Mercerizing liquor

Acid sulphuric esters of aliphatic alcohols containing from 4 to 8 carbon atoms, or their water-soluble salts are added to mercerizing lyes in order to facilitate the wetting of the yarns or fabrics. Organic, water-soluble hydroxy compounds may also be added. In examples the following acid sulphuric esters and mixtures of organic hydroxy compounds with acid sulphuric esters are added to caustic soda lyes used for mercerizing: the acid sulphuric ester of n-amyl alcohol, the acid sulphuric esters of the mixture of alcohols, mainly hexyl and heptyl alcohols, obtained by reduction of the ketones prepared according to Specification 310,438, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.], by reduction of petroleum ether by means of carbon monoxide, a mixture of 1 : 3 - butyleneglycolmonoethylether and n-butyl- or n-hexyl-sulphuric acid ester, a mixture of glycerol or turkey red oil and n-hexyl-sulphuric acid ester, and a mixture of asym-m-xylenol and amyl sulphuric acid esters. The acid sulphuric esters of ethylhexyl and octyl alcohols are mentioned, and also the following hydroxy compounds: ethyl alcohol, ethylene and propylene glycol, 1 : 3-butylene glycolmonoethylether, phenols, and cresols.