Charged Titanium Research Articles

COMMUNICATION: IMPROVEMENT OF THE NATURAL FLAME-RESISTANCE OF WOOL. PART I: METAL-COMPLEX APPLICATIONS

Negatively charged titanium and zirconium complexes with α-hydroxy carboxylic acids and fluorides can be exhausted on the positively charged wool fibre in acid conditions, the result being a significant improvement in the natural flame-resistance of wool that is fast to washing and dry-cleaning. The complexes with carboxylic acids are exhausted on the wool fibre at the boil, whereas the fluoride complexes can be effectively exhausted at lower temperatures. The fluoride complexes can also be applied by a pad-batch-rinse-dry technique. Titanium complexes are more effective than the zirconium ones, probably because of better penetration of the fibre with the smaller titanium complexes. However, titanium complexes cause yellowing of wool, which increases with light exposure. Zirconium complexes do not affect the shade of wool and are fast to light.