EP0612841B1 - Use of fabric treatment compostions - Google Patents

Use of fabric treatment compostions Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0612841B1
EP0612841B1 EP19940300963 EP94300963A EP0612841B1 EP 0612841 B1 EP0612841 B1 EP 0612841B1 EP 19940300963 EP19940300963 EP 19940300963 EP 94300963 A EP94300963 A EP 94300963A EP 0612841 B1 EP0612841 B1 EP 0612841B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pilling
fabric softening
clay
fibres
composition
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19940300963
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0612841A3 (en
EP0612841A2 (en
Inventor
Janice Dawn Unilever Research Port Ashdown
Andrew Paul Unilever Research Port Chapple
Andrew John Unilever Research Port Prescott
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP0612841A2 publication Critical patent/EP0612841A2/en
Publication of EP0612841A3 publication Critical patent/EP0612841A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0612841B1 publication Critical patent/EP0612841B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/0005Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
    • C11D3/001Softening compositions
    • C11D3/0015Softening compositions liquid
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/0005Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
    • C11D3/001Softening compositions
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/02Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
    • C11D3/12Water-insoluble compounds
    • C11D3/124Silicon containing, e.g. silica, silex, quartz or glass beads
    • C11D3/1246Silicates, e.g. diatomaceous earth
    • C11D3/1253Layer silicates, e.g. talcum, kaolin, clay, bentonite, smectite, montmorillonite, hectorite or attapulgite

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the use of a fabric softening clay for control and prevention of pilling caused by washing and use of fabrics.
  • Pilling The phenomenon of pilling of fabrics is well known. It is caused by rubbing the fabrics and fibres, both in use, referred to as the wear cycle, and during the washing process, referred to as the wash cycle. The rubbing causes fibres to migrate within the fabric structure and tends to increase the number of fibres, "fuzz fibres” protruding from the fabric surface. This results in the formation of surface fuzz. Continued rubbing causes damage to, and entanglement of, those "fuzz fibres” to form “pills” or "fuzz balls". The occurrence of pills on fabrics is very common and the unsightly appearance gained thereby is associated with old age and hard wear although the problem may, in fact, develop quickly on a new garment. Pilling often leads to an article or garment being discarded. Pilling is particularly a problem on knitted fabrics; especially those comprising long staple fibres such as wool, mohair etc.
  • WO-A-89/04862 relates to a detergent composition for cleaning and softening fabrics in which cellulase granulates containing calcium carbonate are used in certain combinations with a fabric softening clay to wash cotton swatches.
  • a composition comprising cellulase and clay is said to improve the appearance of the cotton fabric by improved colour and anti-pilling performance. These improvements are probably due to the action of cellulase on cotton which is a cellulosic fibre.
  • GB-A-1 400 898 relates to the use of certain clays in detergent compositions for imparting a softening benefit to fabrics washed therewith. No pilling prevention or control is mentioned.
  • pilling can be controlled or prevented by the use of a fabric softening clay.
  • the invention provides the use of a fabric softening clay for controlling pilling and for prevention of pilling of keratin containing fibres.
  • the invention has the advantage that pilling of fabrics containing keratin containing fibres can be prevented and controlled by use of a fabric softening clay in a process compatible with the domestic washing process.
  • Use of the invention can also give colour care and shrinkage benefits.
  • keratin containing fibres examples include lambswool, shetland wool, botany wool, merino wool, mohair, cashmere, or fibres from animals such as: llama, vicuna, camel, angora and alpaca and yak. Pilling on fabrics made of keratin containing fibres or blends of keratin containing fibres with synthetic fibres is particularly noticeable.
  • the invention is beneficial when used with both shrink resist treated and untreated wool; either alone or blended with other fibres.
  • the invention further provides the use of a fabric softening clay in a composition comprising a detergent active for controlling pilling and for preventing pilling of fabrics made of keratin containing fibres.
  • This aspect of the invention has the advantage that the use of the fabric softening clay can be carried out as part of a washing process giving a desirable overall effect of cleaning and pilling control or prevention.
  • the invention further provides the use of a fabric softening clay in a composition in the form of an aqueous dispersion comprising a fabric substantive compound for controlling pilling and for preventative pilling control of fabrics made of keratin containing fibres.
  • This aspect of the invention has the advantage that the use of the fabric softening clay can be carried out as part of a rinsing process giving a desirable overall effect of softening and pilling control or prevention.
  • suitable fabric softening clays for use in the present invention include various heat treated kaolins and various multi-layer smectites.
  • Preferred clay softeners are smectite softener clays as described in GB-A-1 400 898, EP-A-350 288 and EP-A-0 297 673. Montmorillonite clays are especially preferred.
  • Softening clays are used in the preferred compositions at levels of at least 1%, generally 1-20%, preferably 2-10% by weight.
  • the fabric softening clays may be used in admixture with one or more fabric softening materials such as cationic fabric softeners or amine materials.
  • suitable cationic fabrics softeners include substantially water insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds such as for instance dihardened tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride and similar di (long-chain) quaternaries and ester-linked quaternaries as for instance disclosed in EP-A-239 910, US-A-3 915 867 and US-A-4 137 180.
  • amine materials include tertiary amines and those disclosed in EP-A-0 199 383 and EP-A-0 345 842.
  • compositions for use in the invention may comprise one or more detergent active materials selected from soaps, non-soap anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric synthetic detergent active materials and optionally one or more fabric softening materials.
  • Anionic surfactants useful in the present invention include: Linear alkyl sulphonates.
  • suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating higher (C 8 -C 18 ) alcohols produced for example from tallow or coconut oil, sodium and potassium alkyl (C 9 -C 20 ) benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear secondary alkyl (C 10 -C 15 ) benzene sulphonates; sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum; sodium coconut oil fatty monoglyceride sulphates and sulphonates; sodium and potassium salts of sulphuric acid esters of higher (C 8 -C 18 ) fatty alcohol-alkylene oxides, particularly ethylene oxide, reaction products; the reaction products of fatty acids such as coconut fatty acids esterified with isethi
  • Preferred anionic detergent compounds are sodium (C 11 -C 15 ) alkyl benzene sulphonates and sodium (C 16 -C 18 ) alkyl sulphates. Directly esterified isethionates may also be used.
  • Suitable nonionic compounds which may be used include in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide.
  • Specific nonionic detergent compounds are alkyl (C 6 -C 22 ) phenols-ethylene oxide condensates, generally up to 25 EO, i.e. up to 25 units of ethylene oxide per molecule, the condensation products of aliphatic (C 8 -C 18 ) primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally up to 40 EO, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylenediamide.
  • Other so-called nonionic detergent compounds include alkyl polyglycosides, long tertiary amide oxides, glucamines, long chain tertiary phosphine oxides and dialkyl sulphoxid
  • Amounts of amphoteric or zwitterionic detergent compounds can also be used in the compositions of the invention but this is not normally desired due to their relatively high cost. If any amphoteric or zwitterionic detergent compounds are used it is generally in small amounts.
  • Suitable fabric softening compounds to give additional fabric softening to that which may be provided by the fabric softening clay may for instance be selected from cationic fabric softening materials and nonionic fabric softening materials.
  • the effective amount of the detergent active or fabric softening compound or compounds used in the composition of the present invention is generally in the range of up to 50%, preferably up to 40% by weight, most preferably not more than 30% by weight of the composition. Preferably the level is above 1%, most preferably more than 2%.
  • compositions of the invention may include detergency builder to improve the efficiency of the detergent active, in particular to remove calcium hardness ions from the water.
  • the builder material may be selected from inorganic precipitating builders materials (such as alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, borates, orthophosphates and silicates), sequestering builder materials (such as alkali metal pyrophosphates, polyphosphates, amino polyacetates, phytates, polyphosphonates, aminopolymethylene phosphonates and polycarboxylates), ion-exchange builder materials (such as zeolites and amorphous alumino-silicates), organic precipitating builder materials (such as those having the formula (I): wherein: R 1 is C 10 -C 24 alkyl or alkenyl, or an arylalkyl or alkylaryl group of equivalent chain length; X is CH, CR 2 , N or CON; R 2 is C 1 -C 3 alkyl;
  • builder materials include sodium tripolyphosphate, mixtures thereof with sodium orthophosphate, sodium carbonate, mixtures thereof with calcite as a seed crystal, citrates, zeolite and the sodium salt of nitrilitriacetic acid.
  • Zeolites that find application in the present invention there may be mentioned: Zeolite A and X and mixtures thereof, particularly Zeolite 4A. Also of interest is Zeolite P described and claimed in EP-A-0384070.
  • the level of such builder material in the compositions of the invention may from 2 to 80% by weight, preferably from 7% to 70% by weight and most preferably from 14% to 60% by weight.
  • compositions comprising a detergent active according to the invention preferably are neutral or slightly alkaline when added to water at a concentration of 1% by weight at 25°C. Neutral compositions are especially preferred for wool wash use.
  • a composition of the invention can contain any of the conventional additives in the amount in which such additives are normally employed in fabric washing detergent compositions.
  • Optional additives include the lather boosters such as alkanolamides, particularly the monoethanolamides derivatives from palm kernel fatty acids and coconut fatty acids, lather depressants, oxygen-releasing bleaching agents such as sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate, peracid bleach precursors, chlorine-releasing bleaching agents such as trichloroisocyanuric acid, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, and, usually present in very minor amounts, fluorescent agents, perfumes including deodorant perfumes, enzymes such as cellulases, lipases, proteases and amylases, germicides and colourants.
  • lather boosters such as alkanolamides, particularly the monoethanolamides derivatives from palm kernel fatty acids and coconut fatty acids
  • lather depressants oxygen-releasing bleaching agents such as sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate, peracid bleach
  • compositions may be in any convenient form such as bars, powders, flakes, pastes or liquids which may be aqueous or non-aqueous and structured or unstructured.
  • the detergent compositions may be prepared in any way appropriate to their physical form such as by dry-mixing the components, co-agglomerating them or dispersing them in a liquid carrier.
  • compositions for use in the present invention are preferably liquid and comprise an aqueous base, which may constitute from 5 to 97% by weight of the composition.
  • the compositions may also include optional ingredients conventionally included in rinse compositions.
  • the pH of fabric treatment compositions for use in the rinse is preferably less than 8.0 when added to water at a concentration of 1% by weight of the composition.
  • Test cloths of non shrink resist treated two-fold, 25's worsted count, 100% lambswool of plain-knit construction with 27 stitches per cm 2 were washed in a liquid detergent composition comprising: Parts by weight LAS acid 1 12.97 Nonionic 2 5.5 Fatty acid 0.26 Citric acid 0.02 NaOH 1.75 Hydroxy ethyl cellulose 3 0.4 Silicone 4 0.7 Pearlescer 5 6.0 Formaldehyde 0.08 Perfume 0.26 Water/salts 72.06 1 is C 11 -C 13 linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid. 2 is a nonionic detergent active consisting of a C 13 to C 15 alcohol ethoxylated with 7 moles of ethylene oxide. 3 is Natrosol® 250 HR ex Aqualon 4 is Silicone® SE 36 ex Wacker 5 is EMPICOL® 627F a ethylene glycol mono stearate ex Marchon
  • Test cloths Half of the test cloths were washed in compositions and under conditions as described above except that 0.5 g/l of Prassa® Clay a bentonite ex CSM was added to the wash liquor.
  • a difference of 7 between panel scores indicates a significant difference at the 95% confidence level.
  • Wool blend socks of 57% lambswool and 43% nylon were washed in a granular detergent composition
  • a granular detergent composition comprising: Parts by weight LAS 1 9.0 Nonionic 2 4.0 Zeolite 4A 3 24.0 Sodium carbonate 12.0 Sokalan® CP45 3.0 Sodium Sulphate and minor salts 16.0 Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate 16.0 Protease 0.5 Minors and Water to 100 1.
  • 2. is a blend of nonionic detergent actives consisting of C 13 to C 15 ethoxylated with 3, 6 or 7 moles of ethylene oxide.
  • 3. is a synthetic Zeolite obtained from Crosfield chemical co.
  • the washing was carried out using an AEG Lavamat 970 at 60°C under the following conditions:
  • Wash Time 50 minutes main wash, 85 minutes total.
  • This example shows the lessening of colour change due to reduced pill formation when a fabric softening clay is used.
  • a pair of wool blend socks comprising 57% lambswool and 43% nylon were washed in a granular detergent composition comprising: Parts by weight LAS 1 9.0 Nonionic 2 4.0 Zeolite 4A 24.0 Sodium Carbonate 12.0 Sokalan® CP45 3.0 Sodium Sulphate and minor salts 16.0 Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate 16.0 Protease 0.5 Minors and Water to 100 1. is C 11 -C 13 linear alkyl benzene sulphonate. 2. is a blend of nonionic detergent actives consisting of C 13 to C 15 ethoxylated with 3, 6 or 7 moles of ethylene oxide.
  • Test cloths of untreated two-fold, 25's worsted count 100% lambswool knitted into a full cardigan construction of areal density 640 g m -2 were prepared. The cloths were tumbled for 5 minutes in the Atlas Random Tumble Pilling tester using methodology detailed in ASTM Standard D3512-82 so as to induce heavy fuzzing and some pilling on the cloths. These were then washed in a granular detergent composition comprising: Parts by Weight.
  • LAS 1 sulphonic acid 12 Nonionic 2 3.0 Soap 3.0 Zeolite P 30.0 Akaline silicate 3.0 Sodium Carbonate 3.0 Sokolan® CP45 2.7 Sodium Sulphate and minor salts 30
  • Protease 0.33 Water and Minors to 100% 1. is C 11 -C 13 linear alkyl benzene sulphonate. 2. is a blend of nonionic detergent actives consisting of a C 13 to C 15 alcohol ethoxylated with 6, 11 or 12 moles of ethylene oxide.
  • Washes were carried out under the following conditions in a tergotometer at 30 rpm: Wash time: 15 minutes Wash temperature: 40°C Water Hardness: 26°FH Cloth to liquor ratio: 1:20 Product Dosage: 5g/l
  • a difference of 7 between the panel scores indicates a significant difference at the 95% confidence level.

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  • 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)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Cosmetics (AREA)
EP19940300963 1993-02-25 1994-02-10 Use of fabric treatment compostions Expired - Lifetime EP0612841B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9303815 1993-02-25
GB939303815A GB9303815D0 (en) 1993-02-25 1993-02-25 Use of fabric treatment compositions

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0612841A2 EP0612841A2 (en) 1994-08-31
EP0612841A3 EP0612841A3 (en) 1995-05-03
EP0612841B1 true EP0612841B1 (en) 1996-06-05

Family

ID=10731032

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19940300963 Expired - Lifetime EP0612841B1 (en) 1993-02-25 1994-02-10 Use of fabric treatment compostions

Country Status (4)

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EP (1) EP0612841B1 (es)
DE (1) DE69400223T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2088693T3 (es)
GB (1) GB9303815D0 (es)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9304898D0 (en) * 1993-03-10 1993-04-28 Unilever Plc Use of a fabric softening clay
GB9314846D0 (en) * 1993-07-16 1993-09-01 Unilever Plc Use of fabric treatment compositions
US6040288A (en) * 1997-02-21 2000-03-21 Rhodia Inc. Fabric color protection compositions and methods

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60194135A (ja) * 1984-03-13 1985-10-02 東洋紡績株式会社 紡績糸及びその製造方法
DE3503457A1 (de) * 1985-02-01 1986-08-07 Wacker-Chemie GmbH, 8000 München Verfahren zur impraegnierung von organischen fasern
JPH0586573A (ja) * 1991-09-20 1993-04-06 Toray Ind Inc 合成繊維製品の抗ピル加工方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2088693T3 (es) 1996-08-16
EP0612841A3 (en) 1995-05-03
DE69400223D1 (de) 1996-07-11
EP0612841A2 (en) 1994-08-31
GB9303815D0 (en) 1993-04-14
DE69400223T2 (de) 1996-10-10

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