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
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/835—Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
• • 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
  • D06M13/10—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 oxygen
  • D06M13/144—Alcohols; Metal alcoholates
• • 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
  • 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
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/72—Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols

Definitions

• the present invention relates to fabric softening compositions, in particular the invention relates to aqueous dispersions of biodegradable fabric softening compositions comprising a water insoluble cationic fabric softening agent and a nonionic stabilising agent suitable as rinse-added fabric softener compositions.
• Rinse added fabric softener compositions are well known. Typically such compositions contain a water insoluble quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent dispersed in water at a level of softening agent up to 7% by weight in which case the compositions are considered dilute, or at levels from 7% to 50% in which case the compositions are considered concentrates.
• fabric softening compositions desirably have other benefits. One is the ability to confer soil release properties to fabrics, particularly those woven from polyester fibres.
• viscosity control agents In the past physical stability of rinse added fabric softener compositions has been improved by the addition of viscosity control agents or anti-gelling agents.
• viscosity control agents For example in EP 13780 (Procter & Gamble) viscosity control agents are added to certain concentrated compositions. The agents may include C 10-18 fatty alcohols.
• EP 280550 More recently in EP 280550 (Unilever) it has been proposed to improve the physical stability of dilute compositions comprising biodegradable, ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds and fatty acid by the addition of nonionic surfactants.
• compositions comprising biodegradable ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds the problem of physical instability is more acute than with traditional quaternary ammonium compounds.
• a nonionic emulsifier/stabiliser is added to concentrate comprising an ester-linked quaternary ammonium compound to form a viscous gel.
• the stabiliser is a C 12-14 alcohol ethoxylated with 9 molecules of ethylene oxide. The degree of branching of the alcohol is not, however, mentioned.
• Certain nonionic stabilising agents not only stabilise concentrated compositions comprising biodegradable quaternary ammonium compounds but are also environmentally friendly, in that they show acceptable biodegradability and are not substantially toxic in aquatic systems.
• compositions containing biodegradable quaternary ammonium compounds may be improved by the use of selected nonionic stabilising agents.
• a fabric softening composition comprising at least 1% by weight of a water insoluble cationic fabric softening agent and a nonionic stabilising agent wherein the water insoluble cationic fabric softening agent is a quaternary ammonium material of the type defined below and the nonionic stabilising agent is a predominantly linear C 8 to C 22 alcohol alkoxylated with 10 or more moles of alkylene oxide, the nonionic stabilising agent having a clear phase at a 1% concentration in water somewhere in the range of 0°C to 45°C and a Krafft point of less than 30°C.
• compositions show improved high temperature stability, in particular stability at 37°C.
• the nonionic surfactant preferably has a krafft point of less than 10°C, most preferably less than 5°C.
• Krafft point is a term well known in the art, for example from R J Hunter 'Foundations of Colloid Science', Oxford University Press, Volume 1 1989 page 571.
• the krafft point of a stabilising material is the temperature below which the solubility of the material is low and no micelles are apparent. At temperatures above the krafft point the solution is clear, at temperatures below it the solution is cloudy.
• compositions of the invention are liquids comprising an aqueous base.
• ester-linked quaternary ammonium material for use in the compositions according to the invention can be represented by the formula: wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups; each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and n is an integer from 0-5; or by the formula: wherein R 1 , n and R 2 are as defined above, and T is
• Preferred materials and their method of preparation are, for example, described in US 4 137 180 (Lever Brothers).
• Preferably these materials comprise small amounts of the corresponding monoester as described in US 4 137 180 for example 1-tallowoxy, 2-hydroxytrimethyl ammonium propane chloride.
• the level of ester linked quaternary ammonium compounds is at least 1% by weight of the composition, more preferably more than 3% by weight of the composition; especially interesting are concentrated compositions which comprise more than 7% of ester-linked quaternary ammonium compound.
• the level of ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds is preferably between 1% and 80% by weight, more preferably 3% to 50%, most preferably 8% to 50%.
• Suitable nonionic stabilisers which can be used include the condensation products of C 8 - C 22 primary or secondary predominantly linear alcohols with 10 or more moles of ethylene oxide, preferably 15 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
• the alcohols may be saturated or unsaturated.
• Genapol T-150, Genapol T-200, Genapol C-200 all ex Hoechst AG, Lutensol AT18 ex BASF, Genapol C-100 Genapol C-150 & Genapol T-350 ex Hoechst.
• the nonionic stabiliser has an HLB of between 10 and 20, more preferably 12 and 20.
• the level of nonionic stabiliser is within the range of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight, most preferably from 1 to 4% by weight.
• the mole ratio of the quaternary ammonium compound to the nonionic stabilising agent is within the range from 40:1 to about 1:1, preferably within the range from 18:1 to about 3:1.
• the composition can also contain fatty acids for example C 8 - C 24 alkyl or alkenyl monocarboxylic acids or polymers thereof.
• fatty acids for example C 8 - C 24 alkyl or alkenyl monocarboxylic acids or polymers thereof.
• saturated fatty acids are used, in particular, hardened tallow C 16-18 fatty acids.
• the fatty acid is non-saponified, more preferably the fatty acid is free for example oleic acid, lauric acid or tallow fatty acid.
• the level of fatty acid material is preferably more than 0.1% by weight, more preferably more than 0.2% by weight. Especially preferred are concentrates comprising from 0.5 to 20% by weight of fatty acid, more preferably 1% to 10% by weight.
• the weight ratio of quaternary ammonium material to fatty acid material is preferably from 10:1 to 1:10.
• compositions of the invention preferably have a pH of more than 2.0, more preferably between 2 and 5.
• the composition can also contain one or more optional ingredients, selected from non-aqueous solvents, pH buffering agents, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers colourants, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, antiredeposition agents, enzymes, optical brightening agents, opacifiers, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, germicides, fungicides, anti-oxidants, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, antistatic agents and ironing aids.
• optional ingredients selected from non-aqueous solvents, pH buffering agents, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers colourants, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, antiredeposition agents, enzymes, optical brightening agents, opacifiers, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, germicides, fungicides, anti-oxidants, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, antistatic agents and ironing aids.
• composition may also contain nonionic fabric softening agents such as lanolin and derivatives thereof.
• a fabric softening composition comprising a water insoluble cationic fabric softening agent as defined above , of a nonionic stabilising agent as defined above, in order to improve the high temperature stability of the composition.
• the cationic fabric softening agent is represented by one of the two formulae set out above.
• Preferred features of the use, in particular with respect to the nonionic stabilising agent, correspond to those for the first aspect of the invention.
• Liquid fabric softening compositions were made as follows.
• the cationic fabric softening agent, fatty acid (and nonionic stabilising agent where appropriate) were premixed and heated together to form a clear melt.
• the molten mixture thus formed was added to water at 70°C to 80°C over a period of at least one minute, with constant stirring to form a dispersion.
• the viscosity of the compositions was measured by Haake rotoviscometer following 1 and 3 months storage at ambient temperature or at 37°C.
• the Krafft point was measured by preparing a 1% solution of the nonionic stabilising agent in distilled water and storing the solution at 5°C for 5 days. The solution was then heated gradually with stirring until the solution became clear. The temperature at which the solution became clear was taken as the Krafft point.
• compositions comprising ester linked quaternary ammonium compounds counteracts destabilisation at high temperature to give stable concentrated compositions.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

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• 1991
  • 1991-07-15 GB GB919115255A patent/GB9115255D0/en active Pending
• 1992
  • 1992-01-15 IN IN222BO1992 patent/IN176962B/en unknown
  • 1992-07-09 CA CA002073517A patent/CA2073517C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-07-10 EP EP92306336A patent/EP0523922B1/en not_active Revoked
  • 1992-07-10 ES ES92306336T patent/ES2092051T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-07-10 DE DE69214038T patent/DE69214038T2/de not_active Revoked
  • 1992-07-13 CZ CS922183A patent/CZ285710B6/cs not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-07-13 MY MYPI92001202A patent/MY110512A/en unknown
  • 1992-07-13 SK SK2183-92A patent/SK281112B6/sk not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-07-14 JP JP4186679A patent/JP3061223B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-07-14 KR KR1019920012472A patent/KR950009498B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-07-14 HU HU9202314A patent/HU209946B/hu unknown
  • 1992-07-14 BR BR929202670A patent/BR9202670A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-07-15 PL PL92295287A patent/PL170236B1/pl unknown
  • 1992-07-15 ZA ZA925272A patent/ZA925272B/xx unknown
  • 1992-07-15 AU AU19680/92A patent/AU662536B2/en not_active Ceased

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