EP2582780B1 - Thickened fabric softener - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a thickened fabric softener. The invention also relates to the use of the fabric softener and to a method for its production.

Fabric softeners are added to the laundry in the last rinse of the machine wash to prevent the effect of "dry drying" occurring during drying laundry. The dry rigidity is due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the cellulose fibers. The cationic surfactants of the softener penetrate into the fiber or lie on the fiber surface, combine with the negative charges and weaken the interactions. Due to the reduced stiffness of the garment, the force required for ironing is reduced and the wearing comfort is increased.

Liquid fabric softeners are divided into two types: "normal" fabric softeners containing from 1 to 5% by weight of softening compounds and "concentrated" fabric softeners containing from 5 to 80% by weight of softening compounds.

The acceptance of a fabric softener product by the users is determined not only by the actual performance but also strongly by the viscosity of the product, with medium to high viscosities preferred by the users. For normal fabric softeners, viscosities in the range of 100 to 500 mPas (determined using a Brookfield viscometer RV DV II + P, spindle 2 at 20 rpm and 20 ° C.) are aimed for.

Especially with normal fabric softeners, the viscosity is often too low after preparation and thickeners are added to the products to increase the viscosity. In the EP 0763592 A1 For example, the use of fatty acids, in particular of unsaturated fatty acids, as thickeners in fabric conditioners is described. Also in GB 2388610 A fatty acids, in particular palm kernel fatty acid and rapeseed oil fatty acid, are used. EP 0122141 A2 discloses fabric softeners containing hydrogenated fatty acids, especially hardened tallow fatty acid or hydrogenated rapeseed oil fatty acid.
In addition, fatty alcohols can also be used for viscosity regulation, as in EP 0394133 A1 is specified. This patent, for example, discloses a fabric softener containing dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride and a C _16-18 alcohol. WO 94/04642 A2 discloses a liquid fabric softener with a quaternized triethanolamine diester and a C _16-18 alcohol, and also WO 94/04643 A1 describes a liquid fabric softener containing such a quaternary ammonium compound and a _C16-18 alcohol. A combination of distearyldimethylammonium chloride and a C _16-18 -alcohol is also available in US 4844823 described. Out WO 03/022969 A1 are fabric softener containing quaternary ammonium compounds and hardened Taalkohol known. C ₈ -C ₂₀ -alcohols are according to GB 1487432 A used together with quaternary ammonium compounds.
EP 0013780 A1 discloses fabric softeners containing from 8% to 22% of a cationic fabric softening compound and from 0.5% to 4% of a viscosity regulator, the latter being selected from C _10-20 non-cyclic hydrocarbons, C _9-24 fatty acids or their esters with C _1-3 Alcohols and C _10-18 fatty alcohols.

However, there is still a need for most effective and inexpensive thickening agents for normal fabric softeners. It was therefore an object of this invention to provide a thickened fabric softener with 1 to 5% by weight of softening compound which is inexpensive to produce.

1. a) 1 bis 5 Gew.-% textilweichmachende Verbindung und
2. b) 0,01 bis 0,5 Gew.-%, bezogen auf den gesamten Weichspüler, eines C₁₆-Fettmaterials, das Palmitinsäure ist.

This object is achieved by a liquid fabric softener containing

1. a) 1 to 5 wt .-% fabric softening compound and
2. b) 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total fabric softener, of a C ₁₆ fatty material which is palmitic acid.

It has surprisingly been found that the use of said saturated C ₁₆ -fatty material at lower levels leads to higher viscosity values in normal fabric softeners than when using unsaturated fatty materials or fatty materials with longer or shorter alkyl chains. The use of a saturated C ₁₆ fat material also has the advantage that it can not be oxidized to bad-smelling compounds during storage of the softener, especially after the first use.

The liquid softener contains palmitic acid as a thickening agent. This thickener causes even in very small amounts a sufficiently high thickening of the fabric conditioner and is thus an inexpensive and effective thickener.

It is also preferred that the fabric softening compound is selected from the group of quaternary ammonium compounds, cationic polymers, polysiloxanes, fabric softening clays, and mixtures thereof.

These compounds are effective and commercially available fabric softening compounds.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the fabric softener contains a quaternary ammonium compound as fabric softening compound.

wobei R⁴ für einen aliphatischen Alk(en)ylrest mit 11 bis 21 Kohlenstoffatomen mit 0, 1, 2 oder 3 Doppelbindungen und/oder gegebenenfalls mit Substituenten steht; R⁵ steht für H, OH oder O(CO)R⁷, R⁶ steht unabhängig von R⁵ für H, OH oder O(CO)R⁸, wobei R⁷ und R⁸ unabhängig voneinander jeweils für einen aliphatischen Alk(en)ylrest mit 11 bis 21 Kohlenstoffatomen mit 0, 1, 2 oder 3 Doppelbindungen steht. m, n und p können jeweils unabhängig voneinander den Wert 1, 2 oder 3 haben und X- kann entweder ein Halogenid-, Methosulfat-, Methophosphat- oder Phosphation sowie Mischungen aus diesen Anionen sein.It is particularly preferred that the quaternary ammonium compound is a compound of the following formula:

wherein R ^{4 is} an aliphatic alk (en) yl radical having 11 to 21 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds and / or optionally with substituents; R ⁵ is H, OH or O (CO) R ⁷ , R ⁶ is, independently of R ^5, H, OH or O (CO) R ⁸ , where R ⁷ and R ⁸ are each independently an aliphatic alk (ene) ylrest having 11 to 21 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds. m, n and p can each independently be 1, 2 or 3 and X - can be either halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion as well as mixtures of these anions.

In fabric softeners which contain quaternary ammonium compounds and in particular mono-, di- and / or triesters of fatty acids with alkanolamines as fabric-softening compounds, a particularly high increase in the viscosity is achieved by a C ₁₆ -fatty material.

Particularly low-priced fabric softeners with a viscosity which is accepted as sufficiently high by the consumer are obtained when the ratio of C ₁₆ fat to fabric-softening compound is less than 25: 1 and is preferably in the range from 150: 1 to 50: 1

The invention further relates to the use of the fabric softener according to the invention for conditioning textile fabrics.

In addition, the invention relates to the use of palmitic acid for increasing the viscosity of a softener, containing 1 to 5 wt .-% fabric softening compound, based on the total softener.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a softener comprising from 1 to 5% by weight of fabric softening quaternary ammonium compound based on the total fabric softener and a C ₁₆ fatty material which is palmitic acid wherein the fabric softening quaternary ammonium compound and the C ₁₆ fatty material are melted together and the resulting melt is dispersed in a solvent.

This procedure is particularly simple, since no additional dosage system for the C ₁₆ fat material is needed.

Fabric softeners according to the invention, inter alia by way of examples, are described in detail below.

Fabric softeners according to the invention necessarily contain from 1 to 5% by weight of textile-softening compound, based on the total softener, and a C ₁₆ -fatty material. The C ₁₆ fat material acts as a thickener.

The C ₁₆ fat material is palmitic acid.

Palmitic acid is the most abundant saturated fatty acid in many vegetable and animal fats and fatty oils. It has surprisingly been found that palmitic acid shows a very good thickening performance even with very small amounts in normal softeners, and in particular in the case of normal fabric softeners with quaternary ammonium compounds as fabric softening compound.

In addition to the C ₁₆ fat material, the fabric softeners contain a fabric softening component. These may include quaternary ammonium compounds, cationic polymers, polysiloxanes, fabric softening clays, and mixtures thereof.

The fabric softening component preferably comprises quaternary ammonium compounds such as monoalk (en) yltrimethylammonium compounds, dialk (en) yldimethylammonium compounds, mono-, di- and / or triesters of fatty acids with alkanolamines.

wobei in (I) R für einen acyclischen Alkylrest mit 12 bis 24 Kohlenstoffatomen, R¹ für einen gesättigten C₁-C₄ Alkyl- oder Hydroxyalkylrest steht, R² und R³ entweder gleich R oder R¹ sind oder für einen aromatischen Rest stehen. X- steht entweder für ein Halogenid-, Methosulfat-, Methophosphat- oder Phosphation sowie Mischungen aus diesen. Beispiele für kationische Verbindungen der Formel (I) sind Monotalgtrimethylammoniumchlorid, Monostearyltrimethylammoniumchlorid, Didecyldimethylammoniumchlorid, Ditalgdimethylammoniumchlorid oder Dihexadecylammoniumchlorid.Suitable examples of quaternary ammonium compounds are shown, for example, in the formulas (I) and (II):

wherein in (I) R is an acyclic alkyl radical having 12 to 24 carbon atoms, R ^{1 is} a saturated C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical, R ² and R ^{3 are} either R or R ¹ or are an aromatic radical , X- represents either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion, as well as mixtures of these. Examples of cationic compounds of the formula (I) are monotaltrimethylammonium chloride, monostearyltrimethylammonium chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, ditallowdimethylammonium chloride or dihexadecylammonium chloride.

Compounds of formula (II) are so-called ester quats. Esterquats are characterized by excellent biodegradability. In formula (II) R ^{4 is} an aliphatic alk (en) yl radical having 11 to 21 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds and / or optionally with substituents; R ⁵ is H, OH or O (CO) R ⁷ , R ⁶ is independent of R ⁵ for H, OH or O (CO) R ⁸ , wherein R ⁷ and R ⁸ are each independently an aliphatic alk (en) yl radical having 11 to 21 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds. m, n and p can each independently be 1, 2 or 3. X - may be either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion as well as mixtures of these anions. Preference is given to compounds in which R ^{5 represents} the group O (CO) R ⁷ . Particular preference is given to compounds in which R ^{5 is} the group O (CO) R ⁷ and R ⁴ and R ^{7 are} alk (en) yl radicals having 15 to 17 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are compounds in which R ^{6 is} also OH.

Compounds of the formula (II) are preferably used as fabric softening compounds in the fabric softeners according to the invention.

Preferred esterquats as softening component are methyl N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N-di (tallowacyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate, methyl N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N-di (palmacyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate, 1 , 2-bis [tallowacyloxy] -3-trimethylammoniumpropane chloride, N, N-dimethyl-N, N-di (tallowacyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate, N, N-dimethyl-N, N-di (tallowacyloxyethyl) ammonium chloride or methyl N , N-bis (stearoyloxyethyl) -N- (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate.

If quaternized compounds of the formula (II) are used which have unsaturated alkyl chains, the acyl groups are preferred whose corresponding fatty acids have an iodine number between 1 and 100, preferably between 5 and 80, more preferably between 10 and 60 and in particular between 15 and 45 and which have a cis / trans isomer ratio (in% by weight) of greater than 30:70, preferably greater than 50:50 and in particular equal to or greater than 60:40. Commercially available examples are the methylhydroxyalkyldialkoyloxyalkylammonium methosulfates sold by Stepan under the trademark Stepantex® or the products from Cognis known under Dehyquart®, the products known from Rewoquat® from Evonik and the products from Kao known under Tetranyl®.

Instead of the ester group O (CO) R, where R is a long-chain alk (en) yl radical, it is possible to use softening compounds which have the following groups: RO (CO), N (CO) R or RN (CO) of these groups, N (CO) R groups are preferred.

Furthermore, cationic polymers are also suitable fabric softening compounds. Some of these additionally have skin and / or textile-care properties. Suitable cationic polymers include in particular those described in " CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, Fourth Edition, JM Nikitakis, et al, Editors, published by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, 1991 are described and summarized under the collective name "Polyquaternium".

Polysiloxanes which can preferably be used as a fabric-softening compound are polydimethylsiloxanes or substituted polysiloxanes of the general formula (CH ₃ ) ₃ Si [O-Si (CH ₃ ) ₂ ] _n - [O-Si (CH ₃ ) {(CH ₂ ) ₃ -NH- (CH ₂ ) ₂ -NH ₂ }] _x -OSi (CH ₃ ) ₃ , where the sum n + x is a number between 2 and 10,000.

A suitable fabric softening clay is, for example, a smectite clay. Preferred smectite clays are beidellite clays, hectorite clays, laponite clays, montmorillonite clays, nontronite clays, saponite clays, sauconite clays, and mixtures thereof. Montmorillonite clays are the preferred softening clays. Bentonites contain mainly montmorillonites and can serve as a preferred source of fabric softening clay.

In the fabric softeners according to the invention, the fabric softening compound is present in amounts of from 1 to 5% by weight and preferably in amounts of from 2.5 to 4% by weight, based in each case on the total fabric softener.

The amount of C ₁₆ fat material used as the thickening agent is preferably from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, and preferably from 0.015 to 0.4% by weight, and most preferably from 0.02 to 0 , 1 wt .-%, each based on the total fabric softener.

It is particularly preferred that the ratio of C ₁₆ fat material to fabric softening compound is less than 10: 1 and in particular less than 25: 1. It is most preferred that the ratio C ₁₆ fat to fabric softening compound be in the range of 150: 1 to 50: 1.

The viscosity of the fabric softeners is preferably in the range of 100 to 300 mPas, determined using a Brookfield viscometer RV DV II + P; Spindle 2 at 20 rpm and 20 ° C.

In addition to the C ₁₆ fat material and the textile softening compound, the fabric softeners may contain further ingredients which further improve the performance and / or aesthetic properties of the softener. In the context of the present invention, preferred fabric softeners additionally contain one or more substances from the group of enzymes, electrolytes, nonaqueous solvents, pH adjusters, perfumes, perfume carriers, perfume microcapsules, fluorescers, dyes, soil release polymers, optical brighteners, grayness inhibitors , Anti-shrinkage agents, anti-wrinkling agents, color transfer inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, bittering agents, ironing aids, repellents and impregnating agents and UV absorbers. The softeners of the present invention particularly preferably contain electrolytes, non-aqueous solvents, pH adjusters, perfume and / or dyes as further ingredients.

The fabric softeners according to the invention can be used for conditioning textile fabrics.

The preparation of the fabric softeners can be obtained by techniques familiar to those skilled in the art for the preparation of fabric conditioners. This can be done for example by mixing the raw materials, optionally using high-shear mixing equipment. It is advisable to melt together the softening component (s) and the C ₁₆ fat material followed by dispersing the melt in a solvent, preferably water. The other ingredients can be integrated into the softener by simply adding.

Table 1 shows fabric softeners E1 to E3 according to the invention and comparative softeners V1 to V4 (data in% by weight of active substance). Table 1: E1 E2 E3 V1 V2 V3 V4 esterquat * 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2-propanol 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.44 palmitic 0.04 0.08 0.4 - - - - oleic acid - - - - 0.08 - - stearic acid - - - - - 0.4 - lauric acid - - - - - - 0.4 pH adjusters 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 MgCl ₂ 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 dye + + + + + + + Perfume** + + + + + + + water Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Ad 100 Viscosity [mPas] *** 231 164 930 130 136 720 95 * N-methyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N- (ditallowacyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate
** As the perfume also influences the viscosity, an identical perfume was used in all softeners.
*** The viscosity of the fabric softener was measured by means of a Brookfield RV DV II + P viscometer; Spindle 2 determined at 20 rpm and 20 ° C.

Samples E1 to E3 were storage stable for several weeks and showed no undesirable changes. In particular, samples E1 to E3 showed very little Viscosity changes or fluctuations during storage. To determine the storage stability, the compositions were stored in electronically controlled heating chambers. The storage time at 40 ° C was 4 weeks and at 23 ° C for 12 weeks. This was followed by visual and olfactory matching of the compositions.

The results clearly show that palmitic acid shows better thickening performance than unsaturated fatty acids (see V2) as well as saturated fatty acids with shorter (see V4) and longer (see V3) alkyl chains.

Claims (8)

1. A liquid fabric softener, containing

   a) from 1 to 5 wt.% of textile-softening compound, based on the total fabric softener, and

   b) from 0.01 to 0.5 wt.%, based on the total fabric softener, of a C₁₆ fatty material, which is palmitic acid.
2. The liquid fabric softener according to claim 1, characterized in that the textile-softening compound is selected from the group of the quaternary ammonium compounds, cationic polymers, polysiloxanes, textile-softening clays, and mixtures thereof.
3. The liquid fabric softener according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the textile-softening compound is a quaternary ammonium compound.
4. The liquid fabric softener according to claim 3, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium compound is a compound of the following formula:

   

   where R⁴ denotes an aliphatic alk(en)yl functional group having from 11 to 21 carbon atoms having 0, 1, 2, or 3 double bonds and/or optionally having substituents; R⁵ denotes H, OH, or O(CO)R⁷, R⁶ denotes, independently of R⁵, H, OH, or O(CO)R⁸, where R⁷ and R⁸ each denote, independently of one another, an aliphatic alk(en)yl functional group having 11 to 21 carbon atoms having 0, 1, 2, or 3 double bonds; m, n, and p can, independently of one another, each have the value 1, 2, or 3, and X^- can be either a halide ion, methosulfate ion, methophosphate ion, or phosphate ion, as well as mixtures of said anions.
5. The liquid fabric softener according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ratio of C₁₆ fatty material to textile-softening compound is less than 25:1.
6. The use of a liquid fabric softener according to one of claims 1 to 5 for conditioning textile fabrics.
7. The use of palmitic acid for increasing the viscosity of a liquid fabric softener containing from 1 to 5 wt.% of textile-softening compound, based on the total fabric softener.
8. A method for preparing a fabric softener containing from 1 to 5 wt.% textile-softening, quaternary ammonium compound, based on the total fabric softener, and a C₁₆ fatty material, which is palmitic acid, wherein the textile-softening, quaternary ammonium compound and the C₁₆ fatty material are melted together and the resulting melt is dispersed in a solvent.