ES353719A1 - Production of permanently sculptured pile fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

A pile fabric is sculptured by directly depositing in a predetermined pattern beneath the surface of the pile a viscous solvent for at least one of the major constituents of the pile, the deposition being at a depth of 10% to 30% of the average pile height and in sufficient amount and under sufficient pressure to penetrate the pile substantially into the pile depth heating the pile fabric to remove at least 75% of the solvent compacting the pile and relofting the pile elements. Preferably, the major constituent fibre is an acrylic, cellulose acetate or polyester fibre. The solvent may contain an adhesive and a plasticizer therefor and a colourant and, preferably, the viscosity is adjusted within the range 500-1000 c.p.s., e.g. by the addition of silica thickening agents. Specified solvents are dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylacetamide tetramethylene sulfone, and formulations based on polyurethane, urea-formaldehyde, phenolics, acrylics and other curable epoxy resins. The pile may be treated sequentially with a multiplicity of solvent solutions at least two of which differ in colour. As shown, pile fabric 2 is fed from a supply roll 1 between engraved rolls 3, 4, 5, 6 and back-up rolls 7, 8, 9, 10, each roll 3 4, 5, 6 being inked with different colours by an adhesive-containing solvent 11. Hot air ducts 14, 15, 16 partially dry the fabric between the rolls. The fabric passes over a guide roll 17 onto a conveyor belt 18 moved along by idler rolls 21 in a heated tunnel 19. An oven 20 heats the fabric and the tunnel to 150- 300 F. The fabric is squeezed between a hot roll 24 covered with polytetrafluoroethylene and a rubber roll 25 and then passes through a cold nip between rolls 25, 26 and over a conveyor 27 to a wind-up mechanism 28. Subsequently, the fabric is brushed to re-loft the pile.