Claims
- 1. A method for imparting stain resistance to a polyamide carpet or fabric fiber comprising:
- contacting the dried fiber with approximately 0.5 to 5% by weight based on the weight of the fiber of isocyanate, and then
- heating the fiber to a temperature of less than 140.degree. C. for a time period of less than one hour, to react the isocyanate with terminal amine groups of the polyamide to form terminal urea groups, without substantial reaction between the isocyanate and the internal amide linkages of the polyamide fiber, wherein said minimum heating temperatures and times are sufficient to impart said desired stain resistance.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the polyamide fiber is nylon.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of monoisocyanate, diisocyanate, polyisocyanates, and polymers containing isocyanate functional groups.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, a,a-dimethyl meta-isopropenyl benzyl isocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate.
- 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying the isocyanate as an emulsion.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is water dispersible.
- 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising dyeing the fiber before the stain resist treatment.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the dye is an acid dye.
- 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising dyeing the fiber after the stain resist treatment.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the dye is a basic dye.
- 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a fluorinated organic compound or polymer to the fiber after isocyanate treatment.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate treated fiber is heated in a heating unit that is at a temperature of between approximately 60.degree. C. and 205.degree. C.
- 13. The method of claim 1, wherein between approximately 1 and 2 weight percent of isocyanate is applied to the fiber, based on the weight of the fiber.
- 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the isocyanate treated fiber for a time ranging from one minute to ten minutes.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the isocyanate is applied to the fiber in an emulsion or dispersion.
- 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the isocyanate is applied in a concentration range of from 0.5% to 60% by weight.
- 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is applied to the fiber in combination with a blocking compound to form a precursor.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the blocking compound is selected from the group consisting of alcohols, phenols, lactams, active methylenes, mercaptans, amides, imides, amines, imidazoles, ureas, carbonates, imines, oximes and sulfites.
- 19. The method of claim 17 wherein the precursor generates the isocyanate on heating.
- 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the precursor generates the isocyanate on chemical treatment.
- 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the blocking compound is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol and hexane diol.
- 22. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is applied by spraying the fiber with the isocyanate solution.
- 23. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is applied by dipping the fiber in the isocyanate solution.
- 24. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is applied by soaking the fiber in the isocyanate solution.
- 25. The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is applied in a foam.
- 26. The method of claims 17 wherein the isocyanate precursor is prepared by the reaction of an amine with an isocyanate.
- 27. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber is incorporated into an article before treatment.
- 28. The method of claim 1 wherein the polyamide fiber is treated before incorporation into an article.
- 29. A method for imparting stain resistance to nylon carpet or carpet tile comprising
- contacting the dried carpet or carpet tile with approximately 0.5 to 5% by weight based on the weight of the carpet fiber of isocyanate, and then
- heating the fiber to a temperature of less than 140.degree. C. for a time period of less than one hour, to react the isocyanate with terminal amine groups of the polyamide to form terminal urea groups, and without reacting the isocyanate with internal amide linkages of the polyamide fiber, wherein said minimum heating temperatures and times are sufficient to impart said desired stain resistance.
- 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising applying the isocyanate by foam or spray.
- 31. A stain resistant polyamide carpet or carpet tile prepared by:
- contacting the dried carpet fiber with approximately 0.5 to 5% weight based on the weight of the fiber of isocyanate, and then
- heating the fiber to a temperature of less than 140.degree. C. for a time period of less than one hour, to react the isocyanate with terminal amine groups of the polyamide to form terminal urea groups, and without reacting the isocyanate with internal amide linkages of the polyamide fiber, wherein said minimum heating temperatures and times are sufficient to impart said desired stain resistance.
- 32. The carpet or carpet tile of claim 31, wherein the fibers are treated before the carpet is assembled.
- 33. The carpet or carpet tile of claim 31, wherein the fibers have been heated to a temperature of approximately less than 120.degree. C.
- 34. The carpet or carpet tile of claim 31, wherein the fibers have been treated for a length of time of approximately between one and ten minutes.
- 35. The carpet or carpet tile of claim 34, wherein the carpet or carpet tile is dried completely before application of the isocyanate.
- 36. The carpet or carpet tile of claim 31, wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of monoisocyanate, diisocyanate, polyisocyanates, and polymers that include isocyanate functional groups.
- 37. The carpet or carpet tile of claim 31 wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, a,a-dimethyl meta-isopropenyl benzyl isocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and tetramethylxylene diisocyanate.
- 38. The carpet or carpet tile of claim 31, further comprising a fluorochemical coating.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/497,893, filed Mar. 22, 1990, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
89307682.8 |
Jan 1990 |
EPX |
3516089 |
Nov 1986 |
DEX |
40-61118 |
Sep 1965 |
JPX |
60-93065 |
Apr 1985 |
JPX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Kondo, et al., The Chemical Society of Japan, 9, 1459 (1984). |
Tenchev, et al., Mater. Plast. (Bucharest) 18(2), 108-112 (1981). |
Nikolayev, et al., Viniti, 3373-77 (1977). |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
497893 |
Mar 1990 |
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