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
  • C11D17/042—Water soluble or water disintegrable containers or substrates containing cleaning compositions or additives for cleaning compositions
• • 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
  • C11D17/06—Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a composite packaging film dispersible in water without leaving visible residues.
• the invention also relates to a laundry treatment product in the form of a water-dispersible sachet containing a laundry treatment composition, for example, a detergent composition.
• water-soluble film material for example, polyvinyl alcohol
• bags and sachets containing detergent compositions and other laundry treatment products is widely disclosed in the art, for example, in JP 61 057 700A (Kao).
• This "wet tack" is a particular disadvantage in the context of laundry treatment sachets, the users of which may often have wet hands. In extreme cases the sachets may rapidly adhere to the hands of the user and partial rupture may occur.
• Tackiness can also cause problems when sachets are stored in contact with one another under conditions of high humidity; the sachets may adhere to one another and attempts to separate them may lead to rupture.
• EP 253 566A (Procter & Gamble) discloses a detergent sachet of water-soluble film, for example, polyethylene oxide, having an outer covering of flexible, apertured, water-insoluble but water-permeable sheet material, for example, a nonwoven fabric. This is said to give freedom from tackiness under high humidity storage conditions. For the consumer, however, it presents the disadvantage that the undissolved outer covering must be retrieved from among the washload after use.
• JP 01 029 438A discloses a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film, suitable for use as a detergent sachet wall material, coated on one or both sides with a fine water-insoluble powder applied by sprinkling an aqueous dispersion onto the base film. This treatment is said to render the film less vulnerable to atmospheric humidity.
• EP 79 248B discloses a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film detergent sachet in which the sachet wall is provided with an inner protective layer of inert hydrophobic particulate plastics material, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene, to prevent attack by water or reactive components in the sachet contents.
• the present inventors have now discovered a way of reducing the tackiness of water-soluble film such as polyvinyl alcohol to an acceptable level without adverse effect on the dissolution properties of the sachet material as a whole, and without resulting in unsightly residues being left among washed fabrics.
• the present invention provides a composite packaging film comprising a continuous base film soluble in water at a desired temperature, carrying on one or both surfaces a discontinuous, at least partially non-particulate layer of a second plastics material less water-soluble than the base film material, the composite film being capable of dispersing in lightly agitated water at the said desired temperature substantially without visible residues.
• the invention provides a composite film as defined in the previous paragraph, wherein the discontinuous, at least partially non-particulate layer is in the form of a printed pattern composed of a plurality of individual elements each sufficiently small to be substantially invisible to the naked eye.
• the invention provides a process for the production of a composite film as defined in the previous paragraph, wherein the second plastics material is applied from solution onto the base film, preferably by a printing method, to form a discontinuous, at least partially non-particulate, layer.
• the invention provides a package for releasing a composition or article(s) into an aqueous environment, the package being composed at least partially of a composite film material as defined above, carrying the said discontinuous layer at least on its outer surface.
• the invention provides a washing, cleaning or laundry treatment product in the form of a sachet or bag composed at least partially of a composite film as defined above, the discontinuous layer being present at least on the outer surface of the sachet or bag.
• the invention provides a laundry treatment product in the form of a closed sachet composed at least partially of a composite film as defined above, the discontinuous layer being present at least on the outer surface of the sachet, and the sachet containing a laundry treatment composition.
• the invention is concerned with a composite film material for packaging articles or compositions that are to be released in an aqueous environment, and for the use of that film material for packages, in particular, washing, cleaning or laundry treatment products.
• the composite film material has two essential components: the base film, and the discontinuous layer.
• the base film is of material that dissolves readily in an aqueous environment at a temperature at which release of the contents of the package is desired.
• films that are soluble in water at a relatively low temperature referred to generally as cold-water-soluble films, are preferred.
• Water-soluble packaging films are widely disclosed in the literature and include polyethylene oxide, alginates, cellulose ethers such as carboxymethyl cellulose and methylcellulose, starches and starch derivatives, gelatin, and combinations of these.
• the base film consists at least partially of polyvinyl alcohol.
• polyvinyl alcohol as used herein also includes partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetates. These materials are widely disclosed in the literature.
• the base film is conveniently heat-sealable so that it can easily be formed into bags, sachets or other packages. If the heat-sealability of the base film is inadequate, it may be increased by the provision of a coating of thermoplastic material on the surface not carrying the discontinuous, at least partially non-particulate layer. Such a coating may be provided at least in the areas where seals are to be formed, or as a continuous or discontinuous layer over the whole film.
• thermoplastic layer may be of similar form to the discontinuous layer of the second plastics material, preferred forms of which are described in more detail below. In the interests of overall water-dispersibility of the composite film, a discontinuous layer of the thermoplastic material is generally preferred.
• the rate of dissolution and solubility of the base film must be at least as good as the ultimate requirement given above for the composite film: substantially complete dispersion (or dissolution), in lightly agitated water at an appropriate temperature, leaving substantially no visible residues.
• substantially complete dispersion (or dissolution) in lightly agitated water at an appropriate temperature, leaving substantially no visible residues.
• the temperature at which substantially complete dispersion of the composite film is required will of course depend on the intended end use of the film.
• the discontinuous, at least partially non-particulate layer is of a second plastics material having a lower water solubility at the relevant temperature than the base film material.
• the material is substantially insoluble in water at the relevant temperature.
• the choice of material will in part be governed by the method by which it is applied to the base film.
• the discontinuous layer is effective to prevent wet tack.
• wet tack of a film is defined simply as a tendency for that film to feel tacky when handled with wet hands. Severe wet tack can lead lead to rapid rupture of the sachet, but even lesser degrees of wet tack are unpleasant for the consumer, and create a lack of confidence in the product. Wet tack has been assessed by means of a test described in the Examples below.
• film having a discontinuous layer that, while not effective wholly to prevent wet tack, provides some protection against atmospheric moisture, and inter-sachet adhesion during storage.
• a single layer is insufficient to provide the desired level of protection against tackiness, two or more layers may be applied.
• the discontinuous layer is in the form of a printed pattern or matrix of individual elements each sufficiently small that after dispersion it will not form a visible residue.
• These elements may be of any suitable shape, but for convenience the printing term "dots" will be used.
• the "dots” are preferably sufficiently close together to prevent wet tack. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the "dots" should be of sufficient size and proximity that a wet hand touching the printed film will encounter only the "dots", and not the untreated areas in between; and that the "dot” spacing should be such as to prevent liquid bridges from forming between the hand and film while the sachet is being handled with wet hands.
• the acceptable limits on the area, height and separation of the "dots" will also depend to some extent on the water-solubility of the material applied by printing: the less the water-solubility, the more important it is that, in the aqueous environment of intended use, the water has sufficient access to the base film to effect dissolution.
• the discontinuous layer may, if desired, be wholly non-particulate, and that is preferred because the chance of residues being produced in the wash is minimised.
• compatible particulate filler material of very small particle size small than the "dots"
• silica silica
• the discontinuous layer is present on one side only of the base film, but a base film carrying a discontinuous layer on each surface is also within the scope of the invention.
• the composite film is preferably produced by applying the second plastics material from solution onto the base film to form a discontinuous pattern. This is most preferably effected by a printing method.
• Suitable printing processes include screen printing, and, in particular, the various gravure processes such as direct reverse-roll gravure, or offset or indirect gravure.
• Any of the normal gravure patterns for example, trihelical, quadrangular or pyramid, appear to be suitable provided that the criteria outlined above for "dot" height and spacing can be met.
• the second plastics material is applied to the base film from solution in a non-aqueous solvent, for example, acetone, tetrahydrofuran or toluene, so as to avoid contact of water with the water-sensitive base film and to allow quick drying, thus avoiding excessive "dot” merging.
• a non-aqueous solvent for example, acetone, tetrahydrofuran or toluene.
• the area, height and separation of the "dots" may be controlled via the viscosity of the printing solution.
• Any fine-particulate filler material present should be substantially insoluble in the printing solvent.
• two or more layers may be applied if necessary.
• thermoplastic coating for improving heat-sealability may conveniently be applied by a method similar to that used for the discontinuous layer of the second plastics material: preferably by a printing method, especially gravure printing. If, as is preferred, the thermoplastic layer is discontinuous, it is advantageously applied as "dots" in the same manner as the second plastics material.
• the invention also provides a package composed partially or wholly of the composite film of the invention.
• the film is useful for any packaging application that requires release, either rapid or slow, of contents into an aqueous environment.
• the discontinuous layer is located on the outer side of the film, or on both sides.
• the composite film of the invention is also useful for any other packaging applications, not connected with washing or cleaning, where release of contents into an aqueous environment is required.
• the composite film of the invention is especially useful for washing, cleaning and laundry treatment products.
• One preferred embodiment of the this aspect of the invention is a laundry treatment product.
• Many other uses for the composite film in the washing and cleaning field can, however, be envisaged: for example, a rapid release detergent sachet for use in an automatic dishwasher, or a slow release sachet for bath essence or the like.
• a rapid release detergent sachet for use in an automatic dishwasher or a slow release sachet for bath essence or the like.
• the speed of dispersion, and the temperature at which this is judged will vary considerably depending on the release characteristics desired: a dishwasher sachet suitable for use in current dishwashing machines should generally be designed to release its contents quickly at 50-60°C, while the a more gradual release pattern at a lower temperature is appropriate to a bath essence sachet.
• Another possible use for the composite film of the invention in the washing and cleaning field is for bags for handling infected laundry in hospitals.
• the contaminated articles can be sealed into the bag which is then conveyed to the laundry and loaded bodily into the washing machine, thus avoiding the risk of infection to personnel.
• a preferred embodiment of the invention is a product for treating laundry in a domestic or industrial washing machine.
• the preferred product takes the form of a closed sachet composed at least partially of the composite film of the invention, the sachet containing a laundry treatment composition.
• the composite film has a discontinuous layer on one side only: the outside of the sachet.
• the preferred sachet of the invention while remaining non-tacky when handled with wet hands, is capable of rupturing relatively rapidly in the wash water at ambient or higher temperature (depending on the wash conditions) to release its contents, and then dispersing within the time of the wash cycle to leave substantially no visible residues.
• Sachets according to the invention have also exhibited improved storage stability, with a reduced tendency to adhere to one another when stored in close proximity under damp conditions.
• the sachet is capable, in lightly agitated water at 40°C, of rupturing within 10 minutes, preferably within 5 minutes and more preferably within 2 minutes; and of dispersing substantially completely leaving no visible residues within 30 minutes, preferably within 10 minutes, and more preferably within 5 minutes.
• the sachet is preferably capable, in lightly agitated water at 25°C, of of rupturing within 10 minutes, preferably within 5 minutes and more preferably within 2 minutes; and of dispersing substantially completely leaving no visible residues within 30 minutes, preferably within 10 minutes, and more preferably within 5 minutes.
• the sachet is preferably capable, in lightly agitated water at 8°C, of of rupturing within 10 minutes, preferably within 5 minutes and more preferably within 2 minutes; and of dispersing substantially completely leaving no visible residues within 30 minutes, preferably within 10 minutes, and more preferably within 5 minutes.
• the sachet may be of any suitable shape and construction.
• the most convenient shapes from the viewpoints of both manufacture and packing are square and rectangular, but any other desired shape is also within the scope of the invention.
• the sachet may consist of a single compartment, or of a plurality of compartments.
• the compartments may, for example, be side-by-side, joined by a common seal, or back-to-back, joined by a common wall.
• the former arrangement is more suitable if the two compartments are to be very different in size, and is also easier to make.
• Other multicompartment arrangements are disclosed in EP 236 136A (Unilever).
• the sachets may be joined together in multiples, with perforations provided so that the consumer can detach the individual sachets. For example, if one sachet contains half the recommended amount of laundry treatment composition for a normal wash-load, the sachets may be joined in pairs. Each pair may then be used as such for a normal wash-load, but the consumer also has the possibility of using a single sachet only for a half-load, or of using three for an exceptionally heavily soiled load.
• the size of the sachet will of course depend on the amount of laundry treatment composition it is intended to contain, and that in turn will depend on the type of composition, on the wash conditions under which it is intended to be used, and whether the sachet is intended to be a single dose or a half-dose (or other submultiple).
• the volume fill of the sachet may be anything up to 100%, and is preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 60%.
• the contents of the sachet may comprise any composition intended for treating fabrics in a washing machine.
• Suitable treatment compositions include fully formulated detergent compositions, components of detergent compositions, bleaches and fabric conditioners.
• the treatment composition is preferably in particulate, for example, granular or powder form, but may also be a liquid or a gel compatible with the sachet wall (composite film) material.
• a preferred embodiment of the invention is a sachet as previously defined containing a particulate detergent composition for washing fabrics.
• Sacheted particulate detergent compositions according to the invention have been found to exhibit improved storage stability as compared with similar compositions sacheted in conventional water-soluble film material; reduced ingress of atmospheric moisture results in better stability of moisture-sensitive ingredients, for example, bleaches, and retention of good powder properties.
• the detergent composition will contain, as essential ingredients, one or more detergent-active compounds which may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent-active compounds, and mixtures thereof.
• detergent-active compounds may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent-active compounds, and mixtures thereof.
• suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents” , Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.
• the preferred detergent-active compounds that can be used are soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds.
• Anionic surfactants are well known to those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C8-C15; primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, particularly sodium C12-C15 primary alcohol sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates; olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; alkyl xylene sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.
• alkylbenzene sulphonates particularly sodium linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C8-C15
• primary and secondary alkyl sulphates particularly sodium C12-C15 primary alcohol sulphates
• alkyl ether sulphates particularly sodium C12-C15 primary alcohol sulphates
• alkyl ether sulphates particularly sodium C12
• Nonionic surfactants that may be used include the primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, especially the C12-C15 primary and secondary alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 3 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; and alkylpolyglycosides.
• the total amount of surfactant present will generally range from 5 to 60 wt%, preferably from 5 to 40 wt%.
• Detergent compositions suitable for use in most automatic fabric washing machines generally contain anionic surfactant, or nonionic surfactant, or combinations of the two in any ratio, optionally together with soap.
• the detergent composition will also contain one or more detergency builders, suitably in a total amount of from 15 to 80 wt%.
• Inorganic builders that may be present include sodium carbonate, if desired in combination with a crystallisation seed for calcium carbonate, as disclosed in GB 1 437 950 (Unilever); crystalline and amorphous aluminosilicates, for example, zeolites as disclosed in GB 1 473 201 (Henkel), amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 473 202 (Henkel) and mixed crystalline/amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 470 250 (Henkel).
• Inorganic phosphate builders for example, sodium orthophosphate, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate, may also be present, although these materials are no longer preferred for environmental reasons.
• Organic builders that may be present include polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphinates; monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, tartrate monosuccinates and disuccinates, glycerol mono-, di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolinates, hydroxyethyliminodiacetates, nitrilotriacetates, ethylenediaminetetraacetates, alkyl-and alkenyl malonates and succinates, and sulphonated fatty acid salts. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
• Detergent compositions according to the invention may also suitably contain a bleach system.
• a bleach system may comprise a peroxy bleach compound, for example, an inorganic persalt or organic peroxyacid, which may be employed in conjunction with an activator to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures.
• detergent composition examples include sodium silicate, fluorescers, antiredeposition agents, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, enzymes, lather control agents, pigments, and perfumes. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
• the bulk density of the detergent composition is at least 400 g/l, more preferably at least 500 g/l, and most preferably at least 700 g/litre, for example, 750-1000 g/litre.
• the higher the bulk density the smaller the sachet can be, and the lower the packaging costs and space requirements for storage.
• a sachet is also an especially convenient way of introducing a high-bulk-density detergent powder into the wash liquor, because it avoids any dispensing or dispersion problems that might be associated with a more compact powder.
• a filter paper was then placed over the outlet and the machine drained. Dispersion was deemed to be substantially complete if no residues could be detected visually on the filter paper.
• wet tack was assessed by a panel of experienced judges. The panellists were asked to wet their hands in water (6° French hard); they were then given the sachet under test to hold and feel for about 15 seconds, and to compare it with a standard polyethylene sachet. The test sachet was then allocated a value on the following scale:
• Example A comparative, was a sachet of base film alone.
• Examples 1 and 2 in accordance with the invention, were sachets of base film gravure-printed in two different patterns with nitrocellulose dissolved in acetone.
• Example B comparative, was a sachet of base film having a continuous coating of nitrocellulose.
• Dissolution and wet tack results were as shown in Table 1.
• TABLE 1 Dissolution and wet tack results Coating material Coating type Dissolution Wet tack 25°C 8°C A none - o o 4 1 nitrocellulose gravure 200 lines/inch o + 1 2 nitrocellulose gravure 150 lines/inch o + 1 B nitrocellulose continuous x x 1

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Wrappers (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=10683180

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (27)

Families Citing this family (4)

Citations (5)

• 1990
  • 1990-10-03 GB GB909021516A patent/GB9021516D0/en active Pending
• 1991
  • 1991-03-21 DE DE69112751T patent/DE69112751T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1991-03-21 KR KR1019920701247A patent/KR950012210B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-03-21 EP EP91302496A patent/EP0479404B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-03-21 ES ES91302496T patent/ES2078437T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-03-21 AU AU75447/91A patent/AU653148B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1991-03-21 BR BR919105915A patent/BR9105915A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1991-03-21 JP JP3506335A patent/JPH05503117A/ja active Pending
  • 1991-03-21 WO PCT/GB1991/000432 patent/WO1992006173A1/fr unknown
  • 1991-03-26 CA CA002039064A patent/CA2039064A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1991-03-27 ZA ZA912309A patent/ZA912309B/xx unknown

Patent Citations (5)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events