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
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/2003—Alcohols; Phenols
  • C11D3/2041—Dihydric alcohols
  • C11D3/2044—Dihydric alcohols linear
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/38—Cationic compounds
  • C11D1/62—Quaternary ammonium compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/0005—Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
  • C11D3/001—Softening compositions
  • C11D3/0015—Softening compositions liquid
• • 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
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/2068—Ethers
• • 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
  • C11D3/43—Solvents

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a liquid fabric softener composition for inclusion in the rinse stage of a fabric washing cycle.
• a so-called concentrated fabric softener composition Conventional fabric softener compositions generally include, as their active component, a relatively water insoluble cationic compound which includes a quaternary ammonium group in which the nitrogen atom carries long alkyl groups, Examples of such compounds include dimethyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium salts and the corresponding unhydrogenated tallow derivatives. These compounds are generally used as aqueous dispersions.
• concentrated fabric softener compositions containing high levels of the active component are preferred.
• cationic compound which may be included in an aqueous dispersion
• electrolytes viscosity modifying polymers, and coactives.
• concentrations of cationic component of 30 weight percent or more.
• compositions tend to become unstable, particularly when stored, and/or undesirably viscous.
• An alternative approach is to make a solution of the cationic, fabric softening, component by including an organic solvent in the composition. While this may allow larger amounts of the water-insoluble component to be included, it has the disadvantage that the resulting compositions generally acquire an undesirably high flammability.and an unpleasant smell.
• compositions containing high concentrations of fabric softener may be formulated using organic solvents of low flammability.
• the inventors have found that by appropriate choice of cationic and solvent, compositions having not only low flammability, but also low freezing temperatures may be obtained. This is contrary to normal experience where the use of a high organic solvent of low flash point is necessary to achieve low freezing temperature. The achievement of low freezing temperature is an important consideration in markets where laundry products are stored outdoors in cold conditions, for example in Japan. Disclosure of the Invention
• a fabric softener composition comprising:
• each a is independently from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 3
• b is also from 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 3
• c is from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6, more preferably from 1 to 3
• each R is independently selected from saturated and unsaturated alkyl groups having from 14 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably from 14 to 18 carbon atoms
• Y is an anion, for example selected from halide, methyl sulphate, and ethyl sulphate,- (2) from 10 to 60% by weight of an organic solvent, or an organic solvent mixture; and, optionally,
• said cationic fabric softener being soluble in said organic solvent or organic solvent mixture and water (if present) and said solvent or solvent mixture being chosen such that the flash point of the composition is at least 25°C, preferably at least 30°C, particularly preferably at least 40°C and, ideally, at least 50°C.
• dissolution of the cationic fabric softener in the organic solvent or solvent mixture and water (if present) results in a substantially isotropic solution. That is the solution is preferably clear or only slightly cloudy.
• flash point is intended the minimum temperature to which a product confined in a closed cup must be heated for vapour to ignite momentarily in the presence of a flame when operating under standardised conditions of, for example, equilibration time and pressure. Flash points specified herein are as measured using a SetaflashTM apparatus from Stanhope-Seta (Chertsey) using a 1 minute equilibrium time and atmospheric pressure.
• the cationic fabric softener of formula (I) is preferably included in the fabric conditioner composition in an amount of 20 to 60% by weight of the composition, particularly preferably from 40 to 50% by weight.
• the cationic fabric softener may be a single compound but may also be a mixture of compounds, for example having R groups of different lengths and degrees of saturation.
• the proportion of saturated carbon chains having 18 or more carbon atoms is less than 10%, in particular less than 5% and, particularly preferably, not more than 3%.
• the fabric softener composition preferably comprises from 20 to 50%, particularly preferably 20 to 40% by weight of the organic solvent or organic solvent mixture.
• the solvent mixture may include low boiling point solvent derived from the cationic fabric softener and present in the cationic fabric softener as a result of its manufacture or processing. Examples of such solvents include isopropyl alcohol and ethanol .
• the Varisoft 222TM product referred to above comes as a 90% active system with 10% ethanol.
• Low boiling point solvents such as low molecular weight alcohols (e.g. ⁇ -0 3 monoalcohols) may also be added to the fabric softener composition.
• the fabric softener composition preferably contains a total of not more than 10% by weight of solvents whose boiling points are below 100°C. If too much low boiling point solvent is included the flash point of the composition becomes undesirably low.
• Effective solvents and solvent mixtures may be identified by plotting phase diagrams for ternary systems comprising fabric softener, test solvent or test solvent mixture, and water.
• the preferred solvents are those which facilitate production of an isotropic liquid over a wide range of concentrations of fabric softener component.
• An alternative indicator of a solvent's effectiveness is the effect of the solvent on the freezing temperature of a ternary system including it.
• depression of freezing temperature indicates an increase of solvent effectiveness.
• compounds of formula (I) are included in the composition, it may be convenient to measure the effect of a solvent on freezing temperature in a model system which employs a different type of fabric softener compound. For example, the freezing temperature of a composition containing 40% Prapagen 3445TM (a commercial ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride) , test solvent, and the balance in water may be measured.
• Prapagen 3445TM a commercial ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride
• Preferred solvents are those which, when present in this test system at a level of not more than 30% give rise to a freezing temperature of not more than 10°C.
• Particularly preferred solvents are those which are at least as effective as diethylene glycol butyl ether (also known as butyl carbitol) which produces a freezing temperature of around 9 to 10°C in a 40% Prapagen 3445, 30% diethylene glycol butyl ether, 30% water system.
• the preferred solvents are those which are effective according to the tests outlined above and whose boiling points are sufficiently high that the flash point of the fabric softener composition is at least 40°C and, preferably at least 60°C.
• the bulk of the organic solvent or organic solvent mixture is made up of a solvent or solvents whose boiling point is in excess of 100°C, preferably in excess of 150°C and, particularly preferably in excess of 180°C.
• (below 100°C) solvent in the composition is at least
• suitable high boiling point solvents include polyols, especially diols such as propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol and hexylene glycol, alkyl ethers of glycols or polyglycols, in particular alkyl ethers of diethylene glycol such as butyl carbitol, and small organic acids such as C 2 to C 6 mono-, di- or tri- carboxylic acids, for instance propionic acid or lactic acid.
• it may be preferable to employ a mixture of high boiling point solvents for example to increase the effectiveness of the solvent mixture, or to reduce the undesirable effect of any individual component. For example, in general, it is undesirable to include in the composition large quantities of organic acid because of possible irritant effects.
• a high boiling point solvent which is particularly preferred in terms of its cost is propylene glycol.
• propylene glycol alone is not a particularly effective solvent for compounds of formula (I) . Consequently, it is preferred to use propylene glycol in combination with another, more effective, high boiling point solvent.
• the ratio by weight of propylene glycol to other high boiling point solvent in the composition is from 20:1 to 1:10, preferably from 10:1 to 1:5 and, particularly preferably, from 5:1 to 1:1.
• Preferred solvents for use in conjunction with propylene glycol include butyl carbitol, hexylene glycol and propionic arid.
• compositions of the present invention comprise:
• propylene glycol 20 to 40% by weight of propylene glycol; 5 to 15% by weight of other high boiling point solvent, such as butyl carbitol or hexylene glycol; and
• a low boiling point solvent such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol .
• Compositions of the present invention preferably have freezing temperatures of -5°C . or lower, particularly -10°C or lower and ideally, -15°C or lower.
• some embodiments of the composition may include small amounts of other cationic fabric conditioners of known type provided that these may be solubilised in the solvent mixture to yield a substantially isotropic, or almost clear, liquid.
• the ratio by weight of fabric softener of formula (I) to total other cationic fabric softener is at least 1:2, preferably at least 1:1, and, particularly at least 2:1.
• the other cationic fabric softener can be any fabric-substantive cationic compound which has a solubility in water at pH 2.5 and 20°C of less than 10 g/1.
• Highly preferred materials are quaternary ammonium salts having two C 12 -C 14 alkyl ⁇ or alkenyl chains, optionally substituted or interrupted by functional groups such as -OH, -O- , -CONH- , -COO- , etc.
• R x and R 2 represent hydrocarbyl groups having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms; R 3 and R 4 represent hydrocarbyl groups containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and X is an anion, preferably selected from halide, methyl sulphate and ethyl sulphate radicals.
• quaternary softeners include ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride ditallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride; dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; dieicosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; didocosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di (hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate; dihexadecyl diethyl ammonium chloride; di (coconut alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride.
• dialkyl ethoxyl methyl ammonium sulphates based on soft or hard fatty acids .
• Ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, di (coconut alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride and di (coconut alkyl) dimethyl ammonium methosulfate are preferred.
• alkylimidazolinium salts believed to have the formula:
• R 6 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms
• R 7 is an alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 8 to 25 carbon atoms
• R 8 is an alkenyl group containing from 8 to 25 carbon atoms
• R g is hydrogen or an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms
• A- is an anion, preferably a halide, methosulphate or ethosulphate .
• Preferred imidazolinium salts include 1-methyl-l- (tallowylamido- ) ethyl -2-tallowyl- 4,5-dihydro imidazolinium methosulfate and 1-methyl-l (palmitoylamido) ethyl-2- octadecyl-4, 5-dihydro-imidazolinium chloride.
• Other useful imidazolinium materials are 2-heptadecyl-l- methyl-1- (2-stearylamido) -ethyl-imidazolinium chloride and 2-lauryl-l-hydroxyethyl-l-oleyl- imidazolinium chloride.
• Also suitable herein are the imidazolinium fabric softening components of US Patent No. 4127489. Mixtures of various cationic fabric softening agents can also be used in addition to the compound of formula (I) .
• the composition can also contain one or more optional ingredients selected from pH buffering agents, such as weak acids, eg. phosphoric, benzoic or citric acids (the pH of the compositions are preferably less than 6.0) , rewetting agents, viscosity modifiers, such as electrolytes and C 9 -C 24 fatty acids included at levels from 20 to 6000ppm, antigelling agents, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers, colourants, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, antiredeposition agents, enzymes, optical brightening agents, opacifiers, stabilisers such as guar gum and polyethylene glycol, anti-shrinking agents, anti- wrinkle agents, fabric crisping agents, anti-spotting agents, soil-release agents, germicides, fungicides, anti-oxidants, anti-corrosion agents, preservatives such as Bronopol (Registered Trade Mark) , -a commercially available form of 2-bromo-2-nitropropane- 1, 3 diol, dyes
• Suitable silicones for use in the compositions according to the invention include predominantly linear polydialkyl or alkylaryl siloxanes in which the alkyl groups contain one to five carbon atoms.
• the siloxanes can be amido or amino substituted. When the siloxane is amino substituted the amine group may be quaternised.
• compositions may also contain, in addition to the cationic fabric softening agent, other non- cationic fabric softening agents, such as nonionic fabric softening agents. Typically such materials are included at a level within the range of from 5% to 10% by weight of the composition.
• the fabric conditioning composition of the invention may be added to a large volume of water to form a liquor with which the fabrics to be treated are contacted.
• the total concentration of the fabric softener composition in this liquor will be between 30ppm and 500ppm.
• the weight ratio of the fabrics to liquor will preferably be less than 25:1, most preferably between 10:1 and 4:1.
• compositions according to the invention may be prepared by a variety of methods which will be apparent to those of skill in the art. They may conveniently be prepared by simple mixing of the ingredients at room temperature, preferably by mixing first the cationic and organic solvent and, subsequently, the water, if present. Brief Description of the Drawings
• Figs 1A and IB show ternary phase diagrams for Varisoft 222TM (designated “V” in the figure) , water (designated “W” in the figure) , organic solvent systems in which the solvents tested were (i) ethanol (designated E) ; (ii) propylene glycol (designated P.G.) ; (iii) butyl carbitol (designated B.C.) ; and (iv) 4:1 propylene glycol: butyl carbitol (designated P.G./B.C) ; in the phase diagrams "L” indicates an isotropic liquid, "L ⁇ _” a lamellar phase and "G” a gel.
• Fig 2 shows how freezing temperature on the y- axis varies with percentage by weight of organic solvent on the x-axis for a variety of organic solvents in a system including 40% Prapagen 3445, test solvent and the balance in water; in the figure “P.G,” designates propylene glycol, “B.C.” designates butyl carbitol, “H.G.” designates hexylene glycol, “IPA” designates isopropylalcohol, and "P.A.” designates propionic acid. Modes for carrying out the Invention Example 1
• Phase Diagrams Ternary phase diagrams for Varisoft 222/solvent/water systems were established by simple mixing of the ingredients at room temperature, water being added last. The Varisoft 222 was freeze dried prior to use to remove alcohol . The results are shown in Fig 1. The regions of the phase diagrams designated L indicate the concentration ranges over which isotropic liquids were formed. Phase diagram (i) in which ethanol alone was used as organic solvent indicates that ethanol is a very effective solvent for Varisoft 222, it being possible to form an isotropic liquid over a wide range of Varisoft concentrations. However, ethanol alone is not a suitable solvent for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention because it gives rise to a very low flash point.
• Diagram (ii) shows the effect of using, instead of ethanol, propylene glycol which is a much less flammable solvent .
• the diagram indicates that isotropic- liquids may only be formed at low concentrations of Varisoft 222.
• propylene glycol imparts desirable flammabilities it is not, when used alone, an ideal solvent for use in the compositions of the present invention.
• Diagram (iii) shows that when another low flammability solvent, butyl carbitol is employed, isotropic liquids may be formed over a wide range of Varisoft concentrations.
• Diagram (iv) shows that when small amounts of butyl carbitol are included in a solvent mixture which is predominantly propylene glycol (4:1 propylene glycol: butyl carbitol) the phase diagram resembles that which may be achieved with butyl carbitol alone. Thus, the use of large quantities of the more expensive butyl carbitol solvent may be avoided by employing a mixture of solvents.
• Fig 2 shows the effect of organic solvent on freezing temperature in a test system of 40% Prapagen 3445, x% organic solvent, and (60-x)% water.
• the influence of solvent on freezing temperature in this system may be regarded as indicative of the effectiveness of the solvent in a system containing Varisoft 222 or other cationic softener of formula (I) in place of Prapagen 3445.
• the lower the freezing temperature the more effective the solvent so that the .figure indicates the ranking, in order of decreasing effectiveness: propionic acid>isopropyl alcohol>hexylene glycol>butyl carbitol>propylene glycol.
• Freezing temperature was measured by placing test solution in an ethylene glycol-water bath and lowering the temperature by 1°C every 2 hours until the solution was observed to solidify.
• compositions based on compounds of formula (I) should include at least some of an organic solvent whose effectiveness according to this test is equivalent to or greater than that of butyl carbitol .
• Flash points were measured in a SetaflashTM apparatus complying with the appropriate British Standards [BS390-A14 (1986) , BS6664 part IV (1986) and BS3679 (1983) ] .

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• 1993
  • 1993-01-29 GB GB939301811A patent/GB9301811D0/en active Pending
• 1994
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