EP1196521A1

EP1196521A1 - Fabric care treatment composition and a method of treating fabric

Info

Publication number: EP1196521A1
Application number: EP00943815A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephen Norman Batchelor; Colette Elizabeth Coleman; Robert John Crawford; Lynnette Fairclough
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 1999-07-23
Filing date: 2000-06-15
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-15
Also published as: WO2001007549A1; BR0012648A; ES2238293T3; EP1196521B1; GB9917451D0; AU757696B2; AR024897A1; CA2372289A1; ZA200108953B; JP2003505578A; AU5814800A; CN1362989A; CN1151246C; DE60019600T2; DE60019600D1; ATE293669T1; CA2372289C

Abstract

A fabric care system comprising a radical photoinitiator selected from hydrogen abstraction photoinitiators, bond cleavage radical photoinitiators or mixtures thereof is used to treat fabric, for example as a stain removal system in the washing or rinsing of fabric in a laundry process. The fabric treatment system can be incorporated into a fabric washing composition or a conditioner composition.

Description

Fabric Care Treatment Composition and a Method of Treating Fabric

The present invention relates to a fabric care treatment composition comprising a novel colour care and stain treatment system. The present invention also relates to a method of treating fabric using the novel colour care and stain treatment system. The present invention further relates to the use of the novel colour care and stain treatment system in fabric care treatment.

Background of the Invention

The present invention is concerned with fabric treatment that takes place after use of the fabric, in particular to reverse degradation of fabric that occurs as a result of that use, for example soiling and staining. Such treatments are referred to herein as fabric care. Fabric care treatments include laundering and the application of non- detergent -based fabric care products, such as spray-on products. Considerable attention has been focused on components for inclusion in fabric care compositions which are specifically intended for colour care. For example, these components may comprise dye transfer inhibitors, stain removers, photofading inhibitors, and fluorescence inhibitors .

European patent application no. 97200107.7 discloses a fabric wash detergent composition in which a specific polymer system is included to provide stain removal benefits. International patent application no. PCT/EP 97/07289 discloses fabric treatment compositions comprising a sunscreen material for preventing sun damage to colour. WO 95/13354 discloses compositions comprising polymers such as PVPNO and N-vinyl pyrollidone/N-vinyl imidazole copolymers as dye transfer inhibitors. EP-A-0035470 discloses a textile treatment composition which comprises a photobleaching component . The photobleach material has some effect against stains, but can also attack dye.

The present inventors have sought further colour care and stain treatment components which are suitable for incorporation into fabric care compositions.

The present inventors have discovered that radical photoinitiator systems that operate by a hydrogen abstraction mechanism or a bond cleavage mechanism can act as colour care and stain removal components in fabric care compositions .

Radical photoinitiators themselves are well known and used in the unrelated fields of polymerisation, polymer cross linking and curing reactions in materials.

Definition of the Invention

The present invention accordingly provides a fabric care composition, comprising a radical photoinitiator selected from hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiators, bond- cleavage radical photoinitiators and mixtures thereof. The present invention further provides a fabric care treatment method, comprising treating the fabric with a radical photoinitiator selected from hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiators, bond cleavage radical photoinitiators and mixtures thereof.

The present invention further provides use of a radical photoinitiator selected from hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiators, bond-cleavage radical photoinitiators or mixtures thereof in a fabric care treatment method.

It has also been found that the radical photoinitiators of the present invention have the advantage that they are stable in solution if kept in the dark. It is found that they do not degrade spontaneously on storage.

Further, it has been found that the radical photoinitiators of the present invention will act on stains without the need for agitation. This has the advantage that they can be used in simple application methods. Further, damage to fabrics such as fibrillation can be avoided.

The radical photoinitiator systems according to the present invention are found to be soluble or dispersible in other media than water and can be used on dry-clean only garments.

Finally, it is found that the radical photoinitiators of the present invention can have a bactericidal effect. Detailed Description of the Invention

Radical Photoinitiators

Radical photoinitiators suitable for use m the present invention are components which produce radicals capable of attacking stains on fabric, on photoexcitation by one of the following routes.

Hydrogen Abstraction

Hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiators operate according to the following reaction:

light kl • •

X ^ X* + R-H J> X + R

where X is the radical photoinitiator and R-H is a hydrogen donating compound.

Suitable examples of hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiators X include benzophenones , acetophenones, pyrazines, qumones and benzils.

Suitable examples of hydrogen donating compounds R-H include organic molecules containing an aliphatic C-H group and include propan-2-ol, and compounds comprising a cellulose, polyester, or nylon backbone, for example. k(l) is the rate constant of the hydrogen abstraction reaction. Preferably, the rate constant k(l) is greater than 10 mol^" Is^" when RH is propan-2-ol.

Bond Cleavage Radical Photoinitiators

Bond cleavage radical photoinitiators operate according to the following reaction:

l igh t k2 • •

Y > Y* 7> R, + R₂

k(2) is the rate constant of the bond-cleavage reaction.

Preferably, k(2) is greater than 10⁶

Suitable bond cleavage radical initiators may be selected from the following groups.

(a) alpha amino ketones, particuarly those containing a benzoyl moiety, otherwise called alpha-amino acetophenones, for example 2-methyl 1- [4-phenyl] -2 -morpholinopropane-1-one (Irgacure 907, trade mark), (2 -benzyl -2 -dimethyl amino-1- (4- morpholinophenyl) -butan-1-one (Irgacure 369, trade mark).

(b) alphahydroxy ketones, particuarly alpha-hydroxy acetophenones, eg (1- [4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) -phenyl] -2 -hydroxy- 2 -methyl -1 -propane- 1 -one) (Irgacure 2959, trade mark), 1- hydroxy-cyclohexyl -phenyl -ketone (Irgacure 184, trade mark).

(c) phosphorus containing photoinitiators, including monoacyl and bisacyl phosphine oxide and sulphides, for example 2 -4-6- (trimethylbenzoyl) diphenyl -phosphine oxide, bis (2 , 4 , 6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phenyl-phosphine oxide (Irgacure 819, trade mark) .

(d) dialkoxy acetophenones.

(e) alpha-haloacetophenones .

(f) trisacyl phosphine oxides.

Suitable radical photoinitiators are disclosed in WO 9607662 (trisacyl phosphine oxides) , US 5399782 (phosphine sulphides), US 5410060, EP-A-57474, EP-A-73413 (phosphine oxides), EP-A-088050, EP-A-0117233, EP-A-0138754, EP-A-0446175 and US 4559371.

Suitable hydrogen-abstaction photoinitiators are disclosed for example in EP-A-0003002 in the name of Ciba Geigy, EP-A-0446175 in the name of Ciba Geigy, GB 2259704 in the name of Ciba Geigy (alkyl bisacyl phosphine oxides) ,

US 4792632 (bisacyl phosphine oxides) , US 5554663 in the name of Ciba Geigy (alpha amino acetophenones) and US 5767169 (alkoxy phenyl substituted bisacyl phosphine oxides) .

Radical photoinitiators are all discussed in A.F. Cunningham, V. Desorby, K. Dietliker, R. Husler and D.G. Leppard, Chemia 48 (1994) 423-426. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is preferred that the radical photoinitiators all react through their excited triplet state, to reduce the influence of the cage effect.

The radical photoinitiator suitably undergoes one of the reactions set out above when excited by radiation falling generally in the range 290-800 nm. For example, natural sunlight, which comprises light in this region, will be suitable for causing the radical photoinitiator to undergo one of the reactions described above. Preferably, the radical photoinitiator has a maximum extinction coefficient in the ultraviolet range (290-400 nm) which is greater than 100 mol^"1 1cm^"1. Suitably, the radical photoinitiator is a solid or a liquid at room temperature.

Suitably, the radical photoinitiator is substantially colourless and gives non-coloured photo products upon undergoing one of the reactions set out above.

Preferably, the compositions comprise sensitisers such as thioxanthones, for example as described in EP-A-0088050 , EP- A-0138754.

Preferred Radical Photoinitiator Systems

The present inventors have discovered that radical photoinitiators having a specified hydrophobicity, measured by their log P value, have a particularly preferred effect. All materials for the removal of stains also have a tendency to attack dye. The preferred radical photoinitiator systems have a particularly beneficial balance of stain removal versus dye attack tendency.

Preferably, the radical photoinitiators have a high log P value, where log P is the octanol -water partition coefficient. It is preferred that the radical photoinitiators have a log P measured at 25°C m excess of 2.5 and more preferably m excess of 4.0.

Fabric Care Compositions

The present invention is suitable for use m industrial or domestic fabric wash compositions, fabric conditioning compositions and compositions for both washing and conditioning fabrics (so-called through the wash conditioner compositions) . The present invention can also be applied to industrial or domestic non-detergent based fabric care compositions, for example spray-on compositions.

Fabric Wash Compositions

Fabric wash compositions according to the present invention may be m any suitable form, for example powdered, tableted powders, liquid or solid detergent bars.

Fabric wash compositions according to the present invention comprise a fabric wash detergent material selected from non- soap anionic surfactant, nonionic surfactants, soap, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. Suitable amonic surfactants are well known to the person skilled m the art and include alkyl benzene sulphonate, primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, particularly C-Ci₅ primary alkyl sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates; olefin sulphonates ; alkyl xylene sulphonates, dialkyl sulphosuccmates ; ether carboxylates ; lsethionates ; sarcosmates ; fatty acid ester sulphonates and mixtures thereof. The sodium salts are generally preferred.

Nomonic surfactants are also well known to the person skilled m the art and include primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, especially C-C₂₀ aliphatic alcohol ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and more especially the C₁₀-C₁₅ primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Non-ethoxylated nomonic surfactants include alkyl polyglycosides, glycerol monoethers and polyhydroxy amides (glucamide) . Mixtures of nomonic surfactant may be used.

Detergent compositions suitable for use m domestic or industrial automatic fabric washing machines generally contain anionic non-soap surfactant or nomonic surfactant, or combinations of the two m suitable ratio, as will be known to the person skilled m the art, optionally together with soap.

Many suitable detergent -active compounds are available and fully described m the literature, for example in "Surface- Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry & Berch. Anionic surfactant is suitably present at a level of from 5 wt% to 50 wt%, preferably 10 wt%-40 wt% based on the fabric treatment composition. Nomonic surfactant is suitably present at a level of 1-20 wt%, preferably 5-15 wt%.

The total amount of surfactant present will depend upon the intended end use and may be as high as 60 wt% for example m a composition for washing fabrics by hand. In compositions for machine washing of fabric, an amount of from 5 to 40 wt% is generally appropriate.

Detergency Builder

The detergent compositions of the invention will generally also contain one or more detergency builders. The total amount of detergency builder m the compositions will suitably range from 5 to 80 wt%, preferably from 10 to 60 wt%.

Inorganic builders that may be present include sodium carbonate, if desired m combination with a crystallisation seed for calcium carbonate, as disclosed m GB 1 437 950 (Unilever); crystalline and amorphous alummosilicates, for example, zeolites as disclosed m GB 1 473 202 (Henkel) and mixed crystalline/amorphous alummosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 470 250 (Procter δ. Gamble) ; and layered silicates as disclosed m EP 164 514B (Hoechst) . Inorganic phosphate builders, for example, sodium orthophosphate, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate are also suitable for use with this invention. The detergent compositions of the invention preferably contain an alkali metal, preferably sodium, aluminosilicate builder. Sodium alummosilicates may generally be incorporated in amounts of from 10 to 70% by weight (anhydrous basis), preferably from 25 to 50 wt%.

The alkali metal aluminosilicate may be either crystalline or amorphous or mixtures thereof, having the general formula :

0.8-1.5 Na₂0. Al₂0₃. 0.8-6 Si0₂

These materials contain some bound water and are required to have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO/g. The preferred sodium alummosilicates contain 1.5- 3.5 Si0₂ units (in the formula above) . Both the amorphous and the crystalline materials can be prepared readily be reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature.

Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion-exchange detergency builders are described, for example, in GB 1 429 143 (Procter & Gamble) . The preferred sodium alummosilicates of this type are the well-known commercially available zeolites A and X, and mixtures thereof .

The zeolite may be the commercially available zeolite 4A now widely used in laundry detergent powders. The zeolite builder incorporated in the compositions of the invention may be maximum aluminium zeolite P (zeolite MAP) as described and claimed m EP 384 070A (Unilever) . Zeolite MAP is defined as an alkali metal aluminosilicate of the zeolite P type having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.33, preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.33, and more preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.20.

Especially preferred is zeolite MAP having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.07, more preferably about 1.00. The calcium binding capacity of zeolite MAP is generally at least 150 mg CaO per g of anhydrous material.

Organic builders that may be present include polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphmates; monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccmates , glycerol mono-, di- and tπsuccmates , carboyxmethyloxysuccmates , carboxymethyloxymalonates, dipicolmates, hydroyxethylimmodiacetates, alkyl- and alkenylmalonates and succmates,; and sulphonated fatty acid salts. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

Especially preferred organic builders are citrates, suitable used m amounts of from 5 to 30 wt%, preferably from 10 to 25 wt%; and acrylic polymers, more especially acrylic/maleic copolymers, suitably used amounts of from 0.5 to 15 wt%, preferably from 1 to 10 wt%.

Builders, both inorganic and organic, are preferably present m alkali metal salt, especially sodium salt, form. Bleach Components

Detergent compositions according to the invention may also suitably contain a peroxy bleach system for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution.

Suitable peroxy bleach compounds include organic peroxides such as urea peroxide, and inorganic persalts such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates , perphosphates , persilicates and persulphates . Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate .

Especially preferred is sodium percarbonate having a protective coating against destabilisation by moisture. Sodium percarbonate having a protective coating comprising sodium metaborate and sodium silicate is disclosed in GB 2 123 044B (Kao) .

The compositions may further comprise a photobleach system as described, for example, in EP-A-0035470.

Fabric Softening Composition

The fabric treatment composition of the present invention may be a fabric conditioning composition or it may comprise fabric conditioner. Fabric Softening Compound

The fabric softening compound is preferably a cationic nonionic or anionic fabric softening compound.

The fabric softening compound may be a quaternary ammonium material comprising a polar head group and one or two alkyl or alkenyl chains . The fabric softening compound may also be a nonionic fabric softening compound such as a fabric softening oil, a fabric softening silicone composition or a fabric softening ester composition such as sugar esters .

Particularly preferably, the fabric softening compound has two long chain alkyl or alkenyl chains with an average chain length greater than Cι₄, more preferably each chain has an average chain length greater than C_i4, more preferably at least 50% of each long chain alkyl or alkenyl group has a chain length of Cι₈.

It is preferred if the long chain alkyl or alkenyl groups of the fabric softening compound are predominantly linear.

It is highly preferred if the fabric softening compounds are substantially water-insoluble. Substantially insoluble fabric softening compounds in the context of this invention are defined as fabric softening compounds having a solubility less than 1 x 10^"3 wt% in demineralised water at 20°C, preferably the fabric softening compounds have a solubility less than 1 x 10^"4, most preferably the fabric softening compounds have a solubility at 20°C in demineralised water from 1 x 10^"3 to 1 x 10^~6.

Well known species of substantially water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds having the formula:

wherein R¹ and R² represent hydrocarbyl groups having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms; R³ and R⁴ represent hydrocarbyl groups containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and X is an anion, preferably selected from halide, methyl sulphate and ethyl sulphate groups are preferred.

Representative examples of these quaternary softeners include di (tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride; dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate; dihexadecyl diethyl ammonium chloride; di (coconut alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, ditallow alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride (Arquad 2HT Trade Mark) . Other preferred softeners contain esters or amide links, for example those available under the trade names Accosoft 580, Varisoft 222, and Stepantex.

Particularly preferred fabric softening compounds are water- insoluble quaternary ammonium materials which comprise a compound having two Cι₂-i₈ alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to the molecule via at least one ester link. It is more preferred if the quaternary ammonium material has two ester links present. The preferred ester- linked quaternary ammonium material for use in the invention can be represented by the formula:

R¹

R¹ N⁺ ;CH₂)_n-T-R² X^"

(CH₂)_n-T-R²

wherein each R¹ group is independently selected from Cι-₄ alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C₂-₄ alkenyl groups; and wherein each R² group is independently selected from C₈-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups;

0 O

II II

T is -C-O- or -0-C-; X is any suitable anion and n is an integer from 0-5. Particularly preferred is di (ethyl ester) dimethyl ammonium chloride (DEEDMAC) . A second preferred type of quaternary ammonium material can be represented by the formula:

OOCR

(Rι)₃N ⁺ (CH₂ CH X^"

CH.OOCR"

wherein R\ , n, X^" and R are as defined above.

It is advantageous for environmental reasons if the quaternary ammonium material is biologically degradable.

Preferred materials of this class such as 1,2 bis [hardened tallowoyloxy] -3-trimethylammonium propane chloride and their methods 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-hardened tallowoyloxy-2-hydroxy trimethylammonium propane chloride.

The fabric softening agent may also be a polyol ester quat (PEQ) as described in EP 0 638 639 (Akzo) .

Other Ingredients

The compositions of the invention can also contain one or more optional ingredients, selected from pH buffering agents, perfume carriers, fluorescers, colorants, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, antiredeposition agents, enzymes, optical brightening agents, opacifiers, anti- shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, germicides, fungicides, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, antistatic agents and ironing aids.

The present invention may be in the form of a dilute or concentrated aqueous solution or suspension, for example as described in WO 97/15651, WO 95/27769. Alternatively, the fabric softening composition may be in the form of a powder for use in the rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine. Alternatively, the fabric softening composition may be in the form of a sheet comprising fabric conditioning compositions for use in a tumble dryer, for example as disclosed in WO 95/27777. Alternatively, the fabric conditioning composition may be in the form of a substantially non-aqueous concentrate as described in international patent application no. PCT/EP99/00497.

Fabric wash detergent compositions according to the present invention may further include through the wash softening material, such as cationic fabric softener.

Non-Detergent -Based Fabric Care Products

The present invention can also be used in non-detergent - based fabric care products. For example, the product may comprise the stain removal system as the principal ingredient. For example, non-detergent based compositions may comprise solutions of the stain removal system of the present invention in a suitable solvent, such as isopropanol, alcohol etc. The compositions may comprise aerosol or spray-on compositions. They may be in the form of sticks, bars, dab-on compositions, for example absorbed into sponges for application to the surface etc.

The present invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the following examples.

Examples

All quantities are in percent or parts by weight unless indicated otherwise.

The following radical initiators are used in the present examples. They are available commercially under the trade marks set out below from Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

Irgacure 369 - 1- [4- (2-hydroxy ethoxy) -phenyl] -2 -hydroxy-2 - methyl -1 -propane- 1 -one (log P = 2.9, measured at 25°C) .

Irgacure 819 - bis (2 , 4 , 6-trimethyl benzoyl) - phenyl phosphine oxide (log P = 5.8, measured at 25°C) .

Irgacure 2959 - (1- [4- (2-hydroxyethoxy) -phenyl] -2-hydroxy-2- methyl-1-propane-l-one (log P = 0.84, measured at 25°C) .

Example 1

Cloths heavily stained with stains set out in Table 1 were obtained from a commercial supplier (Equest, stains aged for three days then sealed) . The stained cloths were then treated with solutions of ethanol containing various radical photoinitiators and then placed in an Atlas S3000 Weatherometer WOM (trade mark) for 12 minutes (at a power level of 0.35 w/m2 at 340 nm) . The results in the change in reflectance at 460 nm (R(460 nm) ) measured using a Spectraflash SF60 (trade mark) reflectometer are set out in table 4.

The following treatment regimes were used:

Treatment 1 - no immersion.

Treatment 2 - place stained cloth in ethanol , remove and dry, wet with water, placed in Weatherometer for 12 minutes.

Treatment 3 - place in ethanol containing 0.20% by weight

Irgacure 2959 (trade mark) , remove and dry, wet with water, place in WOM for 12 minutes.

Treatment 4 - place in ethanol containing 0.20% Irgacure 819 (trade mark) , remove and dry, wet with water, place in Weatherometer for 12 minutes.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Tabl e 1

In general, the radical initiators lead to an increase in reflectance at 460 nm for a variety of stains. That is, the radical initiators effectively bleach the stains from the fabric .

Example 2

The method of Example 1 was repeated, using treatment 1, 2 and 4 except that the quantity of Irgacure 819 (trade mark) in the ethanol was varied. The results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2

The results show that the bleaching of stains can be obtained at very low on-weight-fabric levels of radical photoinitiator . Example 3

The following experiment was conducted to compare the effect of different radical initiator systems on stains and on dye. A variety of stained cotton cloths were purchased from Equest as above. Photoinitiators at various levels on- weight-fabric (owf) were padded onto the stained cloths from ethanol. The ethanol was then evaporated, the cloths wetted with demineralised water and placed in an Atlas S3000 Weatherometer (trade mark) for 12 minutes of irradiation (power = 0.35W/m at 340 nm Reflectance at 460 nm was measured for the stained cloths and for a piece of unstained fabric to yield ΔE values . The values were compared to a Control where the stains had followed the same treatment, except that the ethanol contained no radical initiator. It was found, as in Example 1, that the initiators were particularly good at bleaching curry, bologonese, β-carotene and chilli. Table 3 and 4 give the average reduction in ΔE above the control found for these four stains for Irgacure 2959 and 819 (trade mark) at various levels on weight of fabric .

To gauge how badly the initiators damage dyes, the above experiments were repeated except printed cloth purchased from Veebee The of Harrogate England, was used instead of stained fabric. In this case, the ΔE values represent dye damage. 16 different dyes were tested and the average dye damage measured is given in Tables 3 and 4.

The dyes were as follows:

The measurement of stain removal was divided by the measurement of dye damage to give a value of benefit/damage which is a measure of how specific the initiator is to the stains rather than the dye. It can be seen that Irgacure 819 (trade mark) which has a log P above 2.5 is much more stain specific than Irgacure 2959 (trade mark) which has a log P below 2.5. This is particularly true at low levels (0-0.02% owf) , where Irgacure 819 (trade mark) give large stain bleaching benefits but only very small dye damage. Table 3

Table 4

It should be noted that when the experiments were repeated using dry cloth much less dye damage was observed. However, the stam bleaching was also reduced.

Examples 4 and 5

The following base powder was prepared:

linear sodium alkyl-benzene sulphonate (LAS) 23.60% sodium tripolyphosphate - 19.22% sodium silicate - 4.81% sodium sulphate - 28.59% calcite - 10.30% minors - 1.08% water - 12.49%

In Example 4, 1 gram of this base powder was intimately mixed with 0.024 g of Irgacure 819. The final product contains 2.3% by weight of Irgacure 819. In Example 5, 1 gram of base powder was intimately mixed with 0.024 g of Irgacure 369. The final product thus contains 2.3% by weight Irgacure 369.

In each example, the mixture of base powder and radical photoinitiator was dissolved in 400 grams water at 40°C. Three lots of cotton cloth were prepared. Each contained sheets weighing 16.1 grams in total and brushed cotton weighing 10 grams in total. All cloth was white. For each lot, both types of cloth were cut into four pieces. The lots were then washed in the solution prepared above for 5 minutes. One piece of cotton sheeting and one piece of brushed cotton was removed and dried. The wash solution was discarded and the cotton rinsed in 600 grams of cold water. One piece of the cotton sheeting and brushed cotton was removed and dried. The first rinse solution was then discarded. A second rinse was then conducted with a further 600 grams of water. Again, one piece of cotton sheeting and one piece of brushed cotton were removed.

The pieces of cotton sheeting and brushed cotton removed at each step were tested to see how much initiator had deposited onto the cloth. This was measured by measuring the reflectance of the dried cloths at 320 nm using a Spectraflash SF60 (trade mark) reflectance spectrometer. The following results were obtained:

Table 5 - Cloth Sheeting

Table 6 - Brushed Cotton

In all cases, the reflectance of the cloth washed with powder compositions containing radical initiator is lower than the control composition which contains no radical initiator. This is because the Irgacure radical initiator absorbs strongly at 320 nm reducing the reflectance. The changes in reflectance measured were significantly above the noise level for this type of measurement and confirm the deposition of the initiators.

Examples 4 and 5 demonstrate that radical photoinitiators may be deposited onto fabric from a laundry composition.

Example 6

The following rinse conditioner formulation was prepared:

HEQ 4%

Perfume - 0.3% Irgacure 819 (trade mark) - 0.66%

Water - to 100%

1 HEQ = 1,2 bis [hardened tallowoyloxy] -3- trimethylammonium propanechloride, ex Hoechst .

3 grams of this rinse conditioner were dissolved in 600 grams of cold water. 18 grams of cotton sheeting were placed in it for 5 minutes. At the end of this time, the cotton was removed and dried. The reflectance spectrum of the cotton sheeting was studied at 320 nm using a Spectraflash SF60 (trade mark) reflectometer .

It was calculated from the reflectance results that approximately 0.003% of radical photoinitiator (based on the weight of the cloth) had been delivered.

Example 7

A variety of stained cloths were purchased from a Veebee

Tech., Harrogate, England. Benzophenone at 0.2% on-weight- fabric was padded onto the stained cloths from ethanol . The ethanol was then evaporated. The cloths were wetted with demmeralised water and placed m an Atlas S3000 Weatherometer (trade mark) for 30 minutes of irradiation at 0.35 watts per square metre, 340 nm. Reflectance at 460 nm was measured using the Spectraflash SF60 reflectometer (trade mark) for the stained and irradiated cloths and for a piece of unstained fabric to yield ΔE values . The values were compared to a control where the stains had been subjected to the same treatment excpet that the ethanol contained no radical initiator. The average increase in stam removal compared to the control for the four stains (bolognese, curry, beta carotene and chilli) was then calculated. The average ΔE for these stains was 5.3. this demonstrates that a high level of stam removal can be obtained using a hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiator.

Example 8

The following experiment carried out to test the effect of pH on the effects of radical photoinitiators.

The procedure of Example 7 was repeated except that Irgacure 819 (trade mark) was padded from ethanol onto stained cloths at 0.1% on-weight-fabric . For each stam, separate samples were taken and then wetted with buffer solution of varying pH. The resulting cloths were irradiated for 12 minutes in the Atlas S3000 (trade mark) Weatherometer. The variation in average reflectance at 460 nm after treatment is shown m the table. The average reflectance at 460 nm for the four treatments was 46.5. It can be seen that the radical photoinitiators give a substantial improvement in reflectance over a wide range of pH.

Table 7

Example 9

The experiments of example 3 were repeated, using Lucerin TPO-L (2 , 4 , 6-trimethylbenzoylethoxyphenylphosphine oxide, ex BASF) and, separately Irgacure 184 (1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl- phenyl -ketone ex Ciba) at 0.02 and 0.2% owf. The results are shown in table 8 below: -

Table 8

Example 10

Stained white polyester cloth (Veebee Tech) was treated with Initiators as in previous examples and good cleaning effect found, above control . Little damage was found on dyed polyester cloth.

Example 11

An oily tomato stains were created by smearing a tomato paste ( Traditional Ragu Recipe Van den Bergh foods, ingredients: Tomatoes, sunflower oil, onion, salt, sugar, dextrose, garlic powder, basil, parsley, spice extract, citric acid, basil, parsley, CaCl₂) onto cotton sheeting and then ageing in air for 1 day. The stained cloths were washed in a linitest under the following conditions: each pot contained 12g cloths, (of which 6g were stained), 240ml of water, 0.34g Borax, 1.44g of liquid detergent. 40 degrees C, 20 minutes, and no rinse. Cloths were dried in the tumble drier, then placed in a WOM for 6 minutes.

Liquid detergents were created from, Coco5E0 (ex Clariant - a non ionic surfactant) , SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate - an anionic surfactant) , CTAC (cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride -a cationic surfactant) , Arquad 2HT (ex Akzo Nobel - a cationic surfactant), with 0.1% Lucerin TPO-L and 10% ethanol on weight of formulation; the remainder was water. The amount of surfactant in each formulation is given in the table:

The results are shown below, in all cases the samples containing the initiator gave lower ΔE values (better stain removal) than the control.

Example 12

Formulation LI of example 11 was made using Irgacure 819 instead of TPO-L. Good stain removal benefits above control were obtained.

Example 13

A detergent composition was created containing 15.3% of an anionic surfactant, 10% ethanol, 0.1% Lucerin TPO-L, remainder water. The anionic surfactants were LAS, and SDS. They were tested using the wash protocol of example 11, both showed large increased in stain removal benefit on irradiation, compared to a control of water only. This indicated that the initiator was effective from the wash. Benefits were also found for a β-carotene and a paprika stain.

Example 14

Persil liquid was purchased in Ireland and 0.01% on weight Lucerin TPO-L added to the product. On washing, rinsing and irradiating cloth stained with β-carotene, much greater stain removal was found when the initiator was present.

Example 15

The initiators, benzoin, dimethoxyphenylacetophenone, benzoin methyl ether, and benzoin ethyl ether (ex Aldrich) were seperately applied from ethanol to cotton cloth stained with β-carotene. All bleached the stain. As expected the initiators with higher logP value gave less dye damage.

Example 16

A number of perfumes were also tested for radical photoiniator properties according to the invention as follows .

An oil tomato skin was created by smearing an oily tomato paste (ex Salca; ingredients:- rehydrated sun dried tomatoes, sunflower seed oil, white wine vinegar, salt, sugar, flavourings, garlic, black pepper and lactic acid) on white cotton. The paste was left to dry for 24 hours. This gave a circular stain of 4.5 cm in diameter. Each cloth was treated with ethanol solutions containing different amounts of perfumes. The ethanol was left to evaporate for 15 minutes. The cloths were irradiated dry in a WOM for 6 minutes. The cloths were then washed in ECE Reference detergent (containing no fluorescer) for 10 minutes at room temperature lOOrp , then rinsed and tumble dried. (All water was demineralised) . The reduction in colour of the stain was measured using a Spectraflash 600 and the ΔE measurements relative to a white original. The stain was measured at the centre and at the edge. The average Delta E before treatments were; (stain centre) -50 units, (stain edge) -35-40 units.

The results are summarised in the table below:

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A fabric care composition, comprising a radical photoinitiator selected from hydrogen abstraction photoinitiators, bond-cleavage radical photoinitiators and mixtures thereof .

2. The composition of claim 1, being a fabric conditioner composition, the composition further comprising fabric conditioner.

3. The composition of claim 2, being a rinse conditioner.

4. The composition of claim 1, being a fabric wash composition, the composition further comprising fabric wash detergent .

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the fabric wash detergent is selected from non-soap anionic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof .

6. The composition of claims 4 or 5 , further comprising a builder material.

7. The composition of any preceding claim, wherein the radical photoinitiator is a hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiator seleted from the group consisting of benzophenones, acetophenones, pyrazines, quinones, benzils and mixtures thereof .

8. The composition of any of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the radical photoinitiator is selected from the group conssiting of alpha amino ketones, preferably alpha-amino acetophenones, alpha-hydroxy ketones, preferably alpha- hydroxy acetophenones, monoacyl and bisacyl phosphine oxides and sulphides, dialkoxy acetophenones, alphahalo acetyl phenones, tricacyl phosphine oxides and mixtures thereof.

9. The composition of any preceding claim, wherein the radical photoinitiator is excitable by light substantially in the range 296-460 nm.

10. A fabric care treatment method comprising treating the fabric with a radical photoinitiator selected from hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiators, bond cleavage radical photoinitiators and mixtures thereof.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the treatment of fabric takes place during a fabric washing step.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the treatment takes place during a fabric rinsing step, in the presence of fabric conditioner.

13. Use of a radical photoinitiator selected from hydrogen abstraction radical photoinitiators, bond-cleavage radical photoinitiators or mixtures thereof in a fabric care treatment method.