EP0007135B1 - Artikel und Verfahren zum Behandeln von Textilien - Google Patents

Artikel und Verfahren zum Behandeln von Textilien Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0007135B1
EP0007135B1 EP19790200365 EP79200365A EP0007135B1 EP 0007135 B1 EP0007135 B1 EP 0007135B1 EP 19790200365 EP19790200365 EP 19790200365 EP 79200365 A EP79200365 A EP 79200365A EP 0007135 B1 EP0007135 B1 EP 0007135B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carbon atoms
group
softening
dryer
substrate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
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EP19790200365
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0007135A1 (de
Inventor
George Kardouche Nabil
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Procter and Gamble Co
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Procter and Gamble Co
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Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/034,801 external-priority patent/US4237155A/en
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Publication of EP0007135A1 publication Critical patent/EP0007135A1/de
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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/04—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
    • C11D17/041—Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
    • C11D17/047—Arrangements specially adapted for dry cleaning or laundry dryer related applications
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
    • C11D1/38—Cationic compounds
    • C11D1/40—Monoamines or polyamines; Salts thereof
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/0005—Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
    • C11D3/001—Softening compositions
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M13/322—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing nitrogen
    • D06M13/325—Amines
    • D06M13/328—Amines the amino group being bound to an acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atom

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to articles and methods for providing softening and antistatic benefits to fabrics, and especially to the providing of these benefits by treatment of the fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer. More specifically, damp fabrics are contacted with a carboxylic acid salt of a long chain tertiary amine in an automatic clothes dryer and are thereby provided with a soft, antistatic finish concurrently with the drying operation.
  • the softening and antistatic carboxylic acid salt of a long chain tertiary amine is preferably employed in combination with a dispensing means adapted for use in an automatic dryer.
  • Treatment in an automatic clothes dryer has been shown to be an effective means for imparting desirable tactile properties to fabrics. For example, it is becoming common to soften fabrics in an automatic clothes dryer rather than during the rinse cycle of a laundering operation (See Gaiser, U.S. Patent 3,442,692, issued May 6, 1969).
  • Fabric "softness” is an expression well-defined in the art and is usually understood to be that quality of the treated fabric whereby its handle or texture is smooth, pliable and fluffy to the touch.
  • Various chemical compounds have long been known to possess the ability to soften fabrics when applied to them during a laundering operation, particularly during the rinse cycle.
  • Fabric softness also connotes the absence of static "cling" in the fabrics, and the commonly used cationic fabric softeners provide both softening and antistatic benefits when applied to fabrics.
  • the imparting of softening/antistatic benefits to fabrics can also be referred to by the more generic term, fabric conditioning.
  • Fatty alkyl cationic antistatic softening compounds and compositions designed for application to fabrics in an automatic dryer have been the subject of recent innovations.
  • Other fatty materials have been suggested for use as dryer-added fabric softeners/antistats.
  • Hewitt et al., U.S. Patent 3,676,199, issued July 11, 1972, and Zaki et al., U.S. Patent 4,022,938, issued May 10, 1977 See, for example, Hewitt et al., U.S. Patent 3,676,199, issued July 11, 1972, and Zaki et al., U.S. Patent 4,022,938, issued May 10, 1977).
  • Patent 4,077,891 Beimesch et al., issued March 7, 1978, describes formic acid salts of primary amines as acceptable softeners for use in the dryer in that they do not produce amine odors and they reduce paint softening problems.
  • formic acid salts of primary amines provides advantages in odor, paint softening and/or fabric softening performance over use of the corresponding free amines or other salts of the amines (such as the hydrochlorides), it is desired to obtain further improvements in these properties beyond those which are achieved with the primary amine formates.
  • an object of the present invention to provide fabric softening articles for use in automatic dryers which are superior in odor and/or paint softening (i.e., less paint softening) and/or fabric softening performance, compared to similar articles which utilize primary amine formates as the fabric conditioning agent.
  • tertiary amine salts of carboxylic acids have superior chemical stability, compared to primary and secondary amine carboxylate salts.
  • primary and secondary amine carboxylates tend to form amides when heated, e.g., during processing or use in the dryer. Also, they absorb carbon dioxide, thereby forming high melting carbamates which build up as an undesirable residue on treated fabrics.
  • the present invention encompasses an article of manufacture adapted for use to soften fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer comprising (a) a fabric softening composition, having a melting point between 35°C and 100°C, and which comprises, as its essential ingredient, a carboxylic acid salt of a tertiary amine having at least one long chain, as defined hereinafter, and (b) a dispensing means which provides for release of an effective amount of said composition to fabrics in the dryer at automatic dryer operating temperatures, i.e., 35°C-115°C.
  • the invention also encompasses a method for imparting a softening and antistatic effect to fabrics in an automatic clothes dryer comprising tumbling said fabrics under heat in a clothes dryer with an effective, i.e., softening, amount of a composition comprising a carboxylic acid salt of a tertiary amine.
  • Fabric softening compositions employed herein contain as their essential component a carboxylic acid salt of a tertiary amine which has at least one long aliphatic chain containing from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Such compositions can also contain a variety of optional materials.
  • the tertiary amine salts are a direct product of the reaction between a tertiary amine and a carboxylic acid.
  • the tertiary amines utilized in the present invention have the formula wherein R 1 is a long chain aliphatic group containing from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and R 2 and R 3 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting of aliphatic groups containing from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups of the formula -R 4 0H wherein R 4 is an alkylene group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and alkyl ether groups of the formula wherein R 5 is alkyl or alkenyl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or hydrogen, n is 2 or 3 and m is from 1 to 20.
  • Preferred amines are those wherein R 1 is an aliphatic chain containing from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, R 2 is an aliphatic chain of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and R 3 is an aliphatic chain of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
  • Preferred carboxylic acids are lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic and mixtures thereof.
  • the amine salt can be formed by a simple addition reaction, well known in the art, wherein the tertiary amine is dissolved in a solvent such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, etc., and the acid is added to the amine solution.
  • a solvent such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, etc.
  • the amine and acid can simply be mixed and melted together with stirring to form the salt.
  • the molten amine salt can then be solidified by cooling to room temperature.
  • the amount of acid should desirably be at least stoichiometrically equivalent to the amount of amine since it is desirable that compositions of the invention be low in free amine content (the amine salts give better fabric softening performance than the free amines).
  • the salt can be monobasic or polybasic, i.e., either one or more of the acid groups can be utilized to neutralize the amine.
  • the salt precipitates from solution, and may be recovered either by filtration and/or evaporation of the solvent.
  • the amine and acid pair used in preparing amine salts of the present invention should be chosen so as to produce amine salts having a melting point within the range of from about 35°C to 115°C (more preferably 35°C to 85°C). Such salts will be solid at room temperature but will melt at typical dryer operating temperatures. Amine salts having melting points outside this range can be used in the present invention by formulating them into compositions which contain other materials (e.g., other softening agents as disclosed hereinafter) so that the formulated composition has a melting point within the desired range.
  • Preferred amine salts for use herein are those wherein the amine moiety is a C 12 to C 22 alkyl or alkenyl dimethyl amine or a di-C, 2 to C 22 alkyl or alkenyl methyl amine, and the acid moiety is a C 12 to C 22 alkyl or alkenyl monocarboxylic acid.
  • the amine and the acid, respectively, used to form the amine salt will often be of mixed chain lengths rather than single chain lengths, since these materials are normally derived from natural fats and oils, or synthetic processes which produce a mixture of chain lengths. Also, it is often desirable to utilize mixtures of different chain lengths in order to modify the physical or performance characteristics of the softening composition.
  • Specific preferred amine salts for use in the present invention are stearyldimethylamine stearate, stearyldimethylamine myristate, stearyldimethylamine palmitate, distearylmethylamine palmitate, distearylmethylamine laurate, and mixtures thereof.
  • a particularly preferred mixture is stearyldimethylamine stearate and distearylmethylamine myristate, in a ratio of 1:10 to 10:1, preferably about 1:1.
  • tertiary amine salts can be used in combination with the aforedescribed tertiary amine salts in the softening compositions herein.
  • certain fabric treating additives are particularly desirable and useful, e.g., perfumes, brightening agents, shrinkage controllers, spotting agents and the like.
  • perfumes it should be noted that the tertiary amine salts of the present invention are much more compatible with conventional perfume components such as aldehydes, ketones, and esters than are the primary amine formates described in U.S. Patent 4,077,891, supra.
  • Additional fabric softener/antistat agents may also be used in combination with the tertiary amine salts. These agents are generally nonionic or cationic in nature.
  • cationic softener/antistat materials are the cationic nitrogen-containing compounds such as quaternary ammonium compounds having one or two straight-chain organic groups of at least eight carbon atoms. Preferably, they have one or two such groups of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms.
  • Preferred cation-active softener compounds include the quaternary ammonium softener/antistat compounds corresponding to the formula wherein R 7 is an aliphatic group of from 1 to 22 carbon atoms; R ⁇ is an aliphatic group having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms; Rg and R 10 are each alkyl groups of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and X is an anion selected from halogen, acetate, phosphate, nitrate and methyl sulfate radicals.
  • preferred cationic softener/antistat compounds which can be optionally included in the compositions herein are the dialkyl dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfates, wherein the aliphatic groups have from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and are derived from long-chain fatty acids, such as hydrogenated tallow.
  • aliphatic is intended as including unsaturated compounds such as are present in aliphatic groups derived from naturally occurring fatty oils.
  • tallow refers to fatty aliphatic groups derived from tallow fatty acids. Such fatty acids give rise to quaternary softener compounds wherein R 7 and R ⁇ have predominantly from 16 to 18 carbon atoms.
  • coconut refers to fatty acid groups from coconut oil fatty acids.
  • the coconut R 7 and R s groups have from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and predominate in C 12 to C 14 alkyl groups.
  • Representative examples of quaternary softeners for use herein include tallow trimethyl ammonium chloride; ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride; ditallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium chloride; dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; dieicosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; didocosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl diethyl ammonium chloride; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium acetate; ditallow dipropyl ammonium phosphate;
  • An especially preferred class of quaternary ammonium softener/antistats correspond to the formula wherein R 11 and R 12 are each straight chain aliphatic groups of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and X is halogen, e.g., chloride or methyl sulfate.
  • X is halogen, e.g., chloride or methyl sulfate.
  • Suitable cation-active softener/antistat compounds which can optionally be included in the compositions herein are the quaternary imidazolinium salts.
  • Preferred salts are those conforming to the formula wherein R 13 is an alkyl containing from 1 to 4, preferably from 1 to 2 carbon atoms, R 14 is an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydrogen radical, R 15 is an alkyl containing from 1 to 22, preferably at least 15 carbon atoms or a hydrogen radical, R 16 is an alkyl containing from 8 to 22, preferably at least 15 carbon atoms, and X is an anion, preferably methylsulfate or chloride ions.
  • Suitable anions include those disclosed with reference to the cationic quaternary ammonium fabric anti- stat/softeners described hereinbefore.
  • Particularly preferred are those imidazolinium compounds in which both R 15 and R 16 are alkyls of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, e.g., 1-methyl-1-[(stearoyl- amide)ethyl]-2-heptadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium methyl sulfate; 1-methyl-1-[(palmitoylamide)-ethyl]-2-octadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium chloride and 1-methyl-1-[(tallowamide)ethyl]-2-tallow- imidazolinium methyl sulfate.
  • cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener/antistats which are useful herein include, for example, alkyl (C 12 to C 22 )-pyridinium chlorides, alkyl (C 12 to C 22 )-alkyl (C 1 to C 3 )-morpholinium chlorides, and quaternary derivatives of amino acids and amino esters.
  • Sorbitan mono- and di-esters of lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, and behenic acids are particularly useful herein for conditioning the fabrics being treated.
  • Mixed sorbitan esters e.g., mixtures of the foregoing esters, and mixtures prepared by esterifying sorbitan with fatty acid mixtures such as the mixed tallow and hydrogenated palm oil fatty acids, are useful herein and are economically attractive.
  • Unsaturated C 10 -C 18 sorbitan esters, e.g., sorbitan mono-oleate usually are present in such mixtures. It is to be recognized that all sorbitan esters, and mixtures thereof, which are essentially water-insoluble and which have fatty hydrocarbyl "tails", are useful fabric antistat/softener materials in the context of the present invention.
  • the preferred alkyl sorbitan ester fabric softener/antistat materials herein comprise sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monobehenate, sorbitan dilaurate, sorbitan dimyristate, sorbitan dipalmitate, sorbitan distearate, sorbitan dibehenate, and mixtures thereof, the mixed coconutalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters and the mixed tallowalkyl sorbitan mono- and di-esters.
  • the tri- and tetra-esters of sorbitan with lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic and behenic acids, and mixtures thereof, are also useful herein.
  • nonionic fabric softener/antistat material encompasses the substantially water-insoluble compounds chemically classified as fatty alcohols.
  • Mono-ols, di-ols, and poly-ols having the requisite melting points and water-insolubility properties set forth above are useful herein.
  • Such alcohol-type fabric conditioning materials also include the mono- and di-fatty glycerides which contain at least one "free" OH group.
  • a preferred type of unesterified alcohol useful herein includes the higher melting members of the so-called fatty alcohol class. Although once limited to alcohols obtained from natural fats and oils, the term "fatty alcohols" has come to mean those alcohols which correspond to the alcohols obtainable from fats and oils, and all such alcohols can be made by synthetic processes. Fatty alcohols prepared by the mild oxidation of petroleum products are useful herein.
  • esters of polyhydric alcohols encompasses various esters of polyhydric alcohols.
  • esters-alcohol materials which have a melting point within the range of about 35°C to 100°C and which are substantially water-insoluble can be employed herein when they contain at least one free hydroxyl group, i.e., when they can be classified chemically as alcohols.
  • the alcoholic di-esters of glycerol useful herein include both the 1,3-di-glycerides and the 1,2-di-glycerides.
  • di-glycerides containing two C 8 -C 20 , preferably C 10 -C 18 , alkyl groups in the molecule are useful fabric conditioning agents.
  • ester-alcohols useful herein include: Glycerol-1,2-dilaurate; glycerol-1,3- dilaurate; glycerol-1,2-dimyristate; glycerol-1,3-dimyristate; glycerol-1,2-dipalmitate; glycerol-1,3-dipalmitate; glycerol-1,2-distearate and giyceroi-1,3-distearate.
  • Mixed glycerides available from mixed tallowalkyl fatty acids i.e., 1,2-ditallowalkyl glycerol and 1,3-ditallowalkyl glycerol, are economically attractive for use herein.
  • the foregoing ester-alcohols are preferred for use herein due to their ready availability from natural fats and oils.
  • Isopropyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol/water mixtures are the preferred liquid carriers for substrate impregnation purposes.
  • Methanol, ethanol, acetone, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactants and/or liquefied fluorocarbons such as dichlorofluoro- ethane and dichlorodifluoromethane can also be used as carriers either for dispensing the softening compositions in the dryer, for introducing the softening compositions into the dryer dispensing means or for facilitating release of the softening compositions from the dryer dispensing means.
  • Clays can be added to the compositions of the invention in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 50% of the total composition. See U.S. Patent 4,073,996, Bedenk et al., issued February 14, 1978. Clay promotes even release of the softening composition from substrate-type dispensing means (such as woven or nonwoven cloth sheets) thereby minimizing any tendency to stain the treated fabrics which might be caused by uneven transfer of softener to them. Smectite clays are particularly preferred clays for use herein. An example of a smectite day is Gelwhite GP, which is marketed by a Georgia Kaolin Co.
  • Another additive which can be used to promote even release of the softener composition from a substrate-type dispensing means is a mixture of about 1.5% Carbopol resin (B. F. Goodrich Co.) and 4% glycerine, based on the total weight of the composition.
  • additives e.g., perfume and brighteners
  • perfume and brighteners e.g., perfume and brighteners
  • Other additives such as the optional antistat/softener agents and liquid carriers can be present in larger amounts.
  • Such optional and/or liquid carrier materials can be present in fabric softening compositions to the extent of from about 0.01% to 50% or more by weight of the softening composition. All percentages herein are "by weight" unless specified otherwise.
  • a highly preferred softening composition herein contains from about 5% to 100% (preferably 50% to 100%) by weight of the composition of the essential acid salt of a tertiary amine and from about 0% to 95% (preferably 0% to 50%) by weight of the composition of an optional softener/antistat agent.
  • Preferred optional softener/antistatic agents are ditallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, sorbitan monostearate and mixtures of these materials. Highly preferred mixtures are those wherein the ratios of the two are in the range of about 80/20 to about 20/80.
  • a liquid carrier if used, will, of course, be present in the softening composition in relatively large amounts, especially if the presence of such a carrier is useful in dispensing the softening composition in the dryer (in an aerosol device, for example).
  • the tertiary amine acid salt-containing softening compositions can be employed by simply adding a measured amount into the dryer, e.g., as liquid dispersion.
  • the softening composition is provided as part of an article of manufacture in combination with a dispensing means which effectively releases the composition in an automatic clothes dryer.
  • Such dispensing means can be designed for single usage or for multiple uses.
  • One such article comprises a sponge material releasably enclosing enough softener composition to impart effectively fabric softness during the treating of several loads of clothes.
  • This multi-use article can be made by filling a hollow sponge with about 20 grams of the softening composition. In use, the composition melts and leaches out through the pores of the sponge to soften fabrics.
  • Such a filled sponge can be used to treat several loads of fabrics in conventional dryers, and has the advantage that it can remain in the dryer after use and is not likely to be misplaced or lost.
  • Another article comprises a cloth or paper bag releasably enclosing the composition and sealed with a melt of the composition, which is subsequently hardened to form a heat-sensitive seal.
  • the action and heat of the dryer melt the seal, thereby opening the bag and releasing the salt to perform its softening function.
  • Still another article comprises an aerosol cannister containing the above-described softening compositions under pressure.
  • the compositions can be dispensed from this aerosol article onto the interior surface of the cold dryer drum prior to the addition of fabrics in the manner more fully described in Rudy et al., U.S. Patent 3,650,816, issued March 21, 1972, incorporated herein by reference.
  • a highly preferred article herein comprises the tertary amine salt-containing composition releasably affixed to a sheet of paper or woven or nonwoven cloth substrate or a sheet of foamed plastic such as polyurethane.
  • a sheet of paper or woven or nonwoven cloth substrate or a sheet of foamed plastic such as polyurethane.
  • the sheet conformation has several advantages. For example, effective amounts of the composition for use in conventional dryers can be easily sorbed onto and into the sheet substrate by a simple dipping or padding process. Thus, the user need not measure the amount of composition necessary to obtain fabric softness. Additionally, the flat configuration of the sheet provides a large surface area which results in efficient release of the softener materials onto fabrics by the tumbling action of the dryer.
  • the absorbency should preferably be in the range of 2 to 15, most preferably between 5 and 7.
  • the absorbency is preferably in the range of from about 15 to about 22.
  • suitable materials which can be used as a substrate in the invention herein include, among others, sponges, paper, and woven and nonwoven cloth, all having the necessary absorbency requirements defined above.
  • the preferred substrates of the softening compositions herein are cellulosic, polyester or polyester/cellulosic blends, particularly multi-ply paper and nonwoven cloth.
  • Impregnating, rather than coating, the substrate with the softener composition is highly preferred for optimal softening with minimal fabric staining.
  • coating connotes the adjoining of one substance to the external surface of another; “impregnating” is intended to mean the permeation of the entire substrate structure, internally as well as externally.
  • One factor affecting a given substrate's absorbent capacity is its free space. Accordingly, when a softening composition is applied to an absorbent substrate, it penetrates into the free space; hence, the substrate is deemed impregnated.
  • the free space in a substrate of low absorbency, such as a one-ply kraft or bond paper is very limited; such a substrate, is therefore, deemed “dense”.
  • the softener composition in liquefied form, is placed in a pan or trough which can be heated to maintain the softener composition in liquid form.
  • the liquid softener composition contains any of the desired optional additives.
  • a roll of absorbent paper (or cloth) is then set up on an apparatus so that it can unroll freely. As the paper or cloth unrolls, it travels downwardly and, submersed, passes through the pan or trough containing the liquid softener at a slow enough speed to allow sufficient impregnation.
  • the absorbent paper or cloth then travels upwardly and through a pair of rollers which remove excess bath liquid and provide the absorbent paper or cloth with about 1 to about 12 grams of the softening composition per 100 sq. inches to 150 sq. inches (645 to 968 sq. cm.) of substrate sheet.
  • the impregnated paper or cloth is then cooled to room temperature, after which it can be folded, cut or perforated at uniform lengths, and subsequently packaged and/or used.
  • rollers used resemble "squeeze rolls" used by those in the paper and paper-making art; they can be made of hard rubber or steel.
  • the rollers are adjustable, so that the opening between their respective surfaces can be regulated to control the amount of the softener composition liquid on the paper or cloth.
  • the amount of softener composition (excluding any solvent which may have been used in the process) impregnated into or coated onto the absorbent substrate is conveniently in the weight ratio range of from about 10:1 to 0.5:1 based on the ratio of total softener composition to dry, untreated substrate (fiber plus binder).
  • the ratio of softener composition to dry, untreated substrate ranges from about 5:1 to about 1:1, most preferably from about 3:1 to 1:1.
  • the softening composition can contain from 5% to 100% of the tertiary amine salt softening agent.
  • the articles are held at room temperature until the softener composition solidifies.
  • the resulting dry articles, prepared at the softener composition:substrate ratios set forth above, remain flexible; the sheet articles are suitable for packaging in rolls.
  • the sheet articles can optionally be slitted or punched to provide a non-blocking aspect (as described previously) at any convenient time during the manufacturing process.
  • the most highly preferred articles herein are those where the softener composition is releasably affixed to a woven or nonwoven cloth substrate of the type disclosed hereinabove having an absorbent capacity of from about 2 to about 15.
  • a highly preferred substrate for such an article has an absorbent capacity of from about 5 to 7.
  • the most highly preferred substrate for the articles comprises a water-laid or air-laid nonwoven cloth consisting essentially of cellulosic fibers, said fibers having a length of about 3/16 inch (0.48 cm) to about 2 inches (5.1 cm) and a denier from about 1.5 to about 5, said fibers being at least partially oriented haphazardly, and adhesively bonded together with a binder-resin.
  • Such water-laid or air-laid nonwoven cloths can easily be prepared having the preferred absorbent capacities set forth above.
  • the most highly preferred articles herein are those wherein the flexible substrate is provided with openings sufficient in size and number to reduce restriction by said article of the flow of air through the automatic dryer.
  • Articles wherein the openings comprise a plurality of rectilinear slits extending along one dimension of the substrate, especially those wherein the slits extend to within 1 inch (2.54 cm) from at least one edge of said dimension of the substrate, articles wherein the slits comprise a plurality of curvilinear slits in a continuous pattern of U-shaped or C-shaped slits, and articles wherein the openings comprise circular holes, are highly preferred herein.
  • an article in the form of a nonblocking sheet substrate having the physical parameters noted hereinabove, said substrate having an area of from about 50 sq. in. to about 200 sq. in. (322 sq. cm. to 1290 sq. cm.), containing from about 1.5 grams to about 7.5 grams of the softening composition releasably impregnated in said substrate.
  • the articles are provided with openings such as the holes or slits described hereinabove, said openings comprising from about 0.5% to about 75%, preferably 5% to about 40%, of the area of the article, said openings being so disposed as to provide a nonblocking effect.
  • the tertiary amine salt-containing softening compositions are used in an effective amount to soften and condition fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer.
  • the effective, i.e., softening and static-controlling, amount of the composition used in the manner of this invention will depend somewhat on the type of fabric being treated and the dampness of the surrounding atmosphere. For example, it is well known that under conditions of low humidity, static control in fabrics is somewhat more difficult to achieve than under conditions of high humidity.
  • the composition is applied to fabrics at a rate of about 0.01 gram to about 12 grams, preferably 1 gram to about 4 grams, per 5 Ibs (2.25 kg) of fabrics on a dry fabric weight basis. Higher usage rates can be employed, if desired, but can result in an undesirable greasy feel on the fabrics.
  • the dryer is then operated in standard fashion to dry the fabrics, usually at a temperature from 35°C to 115°C (more typically from about 50°C to about 85°C for a period from about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes, depending on the fabric load and type.
  • the dried fabrics are softened.
  • the fabrics instantaneously sorb a minute quantity of water which increases the electrical conductivity of the fabric surfaces, thereby quickly and effectively dissipating static charge.
  • the present process is carried out by fashioning an article comprising the substrate-like dispensing means of the type hereinabove described in releasable combination with a tertiary amine salt-containing softener composition.
  • This article is simply added to a clothes dryer together with the damp fabrics to be treated.
  • the heat and tumbling action of the revolving dryer drum evenly distributes the softener composition over all fabric surfaces, and dries the fabrics.
  • the amine was placed in a glass vessel. An amount of the desired acid, calculated to be stoichiometrically equivalent to the amount of amine was added to the amine and the mixture was stirred at 65° to 77°C for approximately 10 minutes, thereby forming the amine salt. The amine salt was then solidified by cooling it to room temperature.
  • Fabric softening articles comprising a rayon nonwoven fabric substrate (having a weight of 1.52 grams per 639 sq. cm.) and an amine salt softening agent were prepared in the following manner.
  • the substrate was passed through a trough containing the melted softener and then was drawn between a pair of rollers to squeeze off the excess molten softener.
  • the treated substrate was then cooled to room temperature to solidify the softener, cut into 22.86 cmx27.94 cm. sheets, and six evenly-spaced parallel slits were then cut into each sheet within about 2.54 cm of opposite ends of the sheets.
  • the softener was present on the sheets at a weight ratio of about 2.1 to 1 softener:substrate.
  • the fabric softening performance of the above-described articles was evaluated in a Sears Kenmore Electric Dryer (on the standard 45 minute timed cycle, 50°C-70°C), using a previously washed standardized mixed fabric load, which contained four terry cloth towels as fabric softness test pieces.
  • the mixed fabric load was washed in a Sears Kenmore Washer with the recommended amount of CHEER R DETERGENT (77 grams in 64.3 liters of water) and subjected to a warm water rinse before treatment in the dryer.
  • the softness evaluation was done by round robin paired comparison grading by a panel of three judges who assigned numerical softness difference scores to the graded pairs on a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 is "no difference” and 4 is "a whole lot softer".
  • a computerized analysis of variance program summarized the individual treatment scores. The results were mathematically "normalized” by adjusting the panel score obtained on the unsoftened fabrics to "0” and making an adjustment of the same magnitude to the scores obtained on the fabrics for each of the other treatments. A difference of about 0.3 to 0.4 panel score units between treatments is statistically significant.
  • the release weight of the softening composition from the non-woven softening article to fabrics was determined by comparing the weight of the article before and after use, and calculating the weight % of composition which was removed from the article.
  • the amine salt is a 40/60 mixture of stearyldimethylamine stearate and ditallowmethylamine myristate.
  • the individual amine salts are prepared according to the procedure in Example I.
  • the amine salts are heated to a temperature of 66°C to 77°C and mixed together.
  • the clay is added to this liquid mixture and dispersed in the mixture via high-shear mixing.
  • the perfume is then blended into the mixture.
  • the hot liquid mixture is then applied to a nonwoven rayon substrate in the manner described in Example I to produce a softener composition:substrate ratio of 2.1:1.
  • the treated substrate is then cut into 27.94x27.94 cm sheets and slitted in the manner described in Example I.
  • This article when added to a five-pound (2,268 kg) load of fabrics in a laundry dryer, which is operated at about 66°C for 45 minutes, produces excellent fabric softening and antistatic benefits.

Claims (8)

1. Ein Fabrikationsgegenstand, der zum Weichmachen von Textilien in einem automatischen Wäschetrockner eingerichtet ist, wobei der Gegenstand eine Textilien weichmachende Menge eines Textilweichmachungsmittel mit einem Schmelzpunkt zwischen 35°C und 100°C enthält und 5% bis 100% eines tertiären Aminsalzes und eine Abgabeeinrichtung umfaßt, die für die Freisetzung dieses Weichmachungsmittels an Textilien innerhalb eines automatischen Wäschetrockners bei Betriebstemperaturen des Trockners sorgt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß dieses tertiäre Aminsalz ein Carbonsäuresalz eines tertiären Amins mit der Formel:
Figure imgb0015
ist, worin R1 eine lankettige aliphatische Gruppe mit 12 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen ist, und Rz und R3 gleich oder voneinander verschieden sein können und ausgewählt sind aus der Gruppe bestehend aus aliphatischen Gruppen mit 1 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, Hydroxyalkylgruppen der Formel -R40H, worin R4 eine Alkylengruppe mit 1 bis 3 Kohlenstoffatomen ist, und Alkylethergruppen der Formel R5O(CnH2nO)m-, worin R5 ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Alkyl- und Alkenylgruppen mit 1 bis 20 Kohlenstoffatomen und Wasserstoff, n 2 oder 3 ist und m 1 bis 20 bedeutet, und worin RB ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Alkyl-, Alkenyl-, Aryl-, Alkaryl- und Aralkylgruppen mit 11 1 bis 21 Kohlenstoffatomen und substituierten Alkyl-, Alkenyl-, Aryl-, Alkaryl- und Aralkylgruppen mit 11 1 bis 21 Kohlenstoffatomen, worin die Substituenten ausgewählt sind aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Halogenatomen, Carboxylgruppen und Hydroxylgruppen.
2. Ein Gegenstand gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß R1 eine aliphatische Kette mit 12 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen bedeutet, R2 eine aliphatische Kette mit 1 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen darstellt, R3 eine aliphatische Kette mit 1 bis 3 Kohlenstoffatomen bedeutet und Rµ eine unsubstituierte Alkyl- oder Alkenylgruppe mit 11 bis 21 Kohlenstoffatomen ist und worin das Textilweichmachungsmittel einen Schmelzpunkt von 35°C bis 85°C aufweist.
3. Ein Gegenstand gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der das Carbonsäuresalz bildende Anionenanteil ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Laurinsäure, Myristinsäure, Palmitinsäure, Stearinsäure und Ölsäure und Gemischen daraus.
4. Ein Gegenstand gemäß irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abgabeeinrichtung ein biegsames Substrat aus gewebtem oder nicht gewebtem Material in Bogenform ist, mit dem diese Weichmachungsmittel freisetzbar verbunden ist, wobei das Gewichtsverhältnis von Weichmachungsmittel zu Substrat von 10:1 bis 0,5:1 beträgt und wobei das Substrat eine Absorptionskapazität von 2 bis 25 aufweist.
5. Ein Gegenstand gemäß irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Aminsalz ausgewält ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Stearyldimethylamin-stearat, Distearylmethylamin-myristat, Stearyldimethylamin-palmitat, Distearylmethylamin-palmitat, Distearylmethylaminlaurat und Gemischen daraus.
6. Ein Gegenstand gemäß irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Aminsalz ein Gemisch aus Stearyldimethylamin-stearat und Distearylmethylamin-myristat in einem Gewichtsverhältnis von 1:10 bis 10:1 umfaßt.
7. Ein Verfahren zur Verleihung einer weichmachenden und antistatischen Wirkung an Textilien in einem automatischen Wäschetrockner durch Schleudern der Textilien in diesem Trockner unter Wärme mit einer wirksamen Menge eines Textilweichmachungsmittels mit einem Schemelzpunkt zwischen 35°C und 100°C und enthaltend 5% bis 100% eines tertiären Aminsalzes, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das tertiäre Aminsalz ein Carbonsäuresalz eines tertiären Amins mit der Formel:
Figure imgb0016
 ist, worin R1 eine langkettige aliphatische Gruppe mit 12 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen ist, R2 und R3 gleich oder voneinander verschieden sein können und ausgewählt sind aus der Gruppe bestehend aus aliphatischen Gruppen mit 1 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, Hydroxyalkylgruppen der Formel -R40H, worin R4 eine Alkylengruppe mit 1 bis 3 Kohlenstoffatomen bedeutet, und Alkylethergruppen der Formel R5O(CnH2nO)m-, worin R5 ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Alkyl- und Alkenylgruppen mit 1 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen und Wasserstoff, n 2 oder 3 bedeutet und m 1 bis 20 bedeutet und worin Re ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Alkyl-, Alkenyl-, Aryl-, Alkaryl- und Aralkylgruppen mit 11 bis 21 Kohlenstoffatomen und substituierten Alkyl-, Alkenyl-, Aryl-, Alkaryl- und Aralkylgruppen mit 11 bis 21 Kohlenstoffatomen, worin die Substituenten ausgewählt sind aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Halogenatomen, Carboxylgruppen und Hydroxylgruppen.
8. Ein Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Mittel innerhalb des Trockners aus einem biegsamen Substrat aus gewebtem oder nicht gewebtem Material, mit dem dieses Weichmachungsmittel freisetzbar verbunden ist, abgegeben wird.
EP19790200365 1978-07-17 1979-07-05 Artikel und Verfahren zum Behandeln von Textilien Expired EP0007135B1 (de)

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US06/034,801 US4237155A (en) 1979-04-30 1979-04-30 Articles and methods for treating fabrics
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US4368127A (en) * 1979-07-02 1983-01-11 Akzona Incorporated Fabric softening compounds and method
US4392965A (en) * 1981-11-12 1983-07-12 Woodward Fred E Laundry softener antistatic composition
DE3211175A1 (de) * 1982-03-26 1983-09-29 Henkel KGaA, 4000 Düsseldorf Zweistufiges verfahren zum waschen und nachbehandeln von textilien
GB8321683D0 (en) * 1983-08-11 1983-09-14 Procter & Gamble Detergent with fabric softener
US4514444A (en) * 1984-02-03 1985-04-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Fabric cleaning/conditioning compositions
GB2172910B (en) * 1985-03-28 1989-06-21 Procter & Gamble Detergent containing a fabric conditioner
MX169902B (es) * 1986-07-10 1993-07-30 Colgate Palmolive Co Mejoras a composiciones acondicionadoras de tela a traves del lavado
US4824582A (en) * 1986-11-14 1989-04-25 The Procter & Gamble Company Articles and methods for treating fabrics
US4915854A (en) * 1986-11-14 1990-04-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Ion-pair complex conditioning agent and compositions containing same
US4756850A (en) * 1987-06-10 1988-07-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Articles and methods for treating fabrics
DE3883296T2 (de) * 1987-06-10 1993-12-16 Procter & Gamble Konditionierungsmittel und diese enthaltende Zusammensetzungen.
DE69421282T2 (de) * 1993-08-06 2000-05-18 Procter & Gamble Trockneraktivierte wäscheweichmacherzusammensetzungen enthaltend ethoxylierte/propoxylierte zückerderivate
WO1995007342A1 (en) * 1993-09-10 1995-03-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Dryer-activated fabric conditioning articles with soft polyester substrate
US5470492A (en) * 1993-09-10 1995-11-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Dryer-activated fabric conditioning articles with soft polyester substrate
US5510042A (en) * 1994-07-08 1996-04-23 The Procter & Gamble Company Fabric softening bar compositions containing fabric softener, nonionic phase mofifier and water
US5503756A (en) * 1994-09-20 1996-04-02 The Procter & Gamble Company Dryer-activated fabric conditioning compositions containing unsaturated fatty acid
US5883069A (en) * 1996-05-02 1999-03-16 The Procter & Gamble Company Dryer-activated fabric conditioning articles with improved substrate
WO1997048789A1 (en) * 1996-06-19 1997-12-24 Little Island Patents, Ltd. A dye scavenging substrate, and a method for its manufacture

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GB1514276A (en) * 1975-10-22 1978-06-14 Unilever Ltd Fabric-softening compositions

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