CN117545832A

CN117545832A - Laundry compositions

Info

Publication number: CN117545832A
Application number: CN202280043866.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 葛杰敏; 徐娜
Original assignee: Unilever IP Holdings BV
Current assignee: Unilever IP Holdings BV
Priority date: 2021-06-21
Filing date: 2022-05-30
Publication date: 2024-02-09
Also published as: WO2022268446A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a laundry composition comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise 30 to 95 wt% of polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight of 4000-20000 g/mol; and a quaternary ammonium compound having a structure represented by formula (I): (R) ¹ )(R ² )N ⁺ (R ³ )(R ⁴ )X ^‑ (I) The method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the Wherein R is ¹ And R is ² Each independently is a straight or branched chain C ₁ ‑C ₄ An alkyl group; r is R ³ And R is ⁴ Each independently is a straight or branched chain C ₁₆ To C ₂₂ Alkyl or alkenyl; x-is a halide or alkyl sulfate, preferably chloride or methyl sulfate.

Description

Laundry compositions

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry composition comprising a plurality of particles comprising polyethylene glycol as a carrier and a softening active.

Background

There are a wide variety of laundry products on the market including detergents, fabric softeners or enhancers, stain removers and bleaches. Fabric softeners are a popular household cleaning product for reducing the roughness of clothes that are dried in air after washing. Fabric softeners typically coat the surface of the fabric with a charged substance to "lift" the threads from the surface, thereby imparting a softer, more fluffy texture to the fabric.

A typical laundry cycle may be divided into sub-cycles of washing, rinsing and drying. Most softeners currently used in household fabric softeners are either liquid compositions released from a particular compartment of the washing machine during the rinsing step or a softening sheet that is introduced manually during the drying step.

Fabric softeners comprising cationic softening actives are generally unsuitable for use with laundry detergents in the wash cycle of laundry, because undesirable interactions between the cationic softening active and anionic surfactant in the detergent can occur, which results in little or no softening benefit, and even affects the cleaning performance of the laundry detergent.

WO 2020/117643 relates to a composition comprising a plurality of particles, said plurality of particles comprising: about 25% to about 94% by weight of a water-soluble carrier; about 5% to about 45% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound; and about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt% of a cationic polymer; wherein the plurality of particles comprises a single particle; wherein each individual particle has a mass of about 1mg to about 1 g; and wherein the individual particles each have less than about 0.98g/cm ³ Is a density of (3).

WO 2019/025244 relates to a composition comprising a plurality of particles comprising: about 25% to about 94% by weight of a water-soluble carrier; about 5% to about 45% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound; about 1% to about 40% by weight fatty acids; and about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt% of a cationic polymer; wherein each of said particles has a mass of about 1mg to about 1 g.

US2019/0169539A1 relates to a composition comprising a plurality of particles comprising from about 25% to about 94% by weight of a water-soluble carrier; about 5% to about 45% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound; and from about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt% of a cationic polymer; wherein the plurality of particles comprises a single particle comprising at least one of a quaternary ammonium compound and a cationic polymer; wherein the individual particles differ from each other in the weight fraction of at least one of the quaternary ammonium compound and the cationic polymer; and wherein the individual particles each have a mass of about 1mg to about 1 g.

WO 2020/006346A1 relates to solid laundry fabric softening compositions which combine a quaternary dialkyl active having a low iodine value with silicone to provide softness without any significant yellowing or loss of water absorption or wicking of the treated flax.

Accordingly, there remains a need to provide a composition that can be applied in a wash cycle for washing laundry with a laundry detergent that provides excellent softening benefits without compromising the cleaning performance of the detergent.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise:

a) 30 to 95% by weight of polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight of 4000 to 20000; and

b) A quaternary ammonium compound having a structure represented by formula (I):

(R ¹ )(R ² )N ⁺ (R ³ )(R ⁴ )X ^- (I)

wherein R is ¹ And R is ² Each independently is C ₁ -C ₄ An alkyl group;

R ³ and R is ⁴ Each independently is a straight or branched chain C ₁₆ To C ₂₂ Alkyl or alkenyl;

X ^- is a halide or alkyl sulfate, preferably chloride or methyl sulfate.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the composition of any of the embodiments of the first aspect to provide a softening benefit to fabrics being laundered during a laundering process.

All other aspects of the invention will become more readily apparent from consideration of the detailed description and examples that follow.

Detailed Description

Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are optionally to be understood as modified by the word "about".

All amounts are by weight of the composition unless otherwise indicated.

It should be noted that any particular upper value may be associated with any particular lower value when any range of values is specified.

For the avoidance of doubt, the word "comprising" is intended to mean "including", but not necessarily "consisting of …" or "consisting of …". In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive.

The disclosure of the invention as found herein is considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as they are multiply dependent on each other, irrespective of the fact that the claims may be found without multiple dependencies or redundancies.

Where a feature is disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention (e.g., a composition of the invention), such disclosure is also deemed applicable, mutatis mutandis, to any other aspect of the invention (e.g., a method of the invention).

The composition of the present invention can be used as a conventional softening composition after a wash cycle, but it is particularly suitable for use during the wash sub-cycle of a laundry cycle.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

The particles of the present invention comprise polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG has various weight average molecular weights. The PEG used in the particles has a weight average molecular weight of 4000 to 20000g/mol, preferably 5000 to 18000g/mol, more preferably 6000 to 15000g/mol, most preferably 7000 to 13000g/mol. Non-limiting examples of suitable PEG are: polyglycol 8000 of Clariant and Pluriol 8000 of BASF.

The particles of the present invention comprise not less than 30% PEG, preferably more than 40% PEG, more preferably more than 50% PEG, most preferably more than 60% PEG by weight of the particles. The particles of the present invention comprise no more than 95% PEG, preferably less than 85% PEG, more preferably less than 75% PEG, most preferably less than 70% PEG by weight of the particles. Suitably, the particles comprise from 30 to 95% PEG, preferably from 40 to 85% PEG, more preferably from 50 to 75% by weight of the particles.

Quaternary ammonium compounds

The particles comprise a quaternary ammonium compound having a structure represented by formula (I):

(R ¹ )(R ² )N ⁺ (R ³ )(R ⁴ )X ^- (I)

wherein R is ¹ And R is ² Each independently is a straight or branched chain C ₁ -C ₄ An alkyl group;

X ^- is a halide or alkylsulfate, such as chloride or methylsulfate.

Preferably, R ¹ And R is ² Each independently is a straight chain C ₁ -C ₄ Alkyl, more preferably methyl or ethyl, most preferably methyl.

Preferably, R ³ And R is ⁴ Each independently is a straight chain C ₁₆ To C ₂₂ Alkyl or alkenyl.

R is particularly preferred ³ And R is ⁴ Each independently is a straight chain C ₁₆ To C ₂₂ An alkyl group.

Preferably, R ³ And R is ⁴ Are the same groups.

The quaternary ammonium compound preferably comprises dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium halide, dimethyl di hexadecyl ammonium halide, dimethyl di docosyl ammonium halide, dimethyl di eicosyl ammonium halide, or a combination thereof. The counter ion is preferably chloride.

Particularly preferred quaternary ammonium compounds are dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium chloride.

The particles of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.1 to 50% by weight of quaternary ammonium compound, more preferably from 1 to 40%, more preferably from 5 to 35%, most preferably from 10 to 30%.

The combination of PEG and quaternary ammonium compound preferably comprises at least 70%, more preferably at least 80% by weight of the particles.

In addition to the quaternary ammonium compound having the structure represented by formula (I), the particles may also include other quaternary ammonium compounds. One preferred class of quaternary ammonium compounds is known as "esterquats". A particularly preferred material is an ester linked Triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium complex (component) comprising a mixture of monoester, diester and triester linked components.

Typically, TEA-based fabric softening compounds comprise a mixture of mono-, di-and tri-ester forms of the compound, wherein the diester-linked component comprises no more than 70% by weight of the fabric softening compound, preferably no more than 60% by weight of the fabric softening compound, such as no more than 55%, or even no more than 45%, and the monoester-linked component comprises at least 10% by weight.

A first group of suitable quaternary ammonium compounds is represented by formula (II):

wherein each R is independently selected from C ₅ To C ₃₅ Alkyl or alkenyl; r is R ¹ Represent C ₁ To C ₄ Alkyl, C ₂ To C ₄ Alkenyl or C ₁ To C ₄ A hydroxyalkyl group; t may be O-CO (i.e., an ester group bound to R through its carbon atom), or alternatively may be CO-O (i.e., an ester group bound to R through its oxygen atom)A linked ester group); n is a number selected from 1 to 4; m is a number selected from 1,2 or 3; and X is ^- Are anionic counter ions such as halide or alkylsulfate, for example chloride or methylsulfate. Diester variants of formula II (i.e., m=2) are preferred and typically have monoester and triester analogs associated therewith.

Suitable actives include soft quaternary ammonium actives such as Stepantex VT90, revoquat WE18 (derived from Evonik) and tetrayl L1/90N, tetrayl L190 SP and tetrayl L190S (all derived from Kao).

Also suitable are active substances rich in triethanolamine methylsulfate diester, also known as "TEA esterquats".

Commercially available examples include Preapagen ^TM TQL (from Clariant) and Tetranyl ^TM AHT-1 (from Kao) (bis [ hardened tallow ester ] both triethanolamine methylsulfate)]) AT-1 (Di [ tallow ester of triethanolamine methylsulfate)]) And L5/90 (di [ palmitoyl ester of trimethamine methyl sulfate)]) (all derived from Kao), and Rewoquat ^TM WE15 (with derivative C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ And C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ Diesters of triethanolamine methylsulfate of fatty acyl residues of unsaturated fatty acids) (derived from Evonik).

A second group of suitable quaternary ammonium compounds is represented by formula (III):

wherein R is ¹ The radicals are each independently selected from C ₁ To C ₄ Alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C ₂ To C ₄ Alkenyl groups; wherein R is ₂ The radicals are each independently selected from C ₈ To C ₂₈ Alkyl or alkenyl; and wherein n, T and X-are as defined above.

Preferred materials of the second group include 1, 2-bis [ tallowyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropanammonium chloride, 1, 2-bis [ hardened tallowyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropanammonium chloride, 1, 2-bis [ oleoyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropanammonium chloride, and 1, 2-bis [ stearyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropanammonium chloride. Such materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,180 (Lever Brothers). Preferably, these materials also contain a certain amount of the corresponding monoester.

A third group of suitable quaternary ammonium compounds is represented by formula (IV):

(R ¹ ) ₂ -N ⁺ -[(CH ₂ ) _n -T-R ² ] ₂ X ^- (IV)

wherein R is ¹ The radicals are each independently selected from C ₁ To C ₄ Alkyl, or C ₂ To C ₄ Alkenyl groups; wherein R is ₂ The radicals are each independently selected from C ₈ To C ₂₈ Alkyl or alkenyl; and n, T and X-are as defined above. Preferred materials of this third group include bis (2-tallowyloxyethyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, partially hardened and hardened forms thereof.

Specific examples of the fourth group of quaternary ammonium compounds are represented by formula (V):

a fourth group of suitable quaternary ammonium compounds is represented by formula (VI)

R ¹ And R is ² Independently selected from C ₁₀ To C ₂₂ Alkyl or alkenyl of (C), preferably C ₁₄ To C ₂₀ Alkyl or alkenyl of (a). X is X ^- As defined above.

The iodine value of the quaternary ammonium compound is preferably from 0 to 80, more preferably from 0 to 60, most preferably from 0 to 45. The iodine value can be appropriately selected. Substantially saturated materials having an iodine value of from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 1, may be used in the compositions of the present invention. Such materials are known as "hardened" quaternary ammonium compounds.

Further preferred ranges of iodine values are from 20 to 60, preferably from 25 to 50, more preferably from 30 to 45. This type of material is a "soft" triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compound, preferably triethanolamine dialkyl ester methyl sulfate. Such ester-linked triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compounds contain unsaturated fatty chains.

The iodine value described above represents the average iodine value of the parent fatty acyl compounds or fatty acids of all quaternary ammonium materials present if a mixture of quaternary ammonium materials is present in the composition. Likewise, if any saturated quaternary ammonium material is present in the composition, the iodine value represents the average iodine value of the parent acyl compounds of fatty acids of all quaternary ammonium material present.

Iodine value as used in the context of the present invention refers to the degree of unsaturation present in a material as measured by NMR spectroscopy as described in anal. Chem.,34,1136 (1962) Johnson and shoolery.

When the particles contain other quaternary ammonium compounds in addition to the quaternary ammonium compound having the structure represented by formula (I), the particles generally contain less than 10% by weight of other quaternary ammonium compounds, more preferably less than 5%, and most preferably less than 1%. It is particularly preferred that the particles contain no other quaternary ammonium compound than the quaternary ammonium compound having the structure represented by formula (I).

Aromatic agent

The particles of the present invention may be used to impart additional fragrance to fabrics. According to this embodiment, the particles comprise 0.1 to 30 wt% of fragrance material, i.e. free fragrance and/or fragrance microcapsules. As is known in the art, free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules provide fragrance flavor impact to the consumer at different points during the wash cycle. It is particularly preferred that the particles of the present invention comprise a combination of free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules.

Preferably, the particles of the present invention comprise from 0.5 to 20% fragrance material, more preferably from 1 to 15% fragrance material, most preferably from 2 to 10% fragrance material.

Useful fragrance components may include materials of natural and synthetic origin. They include single compounds and mixtures. Specific examples of such components can be found in the current literature, for example, in Fenaroli Handbook of Flavor Ingredients,1975, crc Press; synthetic Food Adjuncts,1947 by Van novband; or s.arctander Perfume and Flavor Chemicals in 1969, montar, n.j. (USA). Such materials are well known to those skilled in the art of perfuming, flavoring and/or perfuming consumer products.

Free fragrance:

the particles of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.1% to 15% free fragrance, more preferably from 0.5% to 8% free fragrance by weight of the particles.

Particularly preferred fragrance components are fragrance releasing (bloom) fragrance components and direct (consumer) fragrance components. The fragrance releasing component is defined by a boiling point below 250 ℃ and a LogP greater than 2.5. The direct fragrance component is defined by a boiling point above 250 ℃ and a LogP greater than 2.5. Boiling point was measured at standard pressure (760 mmHg). Preferably, the fragrance composition may comprise a mixture of a fragrance releasing fragrance component and a direct fragrance component. The fragrance composition may comprise other fragrance components.

The presence of multiple fragrance components in free oil fragrance compositions is common. In the compositions used in the present invention, it is contemplated that three or more, preferably four or more, more preferably five or more, most preferably six or more different fragrance components may be present. An upper limit of 300 fragrance components is applicable.

Fragrance microcapsules:

the particles of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.1% to 15% by weight of the particles of fragrance microcapsules, more preferably from 0.5% to 8% by weight of perfume microcapsules. The weight of the microcapsules is the weight of the material provided.

When the fragrance component is encapsulated, suitable encapsulating materials may include, but are not limited to: aminoplasts, proteins, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polysaccharides, polyamides, polyolefins, gums, silicones, lipids, modified celluloses, polyphosphates, polystyrenes, polyesters or combinations thereof. Particularly preferred materials are aminoplast microcapsules, such as melamine formaldehyde or urea formaldehyde microcapsules.

The fragrance microcapsules of the present invention may be friable microcapsules and/or moisture activated microcapsules. Friable means that the fragrance microcapsules will rupture when force is applied. Moisture activation refers to the release of fragrance in the presence of water. The particles of the present invention preferably comprise friable microcapsules. Moisture activated microcapsules may additionally be present. Examples of friable microcapsules include aminoplast microcapsules.

The fragrance component contained in the microcapsules may contain an aromatic (odiferous) substance and/or a fragrance precursor substance.

Particularly preferred fragrance components for inclusion in the microcapsules are fragrance releasing fragrance components and direct fragrance components. The fragrance releasing component is defined by a boiling point below 250 ℃ and a LogP greater than 2.5. The direct fragrance component is defined by a boiling point above 250 ℃ and a LogP greater than 2.5. The boiling point is measured at standard pressure (760 mmHg). Preferably, the fragrance composition may comprise a mixture of a fragrance releasing fragrance component and a direct fragrance component. The fragrance composition may comprise other fragrance components.

The presence of multiple fragrance components in microcapsules is common. In the compositions used in the present invention, it is contemplated that three or more, preferably four or more, more preferably five or more, most preferably six or more different fragrance components may be present in the microcapsules. An upper limit of 300 fragrance components is applicable.

The microcapsules may comprise a fragrance component and a carrier for the fragrance ingredient, such as a zeolite or cyclodextrin.

Hydrolyzed protein and/or its derivative

The particles of the invention may additionally comprise hydrolysed proteins and/or derivatives thereof. When included, the hydrolyzed protein and/or derivative thereof is preferably present at a level of from 0.01 to 10%, more preferably from 0.05 to 8%, most preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the granule.

The hydrolyzed protein or protein hydrolysate is a protein obtainable by protein hydrolysis. Hydrolysis may be achieved by chemical reactions, in particular by alkaline hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis or combinations thereof.

For basic or acidic hydrolysis, a method such as boiling in a strong acid or alkali for a long time may be employed.

For enzymatic hydrolysis, all hydrolases are suitable, for example alkaline proteases. The production of protein hydrolysates is for example described in the following: schuster and A. Domsch in soaps and oils Fette Wachse, (1982) 177and Cosm.Toil,respectively.99, (1984) 63,by H.W.Steisslinger in Parf.Kosm.72, (1991) 556and F.Aurich et al.in Tens.Surf.Det.29, (1992) 389 applied.

The hydrolyzed proteins of the present invention may be derived from a variety of sources. The proteins may be of natural origin, for example from vegetable or animal origin, or they may be synthetic proteins. Preferably, the protein is a naturally derived protein or a synthetic equivalent of a naturally derived protein. The preferred class of proteins are plant proteins, i.e. proteins obtained from plants or their synthetic equivalents. Preferably, the protein is obtained from a plant. Preferred plant sources include nuts, seeds, beans and grains.

A particularly preferred plant source is cereal. Examples of cereals include grains (such as millet, corn, barley, oats, rice and wheat), pseudo-cereals (such as buckwheat and quinoa), legumes (such as chickpeas, lentils and soybeans) and oilseeds (such as mustard, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, poppy seeds, flax seeds). Most preferred are cereal grains, particularly wheat proteins or synthetic equivalents of wheat proteins.

The weight average molecular weight Mw of the hydrolyzed protein is preferably 300g/mol to 50000g/mol, in particular 300g/mol to 15000g/mol. The average molecular weight Mw can be determined, for example, by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) (Andrews P., "Estimation of the Molecular Weight of Proteins by Sephadex Gel Filtration"; biochem J.; pages 1964,91,222-233). The use of hydrolyzed proteins having an average molecular weight within this range results in particularly effective fragrance benefits.

Derivatives of hydrolyzed proteins are prepared by chemically modifying hydrolyzed proteins. Such chemical modifications include, for example, esterification of carboxyl groups, acylation of amino groups, and quaternization of amino groups.

Preferably the derivative of the hydrolysed protein is a cationically modified hydrolysed protein. Cationic modified hydrolyzed wheat proteins are preferred. Preferably, the hydrolysed protein contains at least one group of the formula:

R1-N ⁺ (CH ₃ ) ₂ -CH ₂ -CH(OH)-CH ₂ -XR

r1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms. R1 is preferably selected from methyl, C _10-18 Alkyl or C _10-13 An alkenyl group,

x is O, N or S

R represents a protein residue. The term "protein residue" is understood to mean the backbone of the corresponding hydrolysed protein formed by the attachment of amino acids bound to cationic groups.

Cationization of the hydrolyzed protein with the above residues may be accomplished by reacting the reactive groups of the hydrolyzed protein, particularly the amino acids of the hydrolyzed protein, with a halide that otherwise corresponds to the compound of the above formula (wherein the X-R moiety is substituted with a halogen).

It is also preferred that the hydrolyzed protein derivative is a protein-silicone copolymer. The silicone components are covalently bound to the amino groups of the protein, and at least some of the silicone components form crosslinks between different protein chains.

The protein component of the copolymer is preferably a hydrolyzed vegetable protein, more preferably a hydrolyzed wheat protein. The protein component may be in the form of a chemically modified protein, preferably a cationically modified protein, more preferably a quaternized protein. Preferably, if the protein component of the protein-silicone copolymer is a cationically modified hydrolyzed protein as described above, a quaternized hydrolyzed protein is more preferred. Particularly preferred the protein component of the copolymer is quaternized hydrolyzed wheat protein. The protein component of the protein-silicone copolymer may comprise from 5 to 98%, more preferably from 50 to 90% by weight of the copolymer.

Preferably, the silicone component is an organofunctional silane/silicone compound. Protein-silicone copolymers can be prepared by covalently linking organofunctional silane/silicone compounds to the protein amino groups to form larger polymer molecules including protein cross-linking. In addition, further polymerization can occur by condensation of silanol groups, and this further polymerization increases the amount of crosslinking. The organofunctional silicone compound used to react with the protein component to form the copolymer must contain functional groups capable of reacting with the chain ends and/or side chain amino groups of the protein. Suitable reactive groups include, for example, acyl halides, sulfonyl halides, anhydrides, aldehydes, and epoxide groups. The silicone component can be any compound containing a siloxane group (Si-O-Si), or any silane capable of forming a siloxane in situ by condensation of silanol (Si-OH) groups, or any alkoxysilane or halosilane which hydrolyzes to the corresponding silanol and then condenses to form a siloxane group.

Preferably, the derivative of the hydrolyzed protein is a quaternized hydrolyzed wheat protein-silicone copolymer, which is commercially available from, for example, croda under the trade name collide radius.

The hydrolyzed protein and/or its derivatives in the particles described herein may provide the consumer with an improved fragrance experience and/or improve the softness of the fabric.

With respect to an improved fragrance experience, this means increased strength on wet fabrics and 24 hours dry fabrics.

Fatty acid

The particles of the present invention may additionally comprise fatty acids. Preferably, the particles comprise 0.2 to 20 wt% saturated or unsaturated fatty acids. More preferably, the particles comprise from 0.5 to 15 wt%, even more preferably from 0.7 to 10 wt%, most preferably from 1 to 5 wt% fatty acid.

The iodine value of the fatty acid is preferably less than 20, more preferably less than 10, most preferably less than 5.

The fatty acid is preferably saturated or unsaturated C ₈ To C ₂₄ Fatty acids, more preferably saturated or unsaturated C ₁₂ To C ₂₂ Fatty acids.

Examples of fatty acids that may be used according to the invention include lauric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the fatty acid comprises stearic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid or mixtures thereof.

Silicone compound

The particles of the present invention may additionally comprise a silicone compound.

Suitable silicone compounds include polysiloxanes, in particular polydimethylsiloxanes having the INCI name dimethicone (dimethicone). Also suitable for use in the particles of the present invention are polydimethylsiloxanes having terminal hydroxyl groups, the INCI name of which is dimethiconol (dimethiconol). Another class of silicones that can be used are functionalized silicones, such as amino-functional silicones, meaning silicones containing at least one primary, secondary or tertiary amine group or quaternary ammonium group. Or anionically modified silicones incorporating carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate and/or phosphonate functionalities. Also suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention are silicone rubbers having a slight degree of crosslinking, as described, for example, in WO 96/31188.

Preferably, the silicone compound is an amino-functional silicone. The primary, secondary, tertiary and/or quaternary amine groups may form part of the polymer backbone or more preferably be carried by pendant or pendant groups carried by the polymer backbone. Such polymers are described, for example, in US 4185087. Examples of suitable amino-functional silicones include polysiloxanes having the INCI name "aminodimethicone".

Preferably, the particles comprise from 0.01 to 20 wt%, more preferably from 0.05 to 10 wt%, most preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt% of the silicone compound.

Coloring agent

The particles of the present invention may comprise a colorant. The colorant may be a dye or pigment or a mixture thereof. The colorant has the purpose of imparting a color to the particles, which is not intended to be a shading dye or to impart a color to the laundered fabric. A single colorant or a mixture of colorants may be used.

Preferably, the colorant is a dye, more preferably a polymeric dye. Non-limiting examples of suitable dyes include the LIQUITINET series of dyes from Milliken Chemical.

Preferably, the particles of the present invention comprise from 0.001 to 2%, more preferably from 0.005 to 1%, most preferably from 0.01 to 0.6% by weight of colorant.

Other vectors

The particles of the invention may additionally comprise additional carriers (in addition to PEG). Additional carrier materials may provide various benefits, such as stability benefits. The additional carrier material may be selected from the group consisting of: polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and derivatives thereof), proteins (e.g., gelatin, albumin, casein), water soluble or dispersible fillers (e.g., sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate/bicarbonate, zeolite, silica, clay), and combinations thereof.

Suitable other carrier materials include, for example, water-soluble organic alkali metal salts, water-soluble inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble organic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble carbohydrates, water-soluble silicates, water-soluble urea, clays, water-insoluble silicates, citric acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, diglycerides of hydrogenated tallow, glycerol, polyvinyl alcohol, or mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the particles of the present invention comprise from 0.1 to 50 wt%, more preferably from 1 to 35 wt%, most preferably from 2 to 25 wt% of other carriers.

Preferably, the particles are substantially free of water. By substantially free it is meant herein that the particles have from 0 to 1% by weight of water, more preferably from 0 to 0.1% by weight of water, even more preferably from 0 to 0.01% by weight of water, most preferably no water.

Other benefit agents

In addition to the fragrance and quaternary ammonium compound, the particles of the present invention may also contain other benefit agents, the fragrance of which is contained in the particles, delivering a benefit to the laundered fabric. The benefit agents may be free in the carrier material, i.e., PEG, or they may be encapsulated. Suitable encapsulating materials are outlined above in relation to fragrances.

Exemplary other benefit agents include:

a) Malodor-reducing agents such as: uncomplexed cyclodextrin; an odor blocking agent; a reactive aldehyde; flavonoids; a zeolite; activated carbon; and mixtures thereof

b) Dye transfer inhibitor

c) Shading dye

d) Insect repellent

e) Organic sunscreen actives, for example, octyl methoxy cinnamate;

f) Antimicrobial agents such as 2-hydroxy-4, 2, 4-trichlorodiphenyl ether;

g) An ester solvent; for example, isopropyl myristate;

h) Lipids and lipid-like substances, e.g., cholesterol;

i) Hydrocarbons such as paraffin, petrolatum and mineral oil

j) Fish oils and vegetable oils;

k) A hydrophobic plant extract;

l) wax;

m) pigments comprising inorganic compounds having hydrophobically modified surfaces and/or dispersed in oils or hydrophobic liquids; and

n) sugar esters, e.g. Sucrose Polyesters (SPE)

It is preferred if the particles of the present invention additionally comprise a surfactant, more preferably a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and combinations thereof. Preferred surfactants include, for example, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, soaps, ethoxylated alkyl alcohols, alkyl polyglucosides, fatty acid amides or mixtures thereof.

When included, the amount of surfactant is present in an amount of 0.1 to 15%, more preferably 0.4 to 7%, most preferably 1 to 5% by weight of the granule.

In the form of granules

The particles of the present invention may be in any solid form, for example: powders, granules, tablets, granules, lozenges (pastilles) or extrudates. Preferably, the granules are in the form of lozenges. For example, lozenges can be produced using ROTOFORMER Granulation System from Sandvick Materials.

The particles may be of any shape or size suitable for dissolution during laundering. Preferably, the mass of each individual particle is between 0.95 mg to 5g, more preferably 0.01 to 1g, most preferably 0.02 to 0.5 g. Preferably, the maximum linear dimension of each individual particle in any direction is less than 10mm, more preferably 1 to 8mm, most preferably 4 to 6mm. The shape of the particles may be selected from, for example, spherical, hemispherical, compressed hemispherical, lenticular, rectangular or planar shapes, such as petals. The preferred shape of the particles is hemispherical, i.e. dome-shaped, wherein the height of the dome is smaller than the radius of the substrate. When the particles are compressed hemispherical, it is preferred that the diameter of the substantially flat substrate provides the greatest linear dimension and that the height of the particles is from 1 to 5mm, more preferably from 2 to 3mm. The size of the particles of the present invention can be measured using calipers.

The polyethylene glycol present in the particles of the invention is suitably melted at a temperature above the melting point of polyethylene glycol, preferably at least 2 ℃ above the melting point of polyethylene glycol, more preferably at least 5 ℃ above the melting point of polyethylene glycol. The melting point is the average melting point of the polyethylene glycol used in a particular composition.

The particles of the present invention are formed from a melt comprising the ingredients as outlined in the examples. For example, the melt may be formed into particles by: such as Pastillation using ROTOFORMER (Sandvick Materials), extrusion, pelletization (by using a die), casting and cutting to size, or spraying the melt.

The particles of the present invention preferably have a uniform structure. By homogeneous, it is meant that one continuous phase is present throughout the particle. There is no core-shell type structure. The ingredients may be distributed in the continuous phase. The continuous phase is predominantly provided by polyethylene glycol.

In order to provide particles with a faster dissolution rate, it is desirable that the particles have a density similar to that of the wash liquor. In this way, the particles can be suspended in the wash liquor for a longer period of time, allowing them to dissolve more quickly. Thus, it is preferable that the density of the particles is 1 to 1.08g/cm ³ More preferably 1 to 1.05g/cm ³ 。

Application method

The particles of the present invention are useful in laundry processes. They may be added to a washing sub-cycle or a rinsing sub-cycle of a washing cycle using a washing machine. Alternatively, the particles may be used for hand washing of fabrics. Particles may be used in addition to other laundry products, or they may be used as stand alone products.

The particles of the invention are preferably dosed (dose) in an amount of 1g to 50g, more preferably 10g to 45g, most preferably 15g to 40 g. The consumer can dose the particles from the package directly into the washing machine or into a dosing chamber on the washing machine.

For particles

In general, the primary use of the particles of the present invention is to provide a softening benefit to laundered fabrics during laundering. The particles may also be used to impart fragrance to laundered fabrics during laundering.

The following examples are provided to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Detailed Description

Examples

Example 1

Granules were prepared as shown in table 1. All ingredients are expressed as weight percent of the total formulation.

TABLE 1

a. PEG 10000 commercially available from Clariant.

b. Commercially available from Evonik under the trade name Adogen 442.

c. Commercially available from Evonik under the trade name Rewoquat WE 28SH

d. Commercially available from Solvay under the trade name Fentacare 1631 70.

Ingot making process

Samples were prepared as follows: PEG was heated in a mixing vessel with stirring until molten and homogeneous. Then slowly adding other components one by one under stirring, and finally adding free aromatic and aromatic microcapsule. Stirring was continued during the addition of the ingredients and maintained for 30 minutes. The molten mixture was dropped onto the cooling plate by a syringe. When the molten mixture falls on a cold surface, pastilles will form as the melt solidifies. The lozenge formed has a compressed hemispherical shape with a maximum diameter of 4 to 6mm and a height of 2 to 3mm.

Evaluation of compliance

1.3 kg of laundry (ballast load) comprises 6 cotton T-shirts and 5 terry cloth squares (Terry Toweling Squares) (30 x30cm size). Terry cloth blocks are mixed with cotton T-shirts in a random order in a washing machine so that they do not all come together.

20g of the sample was added to the drum of a front loading washing machine, then the mixed fabric was added, and finally 40g of liquid detergent (commercial OMO detergent) was added to the drawer of the washing machine, the door was closed, and the washing machine was set to wash. The washing time was 29 minutes, including one wash and two rinses. After the washing is completed, the clothes are taken out of the machine, the terry cloth blocks are separated, and the terry cloth blocks are put on a frame for drying. Once the terry cloth square was dried, the entire process was repeated again to achieve 3 washes with drying.

The towels were subjected to sensory evaluation without further conditioning. The participants were asked to pick up the test towel in the hand and to gently manipulate it, then give a score of 0 to 5. A score of 5 is the highest score corresponding to excellent compliance results. A score of 0 is the lowest score corresponding to a less compliant result.

The results of the panel evaluation are shown in table 2.

TABLE 2

	Sample 1	Sample 2	Sample 3
				Compliance performance	5	2	3

Evaluation of cleaning Performance

The cleaning performance of liquid detergents (commercial OMO detergents) in the presence of a particulate sample was evaluated by washing two standard dyed textiles, JB-01 (carbon black oil) and JB-03 (sebum), according to the national standard GB/T13174-2008 of the people's republic of China.

A sample of 0.67g of the granules and 2g of liquid detergent (commercial OMO detergent) were dissolved in 1L of water (250 ppm CaCO) ₃ 、Ca ²⁺ Ion and Mg ²⁺ The molar ratio of ions was 6:4). The solutions were metered into the drum of a standard washing machine according to GB/T13174-2008 and then into the standard dyed fabrics JB-01 and JB-03 (3 pieces each). As a control, 2g of liquid detergent (commercial OMO detergent) without any particulate sample added was used.

The whiteness of the dyed fabric before and after washing was measured by a WSD-3C full-automatic whiteness meter of Beijing meter Kang Guang optical instruments Co. The cleaning performance (D) is calculated as follows:

D＝W _x /W ₀

W _x : whiteness change of stained (staned) textiles treated with test samples before and after washing

W ₀ : whiteness change before and after laundering of stained fabrics treated with standard detergents (per GB/T13174-2008)

The results are shown in Table 3. The greater the D value, the better the cleaning performance.

TABLE 3 Table 3

Cleaning performance (D)	Control	Sample 1	Sample 2
				JB-01	>1	＝1	<1
JB-03	>1	>1	<1

Claims

1. A composition comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise:

a) 30 to 95% by weight of polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight of 4000 to 20000 g/mol; and

(R ¹ )(R ² )N ⁺ (R ³ )(R ⁴ )X ^- (I)

R ³ and R is ⁴ Each independently ofThe ground being straight or branched C ₁₆ To C ₂₂ Alkyl or alkenyl;

X ^- is a halide or alkyl sulfate, preferably chloride or methyl sulfate.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyethylene glycol has a weight average molecular weight of 5000 to 18000g/mol, preferably 6000 to 15000g/mol.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the polyethylene glycol is present in an amount of 40 to 85%, preferably 50 to 75% by weight of the particles.

4. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein R ¹ And R is ² Each independently is methyl.

5. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein R ³ And R is ⁴ Each independently is a straight chain C ₁₆ To C ₂₂ An alkyl group.

6. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound comprises dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium halide, dimethyl di hexadecyl ammonium halide, dimethyl di (behenyl) ammonium halide, dimethyl di (eicosyl) ammonium halide, or a combination thereof, preferably the halide is chloride.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium chloride.

8. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 50%, preferably from 1 to 40% by weight of the particles.

9. A method according to any preceding claimWherein the particles additionally comprise fatty acids, preferably saturated or unsaturated C ₁₂ To C ₂₂ Fatty acids.

10. The composition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particles additionally comprise hydrolyzed protein and/or derivatives thereof.

11. Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particles additionally comprise a silicone compound, preferably an amino-functional silicone.

12. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the particles additionally comprise a fragrance material, preferably a combination of free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules.

13. The composition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particles are in the form of lozenges.

14. A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the particles have a maximum linear dimension in any direction of less than 10mm, preferably from 1 to 8mm.

15. Use of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14 to provide a softening benefit to fabrics being laundered during a laundering process.