EP2922940B1

EP2922940B1 - Fabric treatment composition

Info

Publication number: EP2922940B1
Application number: EP13783597.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sameer Keshav Barne; Somnath Das; Anandh Panchanathan; Amitava Pramanik; Archana Sinha
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 2012-11-21
Filing date: 2013-10-29
Publication date: 2017-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-29
Also published as: CN104781382A; EP2922940A1; CN104781382B; ZA201503133B; BR112015011323A2; WO2014079662A1; ES2645446T3

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention is in the field of fabric treatment compositions. It particularly relates to a booster composition, a wash composition and a fabric conditioning composition; and methods for treatment of a substrate for imparting repellence of soils; in particular oily soils.

Background of the invention

Compositions that provide easier next time cleaning are disclosed in the art. Modern day consumers appreciate compositions that make fabrics and surfaces less susceptible to being soiled or stained on the one hand or easier to clean on the other hand.
Especially fabric and hard surface treatment compositions that provide easier next time cleaning, are highly demanded by the consumers.
US 2012/0077725 discloses fabric care compositions for providing improved stain repellency. US 2012/0077725 discloses compositions comprising a hydrophobic fluid, a particulate material and an amphoteric, or cationic oligomeric/polymeric deposition aid it particularly discloses a composition for stain repellence on fabrics using silicone and fluoropolymers. The fabrics by treatment with such a composition become hydrophobic and therefore do not allow stains to stick on the surface of fabrics when dry. However, the wetting properties of the fabric are significantly deteriorated by such a coating. This affects the wetting of the fabrics during washing, and the presence of fluoropolymer on fabric surface leads to inferior cleaning of the fabrics which are already soiled or have some residual stains.
A composition that provides easier next time cleaning whilst not affecting the wettability of a fabric remains to be desired
WO 2011/026719 discloses a process and composition for treatment of a fabric with the object to provide improved efficacy of subsequent cleaning. It discloses that a mixture of two (or more) complex forming polymers, wherein one of the polymers is shielded from the other(s) by a spacer compound. In particular, the compositions provide a layer that can deposit onto a fabric wherein two classes of polymers form an interpolymer complex when the pH of the medium is less than 6. Normal wash conditions are generally alkaline. Therefore complex formation between the polymers does not occur in main wash conditions and consequently their deposition is drastically reduced and does not yield a next time cleaning benefit. The composition comprising the polymers forming the interpolymer complex will also not be stable at the alkaline pH of a main wash detergent composition.
A composition providing easier next time cleaning that may be applied under main wash conditions therefore remains to be desired.
Similarly WO 2011/026718 discloses a process and composition for treatment of a fabric for providing improved efficacy of subsequent cleaning by means of a composition comprising a carboxylic acid polymer that has been neutralized at least partially to the salt form and a second polymer, capable of forming hydrogen bonds with the first polymer in the presence of an acid, provides both a secondary cleaning benefit and good storage stability, without forming polymer-polymer complex when it is in the solid formulation and give a complex when dispersed in water. The composition further comprises organic acids with low molecular weight which are required for balancing the pH of the medium into the acidic range. The composition is pH dependent and does not work effectively in the main wash pH range which is typically alkaline.
A composition that provides easier next time cleaning in and is compatible with a conventional alkaline (high pH) detergent format remains to be desired.
Although the prior art provides for compositions providing improved removal of aqueous soils and stains, the removal of oily soils and stains remains to be desired.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a composition providing a next time cleaning benefit for oily stains and soils.
It is a further object of the invention that the composition does not affect the wettability of a fabric.
It is yet a further object of the invention that the composition can be used in a main wash detergent product as well as a fabric conditioning product.
It is still a further object of the invention that the composition provides the next time cleaning benefit under acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions.
Surprisingly, it is found that a composition comprising methyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol; and an acrylic polymer or co-polymer provides easier next time cleaning on oily soils and stains.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a booster composition for providing a next time cleaning benefit to a fabric, comprising 35 - 75% by weight of methyl cellulose, 6 - 25% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol and 18 - 50% by weight of the acrylic part of an acrylic homo-polymer or co-polymer, wherein the weight ratio of methyl cellulose to the combined amount of polyvinyl alcohol and the acrylic part is between 1:2 and 3:1 and the weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol to the acrylic part is between 1:1 and 1:4.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a laundry detergent composition comprising 0.5 - 25% by weight of the booster composition according to the invention, 10 - 30% by weight of surfactant and a conventional detergent ingredients.
In a third aspect the present invention provides a fabric treatment composition comprising 0.5 - 25% by weight of the booster composition according to according to the invention and a conventional fabric treatment ingredients.
By next time cleaning benefit is meant, easier stain and/or soil removal after soiling and/or staining of a surface that has previously been treated with a composition. This is also referred to in the art as secondary cleaning benefit. The application of such a composition is sometimes referred to as the application of a sacrificial layer to surface or substrate.
These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of" or "composed of." In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Similarly, all percentages are weight/weight percentages unless otherwise indicated. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about".
Numerical ranges expressed in the format "from x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "from x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated.

Detailed description of the invention

Accordingly in a first aspect the invention provides a booster composition for providing a next time cleaning benefit to a fabric, comprising methyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol; and an acrylic polymer or co-polymer.
The booster composition may be a solid, a gel, a paste or a liquid. The booster composition may be used as such, but is preferably used in combination with a detergent product. The booster composition may be added to any commercial detergent or conditioning composition prior to use in a washing process, or may be premixed with a detergent composition as a single composition.

Methyl cellulose

It is found that the addition of methyl cellulose improves the removal of fatty soils upon the next wash. It is preferred that a 2% solution of the methyl cellulose in water has a viscosity of between 10 and 6000 mPa.s (at 20°C, measured in a Brookfield viscometer); effectively corresponding to a molecular mass (Mw) of between 12 500 and 100 000 u. Preferably the methyl cellulose has a viscosity of at least 15 mPa.s (corresponding to a MW of ca 14000 u), more preferably the methyl cellulose has a viscosity of at least 500 mPa.s (corresponding to a MW of ca 44 000 u), or even at least 1000 mPa.s (corresponding to a MW of ca 56 000 u). The viscosity is preferably not more than 5500 mPa.s (corresponding to a MW of ca 97 000 u), more preferably not more than 5000 mPa.s (corresponding to a MW of ca 94 000 u), still more preferably not more than 4500 mPa.s (corresponding to a MW of ca 91 000 u).
The booster composition according to the invention comprises between 35 and 75% by weight of the booster composition of the methylcellulose. Preferably the concentration is at least 40%, more preferably at least 45%, or even at least 50% by weight of the booster composition, while the concentration is typically not more than 70% or even not more than 65% by weight of the booster composition. At concentrations below 35% and above 75% by weight the next time cleaning benefit is impaired.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that methyl cellulose in combination with PVA and PAA gives superior next time cleaning benefit probably due to the enhanced deposition of the polymer onto the fabric surface. This enhanced deposition is believed to occur due to relative increase in the solubility of methyl cellulose in presence of PVA and PAA. Polymers, because of their multiple anchor points, can have weak associations with a surface and may remain deposited even after rinse. This happens because it is required to disengage all the anchor points simultaneously for dislodgement of molecules/particles and it is more difficult with polymers. Imaging studies show that polymers indeed get deposited on all types of fabrics to various extents.

Polyvinyl alcohol

The booster composition further comprises polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). PVA is a commercially available water soluble polymer.
The weight average molecular weight of the PVA is preferably between 5000 and 50000u with a degree of hydrolysis between 80-100% and a viscosity of a 4% aqueous solution at 20°C not exceeding 25 mPa.s, more preferably less than 30000u, most preferably between 10000u and 25000u.
The PVA is present in the composition in a concentration of 6 to 25% by weight of the booster composition. Preferably the booster composition comprises at least 8% or even at least 10% by weight of PVA, but typically not more than 22% or even not more than 20% by weight of PVA.

Acrylic polymer

The booster composition according to the invention further comprises an acrylic polymer.
Polyacrylic acid (often referred to in the art as PAA or Carbomer polymers) in the context of the present invention is typically a high molecular weight polymer of acrylic acid. They may be homopolymers of acrylic acid, or co-polymers. In aqueous solutions at neutral pH, PAA is an anionic polymer. This makes PAA act as polyelectrolytes, with the ability to absorb and retain water.
In the present invention the acrylic polymer is preferably a water soluble polyacrylate salt having a weight average molecular weight of not more than 15000 u, or a sodium or potassium salt of a block co polymer of polyacrylic acid and polyalkyl or styrene, with a weight average molecular weight of not more than 30000 u and viscosity of a 30% aqueous solution not exceeding 100 mPa.s.
In the concept of the present invention co-polymers including terpolymers are also included. Such a co-polymer is typically a block or alternate copolymer having moieties A and B, wherein:

A = polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, and B = Water soluble alkali metal salt (sodium/ potassium) of the following acids: acrylic acid, C_2-7 saturated or unsaturated dicarboxylic acids;

In a preferred embodiment, the copolymer may be a styrene copolymers, selected from block or alternate copolymer having, wherein A is selected from polystyrene; and B is acrylic acid, forming the preferred polymers including poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid)sodium salt, poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) sodium salt.
Other preferred polymers of this type include poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) sodium salt and polystyrene-block-poly (acrylic acid)sodium salt.
The acrylic part of an acrylic homo-polymer or co-polymer is present in the booster composition a concentration of from 18 to 50% by weight of the booster composition, preferably at least 20%, but typically not more than 45% by weight, more preferably not more than 40%.

Polymer ratios

The weight ratio of methyl cellulose to the combined amount of polyvinyl alcohol and the acrylic part is between 1:2 and 3:1; preferably between 1:2 and 2:1
The weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol to the acrylic part is between 1:1 and 1:4; preferably between 1:2 and 1:4.

Detergent composition

In another aspect the invention provides a laundry detergent composition comprising 0.5 to 25% by weight of the booster composition according to the invention, 10 to 30% by weight of surfactant, and conventional detergent ingredients.
Preferably the detergent composition comprises at least 1% of the booster composition, more preferably at least 2% or even at least 5%, but typically not more than 20% or even not more than 15% by weight of the detergent composition.
The detergent composition may be in the form of a solid, including powders, granules, pellets, tablets and bars, in the form of a liquid, a gel or a paste.
The composition may be used in any conventional fabric main washing process, including both machine and hand washing processes. The composition may be dosed both in pre wash and main wash cycle. Dosing in the main wash cycle gives the best results.

Fabric treatment composition

In another aspect the invention provides a fabric treatment composition comprising 0.5 to 25% by weight of the booster composition according to the invention, and conventional fabric treatment ingredients.
Preferably the detergent composition comprises at least 1% of the booster composition, more preferably at least 2% or even at least 5%, but typically not more than 20% or even not more than 15% by weight of the detergent composition.
The treatment composition may be in the form of a solid, including powders, granules, pellets, tablets and bars, in the form of a liquid, a gel or a paste. Liquids are the most preferred.
The liquid composition may be applied by any known ways such as spray on, including spray guns, atomizers, trigger spray dispensers, roll on dispensers, felt pens or other direct application.
The composition may be used in any conventional fabric conditioning process, including both machine and hand washing processes.
The composition may be dosed in any of the rinse steps. Dosing in the final or penultimate rinse step gives the best results, preferably the final rinse step.

Examples

The invention will now be illustrated by means of the following non limiting examples.

Materials

Methyl cellulose (MC)	:4000 cps (Product No._M0262, ex Aldrich)
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC)	:(Product No. 419273,_ex Aldrich)
Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)	:(Product No. 434965, ex Aldrich)
Hydroxy propyl cellulose (HPC)	:(Product No. 435007, ex_Aldrich)
Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose(HPMC)	:(Methocel J5MS : (Lot YJ081907A1), ex Dow chemicals)
Co-polymer	: Alcosperse 747- styrene and acrylic acid-containing terpolymer (ex AkzoNobel)
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)	:13-23k, 98% hydrolysed (Product No. 348406. ex Aldrich)
Polyacrylic acid (PAA)	:8K, 45% solution in water (Product No. 416029, ex Aldrich)

Liquid detergent base:

Ingredients	(%wt)
Nonionic C12 - 7EO; 100% branched	4.58
Palm kernel fatty acid (Prifac 5908)	3
LAS acid	9.01
SLES 3EO	9.74
EPEI	3.75
Citric acid	7.8
Dequest 2010	2.5
Monopropylene Glycol (100 %)	11
Glycerol	5.03
Monoethanolamine	7
Triethanolamine	2.53
Water	29.82
Minors	4.24

Conditioner base

:Comfort fabric conditioner-ex Hindustan Unilever Limited Batch No: B364, Mfg date 27/4/2012.

Ingredients	(% wt)
Arquat	10
Palm oil stearic acid	0.5
Perfume	1.5
Minors	0.5
Water	87.5

Preparing the compositions

Main wash and conditioner formulations with booster were prepared by mixing additional ingredients to the base formulation, the compositions of which are given above. Representative processes for both are mentioned below. For evaluating the effects of varied ratios of the additional ingredients, different quantities were mixed to the relevant base formulation, keeping other process parameters same.

Preparation of the main wash formulation with booster:

For preparation of 100 g of the main wash formulation with booster, 96 g of liquid detergent base as mentioned above was taken in a beaker. To it 3 g of solid methyl cellulose was added. The mixture was mixed uniformly in a silverson mixer at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. To this mixture 0.25g of PVA and 0.75g Na PAA was added. The mixture was again mixed in at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes in a silverson mixer. The mixture thus homogenised was kept is a plastic bottle for evaluations.

Preparation of the conditioner formulation with booster:

For preparation of 100 g of the conditioner formulation with booster, 95 g of Comfort fabric conditioner as mentioned above was taken in a beaker. To it 3 g of solid methyl cellulose was added. The mixture was mixed uniformly in a silverson mixer at 2000 rpm for 5 minutes. To this mixture 1 g of PVA and 1 g of Alcosperse polymer was added. The mixture was again mixed in at 2000 rpm for 5 minutes in a silverson mixer. The mixture thus homogenised was stored in a plastic bottle for evaluation.

Stain sets and staining protocol

The following stains were used for the experiments:

Red mud (particulate soil): Indian garden soil (red mud with an estimated iron oxide content between 2.5- 4.5 wt%, dried in an air oven at 65 °C for 12 hours and sieved) of particle size <300 microns was taken for the experiment. 50g of mud was added to 50 gm of deionised water and sonicated in a bath sonicator for 2 hours. 200 microlitres of this soil was applied on fabric. The soil was applied as a circular patch over a diameter of 4cm. The fabric was aged for 24 hours at room temperature (25 °C) before washing.

Cooking oil (oily soil): Sunflower oil (Sunpure Brand) was taken for the experiment. 200 microliter of a dye- Macrolex violet B gran form laxness procured from Leverkusen was added to 1 liter of the sunflower oil and sonicated for 30 minutes. 200 microlitres of this soil was applied on fabric. The soil was applied as a circular patch over a diameter of 4cm. The fabric was aged for 24 hours at room temperature (25 °C) before washing.
Pickle (oily + particulate): Raw mango pickle (Ex: Mother's recipe brand) was procured. The lumps in the pickle was smashed using a spatula till it forms a smooth paste. 200 microlitres of this oily pickle slurry was applied on fabric. The soil was applied as a circular patch over a diameter of 2 cm. The fabric was aged for 24 hours at room temperature (25 °C) before washing.
Lipstick (fatty solid): 10 cm X 10 cm fabric swatches was soiled. The soil was applied as a circular patch over a diameter of 4cm. The fabrics were then aged for 24 hours.
DMO (Dirty motor oil) soil (oily) protocol 1: 10 cm X 10 cm fabric swatches was soiled. 200 microlitre of soil was applied on the swatch. The soil was applied as a circular patch over a diameter of 4 cm. The fabrics were then aged for 24 hours.
DMO (Dirty motor oil) soil (oily) protocol 2: 10 cm X 10 cm fabric swatches was soiled. 300 microlitre of soil was applied on the swatch. The soil was applied as a circular patch over a diameter of 4cm. The fabrics were then aged for 24 hours.

Washing & Fabric Conditioning Protocol

Washing of fabric with the liquid detergent base (without booster) and the liquid detergent base with booster was evaluated under a series of protocols by hand and machine wash as mentioned below. The effect of fabric conditioning with and without the booster was also evaluated, as mentioned in Machine wash protocol 3.

Hand wash:

Fabrics were soaked in the main wash detergent (in presence or absence of the booster composition as claimed in the present invention) at L/C=5 in 6 FH (Ca:Mg= 2:1) water for 30 minutes. The fabrics were washed by regimented brushing 5 times on each side using a laundry brush and rinsed at L/C=10 in 6 FH (Ca:Mg= 2:1) water for 2 times. The fabrics were line dried at room temperature. This was called as the first wash.
The fabrics were then stained by different stains (stain sets and staining protocol as given above), aged for 24 hours at room temperature (25 °C).
The washing of fabrics to assess the next time cleaning benefit was done as follows:

Fabrics soiled or stained by the above protocol were soaked in the main wash detergent (in presence or absence of the booster composition as claimed in the present invention) at L/C=5 in 6 FH (Ca:Mg= 2:1) water for 30 minutes. The fabrics were washed by regimented brushing 5 times on each side using a laundry brush and rinsed at L/C=10 in 6 FH water for 2 times. The fabrics were line dried at room temperature. This was called as the second wash.

For comparison, the same detergent (either with or without the booster composition) was used in both the first and second washes. When the booster was used, the same composition was used in both the first and the second washes.
Evaluation of fabrics: The cleaning benefit evaluation was done by measuring the reflectance of the fabrics after the second wash. Measurement was done in a Gretag Macbath reflectometer at 460 nm wavelength of light. R460* is universally accepted notation for reflectance measured at 460nm in the SCI mode when UV is excluded from the measurement. (R460* for standard white MgO tile is 88).

Machine wash protocol 1:

Fabrics were washed in an IFB front loader washing machine in quick wash mode (L/C=3.5) with 40 g detergent mix (in presence or absence of the booster composition as claimed in the present invention) using 12 FH water (Ca:Mg= 2:1). The fabrics were rinsed 2 times. The fabrics were line dried at room temperature. This was called as the first wash.
The fabrics were then stained by different stains (stain sets and staining protocol as given above), aged for 24 hours at room temperature (25 °C).
The washing of fabrics to assess the next time cleaning benefit was done as follows:

Fabrics soiled or stained by the above protocol were washed in an IFB front loader washing machine in quick wash mode (L/C=3.5) with 40 g detergent mix (in presence or absence of the booster composition as claimed in the present invention) using 12 FH water (Ca:Mg= 2:1). The fabrics were rinsed 2 times. The fabrics were line dried at room temperature. This was called as the second wash.

Evaluation of fabrics: The cleaning benefit evaluation was done by measuring the reflectance of the fabrics after the second wash. Measurement was done in a Gretag Macbath reflectometer at 460 nm wavelength of light. R460* is universally accepted notation for reflectance measured at 460nm in the SCI mode when UV is excluded from the measurement. (R460* for standard white MgO tile is 88).

Machine wash protocol 2:

In order to assess the dose response of detergent, washing was also conducted at a lower dosage (20 g) of total detergent (in presence or absence of the booster composition as claimed in this invention) in both the first and the second wash, as mentioned in Machine wash protocol 1. All other steps were the same as protocol 1.

Machine wash protocol 3:

This protocol was the same as that for the Machine wash protocol 1 for main wash format. The only difference was that in this case, no booster was used in the main wash detergent. In both first and second wash as mentioned in the Main Wash format, fabrics were rinsed 2 times with water after the initial wash cycle with detergent. The conditioner, with or without the booster, was dosed to the rinse medium in the third rinse of the wash cycle. After the conditioning cycle, fabrics were line dried at room temperature. Like the Main Wash format, in between the first wash and the second wash, fabrics were then stained with the same different stains as in Main Wash format.
Evaluation of fabrics: The cleaning benefit evaluation was done by measuring the reflectance of the fabrics after the conditioning cycle. Measurement was done in a Gretag Macbath reflectometer at 460 nm wavelength of light. R460* is universally accepted notation for reflectance measured at 460nm in the SCI mode when UV is excluded from the measurement. (R460* for standard white MgO tile is 88).

Example 1: Effect of methyl cellulose on the cleaning efficacy

In this example, the composition according to the present invention (Ex 1) is compared to comparative compositions comprising other cellulose derivatives and comparative compositions devoid of at least one component of the composition.
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy on DMO. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.

Protocols followed in this experiment:

Soiling protocol: DMO soiling protocol 1
Washing protocol: Hand wash protocol

Set	Polymer wt%	Type of polymer	PVA (13-23K) wt%	PAA (8K) wt%	*DMO R460 AW**
Set	Polymer wt%	Type of polymer	PVA (13-23K) wt%	PAA (8K) wt%	Polycotton	Polyester
C 1	3	MC	0	0	33	50
C 2	3	HPC	0	0	27	45
C 3	3	SCMC	0	0	30	42
C 4	3	HPMC	0	0	29	44
C 5	3	HEC	0	0	28	39
C 6	0	-	0	1	30	42
C 7	0	-	1	0	29	44
Ex 1	3	MC	1	1	37	54
C 8	3	HPC	1	1	28	41
C 9	3	SCMC	1	1	29	38
C 10	3	HPMC	1	1	29	43
C 11	3	HEC	1	1	27	40
C 12	0	-	1	1	27	39
C 13	3	MC	0	1	27	46
C 14	3	MC	1	0	29	47
C 15	3	HPC	0	1	27	41
C 16	3	HPC	1	0	27	41
C 17	3	SCMC	0	1	27	44
C 18	3	SCMC	1	0	27	39
C 19	3	HPMC	0	1	27	43
C 20	3	HPMC	1	0	27	41
C 21	3	HEC	0	1	28	38
C 22	3	HEC	1	0	28	39
C 23	0	-	0	0	30	49

Balance is liquid detergent base.

From the above table it can be concluded that methyl cellulose in combination with polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gives superior oily soil cleaning when compared to comparative compositions comprising other cellulose derivatives and comparative compositions in which at least one component of the composition is missing.

Example 2: Effect of each component of the composition on cleaning efficacy

In this example, the cleaning efficacy of the composition according to the present invention (Ex 2) on polyester, polycotton and cotton is compared to comparative composition comprising only the base formulation(C 24) and comparative compositions in which at least one of the polymers are missing (C 25 to C 27).
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy on DMO. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.
MC: PVA: PAA = 3:1:1, total 5 wt% of the polymer blend in the liquid detergent base was used below.

Protocols followed in this experiment:

Soiling protocol: DMO soiling protocol 1
Washing protocol: Machine wash protocol 1

Set	*DMO R460_AW**
	Washing temperature (°C)	Liquid detergent base (LDB)	LDB+ PVA + PAA	LDB+MC	LDB+MC+ PVA	LDB+M C+ PVA + PAA
	Washing temperature (°C)	C 24	C 25	C 26	C 27	Ex 2
Polyester	25	53	51	74	80	83
Poly cotton		41	54	61	65	74
Cotton		48	53	48	54	64

The above table shows that the cleaning efficacy on cotton, polycotton and polyester is best when the polymer blend consisting of methyl cellulose, PVA and PAA (Ex 2) is added to the liquid detergent base.

Example 3: Effect of methyl cellulose to (PVA+PAA) ratio

In this example, different ratios of methyl cellulose to (PVA+PAA) are compared. Ex 3 to Ex 5 are example compositions according to the present invention which are compared to C 28 to C 31 (Comparative examples) having a methyl cellulose to (PVA+PAA) ratio outside the scope of the present invention.
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy on DMO. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.
In all the experiments, PVA: PAA ratio was kept as 1:3.

Protocols followed in this experiment:

Soiling protocol: DMO soiling protocol 2
Washing protocol: Machine wash protocol 2

Set	MC:(PVA+PAA)	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	*DMO R460 AW**
Set	MC:(PVA+PAA)	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	Polycotton	Polyester
C 28	100:0	0.5	0	55	69
C 29	80:20	0.4	0.1	56	70
Ex 3	70:30	0.35	0.15	73	80
Ex 4	50:50	0.25	0.25	74	77
Ex 5	40:60	0.2	0.3	72	75
C 30	30:70	0.15	0.35	66	68
C 31	0:100	0	0.5	53	62
Control	-	-	-	49	55

Balance is liquid detergent base.

The table above indicates that the results obtained for a cationic to anionic ratio of 1:2 to 3:1 are good.

Example 4: Effect of concentration of the booster composition in the liquid detergent base

In this example, different concentrations of the booster composition in the liquid detergent base were compared against a control comprising only the liquid detergent base.
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.
In all the experiments, PVA: PAA ratio was kept as 1:3 and the ratio of MC: (PVA+PAA) was kept as 3:1.

Protocols followed in this experiment:

The result for Dirty motor oil (DMO) cleaning is given in the table below.

Set	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	*DMO R460_AW**
Set	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	Cotton	Polycotton	Polyester
Ex 6	7.5	2.5	62	77	80
Ex 7	3	1	62	65	74
Ex 8	1.5	0.5	64	69	74
Ex 9	1	0.3	58	63	71
Ex 10	0.5	0.15	59	65	75
Control	-	-	56	50	66

Balance is liquid detergent base.

The above table indicates that cleaning efficacy on cotton, poly cotton and poly ester is good even at a very low concentration of 0.65% by weight of the booster composition in the liquid detergent base.
The result for mud cleaning is given in the table below.

Set MC wt% PVA+PAA wt% Mud R460* AW

Cotton Polycotton

Ex 11 3 1 43 50

Ex 12 1.5 0.5 49 52

Ex 13 1 0.3 46 51

Ex 14 0.5 0.15 43 49

Control - - 42 48

Balance is liquid detergent base.
The table above shows that even at the low concentration end as defined in the present invention, mud cleaning is better than the control sample.

Example 5: Effect of the booster composition on different doses of the liquid detergent base

This example demonstrates the cleaning efficacy of the booster composition in different doses of the liquid detergent base. The example compositions Ex 15 and Ex 16 are compared against a control comprising only the liquid detergent base.
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy on DMO. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.
In all the experiments, PVA: PAA ratio was kept as 1:3.
Protocols followed in this experiment:

Set	Dose G	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	*DMO R460_AW**
Set	Dose G	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	Cotton	Polycotton	Polyester
Ex 15	20	1.5	0.5	55	61	72
Control	20	0	0	49	37	49
Ex 16	40	1.5	0.5	58	60	76
Control	40	0	0	52	41	53

Balance is liquid detergent base.

The above data demonstrates that cleaning efficacy of the liquid detergent base consisting of the booster composition makes the liquid detergent base significantly more efficient in cleaning when compared to using large quantity of the liquid detergent base without the booster.

Example 6: Effect of the booster composition in commercially available powder detergents

In this example, the cleaning efficacy of the booster composition is demonstrated with powder detergents.
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy on DMO. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.
In all the experiments, PVA: PAA ratio was kept as 1:3.

Protocols followed in this experiment:

Detergent G	Detergent Name	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	*DMO R460 AW**
Detergent G	Detergent Name	MC wt%	PVA+PAA wt%	Cotton	Polycotton	polyester
40	Surf Excel Quickwash	1.5	0.5	62	74	82
40	Surf Excel Quickwash	0	0	61	67	79
40	Wheel	1.5	0.5	53	64	71
40	Wheel	0	0	53	55	65

The above table indicates that the booster composition of the present invention effectively performs in anionic (LAS) based surfactant systems as well, especially surfactant systems comprising 10-25 % of LAS in them.

Example 7: Effect of the booster composition in fabric conditioners

In this example, the cleaning efficacy of the booster composition in a fabric conditioner is demonstrated.
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy on DMO. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.
Protocols followed in this experiment:

Washing protocol: Machine wash protocol 3

Set	Comfort G	MC wt%	PVA wt%	Alcosperse 747 wt%
Ex 17	40	1.05	0.12	0.33
C 32	40	0	0	0
C 33	40	1.05	0.45	0
C 34	40	1.05	0	0
C 35	40	0	0.45	0
C 36	40	0	0.45	0.33
C 37	40	1.05	0	0.33
C 38	40	0	0	0.33

The result for oil soil cleaning is tabulated below.

Set	*(R460_AW)**
Set	Soil	Cotton	Polycotton	Polyester
Ex17	DMO	63	53	79
C 32	DMO	50	48	64
C 33		56	52	69
C 34		51	52	67
C 35		48	49	63
C 36		51	47	62
C 37		54	50	68
C 38		51	49	60

The results in the table above show that the composition according to the invention and containing methyl cellulose, PVA and the styrene/acrylic co-polymer (Alcosperse 747) performs better than the comparative examples with one or more of the components of the composition according to the invention are missing.

Example 8: Cleaning efficacy of the booster composition of the present invention on various stains and soils

In this example, the cleaning efficacy of the booster composition of the present invention in a fabric conditioner (Ex 17) is compared to comparative compositions C 32 and C 33 wherein C 32 comprises only the fabric conditioner and C 33, a polymer blend of MC and PVA in the fabric conditioner.

The results for cleaning efficacy on various oily and particulate soils on cotton, poly cotton and polyester are given in the table below.

Set	Soil	*(R460_AW)**
Set	Soil	Cotton	Polycotton	Polyester
Ex 17	Mud	55	53	69
C 33		53	53	64
C 32		52	50	62
Ex 17	Pickle	63	68	85
C 33	Pickle	55	57	64
C 32		50	51	58
Ex 17	DMO	63	53	79
C 33		56	52	69
C 32		50	48	64
Ex 17	Lipstick	84	69	70
C 33		71	65	62
C 32		64	62	56

It is inferred from the above table that the booster composition of the present invention (Ex 17) has a good next time cleaning benefit on cotton, polycotton and polyester even when used in a fabric conditioner.

Example 9: Effect of concentration of the booster composition in fabric conditioner

In this example, different concentrations of the booster composition in fabric conditioner were compared against a control comprising only the fabric conditioner.
The compositions in the following table were compared with each other to demonstrate the results on cleaning efficacy on DMO. The compositions were prepared by the method as described above.

Protocols followed in this experiment:

Washing protocol: Machine wash protocol 3

Set	Comfort g	MC wt%	PVA wt%	Alcosper se 747 wt%	Ratio	Total polymer wt %
Ex 18	40	0.70	0.08	0.22	70: 8:22	1.0
Ex 19	40	1.05	0.12	0.33		1.5
Ex 20	40	2.80	0.32	0.88		4.0
Control	40	-	-	-	-	-

The results for cleaning efficacy on DMO on cotton, poly cotton and polyester are given in the table below.

Set Soil (R460*_AW)

Cotton Polycotton Polyester

Ex 18 DMO 60 53 72

Ex 19 63 53 79

Ex 20 63 68 84

Control 50 48 64
The above table indicates that cleaning efficacy on cotton, poly cotton and poly ester is good even at a very low concentration of 1% by weight of the booster composition in the fabric conditioner.

Claims

A booster composition for providing a next time cleaning benefit to a fabric, comprising:
a 35 - 75% by weight of methyl cellulose;

b 6 - 25% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol; and

c 18 - 50% by weight of the acrylic part of an acrylic homo-polymer or co-polymer, wherein:
i The weight ratio of methyl cellulose to the combined amount of polyvinyl alcohol and the acrylic part is between 1:2 and 3:1; and

ii The weight ratio of polyvinyl alcohol to the acrylic part is between 1:1 and 1:4.
A booster composition according to claim 1, wherein the methyl cellulose has a viscosity of between 10 and 6000 mPa.s at 20°C.
A laundry detergent composition comprising:
a 0.5 - 25% by weight of the booster composition according to anyone of claims 1 or 2;

b 10 - 30% by weight of surfactant; and

c conventional detergent ingredients.
A detergent composition according to claim 3, wherein the detergent composition is a solid detergent composition.
A detergent composition according to claim 3, wherein the detergent composition is a liquid detergent composition; and wherein the booster composition is present in a concentration of between 0.5 and 5% by weight.
A fabric treatment composition comprising:
a 0.5 - 25% by weight of the booster composition according to anyone of claims 1 or 2; and

b conventional fabric treatment ingredients.