Abstract: A process for preparing poly N-substituted beta-alanines with the steps of: combining in a Michael reaction approximately 1.0 to 1.2 moles of methyl acrylate with approximately one mole of one or more primary amines to produce an alkyl(beta-n-alkylaminopropionate); and heating the alkyl(beta-n-alkylaminopropionate) to a reaction temperature between approximately 100 and 200 degrees C. and simultaneously evacuating the alkyl(beta-n-alkylaminopropionate) to remove volatiles, thereby forming a poly N-substituted beta-alanine.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating textile materials with selected amine oxides in order to change the aesthetics and/or make the materials more receptive to dyes. In particular, the treatment causes cellulosic materials to become more cationic and thus more receptive to anionic dyes with or without stiffening. In a preferred embodiment, the process of the present invention is directed to treating fabrics containing cotton fibers but will work to a useful extent on wool, nylon and polyester. The process is carried out by contacting said fibers or fabric with selected amine oxide compositions. The amine oxide compositions can be padded onto the fabric or printed onto the fabric. If printed onto the fabric according to a particular design, the design then becomes visible on the fabric once dyed.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a process for making fabrics containing cotton fibers more aesthetically pleasing and resistant to staining by anionic dyes by derivatizing the cotton so that it exhibits a permanent anionic charge. By increasing the anionic charge of the fibers, the fibers become resistant to anionic coloring agents which may undesirably come into contact with the fibers and the fibers can absorb greater amounts of cationic softeners and biocides. Furthermore, the negative charges repel each other resulting in a fabric with greater loft and hydrophilicity. This results in greater smoothness, better hand, and more comfort. Besides being used to prevent the cross-staining of fabrics, the present invention can also be used to make carpet materials resistant to anionic staining agents.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a process for making fabrics containing cotton fibers more aesthetically pleasing and resistant to staining by anionic dyes by derivatising the cotton so that it exhibits a permanent anionic charge. By increasing the anionic charge of the fibers, the fibers become resistant to anionic coloring agents which may undesirably come into contact with the fibers and the fibers can absorb greater amounts of cationic softeners and biocides. Furthermore, the negative charges repel each other resulting in a fabric with greater loft and hydrophilicity. This results in greater smoothness, better hand, and more comfort. Besides being used to prevent the cross-staining of fabrics, the present invention can also be used to make carpet materials resistant to anionic staining agents.

Abstract: Water-based, hair care products containing homogeneous terpolymers having both hair styling and conditioning properties is described.

Abstract: A stain blocking composition for treating polyamide materials, such as nylon carpeting is disclosed. The stain blocking composition contains one or more novolak resins in combination with an addition polymer and a metal donor, such as a magnesium salt. The addition polymer is directed to a partially sulfonated styrene-maleic copolymer. The addition polymer not only serves as a stain blocking composition but also serves to reduce the yellowing effect sulfonated novolak resins may have on polyamide substrates. Besides containing a sulfonated novolak resin and the addition polymer, the composition of the present invention can include various other ingredients. For instance, the composition can contain an emulsifier or dispersant, antioxidants such as sodium thiocyanate or fluorocarbon repellents or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a process for making fabrics containing cotton fibers more aesthetically pleasing and resistant to staining by anionic dyes by derivatising the cotton so that it exhibits a permanent anionic charge. By increasing the anionic charge of the fibers, the fibers become resistant to anionic coloring agents which may undesirably come into contact with the fibers. Furthermore, the negative charges repel each other resulting in a fabric with greater loft and porosity. This results in greater smoothness, better hand, and more comfort. Besides being used to prevent the cross-staining of fabrics, the present invention can also be used to make carpet materials resistant to anionic staining agents. Alternatively, it has also been discovered that an anionic derivative can be used to catalyze permanent press resins onto fabrics containing cellulosic fibers, also resulting in anionic cotton.

Abstract: An immersion method of dyeing textile material includes the steps of (a) providing a textile material comprising at least one of cotton and regenerated cellulosic fibers; (b) providing an aqueous dyebath in a weight ratio of dyebath:textile material of 10:1 to 20:1, the dyebath comprising a reactive dye and a carboxylate salt for salting out the dye onto the textile material, the carboxylate salt having a carboxylate anionic component and a monovalent cationic component, wherein the carboxylate salt is present in an amount effective for salting out the dye onto the textile material; (c) immersing the textile material in the aqueous dyebath under conditions sufficient to salt the dye onto the textile material; (d) adding to the dyebath an alkaline material to promote a reaction to form a chemical bond between the dye and the textile material; and (e) subjecting the dyebath containing the textile material and the alkaline material to conditions sufficient to form a chemical bond between the dye and the textile

Abstract: Improvements in the disperse dyeing process for hydrophobic textiles by the use of novel dye carrier formulations are disclosed. The carrier composition for use in disperse dyeing of hydrophobic textile material preferably comprises an alkylphthalimide carrier component and a clay dispersing agent. Dye baths and methods of disperse dyeing of a hydrophobic textile material are also disclosed. The use of clay as a dispersing agent allows for the use of carrier compositions with reduced health and environmental hazards without adversely affecting dyeing characteristics.

Abstract: A process for dying materials containing natural or synthetic polyamides is disclosed. The process includes immersing the materials to be dyed in a dye bath containing an acid dye. The pH of the dye bath is initially at a level that substantially inhibits the dye from being absorbed by the polymer. In accordance with the present invention, however, an acid producing composition is added to the bath which gradually reduces the pH of the bath and allows for uniform diffusion of the dye into the polymer. The acid producing composition of the present invention is a maleate ester, which, in one embodiment, is the reaction product of maleic acid or maleic anhydride and a glycol.

Abstract: A phosphate-free and silicate-free aqueous alkali composition consisting essentially of water, a water soluble base selected from the group consisting essentially of alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and mixtures thereof, wherein the base is present in an amount sufficient to yield a composition pH of about 11 to about 12 at a composition concentration of about 0.1 wt % to about 1 wt % in a dye bath, and an aminopolycarboxylate sequestrant in an amount sufficient to sequester metal ion impurities and prevent destructive reactive dye hydrolysis when the composition is used to dye fabric in the presence of reactive dye and metal ion impurities. Also disclosed is a dye bath containing the composition and a method of using the composition in reactive dyeing.

Abstract: A low VOC (volatile organic compounds) hair spray composition having a combination of desirable user performance characteristics is described herein. The hair fixative resin in the composition is a terpolymer of 40-75% by weight of a vinyl lactam, preferably vinyl pyrrolidone, 15-40% of a polymerizable carboxylic acid, preferably acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, and 5-25% of a hydrophobic monomer, preferably a long chain alkyl (C.sub.8 -C.sub.24) acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide. The terpolymer has a K-value of 30-55, preferably 40-50, which provides compositions having good sprayability in both pump and aerosol form, and small, fine spray particles.

Abstract: A process for making a C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 dialkyl ester of a copolymer of a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, anhydride or mono-C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 alkyl ester thereof, and a vinyl monomer, such as a C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 alkyl vinyl ether, which comprises reacting said copolymer with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 alcohol in the presence of an esterification catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to stable colorless concentrates and stock solutions of 1-5% crosslinked lower alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers having a Brookfield viscosity of up to about 25,000 cps and to the process for their preparation.

Abstract: A homogeneous polymerization process is described for making substantially homogeneous terpolymers of, by weight, 55-99%, preferably 65-95% of vinyl pyrrolidone; 0.5-49%, preferably 1-25% of a quaternary amino monomer, preferably 3-methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride; and 0.5-49%, preferably 1-25%, of a hydrophobic monomer, preferably octadecyl methacrylate. The homogeneous terpolymer provides dual hair styling and conditioning functions in hair care applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to stable colorless concentrates and stock solutions of 1-5% crosslinked lower alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers having a Brookfield viscosity of up to about 25,000 cps and to the process for their preparation.

Abstract: A homogeneous polymerization process is described for making substantially homogeneous terpolymers of, by weight, 55-99%, preferably 65-95% of vinyl pyrrolidone; 0.5-49%, preferably 1-25% of a quaternary amino monomer, preferably 3-methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride; and 0.5-49%, preferably 1-25%, of a hydrophobic monomer, preferably octadecyl methacrylate. The homogeneous terpolymer provides dual hair styling and conditioning functions in hair care applications.

Abstract: A charge imbalanced polymer comprising:(a) about 10 to 90 mole % of polymeric units having the formulas ##STR1## where A is present in an amount of about 0.1-0.8 mole, and B is present in an amount of about 0.05-0.4 mole, and where A is 2-6 times B,where R=C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl,n=1-6,R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl,R.sub.3 is H or lower alkyl, andR.sub.4 =C.sub.12 -C.sub.24 alkyl;and(b) about 10 to 90 mole % of a polymeric diacid units having the formula: ##STR2## where R is as defined above, and (c) about 0-20 mole % of by-product salts which are the dialkylaminoalkylamine and alkylamine salts of acid units of (a) and (b).The charged imbalanced polymer described above is made by:reacting 1 mole of an anhydride compound having the formula ##STR3## where R is as defined above, with less than 1 mole of a mixture of about 0.1-0.8 mole of a compound having the formula ##STR4## where n, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are as defined above, and about 0.05-0.

Abstract: A three part cleaning composition uses C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 alkyl substituted lactam as a cleaning agent, an anionic surfactant and water to solubilize and remove oil or grease from hard surfaces. The lactam is provided in a ratio, relative to surfactant of 5-0.1 to 5-3.0, more preferably 5-0.1 to 5-1.0. The composition is surprisingly effective in forming micro-emulsions with the oil or grease and maintaining the emulsions for ease in disposal. Using an aqueous solution including C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 alkyl substituted lactam provides a low volatility, non-flammable degreasing solution, which is highly effective and biodegradable.

Abstract: A water based wetting agent uses higher alkyl substituted lactam, anionic surfactant and water to enhance the wetting properties of herbicide and pesticide formulations. The composition is effective in enhancing wetting times, and in some instances increases the formulation effectiveness through enhanced contact, better penetration and lower surface tension. Utilizing a herbicide or pesticide formulation including the wetting agent provides a fast absorption of actives with rapid uptake to promote weed control with no or minimal phytotoxicity at the use levels.