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
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3703—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/373—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicones
  • C11D3/3742—Nitrogen containing silicones
• • 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
  • D06M11/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with inorganic substances or complexes thereof; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment, e.g. mercerising
• • 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
  • 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
  • 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
• • 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
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3703—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/373—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicones
• • 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
  • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
  • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
  • D06M15/37—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06M15/643—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicon in the main chain
  • D06M15/6436—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicon in the main chain containing amino groups

Definitions

• the instant invention relates to the application of adjuvants to fabrics in tumble-dryer automatic dryers. More particularly, it relates to an article in the form of a flexible substrate carrying a fabric conditioning composition.
• Silicones have been applied to fabrics during manufacture of fabrics or during the make up of articles of clothing. With respect to application of silicones to fabrics during a laundry process, GB-A-1,549,480; Burmeister et al., US-A-4,818,242; Konig et al., US-A-4,724,089; Konig et al., US-A-4,806,255; Dekker et al., US-A-4,661,267 and Trinh et al., US-A-4,661,269 describe aqueous dispersions or emulsions of certain silicones of limited viscosity incorporated in liquid rinse-cycle fabric softening compositions.
• a fabric softening composition containing emulsified silicone is also taught by Barrat et al. in US-A-4,446,033.
• Coffindafer et al., US-A-4,800,026 discloses fabric care compositions containing curable amine functional silicones.
• Rudy et al., US-A-3,972, 131 discloses dryer sheets including a silicone oil as an ironing aid.
• Kasprzak et al., US-A-4,767,548 discloses the use of certain silicones in dryer sheet formulations.
• Coffindafer et al., US-A-4,800,026 discloses curable amine functional silicones in fabric care compositions.
• compositions disclosed in the art contain individual particles of a silicone and individual particles of a fabric softening agent.
• the dispersed particle is a composite particle containing a mutually compatible mixture of a silicone and a fabric softening component.
• Compatible organosilicones described herein preferably form mutually soluble mixtures with certain types of commonly used fabric softening agents.
• the organosilicones in the dispersed composite particles do not separate from fabric softening agents during processing, on standing, during coating or drying of the dryer sheet.
• An additional advantage afforded by the present invention is a simplified manufacture of fabric softener compositions since the silicones need not be dispersed separately and can be introduced into the composition simultaneously with a fabric softener.
• compatible silicones enhance the spreading of the fabric softening agents on the fabric surface as compared to the spreading of the fabric softening agents alone or in combination with incompatible silicones.
• compatible silicones as described herein, more complete surface coverage by a fabric softening agent is achieved with a further advantage of smaller dosage requirements. Additionally, even and uniform distribution of the actives on the dryer sheet can be attained, alleviating the problem of unevenly impregnated sheets.
• the present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that specific silicones, defined herein as compatible, are capable of forming compatible mixtures with certain conventional fabric softening agents.
• a mutually stable dispersion is also compatible and is formed if a mixture of a silicone and a fabric softener does not separate into more than one phase on storage at elevated temperatures and if the mixture does not form a uniform solid or liquid on cooling.
• the class of compatible mixtures as defined herein includes mutually soluble mixtures as well as mutually stable dispersions. Compatibility of the mixture is critical and is determined by the silicone softener compatibility test (SSCT) described below.
• a liquid fabric conditioning composition which includes about 1% to about 60% of composite particles containing a mutually soluble mixture of a fabric softening component and an organosilicone.
• these particles can also be added to a liquid containing other fabric treating ingredients, including for example, softeners.
• the invention provides an article comprising a flexible substrate carrying an effective amount of a fabric conditioning composition affixed thereto in a manner which provides for release of the conditioning composition within an automatic tumble dryer at dryer operating temperatures.
• the fabric softening component employed herein for liquid compositions may be any commonly used fabric softening agent complying with the above conditions provided that it must include at least a portion of cationic quaternary ammonium salts either used singly or, optionally, in admixture with other softening agents such as nonionic softeners selected from the group of tertiary amines having at least one C8 ⁇ 30 alkyl chain, esters of polyhydric alcohols, fatty alcohols, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, alkyl phenols, ethoxylated alkylphenols, ethoxylated fatty amines, ethoxylated monoglycerides, ethoxylated diglycerides, mineral oils, polyols, carboxylic acids having at least 8 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.
• nonionic softeners selected from the group of tertiary amines having at least one C8 ⁇ 30 alkyl chain, esters of polyhydric alcohols,
• the fabric conditioning composition employed in articles of the present invention contains (A) certain fabric softening agents used singly or in admixture with each other and (B) an organosilicone having specific structural requirements and a specific %CH2 content.
• an article for conditioning fabrics which provides for release of a fabric conditioning composition within an automatic laundry dryer at dryer operating temperatures, the article comprising a flexible substrate carrying thereon discrete composite particles consisting of a compatible mixture of:
• the fabric conditioning composition of the present invention includes a cationic quaternary ammonium salt.
• the counterion is methyl sulfate or any halide.
• cationic quaternary ammonium salts include, but are not limited to:
• the fabric softening component may include other fabric softeners in addition to the cationic quaternary ammonium salts. Additional fabric softeners suitable for use herein can be selected from the following classes of compounds:
• Preferred fabric softeners for use herein are acyclic quaternary ammonium salts, ditallowdimethyl ammonium chloride being most preferred for fabric conditioning compositions of this invention. Especially preferred are mixtures of ditallowdimethyl ammonium chloride with fatty acids, particularly stearic acid or myristic acid.
• the fabric softening component is typically used in the compositions of the invention. There must be included at least a sufficient amount of quaternary ammonium salt to achieve anti-static effect, for example, about 1% to 3% in the dilute product and about 2% to about 5% in the concentrated product. On the other hand, the entire fabric softening component may be quaternary ammonium salt.
• the diluted version of the product contains about 1% to about 12%, preferably about 3% to about 10% and most preferably about 4% to about 7% of the fabric softening component.
• the concentrated version of the product contains about 13% to about 40%, preferably about 13% to 30% and most preferably about 13% to about 20% of the fabric softening component.
• the fabric softening agents (A) include conventionally used cationic and nonionic fabric softening agents such as those listed in (1) to (5) and (i) to (vi) above.
• the amount of the fabric softening composition on the sheet is subject to normal coating parameters such as, for example, viscosity and melting point of the fabric softening components and is typically about 0.5 grams to about 5 grams, preferably about 1 gram to about 3.5 grams.
• the fabric softening composition employed in the present invention contains at least 1%, up to about 95% of the fabric softening component. Preferably from about 10% to about 80% and most preferably from about 30% to about 70% of the fabric softening component is employed herein to obtain optimum softening at minimum cost.
• the quaternary ammonium salt is typically used in the amount of about 10% to about 80%, preferably about 30% to about 70%.
• the second essential ingredient of the fabric softening composition employed in the present invention is a compatible organosilicone.
• organosilicones employed in the present invention are capable of forming compatible mixtures with the fabric softeners listed above.
• the organosilicones employed herein have a %CH2 content of about 25% to about 90%.
• the organosilicones included in the fabric conditioning compositions of the invention contain at least one unit of Formula A: wherein m is a number from 0 to 2 and R is a mono valent hydrocarbon radical.
• the value of (3-m)/2 in Formula A means the ratio of oxygen atoms to silicon atoms, i.e. SiO 1/2 means one oxygen is shared between two silicon atoms.
• R1 in Formula A is selected from the group consisting of:
• organosilicones employed in the present invention include alkylaminosilicones which satisfy the structural parameters described above and which have % methylene (%CH2) content of about 25% to about 90%.
• %CH2 content of the organosilicones.
• the preferred range of the %CH2 content for the silicones herein is from about 40% to about 90%, more preferably from about 50% to about 85%, and most preferably from about 50% to about 75% to increase the degree of compatibility of the mixtures containing relatively large amounts of silicone.
• organosilicones included in the compositions herein may be linear, branched, or partially crosslinked, preferably linear, and may range from fluid, liquid or viscous liquid, gum and solid.
• Alkylaminosilicones employed in this invention may be produced by 1) treating silicones containing primary or secondary amine functional groups with epoxides such as ethylene oxide to form alkylaminosilicones having the unit of Formula A1, or 2) by treating epoxysilicones with primary or secondary amines such as dicocoamine to form alkylaminosilicones having the unit of Formula A2.
• the modified alkylaminosilicones of the invention having the unit of Formula A1 may be prepared by mixing epoxide compounds with aminosilicones in a pressure reactor and heating for about 24 hours, after which the unreacted epoxide compound is vacuum stripped off.
• the amount of epoxide to be used is calculated based upon the number of amine functional groups on the alkylaminosilicone.
• two epoxides are reacted for every primary amine and one epoxide for every secondary amine, in order to convert them to tertiary amines.
• a stoichiometric amount or up to 25% excess if epoxide can be used.
• the reaction is preferably conducted between 25°C and 150°C, especially between 50°C and 100°C.
• the pressure is preferably maintained from 3.447 x 105 Nm ⁇ (50 psi) to 2.068 x 106 Nm ⁇ (300 psi), particularly from 3.447 x 105 Nm ⁇ (50 psi) to 1.034 x 106 Nm ⁇ (150 psi).
• Typical aminosilicone starting compounds would include Dow Corning Q2-8075.
• the art of making alkylaminosilicones having the unit of Formula A1 is disclosed in Examples 1 and 2 herein and in the US-A-4 994 593 Lin et al. entitled 'Hydroxylhydrocarbyl Modified Aminoalkyl Silicones', filed December 6, 1989.
• the modified alkylaminosilicones having the unit of Formula A2 may be prepared by mixing epoxysilicones, secondary amines, and a solvent such as isopropanol or toluene, and heating the mixture at reflux for about 24 hours, after which the solvent is removed by distillation or vacuum stripping.
• the amount of amine to be used is calculated based upon the number of epoxy functional groups on the epoxysilicone. Preferably, one secondary amine is reacted for every epoxy functional group in order to convert the amine to tertiary amine. A stoichiometric amount or up to 25% excess of amine can be used.
• the reaction is preferably conducted between 50°C and 150°C, especially between 75°C and 110°C.
• the reaction is preferably conducted at atmospheric pressure, but may be conducted in a pressure reactor with the pressure being maintained from 3.447 x 105 Nm ⁇ (50 psi) to 2.068 x 106 Nm ⁇ (300 psi).
• modified alkylaminosilicones employed in this invention contain amine groups which may be quaternised with, for example, alkyl halide or methyl sulfate, or may be protonated with a Lewis acid such as hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid and the like.
• Alkylaminosilcones employed herein may, in addition to the units of Formula A, contain secondary units selected from the group consisting of a unit of Formula B1 and a unit of Formula B2: wherein R11 is a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, preferably is CH3; R9 is a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R10 is oxygen or alkylene having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably propylene; c and d are numbers from 0 to 50, preferably 2 to 15; and y and z are numbers from 0 to 2.
• Organosilicones preferred for use herein have a %CH2 content of about 40% to about 90% and are alkylaminosilicones having the unit of Formula A1.
• the amount of organosilicone employed herein generally ranges from about 0.1% to about 20%, and is preferably at least about 0.5% to about 2% to maximise the spreading of the fabric softeners on fabric surface, but could be higher in concentrated liquids.
• the amount employed is from 0.1% to 20%, more preferably at least 3% to 20%.
• the amount of the organosilicone is governed by the ratio at which the mutually soluble mixture of the fabric softening component and the organosilicone is formed.
• the weight ratio of the organosilicone to the fabric softening component in the fabric conditioning compositions employed herein is from about 100:2 to about 1:100, preferably from about 2:100 to about 20:100, but must be such that a compatible mixture can be formed.
• mixtures defined as compatible herein include mutually soluble as well as mutually stable dispersible mixtures.
• Compatibility of the fabric conditioning mixtures herein depends on the structure and the %CH2 content of the organosilicone and the particular fabric softeners employed in the mixture.
• SSCT provides a basis for selecting appropriate combinations of the fabric softening component and the organosilicone.
• the test may be used to determine the compatibility at a particular weight ratio of interest or to detemine a minimum concentration of the silicone at which a compatible mixture of the silicone and the fabric softening component is formed.
• SSCT is conducted as follows: a 10 gram sample of the fabric softener or a combination of fabric softeners is placed into a clear glass flask equipped with a stirring mechanism, such as a magnetic stirrer. If either the fabric softener or the silicone is a solid at room temperature, it is melted before the test is begun with the test taking place above the melting point of the fabric softener or the silicone.
• the silicone of interest is slowly introduced with, conveniently, a Pasteur pipet into the flask, with stirring. It is estimated that the weight of one drop represents about 1% silicone concentration, so the silicone is mixed with the fabric softener 1% at a time. Thus, the lowest concentration of the silicone in the mixture is about 1%.
• Clear mixtures are defined herein as mixtures having about 90% transmittance when measured with a visible light probe (one centimeter pathlength) against distilled water background using Brinkman PC800 colormeter.
• the mixture may also become cloudy indicating that the silicone and the fabric softener are not mutually soluble at that weight % of the silicone.
• the weight percent of the silicone added to produce cloudiness is calculated.
• This number termed compatibility ⁇ , then represents the weight percent of the silicone to produce a cloudy mixture.
• the silicone concentration range of up to about 30% it is sufficient, for practical applications, to investigate the silicone concentration range of up to about 30%. However, the entire range up to 100% of the silicone concentration may be investigated if desired. When the entire range of the silicone concentration is to be investigated, the silicone is added until the mixture contains about 60% by weight of the silicone. Silicone addition is then stopped, and the experiment is repeated by adding the fabric softener to a 10 gram sample of the silicone. In those samples that became cloudy, the weight percent of the softener added to produce cloudiness is calculated and subtracted from 100, the resulting number is termed herein compatibility ⁇ .
• ⁇ compatibility reflects compatibility of the mixtures containing a fabric softener as a major component, whereas ⁇ compatibility reflects compatibility of the mixtures containing a silicone as a major component.
• Minimal difference between ⁇ and ⁇ ( ⁇ - ⁇ ) reflects degree of compatibility of the mixture: more compatible mixtures have a lower number for ⁇ - ⁇ .
• the silicone and the fabric softening component are compatible at a silicone concentration of at least about 2%.
• additives may be used in combination with the compatible mixture of the fabric softening component and the compatible silicone.
• the additives are used in the amounts that do not substantially affect the compatibility of the mixture and include small amounts of incompatible silicones, such as predominantely linear polydialkylsiloxanes, e.g.
• polydimethylsiloxanes soil release polymers such as block copolymers of polyethylene oxide and terephthalate
• fatty amines selected from the group consisting of primary fatty amines, secondary fatty amines, tertiary fatty amines and mixtures thereof
• amphoteric surfactants smectite type inorganic clays
• anionic soaps switterionic quaternary ammonium compounds
• nonionic surfactants nonionic surfactants.
• emulsifiers include emulsifiers, electrolytes, optical brighteners or fluorescent agents, buffers, perfumes, colourants, germicides and bactericides.
• the fabric conditioning compositions of the invention can be used in the rinse cycle of a conventional home laundry operation.
• rinse water has a temperature of from about 5°C to about 70°C.
• concentration of the total active ingredients is generally from about 2 ppm to about 1000 ppm, preferably from about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm, by weight of the aqueous rinsing bath.
• the fabric conditioning composition is preferably added to the final rinse.
• an article for conditioning fabrics in a tumble drier.
• the article of the invention comprises a flexible substrate which carries a fabric conditioning amount of a conditioning composition and is capable of releasing the conditioning composition at dryer operating temperatures.
• the conditioning composition in turn has a preferred melting (or softening) point of about 25°C to about 150°C.
• the fabric conditioning composition employed in the invention is coated onto a dispensing means which effectively releases the fabric conditioning composition in a tumble dryer.
• a dispensing means which effectively releases the fabric conditioning composition in a tumble dryer.
• Such dispensing means can be designed for single usage or for multiple uses.
• One such article comprises a sponge material releasably enclosing enough of the conditioning composition to effectively impart fabric softeness during several drying cycles.
• This multi-use article can be made by filling a porous sponge with the composition. In use, the composition melts and leaches out through the pores of the sponge to soften and condition 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 hardened plug of the mixture. The action and heat of the dryer opens the bag and releases the composition to perform its softening.
• a highly preferred article comprises the compositions containing a softener and a compatible organosilicone releasbly affixed to a flexible substrate such as a sheet of paper or woven or nonwoven cloth substrate.
• a flexible substrate such as a sheet of paper or woven or nonwoven cloth substrate.
• the sheet conformation has several advantages. For example, effective amounts of the compositions for use in conventional dryers can be easily absorbed onto and into the sheet substrate by a simple dipping or padding process. Thus, the end user need not measure the amount of the composition necessary to obtain fabric softness and other benefits. Additionally, the flat configuration of the sheet provides a large surface area which-results in efficient release and distribution of the materials onto fabrics by the tumbling action of the dryer.
• the substrates used in the articles can have a dense, or more preferably, open or porous structure.
• suitable materials which can be used as substrates herein include paper, woven cloth, and non-woven cloth.
• the term 'cloth' herein means a woven or non-woven substrate for the articles of manufacture, as distinguished from the term 'fabric' which encompasses the clothing fabrics being dried in an automatic dryer.
• 'absorbent' is intended to mean a substrate with a absorbent capacity (i.e., a parameter representing a substrate's ability to take up and retain a liquid) from 4 to 12, preferably 5 to 7 times its weight of water.
• the absorbent capacity is preferably in the range of 15 to 22, but some special foams can have an absorbent capacity in the range from 4 to 12.
• Absorbent capacity values are then calculated in accordance with the formula given in said Specification. Based on this test, one-ply, dense bleached paper (e.g., Kraft or bond having a basis weight of about 14.52 kg (32 pounds) per 2,787 x 10 m (3,000 square feet)) has an absorbent capacity of 3.5 to 4; commercially available household one-ply towel paper has a value of 5 to 6; and commercially available two-ply household towelling paper has a value of 7 to about 9.5.
• one-ply, dense bleached paper e.g., Kraft or bond having a basis weight of about 14.52 kg (32 pounds) per 2,787 x 10 m (3,000 square feet)
• absorbent capacity 3.5 to 4
• commercially available household one-ply towel paper has a value of 5 to 6
• commercially available two-ply household towelling paper has a value of 7 to about 9.5.
• Suitable materials which can be used as a substrate in the invention herein include, among others, sponges, paper, and woven and non-woven cloth, all having the necessary absorbency requirements defined above.
• the preferred non-woven cloth substrates can generally be defined as adhesively bonded fibrous or filamentous products having a web or carded fibre structure (where the fibre strength is suitable to allow carding), or comprising fibrous mats in which the fibres or filaments are distributed haphazardly or in random array (i.e. an array of fibres in a carded web wherein partial orientation of the fibres is frequently present, as well as a completely haphazard distribution orientation), or substantially aligned.
• the fibres or filaments can be natural (e.g. wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal, or ramie) or synthetic (e.g. rayon, celloluse ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides, or polyesters).
• the preferred absorbent properties are particularly easy to obtain with non-woven cloths and are provided merely by building up the thickness of the cloth, i.e., by superimposing a plurality of carded webs or mats to a thickness adequate to obtain the necessary absorbent properties, or by allowing a sufficient thickness of the fibres to deposit on the screen.
• Any diameter or denier of the fibre can be used, inasmuch as it is the free space between each fibre that makes the thickness of the cloth directly related to the absorbent capacity of the cloth, and which, further, makes the non-woven cloth especially suitable for impregnation with a composition by means of intersectional or capillary action.
• any thickness necessary to obtain the required absorbent capacity can be used.
• the substrate for the composition is a non-woven cloth made from fibres deposited haphazardly or in random array on the screen, the articles exhibit excellent strength in all directions and are not prone to tear or separate when used in the automatic clothes dryer.
• the non-woven cloth is water-laid or air-laid and is made from cellulosic fibres, particularly from regenerated cellulose or rayon.
• Such non-woven cloth can be lubricated with any standard textile lubricant.
• the fibres are from 5mm to 50mm in length and are from 1.5 to 5 denier.
• the fibres are at least partially orientated haphazardly, and are adhesively bonded together with a hydrophobic or substantially hydrophobic binder-resin.
• the cloth comprises about 70% fibre and 30% binder resin polymer by weight and has a basis weight of from about 18 to 45g per square metre.
• the amount impregnated into and/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 conditioning composition to dry, untreated substrate (fibre plus binder).
• the amount of the conditioning composition ranges from about 5:1 to about 1:1, most preferably from about 3:1 to 1:1, by weight of the dry, untreated substrate.
• the dryer sheet substrate is coated by being passed over a rotogravure applicator roll.
• the sheet In its passage over this roll, the sheet is coated with a thin, uniform layer of molten fabric softening composition contained in a rectangular pan at a level of about 17.94 g/m (15g/square yard). Passage of the substrate over a cooling roll then solidifies the molten softening composition to solid. This type of applicator is used to obtain a uniform homogeneous coating across the sheet.
• the articles are held at room temperature until the composition substantially solidifies.
• the resulting dry articles, prepared at the 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 at any convenient time if desired during the manufacturing process.
• Examples 1-6 include organosilicones within the scope of the present invention having formulas A, B, C and D:
• the silicone of Formula C is a reaction product of the starting aminosilicone (where the nitrogen-containing branch chain is -(CH2)3-NH-(CH2)2NH2) and 1,2 epoxyoctadecane.
• the compound was prepared by placing the starting aminosilicone (61.16g), 1,2 epoxyoctadecane (38.84g) and 2-propanol (60.0g) in a reaction vessel and heating to 80°C for 24 hours.
• the reaction vessel consisted of a three neck round bottom flask containing a stirrer, a reflux condenser and a thermometer. The 2-propanol was then stripped off with a N2 sparge at 100°C as described in the Lin et al. application mentioned above.
• Formula C silicone has %CH2 equal 56.62.
• a 'T' structure modified alkylaminosilicone of Formula D having %CH2 equal 52.50 was prepared.
• the nitrogen-containing branch chain is -(CH2)3-NH-(CH2)2NH2.
• hydrogens on nitrogens were replaced with
• Silicones of samples 3 - 7 were mutually soluble with Adogen 442 at silicone concentration of 5% by weight of the mixture. However, silicone 1 and 2, which are not within the scope of the present invention, were not compatible with Adogen 442 at 5% or even at 25% of silicone.
• Contact angle values reflect the spreading behaviour of a liquid on a solid surface. Discussion of the relationship between contact angle values and spreading is provided, for example, in Chapter 6 of "Introduction to Colloid and Surface Chemistry", Duncan J. Shaw, Butterworth, 1985. A contact angle of a liquid on solid surface is the angle between the tangent of the droplet and the surface. A smaller contact angle indicates better spreading on the surface.
• a contact angle of a liquid on solid surface is the angle between the tangent of the droplet and the surface. A smaller contact angle indicates better spreading on the surface.
• Samples were prepared by mixing a fabric softener and a silicone above the melting point. A droplet of the melt liquid was applied to a piece of cellulose filter paper. After the droplet cooled and solidified, an initial contact angle was measured. The cellulose paper with the droplet was then placed in a 70°C oven for 30 minutes in order for the equilibrium contact angle to be achieved. The paper was then removed from the oven and a final contact angle was measured.
• the contact angle was measured using a contact angle goniometer (Rame'-Hart model 100).
• the cellulose with the drop of active was placed on the stage and viewed with a microscope. With the light source on, the drop appeared as a silhouette against a soft, green background.
• the drop/cellulose interface was aligned with the horizontal crosshair, and the contact angle was determined by rotating the read-out crosshair to tangency with the drop right profile.
• the contact angle value was then read directly on the graduated goniometer scale. This procedure was repeated to read the contact angle on the left side. Both sides should give the same reading otherwise the sample was not levelled correctly and the stage height should be readjusted.
• Silicones of samples 4-8 were shown to form mutually soluble mixtures with Adogen 442 in Example 3.
• Samples 1-3 contained either no silicone or silicones which are not within the scope of the invention.
• the results established that, in mutually soluble mixtures of compatible silicones and fabric softener as taught by the present invention, compatible silicones improve the spreading of the fabric softener on a cellulose surface.
• Qualitative evaluation of spreading on cotton showed the same pattern of improved spreading when compatible silicones within the scope of the invention were used.
• Silicone of sample 1 which is not suitable for the present invention did not reduce the contact angle of the fabric softener regardless of the amount of the silicone used.
• Formula B silicone was only partially soluble in mineral oil, while Formula D silicone formed a mutually soluble mixture with mineral oil, demonstrating that the mutual solubility of the silicones and fabric softeners depend on the particular fabric softener as well as the %CH2 of the silicone.
• Examples 7-8 include organosilicones both outside and within the scope of the invention having formulas E, F and G.
• Silicone F was significantly more soluble in Formulations I, II and III than PDMS.
• the compatibility of various fabric softening agents with various silicones was determined by the SSCT.
• the entire concentration range up to 100% of the silicones was investigated. Samples that remained clear over the entire range of silicone concentration were labelled 'completely soluble'. For samples that became cloudy stability of the dispersions was ascertained and ⁇ and ⁇ compatibility values were determined by the SSCT.
• silicones CC, EE and FF having the structural requirements and %CH2 recited by the present invention form compatible mixtures with mineral oil.
• Examples 3-6 demonstrate that mutual compatibility between the fabric softening component and organosilicones may be easily determined by the SSCT and that the compatibility depends on the structure and %CH2 content of the silicone as well as the particular fabric softening component employed in the mixture.
• silicone C was highly compatible (mutually soluble) with mineral oil in Example 3 and with Adogen 345D in Example 6, it was less compatible with Varisoft 137 of Example 4, i.e. a cloudy mixture was formed at 2% of silicone.
• silicone C was more compatible with Varisoft 137 in Example 4 than polydimethylsioxane, since ⁇ compatibility was lower for silicone C than for polydimethylsiloxane.
• the ingredients of a fabric conditioning composition as listed below were mixed in the melt. 500g of the prepared fabric conditioning mixture was placed in the pan of a two-roll coating machine and coated onto a spun-bonded polyester non-woven material. The fabric softening articles thus manufactured contained about 1.6g of solidified softening composition. The articles of manufacture were then placed into a tumble dryer machine which already contained 2.2 kg of prewashed clothing, including terry towelling softness monitors. The fabrics were then tumble dried with the fabric softening article until dry and the softening benefit was evaluated by a 20 member panel.
• Sheet A Due to the incompatible nature of the silicone, the silicone separated from the softening component during the coating process. The articles thus contained unknown amounts of the silicone.
• a 20 member panel judged the towelling monitors for both sheet A and sheet B to have superior softness vs. towels prepared in an identical fashion but dried without softener.

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• 1991
  • 1991-05-28 AU AU77376/91A patent/AU641014B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1991-05-29 CA CA002043503A patent/CA2043503C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-05-30 KR KR1019910008840A patent/KR950007824B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-05-31 EP EP91304942A patent/EP0459822B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-05-31 DE DE69116737T patent/DE69116737T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-05-31 BR BR919102246A patent/BR9102246A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
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