Non-catalytic durable press process for treating cellulosic material using formaldehyde vapor and post-heating

Claim 2

The process of claim 1 wherein said impregnated fabric is formed into a garment prior to exposure to the formaldehyde vapors.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said impregnated fabric is dried to a moisture content of from about 2 to about 100 percent by weight of the dry cellulosic fabric material prior to exposure to the formaldehyde vapor-containing atmosphere.

Claim 4

A non-catalytic process for improving the dimensional stability, wrinkle resistance, smooth drying characteristics and total shape retentivity of a cellulose fiber-containing fabric which comprises: a. applying to a cellulose fiber-containing fabric a catalyst-free aqueous solution of a monomeric amide compound which has at least one active hydrogen and reacts with formaldehyde and a polymeric film-forming additive so as to produce an impregnated fabric having a dry add-on of between about 0.5 and 25 percent by weight of the fabric of the said monomeric amide compound; b. drying said impregnated fabric; c. forming said impregnated fabric into a garment; d. exposing the impregnated garment to an atmosphere containing formaldehyde vapors in the essential absence of an acidic catalyst at a temperature of from about 100*C. to about 160*C. for from about 0.1 to about 60 minutes until a crease-proofing amount of an at least partially polymerized condensate of the monomeric amide compound and formaldehyde in substantially water-insoluble form is affixed on said fabric without effecting any substantial amount of cross-linking with the cellulose fiber; e. post-heating said exposed garment in an inert gaseous atmosphere in the essential absence of an acidic catalyst at a temperature of from about 100*C. to about 180*C. for from about 1 to about 20 minutes to further polymerize and cross-link the fabric.

Claim 5

The non-catalytic process of claim 5 wherein said amide is urea.

Claim 6

The non-catalytic process of claim 6 wherein said impregnated fabric is dried to a moisture content of from about 3 to about 65 percent by weight of the dry cellulose fiber-containing fabric prior to exposure to the formaldehyde vapor-containing atmosphere.

Claim 7

The non-catalytic process of claim 7 wherein said impregnated fabric is exposed to the formaldehyde vapors for a time of from about 0.5 to about 20 minutes.

Claim 8

A non-catalytic process for improving the dimensional stability, wrinkle resistance, smooth drying characteristics and total shape retentivity of a cellulose fiber-containing fabric which consists essentially of the following sequential steps: a. applying to the cellulose fiber-containing fabric a catalyst-free aqueous solution containing from about 5 to about 15 percent by weight of the solution of urea and from about 5 to about 15 percent of a film-forming polymeric additive; b. drying the impregnated fabric to a moisture content of from about 5 to about 15 percent by weight of the dry cellulose fiber-containing fabric; c. exposing the dried, impregnated fabric to a vapor phase atmosphere consisting essentially of formaldehyde vapors in an uncatalyzed reaction zone maintained at a temperature of from about 105*C. to about 120*C. for a time of from about 1 to about 5 minutes, until a crease-proofing amount of an at least partially polymerized amide-formaldehyde condensate in substantially water-insoluble form is affixed on said fabric without any substantial cross-linking with the cellulose fiber; and d. immediately thereafter post-heating said fabric in an inert gaseous atmosphere in the essentIal absence of an acidic catalyst at a temperature of from about 140*C. to about 160*C. for a time of from about 3 to about 10 minutes to further polymerize and cross-link said fabric.