, Table IV-B, shows test results with a precursor (which contained about 40 percent active number of common alkaryl sulfonate surface active ingredient), 2.0 percent on weight of fiber of tartaric agents. acid, and 2 percent on weight of fiber of the surface active agent (the active ingredient percent being shown TABLE in the following tables. The fabric was dipped and squeezed to 100 percent wet pickup and placed in an Soiling Valuew x to oven at 340F. for 10 minutes for drying and cure. All 24% Surfactant Catalyst Catalyst tests were made with used oil as the 5011 applied after UTX laundering the treated fabric once. The soiled fabric Disodium dodcyldiphenylethm 70 H0 was then laundered once and tested for soiling value. disulfonate 45% active ingre- The surface active agents tested were all commercial i gg fiz g rgg products. Application of resin was made both with and g h g lf t 70 70 without a curing catalyst (catalyst UTX) and illustrates in isopropyl alcohol 32% active ingre ient the fact thattheir use may be optional, depending on lsopmpylated naphthalene Sub no 150 the compositions of the invention that are used. Results 25 some acid in isopropyl alcohol are shown in the following tables of soiling value tests f 1 g mgretiflem 6o 80 on 65/35 l )acron lcotton, the outerwear fabric previz fg z g z i g Egg fi s; ously described. ingredient The soiling value test results with a number of differ- A R l f 1 b f ent alkane sulfonate surface active agents are shown in r ts 0 P mg Va tests wl a num f 0 merciall available surface active a ents which are all Table lV-A below. y g

sulfate monoesters of fatty alcohols are shown in Table TABLE IV-A IV-C Soiling Value w x l0 TABLE IV-C No 2.4% Surfactant Catalyst Catalyst Soilmg Value W X 10 UTX 2.4% Alkane sulfonate from No. 40 80 80 N0 Catalyst White Oil as in previous Surfactant Catalyst UTX examples 3l.5% active ingre Sodium lauryl sulfate 100% 110 50 dient mostly monosulfonate Crude oleyl alcohol sodium 100 140 Sodium octane sulfonate 100% 250 260 40 sulfate 18% active ingredient active ingredient Sulfated cetyl alcohol with 170 190 Sodium butane sulfonate 100% 350 370 petroleum fraction 10% sulactive ingredient fated ll% alcohol-hydro- Alkane sulfonate from N0. 40 70 70 carbon White Oil about 40% active Triethanolamine salt of C1, ingredient largely polysulalcohol sulfate about 30% fonates active ingredient 90 100 Alkane sulfonate from No. 30 70 mo Mixed C,,C alcohol sulfates 100 70 White Oil about 22% active 26% active ingredient ingredient mostly monosulfonate I I. A number of amphoteric surfactants from the wellfllijgfggfiggfi ggf 150 known betaine class were tested as with the other surabout 48% active ingredient 50 factants. Procedure was the same as in the previous g zfizf g i Phcnoxy tests, and results are shown in Table lV-D. In these tests 0 e 8 no fi suifonate from largely 50 m0 two types of fabric were tested, the outerwear fabric o- 50 White Oil contains used in the other tests being designated Type A, while t eii ri te ih o iii v2:3 :32, another 65/3 5 polyester/cotton dyed fabric of a tighter 40% sulfonated material weave is designated Type B.

TABLE ii -D Soiling value, WXIO3 Fabric type B Fabric type A 2.4% N0 catalyst No catalyst Surfactant catalyst UTX catalyst UTX c-Cetyl betaine, 25% active ingredient solution.. 180 160 c-Decyl betaine, 25% active ingredient solution 210 200 N-octadecyl betaine, 25% active ingredient solnt 190 180 80 70 N-stearyl betaine, 25% active ingredient solution. 190 70 8O N-liexadecyl betaine, 25% active ingredient; solution 200 70 7O When both the surfactant and the tartaric acid are omitted, the soiling value of W X 10 for Fabric 8 are 600-700 and for Fabric A, 200-300.

EXAMPLE 5 In this example a group of preferred surfactants were tested at higher proportions than previously. The cloth used was 65/35 Dacr0n/cotton of Example 1. The formulation included 6.0 percent on weight of fiber of Permafresh 168 and 8.0 percent on weight of fiber of gluconic acid, in addition to the surfactants listed in Table V at the percent on weight of fiber shown. The treated cloth was placed in an oven at 280F. for 6 minutes to dry and cure. Used oil was employed as a soil and was applied to the treated cloth without previous laundering.

Soiling values are listed in Table V.

TABLE V Soiling Value W X 10 4% 10% Surfactant Surfactant on wt. of on wt. of fabric fabric 16 Surfactant Alkane sulfonate based on 21 No. 50 White Oil contains some unreacted oil and sodium stearate 40% sulfonated product, 70% solids Alkane sulfonate based on No. 40 White Oil Soln. containing 31.5% active ingredient Alkane sulfonate based on No. 40 White Oil contains less mono and more polysulfonate than surfactant above about 40% active ingredient Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate in isopropyl alcohol about 32% active ingredient Alkane sulfonate based on No. 30 White Oil mostly monosulfonate about 22% active ingredient Disodium dodecyldiphenylether disulfonate 45% active ingredient made by method disclosed in U.S. 2,081,876 lsopropylated naphthalene sulfonic acid sodium salt 88% active ingredient The preceding representative examples may be varied within the scope of the present total specification disclosure, as understood and practiced by one skilled in the art, to achieve essentially the same results.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A durable-press soil-release composition consisting essentially of A. from about 3 to 12 parts by weight ofa permanent press aminoplast resin precursor that is formed by reacting an aqueous solution of formaldehyde, glyoxal and urea in a mole ratio of about 2.5-2.0/1.0/1.0 at a pH of about 4 to about 6 and at a temperature of between about 25-95C. for between about one-half hour and 72 hours;

B. from about 1 to 10 parts by weight of gluconic acid or salt thereof; and

C. at least one surface active agent selected from 1. anionic surface active agents selected from RO- SO M, R(SO M),,, RO(C H O),,SO M,

2. amphoteric surface active agents selected from e t RN CHz C0 where R" is alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms and b is 1 or 2; and

} p Y mcHm where R is alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms.

2. Process for imparting durable-press and soilrelease properties to textiles which comprises treating the textile with an aqueous solution of the composition of claim 1 to deposit on the textile from about 6 to about 8 percent of resin, about 8 percent of gluconic acid and about 5 percent of the surface active agent, all based on the weight of textile, and curing the treated fabric at a temperature of between about 104C. and about 171C.

3. Fabric treated with the composition of claim 1.

Claims (3)

1. 2. amphoteric surface active agents selected from
2. 2. Process for imparting durable-press and soil-release properties to textiles which comprises treating the textile with an aqueous solution of the composition of claim 1 to deposit on the textile from about 6 to about 8 percent of resin, about 8 percent of gluconic acid and about 5 percent of the surface active agent, all based on the weight of textile, and curing the treated fabric at a temperature of between about 104*C. and about 171*C.
3. 3. Fabric treated with the composition of claim 1.