The present invention relates to an adjuvant composition comprising a Ci-C2carboxylic acid ester and an N-heterocyclic compound and to a method of controlling pH in textile- processing processes.

In the dyeing of textiles, so-called acid donors are frequently added to the dyeing liquor, which hydrolyse in the course of the dyeing process and, in so doing, release an acid, resulting in a slow reduction in pH. This ensures slower, more uniform exhaustion of the dyes and, as a result, better levelness of the dyeing. In DE-A 34 17 780, formic acid esters of polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol are recommended as suitable acid donors. However, those formates are very susceptible to hydrolysis and decompose to a certain extent even during storage.

The problem of the present invention was therefore to make available a homogeneous anhydrous liquid formulation of an acid donor having a high degree of storage stability.

It has now been found, surprisingly, that the tendency of certain carboxylic acid ester formulations towards hydrolysis can be substantially reduced by the addition of N- heterocyclic compounds. The N-heterocycles can be homogeneously incorporated without any problem into anhydrous formulations, which then exhibit good storage stability even at elevated temperatures.

The present invention accordingly relates to an adjuvant composition comprising (A) a CrC2carboxylic 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.

The use of formic acid esters of glycols as acid donors having pH-regulating properties in textile-processing processes is known, for example, from U.S. Patent 4,568,351. Suitable polyhydroxy compounds for the preparation of the CrC2carboxylic acid esters are, for example, glycols, glycerol, trimethylol propane, pentaerythritol and glucose and also ethylene oxide and propylene oxide addition products of those compounds.

The Ci-C2carboxylic acid esters according to component A are known or can be prepared in accordance with known methods, for example by reacting the appropriate polyhydroxy compounds with a Ci-C2carboxylic acid or suitable carboxylic acid derivative.

Both fully esterified and also partially esterified compounds are suitable as component A. Mixtures of fully esterified and partially esterified polyhydroxy compounds are also possible. When component A is the ester of a dicarboxylic acid (e.g. oxalic acid), it may be in the form of either a monoester or a diester, or in the form of a mixture of a monoester and diester. Preference is given to dicarboxylic acid diesters.

Suitable dicarboxylic acids for the preparation of the CrC2carboxylic acid esters are, for example, formic acid, acetic acid, chloroacetic acid, bromoacetic acid, hydroxyacetic acid and oxalic acid.

Preference is given to the use, as component A, of a CrC2carboxylic acid ester of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, of a polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol, of glycerol, of a glycerol/ethylene oxide addition product or glycerol/propylene oxide addition product, of glucose, of a glucose/ethylene oxide addition product or glucose/propylene oxide addition product.

Especially preferred as component A are reaction products of a Ci-C2carboxylic acid with ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol containing from 2 to 4 ethylene groups, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol containing from 2 to 4 propylene groups, glycerol, glycerol/ethylene oxide addition product containing from 2 to 6 ethylene groups or glycerol/propylene oxide addition product containing from 2 to 6 propylene groups.

Also preferred as component A are formic acid esters, chloroacetic acid esters, hydroxy¬ acetic acid esters or oxalic acid esters of a polyhydroxy compound containing from 2 to 20 hydroxyl groups. Especially preferred acid donors are ethylene glycol monoformate, ethylene glycol diformate, diethylene glycol monoformate, diethylene glycol diformate, ethylene glycol mono(chloro- acetate), ethylene glycol di(chloroacetate), diethylene glycol mono(chloroacetate), diethylene glycol di(chloroacetate), ethylene glycol mono(hydroxyacetate), ethylene glycol di(hydroxy- acetate), diethylene glycol mono(hydroxyacetate), diethylene glycol di(hydroxyacetate), ethylene glycol mono(oxalate), ethylene glycol di(oxalate), diethylene glycol mono(oxalate) and diethylene glycol di(oxalate).

As component B, in principle any N-heterocyclic compound is suitable which has a pKa of from 6 to 8. Such compounds may be derived, for example, from pyrrolidine, pyrrole, imidazole, benzimidazole, piperidine, piperazine, morpholine, pyridine, quinoline or isoquinoline.

Preferred components B are morpholine compounds, imidazole compounds, pyridine compounds, quinoline compounds or isoquinoline compounds.

Examples of suitable components B are imidazole, histidine, 2-methylbenzimidazole, 2-aminopyridine, 2,4-dimethylpyridine (2,4-lutidine), 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, 1-amino- isoquinoline and 4-methylmorpholine.

As component B in the compositions according to the invention special preference is given to imidazole and 2,4-lutidine.

The ratio of components A and B in the compositions according to the invention can vary within wide ranges. The weight ratio of components A and B is preferably from 500:1 to 4:1, especially from 100:1 to 10:1, very especially from 60:1 to 20:1.

In order to adjust the activity, an organic solvent, advantageously a glycol or glycol ether, can also be added to the compositions according to the invention.

The invention accordingly relates also to a composition comprising components A and B as defined hereinbefore and, in addition, (C) a glycol or glycol ether of formula (1) R1 (OCHR3CH2)- OCHR3CH2- OR2 (1),

wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or CrC12alkyl, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals Ri and R2 is hydrogen, R3 is hydrogen or methyl, and n is a number from 0 to 8.

The compounds of formula (1) are known and many are available commercially. Examples thereof are ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, polypropylene glycol and polypropylene glycol monomethyl ether.

Preferred compositions according to the invention comprise, as component C, a glycol of formula (1) wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen and n is a number from 0 to 2.

Special preference is given to diethylene glycol and, especially, dipropylene glycol as component C.

The relative amounts of components A, B and C in the compositions according to the invention can vary within wide ranges.

Preference is given to compositions comprising (A) from 20 to 95 % by weight, preferably from 30 to 90 % by weight, especially from 50 to 80 % by weight, of a CrC2carboxylic acid ester of a polyhydroxy compound containing from 2 to 20 hydroxyl groups; (B) from 0.2 to 10 % by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 5 % by weight, especially from 1 to 3 % by weight, of an N-heterocyclic compound having a pKa value of from 6 to 8; and (C) from 0 to 70 % by weight, preferably from 10 to 60 % by weight, especially from 20 to 45 % by weight, of a glycol or glycol ether of formula (1 ) R1 (OCHR3CH2)- OCHR3CH2- OR2 (1),

wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or CrC12alkyl, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals R1 and R2 is hydrogen, R3 is hydrogen or methyl, and n is a number from 0 to 8; the sum of components (A) + (B) + (C) being, in each case, 100 % by weight. The adjuvant according to the invention may comprise, in addition to components A, B and, as the case may be, C, further customary additives such as dispersants, wetting agents and antifoams.

The present invention relates also to a method of controlling pH in textile-processing processes, wherein the processing liquor comprises an adjuvant composition as defined hereinbefore.

Textile-processing processes as understood by the present invention are, in the widest sense, dyeing, printing and brightening methods, bleaching of textiles, finishing of textiles, chlorination of wool and any such method in which pH exerts an influence on the method, but especially dyeing methods.

Textile substrates for which the method according to the invention is suitable are especially those that are finished, processed or dyed under acid conditions, for example cellulose 2Λh- acetate, diacetate or triacetate, modified polypropylenes, polyesters or polyacrylonitriles and, especially, natural or synthetic polyamides.

Suitable polyamide fibre material includes natural polyamide fibre material, e.g. wool or silk, and synthetic polyamide fibre material, e.g. polyamide-6 or polyamide-6.6, and fibre blends, e.g. wool/cellulose or polyamide/cellulose fibre blends, polyamide/wool fibre blends or polyamide/elastane fibre blends. The fibre material is preferably synthetic polyamide fibre material.

The textile material can be used in any form, e.g. in the form of fibres, yarn, woven fabric or knitted fabric.

The treatment of the fibre material with the adjuvant compositions according to the invention is preferably carried out in accordance with the exhaust process, in which case the liquor ratio can be selected from within a wide range and is, for example, from 1 :3 to 1:100, preferably from 1 :4 to 1 :50 and especially from 1 :5 to 1 :20.

Generally, good results are obtained when the adjuvant compositions according to the invention are used in amounts of from 0.1 to 10 g/litre, preferably from 0.2 to 6 g/litre. Special apparatus is not required. For example, customary dyeing apparatus, e.g. open baths, winch becks, jigs, or paddle, jet or circulation apparatus, may be used.

The procedure is advantageously carried out at a temperature of, for example, from 20 to 1300C, preferably from 50 to 1200C and especially from 60 to 1000C. The treatment time may be, for example, from 10 to 90 minutes and preferably from 15 to 60 minutes.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a method of dyeing natural or synthetic textile fibres, wherein the undyed textile fibre material is brought into contact with an aqueous exhaust dyeing liquor comprising at least one dye and a composition according to claim 1 at from 20 to 400C and at a pH of from 6 to 9 and the temperature is then raised to from 90 to 150°C, whereupon the pH decreases to from 4 to 7.

The liquor can comprise, in addition to the adjuvant according to the invention, further customary additives, such as electrolytes, e.g. sodium chloride or sodium sulfate, dispersants, wetting agents and antifoams

Dyeing is carried out preferably using anionic dyes, any customary anionic dye, as described, for example, in Colour Index, 3rd edition (1971), being suitable.

Examples of anionic dyes include sulfo-group-containing monoazo, polyazo, metal complex azo, anthraquinone, phthalocyanine and formazan dyes.

The anionic dyes used in dyeing the fibre material are either in the form of their free sulfonic acids or in the form of their salts.

The dyes used in the dyeing of the fibre material may comprise further additives, e.g. sodium chloride or dextrin.

Dyeing of the fibre material can be carried out in accordance with customary dyeing or printing methods, for example in accordance with the padding or exhaust process. The dyeing liquors or printing pastes may comprise, in addition to water and the dyes, further additives, for example wetting agents, antifoams, levelling agents or agents that influence the characteristics of the textile material, for example softeners, flame-retardants, or dirt-, water- and oil-repellents, and also water-softeners and natural or synthetic thickeners, for example alginates and cellulose ethers.

The amounts in which dyes are used in the dye baths can vary within wide limits depending on the required depth of shade; in general, amounts of from 0.01 to 15 % by weight, especially from 0.01 to 10 % by weight, based on the material to be dyed, have proved to be advantageous.

Dyeing with anionic dyes or reactive dyes is preferably carried out at a pH of from 1 to 8 and especially from 2 to 7. The liquor ratio can be selected from within a wide range, for example from 1 :3 to 1 :50, preferably from 1 :5 to 1 :30. Dyeing is preferably carried out at from 50 to 1300C and especially from 80 to 1200C.

Following the method according to the invention there are obtained dyeings of dyes, e.g. anionic dyes or reactive dyes, on polyamide fibre material, which dyeings are distinguished by a high degree of levelness.

The EΞxamples that follow illustrate the invention. Example 1 : Storage stability An adjuvant composition is prepared by mixing 60 parts by weight of ethylene glycol diformate, 1.5 parts by weight of imidazole and 38.5 parts by weight of dipropylene glycol (formulation 1). The concentrated product is stored for several weeks; for measurement of the pH, a 1 % solution in demineralised water is prepared in each case. The 1 % solution of a commercially available acid donor is used for comparison. The measured pH values are shown in Table 1.

Table 1:

Example 2: Dyeing of polyamide using anionic dye 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 1 % Eriofast® Red 3B (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 1 g/litre of formulation 1 (invention) or the reference product (comparison) at RT. The liquor is then heated to 98CC at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 980C, the liquor is cooled to 600C at 3°C/min. The pH values measured during the dyeing process are given in Table 2.

Table 2:

The dyeing with formulation 1 is distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric.

Example 3: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using anionic dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 0.8 % Erionyl® Yellow A-R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.4 % Erionyl® Red A-2BF (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.6 % Erionyl® Blue A-R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (levelling agent, Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and, as the case may be, 0.5 g/litre, 1.0 g/litre or 4.0 g/litre of formulation 1 at 500C. The liquor is then heated to 98°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 98"C1 the liquor is cooled to 500C at 3°C/min. The pH values measured during the dyeing process are given in Table 3.

Table 3:

The brown dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric.

Example 4: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using anionic dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 0.4 % Erionyl® Yellow A-R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.6 % Erionyl® Red A-2BF (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.8 % Erionyl® Blue A-R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and, as the case may be, 0.5 g/litre, 1.0 g/litre or 2.0 g/litre of formulation 1 at 500C. The liquor is then heated to 98°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 98°C, the liquor is cooled to 500C at 3°C/min. The violet dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric.

Example 5: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using anionic dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 0.73 % Eriofast® Yellow R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.43 % Eriofast® Red 2B (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.76 % Eriofast® Blue 3R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.5 g/litre of Cibatex® AD-40 (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and, as the case may be, 1.0 g/litre, 2.0 g/litre or 4.0 g/litre of a formulation consisting of 45 parts by weight of diethylene glycol bischloroacetate, 2.5 parts by weight of 2,4-lutidine and 52.5 parts by weight of dipropylene glycol at 400C. The liquor is then heated to 98°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 98°C, the liquor is cooled to 400C at 3°C/min. The violet dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric, which is to be attributed to the more uniform course of the pH during dyeing.

Example 6: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using anionic dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 0.73 % Eriofast® Yellow R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.43 % Eriofast® Red 2B (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.76 % Eriofast® Blue 3R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.5 g/litre of Cibatex® AD-40 (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and, as the case may be, 1.0 g/litre, 2.0 g/litre or 4.0 g/litre of a formulation consisting of 45 parts by weight of ethylene glycol di(hydroxyacetate), 2.5 parts by weight of 2,4-lutidine and 52.5 parts by weight of dipropylene glycol at 40°C. The liquor is then heated to 98°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 98°C, the liquor is cooled to 400C at 3°C/min. The violet dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric, which is to be attributed to the more uniform course of the pH during dyeing.

Example 7: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using anionic dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 0.73 % Eriofast® Yellow R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.43 % Eriofast® Red 2B (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.76 % Eriofast® Blue 3R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.5 g/litre of Cibatex® AD-40 (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and, as the case may be, 1.0 g/litre, 2.0 g/litre or 4.0 g/litre of a formulation consisting of 45 parts by weight of ethylene glycol bisoxalate, 2.5 parts by weight of 2,4-lutidine and 52.5 parts by weight of dipropylene glycol at 400C. The liquor is then heated to 98°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 980C, the liquor is cooled to 400C at 3°C/min. The violet dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved level ness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric, which is to be attributed to the more uniform course of the pH during dyeing.

Example 8: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using anionic dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 0.73 % Eriofast15 Yellow R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.43 % Eriofast® Red 2B (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.76 % Eriofast® Blue 3R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.5 g/litre of Cibatex® AD-40 (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and, as the case may be, 0.5 g/litre or 4.0 g/litre of formulation 1 at 400C. The liquor is then heated to 98"C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 98°C, the liquor is cooled to 70°C at 3°C/min and is then made alkaline by adding 1 g/litre of Na2CO3. The pH values measured during the dyeing process are given in Table 4. Table 4: v

The brown dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric.

Example 9: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using metal complex dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in a liquor comprising 0.6 % Lanaset® Yellow 2R (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.6 % Lanaset® Red G (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.4 % Lanaset® Grey G (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (levelling agent, Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and, as the case may be, 0.5 g/litre, 1.0 g/litre or 4.0 g/litre of formulation 1 at 500C. The liquor is then heated to 98°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. After 60 minutes at 98°C, the liquor is cooled to 500C at 3°C/min. The pH values measured during the dyeing process are given in Table 5.

Table 5:

The beige dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric.

Example 10: Trichromatic dyeing of polyamide using metal complex dyes 5 g of polyamide fabric (PA 6.6) are immersed in 50 g of a liquor comprising 0.028 % Irgalan*5 Yellow 3RL 250 % (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.049 % Irgalan® Grey GLN (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.029 % Irgalan® Blue 3GL 200 % (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.021 % Irgalan® Bordeaux EL 200 % (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.019 % Irgalan® Yellow GRL 200 % (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 2 % Univadine® MC new (levelling agent, Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 0.5 g/litre of formulation 1 at 400C. The liquor is then heated to 98°C at heating a rate of 2°C/min. The pH values measured during the dyeing process are given in Table 6.

Table 6:

The beige dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by improved levelness and a more uniform appearance of the fabric.

Example 11: Trichromatic dyeing of wool using anionic dyes Various woollen fabrics are dyed in an Ahiba laboratory dyeing apparatus using a method that is customary for dyeing wool. In the process, 10 g of loose wool are treated in 400 ml of a liquor comprising 0.45 % Lanasol Yellow 4G (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.60 % Lanasol Red 6G (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 0.45 % Lanasol Blue 3G (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) and 0.5 g/l Cibaflow® CIR (wetting agent, Ciba Specialty Chemicals), 1.0 % Albegal® (amphoteric surfactant, Bayer), 5.0 % Glauber's salt and, as the case may be, 1.0 g/litre or 4.0 g/litre of formulation 1. The pH values measured during the dyeing process are given in Tables 7a - 7c. Table 7a: Substrate: Austral loose wool (tippy wool)

Table 7c: Substrate: Hercosett wool yarn Temperature pH value pH value 1.0 g of formulation 1 4.0 g of formulation 1 500C 6.4 5.8 600C 6.3 5.5 700C 5.9 4.9 800C 5.5 4.5 90°C 5.1 4.1 98°C 4.8 3.9 30 min at 98°C 4.4 3.5 60 min at 98°C 4.3 3.3 70°C 5.0 4.0 400C 4.9 4.0

The brown dyeings thereby obtained are distinguished by substantially better tone-in-tone build-up, improved levelness and less skitteriness (lack of levelness).