REPELLENT AND SOIL RESISTANT CARPET TREATED WITH AMMONIUM POLYCARBOXYLATE SALTS
A method for imparting soil resistance to unscoured carpets, and a carpet treated in accordance with the method, are provided. In accordance with the method, a substrate comprising unscoured carpet fibers is treated with the ammonium salt of a polycarboxylic acid, such as an ammonium salt of a hydrolyzed styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer. The treated substrate is found to have enhanced water and oil repellency in both heat cured and room temperature drying conditions.