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
  • C11D3/0005—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
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3746—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/3757—(Co)polymerised carboxylic acids, -anhydrides, -esters in solid and liquid compositions
  • C11D3/3765—(Co)polymerised carboxylic acids, -anhydrides, -esters in solid and liquid compositions in liquid compositions
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3746—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/3769—(Co)polymerised monomers containing nitrogen, e.g. carbonamides, nitriles or amines
  • C11D3/3773—(Co)polymerised monomers containing nitrogen, e.g. carbonamides, nitriles or amines in liquid compositions

Definitions

• the present invention relates to concentrated fabric conditioning compositions, and more particularly to aqueous rinse-cycle concentrated fabric softener compositions containing a cationic polymer or mixture of cationic polymers, which concentrated composition is capable ' of being diluted with water prior to use in a 4:1 weight ratio of water to concentrate to provide a physically stable softener composition in both the concentrated and diluted form, and wherein the concentrated and diluted compositions are physically stable and manifest commercially desirable levels of viscosity.
• Another common technique for enhancing product appeal is to modify the flow elasticity components of the liquid product so as to reduce the flow thereby rendering it more syrupy in nature while avoiding an aesthetically unpleasing stringy and non-uniform flow.
• flow elasticity is a function of the cationic polymer structure itself, and its level in the product composition.
• Linear cationic polymers having high molecular weights are known to provide high flow elasticity to liquid fabric softeners.
• the resulting compositions are often sensitive to inorganic electrolytes and high shear resulting in liquid products which are generally unstable and separate into different phases upon aging.
• EP 394 133 Cold-Palmolive
• stable aqueous fabric softening compositions containing a di-long chain, di-short chain quaternary ammonium softening compound in combination with a fatty alcohol and a water-soluble polymer to improve the rheological properties and enhance the softening performance of the composition.
• WO 90/12862 discloses aqueous based fabric conditioning formulations comprising a water dispersible cationic softener and as a thickener a cross-linked cationic polymer that is derivable from a water soluble cationic ethylenically unsaturated monomer or blend of monomers, which is cross-linked by 5 to 45 ppm of a cross-linking agent comprising polyethylenic functions.
• a cross-linking agent is methylene bis acrylamide.
• liquid fabric softening compositions which are said to exhibit an excellent viscosity and phase stability as well as softness performance, which compositions comprise: (a) 0.01-10 wt.% of a fabric softener component, (b) at least 0.001% of a thickening agent selected from the group of (i) associative polymers having a hydrophilic backbone and at least two hydrophobic groups per molecule attached to the hydrophilic backbone, (ii) the cross-linked cationic polymers described in the above-mentioned WO 90/12862, cross-linked by 5-45 ppm of cross-linking agent comprising polyethylenic functions and (iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii), and (c) a component capable of sequestering metal ions.
• a thickening agent selected from the group of (i) associative polymers having a hydrophilic backbone and at least two hydrophobic groups per molecule attached to the hydrophilic backbone, (ii) the cross-linked cati
• WO 02/057400 Colgate-Palmolive fabric conditioning compositions are described containing cationic polymeric thickeners obtained by polymerizing a water soluble cationic vinyl addition monomer, from 0 to 95 mole percent of acrylamide and from 70 to 300 ppm of difunctional vinyl addition monomer cross-linking agent.
• the thickened softening compositions are stated to be especially efficient for delivering fragrance in the softening composition to the treated fabrics.
• the present invention provides a stable concentrated aqueous fabric softening composition having a viscosity of from about 3000 cps to about 15,000 cps, preferably 4000 to 15000 cps, which composition is capable of being diluted with water in a 4:1 weight ratio of water to concentrated softening composition prior to use such that the resulting diluted softening composition is physically stable and has a medium viscosity of from about 90 cps to about 300 cps, said composition comprising: a) from about 5% to about 30%, by weight, of a cationic fabric softener; b) at least about 0.01 %, by weight, of (i) a cationic linear homopolymer that is derivable from the polymerization of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid; or (ii) a linear copolymer that is derivable from the polymerization of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and acrylamide or methacrylamide, said homopolymer or copolymer having
• the present invention is predicated on the discovery that the use of a cationic homopolymer or copolymer or cross-linked polymer, or a mixture of such cationic polymers as defined herein in an aqueous concentrated rinse-cycle fabric softening composition allows the rheological properties of flow elasticity and viscosity to be regulated so as to achieve the ⁇ desired flow properties of thickness and ease of pourability at a viscosity of from 4,000 to 15,000 cps in the concentrated composition and a medium viscosity of from 90 cps to 300 cps in the diluted composition. Accordingly, flow elasticity can be readily controlled and regulated according to the present invention independently of the regulation of the Brookfield viscosity.
• the liquid viscosity as that term is used herein is expressed in centipoise as measured on a Brookfield RNT at 50 rpm with Spindle 2.
• flow elasticity or “flow elasticity index” refers to the primary normal stress difference in units of Pascal as defined in "Niscoelastic Properties of Polymers", John D. Ferry, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Chapter 1, which is measured at a shear rate of 2500S "1 .
• the only way to modify the elasticity flow as defined herein is to either modify the molecular weight of the polymer, its degree of cross-linking or its concentration.
• the molecular weight of the polymer In the case of a linear polymer, in order to build acceptable Brookfield viscosity without using a large amount of polymer, the molecular weight of the polymer must be high which induces high flow elasticity. It is possible to reduce the flow elasticity using a low molecular weight polymer but to reach the same Brookfield viscosity, the level of polymer in the composition has to be increased. This not only implies a higher cost but also introduces a stability problem in the emulsion due to the high ionic strength.
• the combination of linear and cross-linked polymer in accordance with the invention is able to provide a desirable viscosity and flow elasticity while using a moderate amount of polymer and at the same time avoiding problems of product stability.
• the linear polymer used in the polymeric mixture of the mvention is an homopolymer of quaternary ammonium acrylate having a molecular weight of about 8 million which polymer is sold as Floerger EM 949 CT by SNF Floerger of France (Ethanaminium N,N,N-trimethyl-2-((l-oxo-2-propenyl)oxy-)-,chloride homopolymer); and the same structural polymer having a molecular weight of about 5 million is sold as Floerger EM 949 L by the same manufacturer.
• the cross-linked polymer used in the polymeric mixture of the invention is a cross-linked copolymer of acrylamide and methacrylate with 150 ppm of methylene bisacrylamide, and a molecular weight of below 5 million prior to the cross-linking; the polymer is sold as Flosoft DP 200 by SNF Floerger of France.
• the present invention also encompasses a method for softening fabrics comprising rinsing the fabrics to be treated in an aqueous bath containing an effective amount of the above-defined fabric softening composition.
• a preferred cationic softener is an esterquat compound having the following structural formula:
• R4 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms
• R 2 and R 3 represent (CH 2 ) S -R 5 where R 5 represents an alkoxy carbonyl group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, benzyl, phenyl, (C1-C4) - alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H
• Rl represents (CH 2 ) t R 6 where R 6 represents benzyl, phenyl, (C1-C4) - alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H
• q, s, and t each independently, represent an integer from 1 to 3
• X " is a softener compatible anion.
• a particularly preferred cationic softener is a fatty ester quaternary ammonium compound derived from the reaction of an alkanol amine and a fatty acid derivative followed by quaternization, said fatty ester quaternary ammonium compound being represented by the formula :
• Q represents a carboxyl group having the structure -OCO- or -COO-;
• Rl represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms;
• R2 represents - Q-Rl or -OH;
• q, r, s and t each independently represent a number of from 1 to 3;
• X "a is an anion of valence a; and wherein said fatty ester quaternary ammonium compound is comprised of a distribution of monoester, diester and triester compounds, the monoesterquat compound being formed when each R 2 is -OH; the diesterquat compound being formed when one R 2 is -OH and the other R 2 is -Q-Rl ; and the triesterquat compound being formed when each R 2 is -Q- Rl ; and wherein the normalized percentage of monoesterquat compound in said fatty ester quaternary ammonium compound is from about 28% to about 39%; the normalized percentage of
• the percentages, by weight, of mono, di, and tri esterquats, as described above are determined by the quantitative analytical method described in the publication "Characterisation of quaternized triethanolamine esters (esterquats ⁇ , by HPLC. HRCGC and NMR" A.J. Wilkes, C. Jacobs, G. Walraven and J.M. Talbot - Colgate Palmolive R&D Inc. - 4th world Surfactants Congress, Barcelone, 3-7 VI 1996, page 382.
• the percentages, by weight, of the mono, di and tri esterquats measured on dried samples are normalized on the basis of 100%.
• the normalization is required due to the presence of about 10% to 15%, by weight, of non-quaternized species, such as ester amines and free fatty acids. Accordingly, the normalized weight percentages refer to the pure esterquat component of the raw material.
• the cross-linked copolymer used in the compositions of the present invention is a cross-linked cationic vinyl polymer which is cross-linked using a cross-ln-dring agent of a difunctional vinyl addition monomer at a level of from 70 to 300 ppm, preferably from about 75 to 200 ppm, and most preferably of from about 80 to 150 ppm.
• a cross-ln-dring agent of a difunctional vinyl addition monomer at a level of from 70 to 300 ppm, preferably from about 75 to 200 ppm, and most preferably of from about 80 to 150 ppm.
• such polymers are prepared as water-in-oil emulsions, wherein the cross- linked polymers are dispersed in mineral oil, which may contain surfactants.
• mineral oil which may contain surfactants.
• the emulsion inverts, allowing the water soluble polymer to swell.
• the most preferred thickener for use in the present invention is a cross-linked copolymer of a quaternary ammonium acrylate or methacrylate in combination with an acrylamide comonomer.
• the linear polymer used in the compositions of the present invention is a water soluble linear cationic homopolymer of acrylate or methacrylate with a molecular weight of between 10,000 and 30 million, most preferably between 5 and 8 million.
• Such polymers are usually prepared as a water in oil emulsions which may contain surfactants but are also supplied in powdered form.
• Preferred polymer for use in the present invention is a linear homopolymer of quaternary ammonium acrylate with a molecular weight of 5 Million.
• compositions of the invention may contain an emulsifier to disperse the softening ingredient(s) in the composition and to insure the physical stability of the composition.
• an emulsifier may be included in the softener composition, such as, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate having an alkyl chain length from about 13 to 15 carbon atoms and wherein the number of ethylene groups is from about 15 to 20 per mole.
• Synperonic A20 manufactured by ICI Chemicals a nonionic surfactant which is an ethoxylated C ⁇ -C ⁇ 5 fatty alcohol with 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
• compositions of the invention may contain from 0% to about 5% of a perfume.
• a perfume is used in its ordinary sense to refer to and include any non- water soluble fragrant substance or mixture of substances including natural (i.e., obtained by extraction of flower, herb, blossom or plant), artificial (i.e., mixture of natural oils or oil constituents) and synthetically produced odoriferous substances.
• perfumes are complex mixtures of blends of various organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, aromatic compounds and varying amounts of essential oils (e.g., terpenes), the essential oils themselves being volatile odoriferous compounds and also serving to dissolve the other components of the perfume.
• the particular composition of the perfume is of no importance with regard to the performance of the liquid fabric softener composition so long as it meets the criteria of water immiscibility and having a pleasing odor.
• compositions of the invention may contain from 0% to about 2% of a preservative agent such as solutions of lactic acid or formaldehyde or dispersion of l,2-dibromo-2,4- dicyanobutane mixed with bromonitro propanediol (Euxyl K446 from Schulke & Mayr) or dispersion of 1.2-benzisothiazolin-3-one molecule (Proxel BD2 or GXL from Avecia Biocides).
• a preservative agent such as solutions of lactic acid or formaldehyde or dispersion of l,2-dibromo-2,4- dicyanobutane mixed with bromonitro propanediol (Euxyl K446 from Schulke & Mayr) or dispersion of 1.2-benzisothiazolin-3-one molecule (Proxel BD2 or GXL from Avecia Biocides).
• a co-softener may optionally be included in the present composition such as, for example, fatty alcohol, glycerol mono-stearate or glycerol mono-oleate.
• Typical components of this type include, but are not limited to colorants, e.g., dyes or pigments, bluing agents and germicides, opacifying agents.
• the fabric softener composition whether in concentrated or diluted form must be easily pourable by the end user. Generally, therefore, product viscosity when used by the consumers should not exceed about 15000 centipoises for products intended for dilution. The viscosity is measured at 25°C (22°C-26°C) using a Brookfield RNTD Digital viscometer with Spindle #3 at lOrpm.
• a sequestering or chelating compound may optionally be included in the fabric softening compositions of the invention at a concentration of from 0% to 2%, by weight.
• the useful sequestering compounds are capable of sequestering metal ions and are present at a level of at least 0.001%, by weight, of the softening composition, preferably from about 0.001% (10 ppm) to 0.5%, and more preferably from about 0.005% to 0.25%, by weight.
• the sequestering compounds which are acidic in nature may be present either in the acidic form or as a complex/salt with a suitable counter cation such as an alkali or alkaline earth metal ion, ammonium or substituted ammonium ion or any mixtures thereof.
• the sequestering compounds are selected from among amino carboxylic acid compounds and organo aminophosphonic acid compounds, and mixtures of same.
• Suitable amino carboxylic acid compounds include: ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA); ⁇ - hydroxyethylenediamine triacetic acid; nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA); and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DEPTA).
• Suitable organo aminophosphonic acid compounds include: ethylenediamine tetrakis (methylenephosphonic acid); 1-hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP); and aminotri (methylenephosphomc acid).
• linear homopolymers, linear copolymers and cationic cross-linked polymers are described below with reference to their commercial name: Flosoft DP200 (ex SNF) - a cationic cross-linked copolymer of a quaternary ammonium acrylate or methacrylate in combination with an acrylamide comonomer having a molecular weight of below about 5 million, preferably 4 million.
• Floerger 949 CT (ex SNF) - a water soluble linear homopolymer of acrylate or methacrylate with a molecular weight of about 8 million.
• Floerger EM 949L (ex SNF) - water soluble linear homopolymer of acrylate or methacrylate with molecular weight of about 5 million.
• Floerger DP/LC 2322 A (ex SNF) - Cationic cross-linked copolymer of a quaternary ammonium acrylate or methacrylate in combination with an acrylamide comonomer using a cross-linking agent of a difunctional vinyl addition monomer (MBA, i.e. Methylene Bisacrylamide) at a level from 70-300 ppm, preferably from about 75 to 200 ppm, and most preferably of from 80 to 150 ppm.
• MVA difunctional vinyl addition monomer
• This copolymer is similar to Flosoft DP 200, except it contains more transfer agent (450-600 ppm) than the Flosoft DP200, which contains about 300-400 ppm.
• the resulting Floerger DP/LC 2322A is a more branched and water swelling polymer than the Flosoft DP200 characterized by an intrinsic viscosity ⁇ 4dl/g prior to cross- linking .
• Floerger DP/LC 2322B (ex SNF) - Cationic cross-linked copolymer of a quaternary ammonium acrylate or methacrylate in combination with an acrylamide comonomer using a cross-linking agent of a difunctional vinyl addition monomer (MBA) at a level from 70-300 ppm, preferably from about 75 to 200 ppm, and most preferably of from 80 to 150 ppm.
• MBA difunctional vinyl addition monomer
• This copolymer is similar to Flosoft DP 200, ' except it contains more transfer agent (600-800 ppm) than the Flosoft DP200, which contains 300-400 ppm.
• the resulting Floerger DP/LC 2322B is a more branched and water swelling polymer than the Flosoft DP200 characterized by an intrinsic viscosity ⁇ 4dl/g prior to cross-linking .
• Typical concentrated fabric softening compositions of the invention intended for 4:1 dilution are shown below in Examples 1-7 containing as the cationic softener Esterquat B (Tradename LI -90; ex KAO) which is characterized by a distribution of about 34% monoester, about 56% diester, and about 10% triester compounds (normalized percent by weight).
• the viscosity of the concentrated (neat) product and the viscosity after 4:1 dilution are shown in the Examples.
• EHEC ELFACOS CD 481 Hydroxyethyl e ⁇ ylcellulose
• EHEC ELFACOS CDHM Hydroxyethyl ethylcellulose containing C12-C16 fatty chains.
• Examples 1 to 7 demonstrate that the use of a cationic copolymer or homopolymer or mixture of copolymer-homopolymer in accordance with the invention provides stable concentrated compositions capable of being diluted with water prior to use in a 4:1 weight ratio of water to concentrated softener composition, and wherein the concentrated and diluted compositions are physically stable and manifest commercially desirable levels of viscosity (>90 cps in the diluted form and from 3,000 to 15,000 cps in the concentrated form).
• Examples 8 to 11 demonstrate that the use of other types of well known thickeners which are outside of the present invention, such as associative or cellulose based thickeners, provides very thick and viscous concentrated compositions which once diluted prior to use in a 4:1 weight ratio of water to concentrate are not physically stable.
• the concentrated as well as the diluted products manifest commercially undesirable levels of viscosity.

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• 2003
  • 2003-12-12 EP EP03814721A patent/EP1572848A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-12 CA CA002509396A patent/CA2509396A1/en not_active Abandoned
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  • 2003-12-12 JP JP2005508575A patent/JP2006509930A/ja active Pending
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