Stearyl Alcohol/2,4-Toluene Diisocyanate/Perfluorinated Alcohols Adduct as a New Textile Water/Oil Repellent

Stearyl alcohol/2,4-toluene diisocyanate/perfluorinated alcohols adduct was prepared at a total conversion of 98% by reacting these substances using a molar ratio of 1/1/1 at 100°C for 90 minutes. The purified adduct has a melting point of 67°C, and its FTIR spectrum was investigated. An aqueous emulsion containing the adduct (105 g/kg), stearic acid (45 g/kg), and TEA (24 g/kg) acquired 100% cotton fabric water/oil repellency when padded in a bath containing different concentration (20—50 g/L) of the emulsion and dried at 100°C per 3 minutes. Raising drying temperature (100—180°C) enhanced water/oil repellency. The so-treated fabric lost water/oil repellency after five washes. Addition of DMDHEU to the padding bath relatively improved water/oil repellency up to the 10th wash, but it was completely lost after the 25th wash. It was concluded that the adduct is mechanically entrapped within the crosslinker/fabric network and it escapes this entrapment during repeated laundering.