Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating gas-phase active chemical species suitable for selectively processing one side of a textile or nonwoven material are described. Processing includes etching or stripping coatings, as examples. A low-temperature plasma is used to produce an ionized gas containing radical species, atoms, ions, and electrons, some of which are suitable for removing or modifying the coating. For the purposes of the present invention, the plasma may be generated in a vacuum, or at atmospheric pressure. Dielectric-barrier discharges, atmospheric-pressure plasma jets, micro hollow-cathode discharges, coronas, or plasmas produced by a microwave discharge or laser-supplied energy may be used to generate the required species.

Abstract: A method of dyeing a lens, comprises the steps of: (a) applying a dyeing ink containing a sublimable dye onto a base material to produce a dyeing base body; (b) placing the dyeing base body and the lens so that a dye-applied surface of the dyeing base body and a surface of the lens to be dyed face each other in noncontact relation, and heating the dyeing base body under substantially a vacuum condition to sublimate and deposit the applied dye on the lens; and (c) heating the dye deposited surface of the lens by irradiation of infrared rays from one direction to fix the deposited dye on the lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous dye solution comprising a) 5 to 30% by weight of an anionic or cationic direct dye, b) 0.1 to 10% by weight of 1-phenoxy-2-propanol, c) 0 to 20% by weight of an inorganic or an organic acid, d) 0 to 20% by weight of further additives and e) water to complete to 100%, a process for the preparation of the solution and the use thereof for dyeing paper.

Abstract: A method of washing fabric articles in a tunnel washer includes moving the fabric articles from the intake of the washer to the discharge of the washer through first and second sectors that are a pre-wash zone. In the pre-wash zone, liquid is counter flowed in the wash interior along a flow path that is generally opposite the direction of travel of the fabric articles. The fabric articles are transferred to a main wash zone, and a washing chemical is added to the main wash zone. At about the same time, counter flow is reduced or stopped. The main wash zone can be heated as an option. After a period of time (for example, between about 20 and 120 seconds) counter flow is increased. The increased counter flow after chemical treatment amounts to either an intermediate rinse or a pre-rinse depending upon which module or zone the goods occupy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of dyeing a substrate with a reactive dyestuff in supercritical or near supercritical carbon dioxide, said substrate being selected from the group consisting of cellulose fibers, modified cellulose fibers, protein fibers and of synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof, wherein the method comprises the subsequent steps of: pre-treating the substrate by wetting the substrate with a fluid medium containing at least 10 wt. %, preferably at least 40 wt. % of one or more organic hydrogen bond acceptor compounds selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkanols, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, acetone, butan-2-one, dimethyl ether, methyl acetate and ethyl acetate; dyeing the substrate by contacting the pre-treated substrate with supercritical or near supercritical carbon dioxide containing a reactive dyestuff.

Abstract: The invention herein provides for an improved dye material composed of a concentrated dye element for mixture with an aqueous element prior to application.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of making a coated cellulosic textile, whereby a silk peptide is polymerized with a building block to develop a silk peptide/building block nanoparticle, said nanoparticle then being used to coat the textile. The resultant textile exhibits a high level of wrinkle recovery angle and/or tear strength, all without the use of N-methylol compounds, including ureas and formaldehydes.

Abstract: A method of treating textiles with a silicone block copolymer containing polyether-amide units is disclosed. Textiles treated with the silicone block copolymer have a feel or hand comparable to conventional hydrophobic silicones, but do not negatively impact the hydrophilicity of the textile.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing carpet provides for an old art dyeing effect. Specifically, acid and cationic dyes are provided in a solution to a carpet tufted with cationic and acid dye fibers. The carpet is preferably tufted in such a way that there is a relative scarcity of one of the cationic and acid dye fibers at a first width. An abundance of the other dye accumulates in higher concentration than in surrounding areas at the first width. This higher concentration tends to diffuse and/or be moved by other mechanisms to the surrounding areas or widths where the dye attaches to appropriate contacts. This creates at least one of the dark band, a fade and/or a old art dye effect at that location. By precisely controlling the carpet fiber location at the upper surface, the dye solution and the dyeing process, fades and other process can be precisely controlled for repeatable performance as has not been experienced in the prior art.

Abstract: A dye formulation is disclosed that includes a vegetable oil ester based solvents that have carbon chain lengths of C-1 to C-18, a solvent dye that is a true liquid dye dissolved in the vegetable oil ester for imparting color to the dye formulation, and reduced sulfur levels in commercially available dye formulations as compared to those in hydrocarbon based solvent systems. Sulfur content is typically reduced to 2-3 percent of dye formulations in hydrocarbon based solvents. The formulations are particularly useful for tagging petroleum substrates as well as writing instrument and ink jet formulations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safe method for cleaning fabric articles, comprising the step of treating the fabric articles with a working cyclosiloxane dry cleaning solvent to remove contaminants from the articles, wherein the working solvent is contacted and mixed with a solidifying catalyst in case of an increased temperature event. The present invention also provides a dry cleaning system suitable for carrying out the method of the invention. Since said method has improved safety, it is very suitable for in-home use.

Abstract: A synthetic-rich fabric (e.g., polyester, polypropylene, nylon, acrylic and elastane fibers—including lycra, spandex, etc.) useful in the manufacture of commercially launderable items is described. The fabric has many of the properties that make cotton fabrics desirable including hand feel, and wicking, but retains the best properties of synthetic fabrics, m addition, the soil release properties, pilling resistance and UV protection offered by the present items makes the fabric ideal in manufacturing apparel and non-apparel (e.g., pillow cases, bed sheets, aprons, tablecloths, napkins, etc.) items.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to stilbene optical brightening agents which combine a high solubility in water while providing superior fluorescent whitening effects when applied to the surface of paper in either the size-press or in a pigmented coating composition and which show a reduced anionic charge. The instant optical brighteners may also be used for finishing of textiles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shading process characterized by using a composition comprising a phthalocyanine to which at least one dyestuff is attached through a covalent bonding, to shading compositions, to new compounds used in these shading compositions as well as to the production of these new compounds.

Abstract: Provided are acidic hair dye compositions in which the dye has a high permeability into hair, the dye can be applied uniformly, and the composition has excellent staining property, safety and sense of use at the time of hair dyeing. The acidic hair dye compositions of the present invention comprise at least one dibasic acid ester compound represented by general formula I below: wherein, in general formula I, R1 is an alkylene group which may have a substituent with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are, independently from each other, an alkyl group which may have a substituent with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R4 and R5 are, independently from each other, hydrogen, methyl group or ethyl group, m and n is, independently from each other, an integer of 0 to 4, wherein m+n?1 (with the proviso that the case is excluded in which R2 and R3 are both ethyl group, and m and n are both 1).

Abstract: The present invention provides ?-hydroxy benzeneacetic acid derivatives of the formula as defined in the specification which is a precursor indispensable for synthesis of compounds having two 5-membered lactone rings fused to central cyclohexa-1,4-diene nucleus, and a process of easily preparing the same. According to the preparation process of the present invention, the ?-hydroxy benzeneacetic acid derivative can be readily prepared at high purity and yield without using toxic materials or producing toxic by-products. Some novel compounds, synthesized by using such a ?-hydroxy benzeneacetic acid derivative, have excellent fastness properties, dye fixing rate and leveling property to general synthetic fiber materials such as polyester fibers and their blends with other fibers, especially to micro fibers, and also can be used as a coloring agent for plastic resins, color tonors, color filters, etc.

Abstract: An epichlorohydrinamine polymer has a ratio of amine units to epichlorohydrin units of from 0.8:1.2 to 1.0:1.0, dimethylaminopropylamine and benzylamine preferably being used as amine and/or ammonium units. The novel epichlorohydrinamine polymer is used, for example, for the surface treatment of semifinished leather products and textile materials.

Abstract: An adjuvant composition comprising (A) a C1-C2carboxylic acid ester of a polyhydroxy compound containing from 2 to 20 hydroxyl groups and (B) an N-heterocyclic compound having a pKa, value of from 6 to 8 is storage-stable and suitable as an acid donor in the dyeing of polyamides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a class of polyesters that are lightly crosslinked polyesters made by reacting polysorbate units (linked by the reaction of their hydroxyl groups) to the carboxyl group of dimer acid. As will become clear, lightly crosslinked as used herein relates to reactions in which there is an excess of hydroxyl groups on a molar basis to carboxylic groups on the dimer acid. The polymers and a contribute softness, lubricity and antistatic properties when applied to hair, skin, textile fiber and paper.

Abstract: Preparing dyes suitable for cosmetic use that start with known dyes and link them, for example, with 1,3,5 triazine to bulky organic groups that control solubility.