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
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/38—Cationic compounds
  • C11D1/62—Quaternary ammonium compounds
• • 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
  • C11D3/0015—Softening compositions liquid

Definitions

• the present invention relates to textile treatment compositions.
• textile treatment compositions for use in the rinse cycle of a textile laundering operation to provide fabric softening/­static control benefits, the compositions being charac­terized by excellent storage stability and viscosity characteristics and biodegradability.
• the compositions herein can also be used to treat fabrics in hot air clothes dryers, and in hair conditioner compositions.
• rinse-added fabric softening compositions contain, as the active softening component, substantially water-insoluble cationic materials having two long alkyl chains. Typical of such materials are di-stearyl di-methyl ammonium chloride and imidazolinium compounds substituted with two stearyl groups.
• Cationic softener materials are normally supplied by the manufacturer in the form of a slurry containing about 70%-80% of active material in an organic liquid such as isopropanol, sometimes containing a minor amount of water (up to about 10%).
• Retail fabric softening compositions are then prepared by dispersion of the softener slurry in warm water under carefully controlled conditions.
• the physical form and dispersibility constraints of these industrial concentrates are such as to preclude their direct use by the domestic consumer; indeed, they can pose severe processing problems even for the industrial supplier of retail fabric softening compositions.
• European Patent 0,018,039, Clint, et al, March 7, 1984, relates to hydrocarbons plus soluble cationic or nonionic surfactants in softener concentrates to improve viscosity and stability characteristics.
• U.S. Patent 4,454,049 MacGilp, et al, June 12, 1984 discloses liquid textile treatment compositions in the form of isotropic solutions comprising water-insoluble di-C16-C24 optionally hydroxy-substituted alkyl, alkaryl or alkenyl cationic fabric softeners, at least about 70% of the fabric softener consisting of one or more compon­ents together having a melting completion temperature of less than about 20°C, a water-insoluble nonionic extender, especially C10-C40 hydrocarbons or esters of mono- or polyhydric alcohols with C8-C24 fatty acids, and a water-miscible organic solvent.
• the concentrates have improved formulation stability and dispersibility, combined with excellent fabric softening characteristics.
• U.S. Patent 4,476,031, Ooms, Oct. 9, 1984 teaches ethoxylated amines, or protonated derivatives thereof, in combination with ammonium, imadazolinium, and the like materials.
• alkoxylated amines, as a class, in softener compositions is known (see, for example, German Patent Applications Nos. 2829022 and 1,619,043 and U.S. Patent Nos. 4,076,632 and 4,157,307).
• fabric softener concentrates which contain a mixture of a fatty quaternary ammonium salt having at least one C8-C30 alkyl substituent and an oil or substan­tially water-insoluble compound having oily/fatty proper­ties.
• the concentrates are said to be easily dispersed/­emulsified in cold water to form fabric softening compositions.
• Concentrated dispersions of softener material can be prepared as described in European Patent Application No. 406 and U.K. Patent No. 1,601,360 by incorporating certain nonionic adjunct softening materials therein.
• each R substituent is a short-chain (C1-C6, preferably C1-C3) alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, e.g., methyl (most preferred), ethyl, propyl, hydroxyethyl, and the like, or mixtures thereof; each R′ is a long-chain hydrocarbyl substituent, e.g., C13-C17, preferably C15 alkyl, or mixtures thereof; and R ⁇ is a short-chain (C1-C4) hydrocarbyl substituent, especially methyl.
• the counterion X ⁇ is not critical herein, and can be, for example, halide, methylsulfate, and the like. It will be understood that substituents R, R′ and R ⁇ may optionally be substituted with various groups such as alkoxyl, hydroxyl, or can be branched, but such materials are not preferred herein.
• the preferred compounds can be considered to be quaternized di-esters of di-isopropanol amines.
• ester moieties lend biodegradability to these compounds, whereas the chain branching of the isopropyl moiety provides sufficient hydrolytic stability that the compounds can be stably formulated as liquid compositions, under the conditions disclosed hereinafter.
• the desirable viscosity characteristics of the compounds which allows them to be formulated as concentrates are entirely unexpected. Since the compounds are cationic, they provide not only fiber and fabric softness, but also anti-static benefits.
• the present invention encompasses liquid fabric softening and antistatic compositions, comprising: a liquid carrier; and at least about 1% by weight of a fabric softener compound of the above-disclosed formula dissolved or, preferably, dispersed in said carrier.
• Such liquid compositions are most preferably formulated at a pH of from about 1.5 to about 5.0 to provide good storage stability.
• Such compositions will typically comprise from about 3% to about 15% by weight of the softener compound.
• the preferred liquid compositions herein have the softener compound present as particles dispersed in the carrier.
• the particles are preferably sub-micron size, generally having average diameters in the range of about 0.15-0.45 microns.
• Such particle dispersions can optionally be stabilized with emulsifiers.
• liquid compositions herein are substantially free (generally, less than 1%) of free (i.e., unprotonated) amines, since free amines can catalyze decomposition of the softener compounds, on storage. However, if minor amounts of amines are present, they should be protonated with acid during formulation of the compositions. Strong acids, such as H3PO4 and HCl, can be used for this purpose.
• the low viscosities exhibited by dispersions of particles of the compounds herein allows them to be formulated as water-dilutable fabric softener "high concentrates" which contain from about 16% to about 25% by weight of the fabric softener compound.
• high concentrates are conveniently packaged in pouches, which can be diluted with water to "single-strength" softeners (typically, 3-5% concentration of softener active) by the user.
• the compounds herein can also be formulated as solids, for example, in combination with particulate carriers as particulate fabric softening and antistatic compositions.
• particulate carriers as particulate fabric softening and antistatic compositions.
• the pH and presence or absence of amines are, of course, not as critical as with the liquid compositions, since stability to hydrolysis on storage is not so problematic.
• solid compositions herein have the compounds releasably affixed to sheet materials to provide fabric softening and antistatic compositions in sheet form which can be used in hot air clothes dryers.
• the invention also encompasses a method of softening fibers (including hair) or fabrics, or imparting an antistatic finish thereto, comprising contacting said fibers or fabrics with a compound of the above-disclosed type.
• the compounds used as the active softener and antistatic ingredient in the practice of this invention are prepared using standard reaction chemistry.
• an amine of the formula RN(CH2CHR ⁇ OH)2 is esterified at both hydroxyl groups with an acid chloride of the formula R′C(O)Cl, then quaternized with an alkyl halide, RX, to yield the desired reaction product (wherein R, R′ and R ⁇ are as defined in the above structural formula).
• RX alkyl halide
• stable liquid composi­tions herein are formulated at a pH in the range of about 1.5 to about 5.0, preferably about pH 3 ⁇ 0.5.
• the pH can be adjusted with standard acids, e.g., HCl, HBr, and the like; H3PO4 is preferred.
• liquid compositions herein should be substantially free (1%, or less, preferably 0.3%) of amines. While many fully-formulated fabric softener compositions comprise mixtures of various softener compounds, the amine softeners sometimes used in such art-disclosed compositions are preferably not used in the liquid compositions of this invention, since they can catalyze hydrolysis and thereby reduce storage stability. However, it should be appreciated that the liquid and solid compositions herein can optionally contain non-amine softener and antistatic materials, e.g., standard softener "quats" such as ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride (“DTDMAC ⁇ ), C14-C18 imidazoliniums, etc., as auxiliary softener/antistat ingredients. Such optional ingredients can typically comprise 1%-10% of the present compositions.
• non-amine softener and antistatic materials e.g., standard softener "quats” such as ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride (“DTDMAC ⁇ ), C14-C18 imidazolini
• the liquid compositions herein comprise a liquid carrier, which is typically water or a mixture of water and an alcohol such as ethanol or iso-propanol (typically 0.5-2.0%alcohol).
• a liquid carrier typically water or a mixture of water and an alcohol such as ethanol or iso-propanol (typically 0.5-2.0%alcohol).
• the softener compounds used in this invention are insoluble in such water-based carriers and, thus, are present as a dispersion of fine particles therein. These particles are, as noted above, preferably sub-micron in size and are conveniently prepared by high-shear mixing which disperses the compounds as fine particles. Preparation of a preferred dispersion is disclosed in detail in Example II, hereinafter. Again, since the compounds are hydrolytically labile, care should be taken to avoid the presence of base and to keep the processing temperatures in the range of about 65 to about 85°C, preferably 65-75°C.
• the particulate dispersions of the foregoing type can optionally be stabilized against settling by means of standard, non-base emulsifiers, especially nonionics such as the C14-18 ethoxylates (E08 ⁇ 15), typically used at concentrations of 0.1-2%, according to known practice in the formulation of liquid DTDMAC fabric softener dispersions.
• nonionics such as the C14-18 ethoxylates (E08 ⁇ 15), typically used at concentrations of 0.1-2%, according to known practice in the formulation of liquid DTDMAC fabric softener dispersions.
• fabrics or fibers are contacted with from about 3.0 g to about 9.0 g (per 3.5 kg of fiber or fabric being treated) of the compounds herein in an aqueous bath, or in a hot air clothes dryer.
• the amount used is at the discretion of the user, depending on fiber or fabric type, degree of softness desired, and the like.
• about 120 mls. of a 5% dispersion are used in a 25 l laundry rinse bath to soften and provide antistatic benefits to a 3.5 kg load of mixed fabrics.
• the reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature and diluted with chloroform (1500 mL).
• the chloroform solution of product is placed in a separatory funnel (4 L) and washed with sat. NaCl, dil. Ca(OH)2, 50% K2CO3, (3 times)*, and, finally, sat. NaCl.
• the organic layer is collected and dried over MgSO4 and filtered. Solvents are removed via rotary evaporation. Final drying is done under high vacuum (0.25 mm Hg). *Note: 50% K2CO3 layer will be below chloroform layer.
• the nonhydrolytic preparation of the composition of Example II is carried out as follows.
• the softener compound and the isopropyl alcohol are mixed and warmed (80 to 85°C) to form a fluidized "melt".
• the melt is then poured into the water (65 to 75°C) with high shear mixing (7000 rpm; 20-25 minutes) to submicronize the softener particles.
• the dye and minors are added, and the pH is adjusted with H3PO4.
• the resulting dispersion has a viscosity of about 40 centipoise and is used in standard fashion as a through-the-rinse fabric softener. All liquid compositions herein are prepared in substantially the same manner.
• the present compositions can be supplemented by all manner of optional components conventionally used in textile treatment compositions, for example, colorants, perfumes, preservatives, optical brighteners, opacifiers, viscosity modifiers, fabric conditioning agents, surfactants, stabilizers such as guar gum and polyethylene glycol, antishrinkage agents, antiwrinkle agents, fabric crisping agents, spotting agents, soil-release agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants such as butylated hydroxy toluene, anticorrosion agents, and the like.
• optional components conventionally used in textile treatment compositions for example, colorants, perfumes, preservatives, optical brighteners, opacifiers, viscosity modifiers, fabric conditioning agents, surfactants, stabilizers such as guar gum and polyethylene glycol, antishrinkage agents, antiwrinkle agents, fabric crisping agents, spotting agents, soil-release agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants such as butylated
• materials such as DTDMAC, the C16-C18 dialkylimidazoliniums, polydimethylsiloxanes, glycerol monostearate, and, as noted above, emulsifiers, especially ethoxylated nonionics, can optionally be used in the present compositions.
• amines such as TAMET (C18H37N[CH2CH2OH]2) can be present in relatively small amounts (typically 0.3-0.5%) if in the protonated form.
• Solid carrier materials can be used in place of liquids.
• the softener compounds can be adsorbed on particulate solids such as potassium sulfate, micronized silica, and the like, and added to a laundry rinse bath.
• the softeners can be releasably padded onto a sheet (e.g., paper toweling, nonwoven fabric, or the like) and tumbled with damp fabrics in a hot-air clothes dryer, in the manner of the BOUNCE brand dryer-added product known in commercial practice.
• a sheet e.g., paper toweling, nonwoven fabric, or the like
• tumbled with damp fabrics in a hot-air clothes dryer, in the manner of the BOUNCE brand dryer-added product known in commercial practice.
• such solid-form compositions will comprise 80-99% carrier and 1-20% softener.
• a dryer-additive sheet is prepared by warming 5 g. of the softener compound of Example I in 6 g. isopropanol to prepare a melt in the manner of Example II.
• the melt is evenly spread onto and into an ordinary, disposable paper hand towel (20 cm x 20 cm) and allowed to dry.
• the impregnated towel is commingled and tumbled with wet fabrics (5 kg load of fabrics, dry weight basis) in a standard hot air clothes dryer until the fabrics are dry, to provide a soft, antistatic finish.
• a liquid fabric softener as a particulate, sub-micron dispersion is prepared according to Example II, and has the following composition:
• a particulate softener comprises the following.
• Example V The composition of Example V is prepared by co-melting the softener compound, ethoxylated alcohol, and an equal weight of ethanol, with gentle warming, then spraying the melt uniformly onto the particulate silica/sodium sulfate.
• a high concentrate liquid fabric softener comprises the following.
• Example VI The composition of Example VI is prepared in the manner of Example II, as sub-micron particles suspended in liquid. In a convenient mode, the composition is packaged in a simple plastic pouch, which is opened and poured into 4X its volume of water prior to use to prepare a "single strength" softener composition, thereby saving on packaging and shipping costs and storage space.
• the single strength composition prepared from the concentrate of Example VI can be applied to human or animal hair, typically after shampooing, to provide a soft, lubricious feel.
• di-isopropanol amine feedstocks used herein may contain varying amounts of mono-isopropanol amines and tri-isopropanol amines.
• the commercial-grade ester reaction products will comprise, in addition to the di-ester softeners, various amounts of mono- and tri-esters.
• the preferred compounds herein function well at tempera­tures lower than many art-disclosed fabric softeners, making them more useful in hot air clothes dryers, as well as performing well when fabrics are line-dried.

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• 1988
  • 1988-04-27 AT AT88200819T patent/ATE84566T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1988-04-27 DE DE8888200819T patent/DE3877422T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1988-04-27 EP EP88200819A patent/EP0293955B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
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