Abstract: This invention relates to unsubstituted and polymeric leuco colorants for use as consumer product additives to indicate a product function by color change, to make attractive or distinctive visual effects, or to provide latent or delayed color generation. The colorants may be present in a stable, colorless state and may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes. Alternatively, the colorants may be transformed from one color to another color upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes. The colored form of the unsubstituted or polymeric leuco colorant may be transient, since the colorant can revert back to its colorless form or its original color after the physical or chemical activation has been removed or changed. Polymeric leuco colorants are typically comprised of at least two components: at least one leuco chromophore component and at least one polymeric component.

Abstract: Certain novel formulations of plant growth media additives that act in such a manner as to permit proper amounts of moisture to contact root systems in order to reduce hydrophobicity within said media. The inventive formulation comprising multi-branched surfactant compounds with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic constituents within each branch attached to a polyfunctional base compound permit effective moisture penetration through plant growth media for sustained seedling and plant growth therein. Such multi-branched wetting agents provide sustained moisture penetration over a sustained period of time, since the individual branches of such compounds may become dissociated from its base polyfunctional compound. Since such branches include both hydrophobic and hydrophilic constituents themselves, and thus act as wetting agents, even after degradation of the initial surfactant compound, repeated wetting and moisture penetration, at least, are permitted.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to substrates that exhibit useful, auto adaptable surface energy properties that depend on the environment of the substrate. Such surface energy properties provide relatively high advancing and receding contact angles for liquids when in contact with the target substrate surface. The substrates exhibit low surface energy quantities of at most about 20 millijoules per square meter (mJ/m2) at a temperature of about 25 degrees C. and a surface energy greater than about 20 mJ/m2 at, or with exposure to, a temperature of about 40 degrees C. More specifically, encompassed within the present invention are textile substrates having this highly desirable unique surface energy modification property and which exhibit wash durable oil and water repellency and stain release features. Novel compositions and formulations that impart such surface energy modifications to substrates are also encompassed within this invention, as well as methods for producing such treated substrates.

Abstract: This invention relates to unsubstituted and polymeric leuco colorants for use as consumer product additives to indicate a product function by color change, to make attractive or distinctive visual effects, or to provide latent or delayed color generation. The colorants may be present in a stable, colorless state and may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes. Alternatively, the colorants may be transformed from one color to another color upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes. The colored form of the unsubstituted or polymeric leuco colorant may be transient, since the colorant can revert back to its colorless form or its original color after the physical or chemical activation has been removed or changed. Polymeric leuco colorants are typically comprised of at least two components: at least one leuco chromophore component and at least one polymeric component.

Abstract: Colorant compositions are useful for a wide variety of product applications. For example, colorants are used in tinting of polymers, providing colors to aqueous solution(s), and affording color to solid or semi-solid products such as detergents. Disclosed herein are colorant compositions having a triphenylmethane (“TPM”) structure having improved stability to alkaline conditions. Thus, the colorant compositions resist decolorization, even at relatively high pH levels.

Abstract: This invention relates to new compositions and methods for cleaning textile substrates, especially carpet and upholstery fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to liquid compositions that contain absorbent particles in a flowable fluid dispersion, which dries to a soil ladened powder, that can be removed by vacuuming, brushing, and/or laundering methods. The composition includes dispersion stabilizing additives such that the composition is presented as a stable dispersion or as a composition that may be easily redispersed prior to application.

Abstract: This invention relates to textile substrates to which a finishing treatment has been applied during the manufacturing process. Such a finishing treatment provides improved water and/or oil repellency and stain and soil resistance. The finishing treatment generally includes a repellent agent, a stain release agent, and a particulate component. Other compounds may be added to the treatment, such as stain-blocking agents, crosslinking agents, coupling agents, antimicrobial agents, and pH adjusting agents. The components of the finishing treatment are generally applied to the textile substrate using an application process that results in layered structures on the surface of the treated substrate, which has been found to greatly improve the durability of the treatment. Such treated textile substrates thus exhibit excellent stain and soil resistance and water and/or oil repellency properties.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions useful for maintaining the clean impression of a carpet (that is, its scent and appearance) over an extended time despite occurrences that might damage the carpet surface. The composition, which includes an antimicrobial agent, an enzyme inhibitor, and an odor-reacting compound, can be used by a consumer to remove contaminants from the carpet and to prevent the odor associated with the decomposition of future contamination. Specifically, the composition has been shown effective in neutralizing odors associated with the decomposition of organic materials (such as urine or food spills) by absorbing and/or removing the odor-generating source. A manufacturing treatment composition and methods for using are also disclosed.

Abstract: Durable antimicrobial treatments for textile fabrics are provided. Such treatments preferably comprise silver ions, particularly as constituents of inorganic metal salts or zeolites. This particular treatment requires the presence of a resin binder, either as a silver-ion overcoat or as a component of a dye bath mixture admixed with the silver-ion antimicrobial compound. Such a treatment is extremely durable on such substrates; after a substantial number of standard launderings and dryings, the treatment does not wear away in any appreciable amount and thus the substrate retains its antimicrobial activity. The particular treatment method, as well as the treated textile fabrics are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: Broadly defined sol-gel films for the coating of solid substrates, wherein such sol-gel films provide effective and durable antimicrobial properties. The utilization of such films permits relatively low-temperature production of antimicrobial substrates, such as ceramics, metals (e.g., stainless steel, brass, and the like), plastics (e.g., polyimides, polyamides, polyacrylics, and the like), glass (e.g., borosilicates, and the like), as compared with typical glazes for ceramics and the like. The inventive films comprise, as the primary antimicrobial active ingredients, certain metal-containing inorganic or organic antimicrobial compounds, such as, preferably, metal-containing ion-exchange, oxide, glass, sulfadiazine, and/or zeolite compounds (most preferably, including silver therein as the metal component).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonwoven fabric having a three-dimensional printed surface which is achieved by screen printing the fabric with a puff pigment to create an inexpensive, textured fabric. The fabric is preferably printed with a puff pigment of constrasting color, when compared with the color of the base fabric, so that an aesthetically pleasing two-tone fabric is produced. The fabric is primarily composed of continuous multi-component fibers that are at least partially split along their length. The fabric may be manufactured into such end-use products as automotive interior fabric, apparel, drapery, cleaning cloths, upholstery, and office panels. Also encompassed within this invention is a method for producing a nonwoven fabric having a three-dimensional printed surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the abrasion resistance of a spun-bonded nonwoven without substantially adversely affecting its hand or drape characteristics, by incorporating low melt binder fibers into the web during the laydown phase of the spun-bonded nonwoven production process. More specifically, improved abrasion resistance is achieved by intimately blending continuous binder fibers with the primary extruded fibers in a spun-bonded nonwoven web. Also encompassed within this invention is a spun-bonded nonwoven fabric having improved abrasion resistance and comprised of primary extruded fiber and low melt binder fiber such that the binder fiber comprises between about 1 and about 50 weight percent on weight of the spun-bonded nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: This invention relates to specific, improved spun-bonded nonwoven fabrics comprised of continuous multi-component longitudinally splittable fibers. The resulting nonwoven fabrics exhibit enhanced flexibility, drape, softness, thickness, moisture absorption capacity, moisture vapor transmission rate, and cleanliness in comparison with other nonwovens of the same fiber construction. These improved aesthetic and performance characteristics permit expansion of high-strength nonwoven fabric materials into other markets and industries currently dominated by woven and knit fabrics that exhibit such properties themselves, but at high cost and requiring greater manufacturing complexity. Such enhanced fabrics are subjected to certain air impingement procedures, for instance through directing low-pressure gaseous fluids at high velocity to the surface of the targeted nonwoven fabric. Also encompassed within this invention is the method of treating such a specific nonwoven fabric with this air impingement procedure.

Abstract: A chemically modified nonwoven textile article and method for producing the same is provided that exhibits pilling resistance, soil release, strength, and abrasion resistance properties, thus rendering the article less prone to the formation of objectionable pill balls, staining, or loss of strength, thereby increasing wearer comfort and retaining the desired appearance of the article, and thereby extending the useful life of the article. A composition of matter for chemically modifying a nonwoven textile article to achieve pilling resistance, soil release, strength, and abrasion resistance is also provided.

Abstract: A hydrolizable polymer-containing textile article and method for producing the same is provided that has been chemically modified by treating the article with certain branched chain amines to reduce the strength of the fibers contained therein, thus rendering the article less prone to the formation of objectionable pill balls, thereby increasing wearer comfort and retaining the desired appearance of the article, and thereby extending the useful life of the article.

Abstract: A chemically modified nonwoven textile article and method for producing the same is provided that exhibits pilling resistance, soil release, strength, and abrasion resistance properties, thus rendering the article less prone to the formation of objectionable pill balls, staining, or loss of strength, thereby increasing wearer comfort and retaining the desired appearance of the article, and thereby extending the useful life of the article. A composition of matter for chemically modifying a nonwoven textile article to achieve pilling resistance, soil release, strength, and abrasion resistance is also provided.

Abstract: A coated fabric having desirable weight and high durability, and particular utility in the manufacture of linings for particular articles is described. The fabric has a textile substrate which is coated to provide a structure having an abrasion resistance of at least about 750 cycles to failure when tested according to ASTM D 3884, and more preferably at least about 2200 cycles to failure. The coating is desirably transparent so that the pre-coated shade of the textile substrate is altered less than about 15%, and more preferably less than about 1%, when the fabric is coated. More particularly, the absolute value of the difference in shade depth of the coated fabric and the textile substrate is less than about 0.2, so that no visible shade change results. A method for producing the fabric and articles incorporating the fabric are also described.

Abstract: An airbag having at least two composite layers of fabric R.F. welded around the periphery thereof to form the bag and, which, when R.F. welded has excellent seam strength and a specific inflation strength less than 1.2.