Carbamate-Catalyst Systems for Low-Temperature, Rapid Curing of Alkyl and Alkoxyalkyl Carbamate Finishing Agents1

Abstract

The greater lubricity of the alkyl ethers of alkylene glycols, in comparison to that of their corresponding alkanol analogs, suggested that the lubricating properties of the glycol ethers might be transmitted to their respective carbamic acid esters and, in turn, through suitable methylol derivatives, to fabric treated therewith. Increased inter- , molecular lubricity within the finished fabric might lead to improved tear strength, abrasion resistance, and fabric hand. To this end, a new class of carbamates, the alkoxyalkyl carbamates, based on polyalkylene glycols and certain of their alkyl ethers, have been investigated as finishing agents for cellulose. The relation of the chemical structure of the carbamate to the properties of fabric finished with the methylolated carbamate is discussed. Data are presented to illustrate the suitability of methylolated methoxyethyl carbamate as a cellulose reactant. In addition, the techniques employed in preparing carbamate finishes have been studied and the influence of methylolation conditions, such as formaldehyde/carbamate molar ratio; initial methylolation pH, and reaction temperature on both finish composition and performance properties is examined. An attempt to reduce or eliminate certain difficulties encountered in large-scale carbamate finishing led to the development of a new carbamate-catalyst system. This unusually efficient carbamate-catalyst system is discussed in detail and its low-tempera ture, rapid-cure characteristics are demonstrated.