EP3074495B1

EP3074495B1 - Laundry compositions

Info

Publication number: EP3074495B1
Application number: EP14799722.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Charles Crossman
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 2013-11-27
Filing date: 2014-11-12
Publication date: 2017-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-12
Also published as: CL2016001186A1; CN105745314B; WO2015078692A1; EP3074495A1; ES2642141T3; CN105745314A

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a laundry composition. More particularly, the invention is directed to a softening in the wash laundry composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Textile fabrics, including clothes, have traditionally been cleaned with laundry detergents. After cleaning, fabrics can often feel harsh. To prevent this, especially harshness experienced after multiple wash cycles, technologies have been developed to increase the softness of fabrics, including rinse-added conditioner compositions and softening systems added to the detergent composition.
Fabric softening silicones have been used to provide softness to fabrics from a laundry detergent composition. However there is a problem with formulation stability in terms of unacceptable haze.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising:-

(a) from 5 to 40 wt.% of surfactant;
(b) from 0.05 to 5 wt.% of fabric softening anionic silicone; and,
(c) from 0.05 to 2.5 wt.% of cationic polymer,

Preferably the anionic group(s) on the fabric softening anionic silicone are located at least 5 Si atoms from a terminal position on the longest linear silicone chain.
Preferably the anionic silicone has a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 100,000, more preferably from 2,000 to 50,000 even more preferably from 5,000 to 50,000, most preferably from 10,000 to 50,000. Preferably the anionic silicone has an anionic group content of at least 1 mol%, preferably 2 mol%.
Preferably the anionic silicone comprises a carboxy silicone.
Preferably the silicone is added to the formulation in the form of an emulsion, more preferably in the form of a nonionic emulsion, most preferably using a branched nonionic emulsifier.
Preferably the liquid detergent composition has a pH of from pH 6.5 to 9.5, most preferably from pH 7 to 9, for example from pH 7.5 to 8.5.
A preferred level of the cationic polymer is from 0.1 to 2 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 1 wt.%, most preferably from 0.1 to 0.75 wt.%; and a preferred level of the anionic silicone is present at a level of from 0.1 to 2.5 wt.%, preferably from 0.1 to 2 wt.%.
Preferably the cationic polymer is a cationic polysaccharide polymer.
Preferred cationic polysaccharide polymers are cationic guar and cationic cellulose polymers. Particularly preferred is hydroxy ether cellulose that is modified by incorporation of cationic groups (i.e. quaternised hydroxy ethyl cellulose).
Optionally, but preferably, the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from, fatty acids or salts thereof, shading dye, enzyme, an antiredeposition polymer, a dye transfer inhibiting polymer, builder, sequestrant, sunscreen, fluorescer, perfume, and/or soil release polymer.
In a second aspect, the invention provides the use of a composition according to the first aspect of the invention to soften fabrics.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term "comprising" means including, made up of, composed of, consisting and/or consisting essentially of.
All percentages quoted are wt.% based on total amount in the laundry composition unless otherwise stated.
The invention is directed to laundry compositions containing surfactant, a cationic polymer, and a fabric softening anionic silicone, wherein the anionic group(s) on the fabric softening anionic silicone are not located on a terminal position on the silicone.

Form of the Invention

The invention can take any of a number of forms that are liquid laundry compositions (such as gels and aqueous liquids). Preferably they are main wash products. It can take the form of a laundry composition for the main wash, which may be dilutable or non-dilutable. The laundry composition may for example be an isotropic liquid, or a surfactant-structured liquid. Particularly preferred forms of this invention include combination detergent/softener products to provide "softening in the wash".
Preferably the liquid detergent composition has a pH of from pH 6.5 to 9.5, most preferably from pH 7 to 9, for example from pH 7.5 to 8.5.

Surfactants

The detergent composition comprises surfactant.
Preferably the surfactant comprises nonionic surfactant, and anionic surfactant.
The nonionic surfactant if present, preferably comprises alcohol ethoxylate.
The alcohol ethoxylates are formed from the reaction of primary or secondary alcohols with ethylene oxide. Typicially an aliphatic C₈ to C₁₈ primary or secondary linear or branched alcohol is reacted with ethylene oxide in the required molar amount to produce the alcohol ethoxylate. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have from 2 to 40, preferably from 3 to 30, more preferably from 5 to 20 ethylene oxide units attached to the aliphatic chain.
The surfactants may be chosen from the surfactants described in "Surface Active Agents" Vol. 1, by Schwartz & Perry, Interscience 1949, Vol. 2 by Schwartz, Perry & Berch, Interscience 1958, in the current edition of "McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents" published by Manufacturing Confectioners Company or in "Tenside-Taschenbuch", H. Stache, 2nd Edn., Carl Hauser Verlag, 1981. Preferably the surfactants used are saturated.
Suitable nonionic detergent compounds which may be used include, in particular, the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide. Specific nonionic detergent compounds are C₆ to C₂₂ alkyl phenol-ethylene oxide condensates, generally 5 to 25 EO, i.e. 5 to 25 units of ethylene oxide per molecule, and the condensation products of aliphatic C₈ to C₁₈ primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally 5 to 40 EO.
Suitable anionic detergent compounds which may be used can be water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term alkyl being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating higher C₈ to C₁₈ alcohols, produced for example from tallow or coconut oil, sodium and potassium alkyl C₉ to C₂₀ benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear secondary alkyl C₁₀ to C₁₅ benzene sulphonates; and sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum. The preferred anionic detergent compounds are sodium C₁₁ to C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulphonates and sodium C₁₂ to C₁₈ alkyl sulphates. Salts of sulphonates included as hydrotrobes can additionally be considered as anionic surfactants as defined herein. Also applicable are surfactants such as those described in EP-A-328 177 (Unilever), which show resistance to salting-out, the alkyl polyglycoside surfactants described in EP-A-070 074 , and alkyl monoglycosides.
The total amount of surfactant present in the composition is from 5 to 40 wt.%. The surfactant level is preferably at least 6 wt.%, more preferably at least 10 wt.%, More preferably the total amount of surfactant is from 12.5 to 40 wt.%, preferably from 15 to 35 wt.%.
A preferred surfactant system comprises anionic and non-ionic surfactant.
The nonionic detergent is preferably present in amounts of from 2 to 40 wt.%, preferably from 5 to 35 wt.%, more preferably from 6 to 20 wt.%.
A preferred nonionic surfactant is C₁₂-C₁₅ alkyl chain with an average of 7 to 9 moles of ethoxylation.
The anionic surfactant is preferably present in amounts of from 4 to 40 wt.%, preferably from 5 to 35 wt.%, more preferably from 6 to 20 wt.%.
Preferred anionic surfactants are: linear alkyl benezene sulphonates, sodium lauryl ether sulphonates with 1 to 3 moles (average) of ethoxylation, primary alkyl sulphonates, methyl ether sulphates and secondary alkyl sulphonates or mixtures thereof.
For the purposes of interpreting the level of surfactant present in the formulation, fatty acid and their salts are not included in the level of surfactant.
Other surfactants such as amphoteric, zwitterionic and cationic surfactants may also be present in addition to the aforementioned nonionic and anionic surfactants.

Fabric Softening Anionic Silicone

Silicones and their chemistry is described in, for example, The Encyclopedia of Polymer Science, volume 11, p765.
The composition comprises fabric softening anionic silicone at a level of from 0.05 to 5 wt.%, preferably from 0.1 to 2.5 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 2 wt.%.
Examples of fabric softening anionic silicone are silicones that incorporate carboxylic, sulphate, sulphonic, phosphate and/or phosphonate functionality.
Preferred anionic silicones are carboxyl functionalised silicones.
For the purposes of the invention disclosed herein, the anionic silicone may be in the form of the acid or the anion. For example for the carboxyl functionalised silicone, it may be present as a carboxylic acid or carboxylate anion.
An example of a commercially available material is: X22-3701 E from Shin Etsu. Preferably the anionic silicone has a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 100,000, more preferably from 2,000 to 50,000 even more preferably from 5,000 to 50,000, most preferably from 10,000 to 50,000.
Preferably the anionic silicone has an anionic group content of at least 1 mol%, preferably 2 mol%.
The anionic group(s) on the fabric softening anionic silicone are not located on a terminal position on the longest linear silicone chain.
This means that the composition comprises anionic silicone where the anionic group is located somewhere other than at the end of the silicone chain as defined in claim 1. The terms 'terminal position' and 'at the end of the silicone chain' are used to indicate that the anionic functionality is not found on the terminus of the longest linear silicone chain.
When the silicones are linear in nature, then they have 2 ends. The fabric softening anionic silicone used herein contains anionic groups that not located on a terminal position on the silicone.
Some silicones are branched in nature. When this is the case, the terms 'terminal position' and 'at the end of the silicone chain' are used to indicate that the anionic functionality is not found on the terminus of the longest linear silicone chain. Anionic silicones are those that comprise the anionic group at a mid-chain position on the silicone. So the anionic group(s) on the fabric softening anionic silicone are located at least 5 Si atoms from a terminal position on the longest linear silicone chain.
Preferably the silicone is added to the formulation in the form of an emulsion, more preferably in the form of a nonionic emulsion. More preferably the emulsion is prepared from nonionic emulsifiers, more preferably branched nonionic emulsifiers for examples Ecosurf EH-3 (Dow Chemical) or Berol 840 (Akzo Nobel).
The weight ratio of the silicone to the cationic polymer is from 5:1 to 1:1.

Cationic Polymer

The composition comprises a cationic polymer at a level of from 0.05 to 2.5 wt.%, preferably from 0.1 to 2 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 1 wt.% most preferably from 0.1 to 0.75 wt.%.
This term refers to polymers having an overall positive charge.
Preferably the cationic polymer is selected from the group consisting of: cationic polysaccharide polymers, and cationic non-saccharide polymers having cationic protonated amine or quaternary ammonium functionalities that are homo or copolymers derived from monomers containing an amino or quaternary nitrogen functional group polymerised from at least one of the following monomer classes: acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide; allyls (including diallyl and methallyl); ethylene imine; and/or vinyl monomer classes, and mixtures thereof.
More preferably the cationic polymer is selected from the group consisting of cationic cellulose polymers, cationic guar polymers, cationic diallyl quaternary ammonium-containing polymers and homo or copolymers of dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, diethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate or tert-butylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate in their quaternary or protonated amine form, and mixtures thereof.
Most preferably the cationic polymer is a cationic polysaccharide polymer.
More preferably the cationic polysaccharide polymer is a cationic guar or cationic cellulose polymer. Most preferably the cationic polymer is a cationic cellulose polymer, for example, quaternised hydroxy ethyl cellulose.
The composition may include a single cationic polymer or a mixture of cationic polymers from the same or different classes, i.e. the composition may contain a cationic polysaccharide polymer and a cationic non-polysaccharide polymer. Suitable commercial cationic non-polysaccharide polymers are ones preferably but not exclusively taken from the Polyquarternium series for example Polyquat 5, 6, 7, 11, 15, 16, 28, 32, 37 and 46 which are sold commercially under the Flocare, Merquat, Salcare, Mirapol, Gafquat and Luviquat tradenames. Cationic non-polysaccharides can be used without conforming to the Polyquaterium nomenclature.

Cationic Polysaccharide Polymer

The term "cationic polysaccharide polymer" refers to polymers having a polysaccharide backbone and an overall positive charge. Polysaccharides are polymers made up from monosaccharide monomers joined together by glycosidic bonds.
The cationic polysaccharide-based polymers present in the compositions of the invention have a modified polysaccharide backbone, modified in that additional chemical groups have been reacted with some of the free hydroxyl groups of the polysaccharide backbone to give an overall positive charge to the modified cellulosic monomer unit.
A preferred class of cationic polysaccharide polymers suitable for this invention are those that have a polysaccharide backbone modified to incorporate a quaternary ammonium salt. Preferably the quaternary ammonium salt is linked to the polysaccharide backbone by a hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl group. Preferably the charged nitrogen of the quaternary ammonium salt has one or more alkyl group substituents.
Preferred cationic polysaccharide-based polymers have a guar based, or cellulosic based backbone. Cellulose based cationic polymers are most preferred. Guar is a galactomannan having a β-1,4 linked mannose backbone with branchpoints to α-1,6 linked galactose units.
Suitable cationic guar gum derivatives, such as guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, specific examples of which include the Jaguar series commercially available from Rhone-Poulenc Incorporated and the N-Hance series commercially available from Aqualon Division of Hercules, Inc.
An example of a preferred guar based cationic polymer is guar 2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonium) propyl ether salt.
Cellulose is a polysaccharide with glucose as its monomer, specifically it is a straight chain polymer of D-glucopyranose units linked via β-1,4 glycosidic bonds and is a linear, non-branched polymer.
Example cationic cellulose polymers are salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide, referred to in the field under the International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients as Polyquatemium 10 and is commercially available from the Amerchol Corporation, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, marketed as the Polymer LR and JR series of polymers. Other polymers are marketed under the SoftCAT tradename from The Dow Chemical Company. Other suitable types of cationic celluloses include the polymeric quaternary ammonium salts of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with lauryl dimethyl ammonium-substituted epoxide referred to in the field under the International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients as Polyquatemium 24.
Typical examples of preferred cationic cellulosic polymers include cocodimethylammonium hydroxypropyl oxyethyl cellulose, lauryldimethylammonium hydroxypropyl oxyethyl cellulose, stearyldimethylammonium hydroxypropyl oxyethyl cellulose, and stearyldimethylammonium hydroxyethyl cellulose; cellulose 2-hydroxyethyl 2-hydroxy 3-(trimethyl ammonio) propyl ether salt, polyquaternium-4, polyquaternium-10, polyquaternium-24 and polyquaternium-67 or mixtures thereof.
More preferably the cationic cellulosic polymer is a quaternised hydroxy ether cellulose cationic polymer. These are commonly known as polyquaternium-10. Suitable commercial cationic cellulosic polymer products for use according to the present invention are marketed by The Dow Chemical Corporation under the trade name UCARE.

Other Cationic Polymer Classes

Non-polysaccharide based cationic polymers may also be used. Suitable cationic non-saccharide polymers include those having cationic protonated amine or quaternary ammonium functionalities that are homo or copolymers derived from monomers containing an amino or quaternary nitrogen functional group polymerised from at least one of the following monomer classes: acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide; allyls (including diallyl and methallyl); ethylene imine; and/or vinyl monomer classes, and mixtures thereof.
Preferred cationic non-saccharide polymers include cationic diallyl quaternary ammonium-containing polymers and homo or copolymers of dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, diethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate or tert-butylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate in their quaternary or protonated amine form, and mixtures thereof.
Other suitable cationic polymers for use in the compositions include copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and 1-vinyl-3-methylimidazolium salt (known as Polyquatemium-16); copolymers of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (known as Polyquaternium-11); cationic diallyl quaternary ammonium-containing polymers, including, for example, dimethyldiallylammonium chloride homopolymer, copolymers of acrylamide and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (known as Polyquatemium 6 and Polyquatemium 7 respectively); amphoteric copolymers of acrylic acid including copolymers of acrylic acid and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (known as Polyquatemium 22), terpolymers of acrylic acid with dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylamide (known as Polyquatemium 39), and terpolymers of acrylic acid with methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride and methylacrylate (known as Polyquatemium 47). Preferred cationic substituted monomers are the cationic substituted dialkylaminoallcyl acrylamides, dialkylaminoallcyl methacrylamides, and combinations thereof.
The counterion of the cationic polymer is freely chosen from the halides: chloride, bromide, and iodide; or from hydroxide, phosphate, sulphate, hydrosulphate, ethyl sulphate, methyl sulphate, formate, and acetate.
Many of the aforementioned cationic polymers can be synthesised in, and are commercially available in, a number of different molecular weights. Preferably the molecular weight of the cationic polymer is from 10,000 to 2,000,000 Daltons, more preferably from 100,000 to 1,000,000 Daltons, even more preferably from 250,000 to 1,000,000 Daltons.

Optional Ingredients

The detergent composition may optionally comprise one or more of the following optional ingredients, fatty acids or salts thereof, shading dye, enzyme, antiredeposition polymer, dye transfer inhibiting polymer, builder, sequestrant, sunscreen, fluorescer, perfume, and/or soil release polymer.

Fatty Acids

The compositions may also comprise a fatty acid, or a fatty acid salt such as a soap. Examples include C₆-C₂₂ fatty acids and sodium, potassium and ammonium salts thereof. For the purposes of interpreting the level of surfactant present in the formulation, fatty acid and their salts are not included in the level of surfactant.
Fatty acid is present at a level of from 0.25 to 12 wt.%, preferably from 0.5 to 10 wt.%.

Builders and sequestrants

The detergent compositions may also optionally contain relatively low levels of organic detergent builder or sequestrant material. Examples include the alkali metal, citrates, succinates, malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyacetyl carboxylates. Specific examples include sodium, potassium and lithium salts of oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, and citric acid. Other examples are DEQUEST^™, organic phosphonate type sequestering agents sold by Thermophos and alkanehydroxy phosphonates.
Other suitable organic builders include the higher molecular weight polymers and copolymers known to have builder properties. For example, such materials include appropriate polyacrylic acid, polymaleic acid, and polyacrylic/polymaleic acid copolymers and their salts, such as those sold by BASF under the name SOKALAN^™. Another suitable builder is sodium carbonate.
If utilized, the builder materials may comprise from about 0.5% to 20 wt%, preferably from 1 wt% to 10 wt%, of the composition. The preferred builder level is less than 10 wt% and preferably less than 5 wt% of the composition.
Preferably the laundry detergent formulation is a non-phosphate built laundry detergent formulation, i.e., contains less than 1 wt.% of phosphate.

Shading Dye

Shading dyes deposit to fabric during the wash or rinse step of the washing process providing a visible hue to the fabric. Shading of white garments may be done with any colour depending on consumer preference. Blue and Violet are particularly preferred shades and consequently preferred dyes or mixtures of dyes are ones that give a blue or violet shade on white fabrics. The shading dyes used are preferably blue or violet.
The shading dye chromophore is preferably selected from the group comprising: mono-azo, bis-azo, triphenylmethane, triphenodioxazine, phthalocyanin, naptholactam, azine and anthraquinone. Most preferably mono-azo, bis-azo, azine and anthraquinone.
Most preferably the dye bears at least one sulfonate group.
Preferred shading dyes are selected from direct dyes, acid dyes, hydrophobic dyes, cationic dyes and reactive dyes.
If included, the shading dye is present is present in the composition in range from 0.0001 to 0.01 wt %.

Fluorescent Agent

The composition preferably comprises a fluorescent agent (optical brightener). Fluorescent agents are well known and many such fluorescent agents are available commercially. Usually, these fluorescent agents are supplied and used in the form of their alkali metal salts, for example, the sodium salts. The total amount of the fluorescent agent or agents used in the composition is generally from 0.005 to 2 wt.%, more preferably 0.01 to 0.1 wt.%. Preferred classes of fluorescer are: Di-styryl biphenyl compounds, e.g. Tinopal (Trade Mark) CBS-X, Di-amine stilbene di-sulphonic acid compounds, e.g. Tinopal DMS pure Xtra and Blankophor (Trade Mark) HRH, and Pyrazoline compounds, e.g. Blankophor SN. Preferred fluorescers are: sodium 2-(4-styryl-3-sulfophenyl)-2H-napthol[1,2-d]trazole, disodium 4,4'-bis{[(4-anilino-6-(N methyl-N-2 hydroxyethyl) amino 1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)]amino}stilbene-2-2' disulfonate, disodium 4,4'-bis{[(4-anilino-6-morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)]amino} stilbene-2-2' disulfonate, and disodium 4,4'-bis(2-sulfoslyryl)biphenyl.

Perfume

Preferably the composition comprises a perfume. The perfume is preferably in the range from 0.001 to 3 wt.%, most preferably 0.1 to 1 wt.%. Many suitable examples of perfumes are provided in the CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association) 1992 International Buyers Guide, published by CFTA Publications and OPD 1993 Chemicals Buyers Directory 80th Annual Edition, published by Schnell Publishing Co.
It is commonplace for a plurality of perfume components to be present in a formulation. In the compositions of the present invention it is envisaged that there will be four or more, preferably five or more, more preferably six or more or even seven or more different perfume components.
In perfume mixtures preferably 15 to 25 wt.% are top notes. Top notes are defined by Poucher (Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists 6(2):80 [1955]). Preferred top-notes are selected from citrus oils, linalool, linalyl acetate, lavender, dihydromyrcenol, rose oxide and cis-3-hexanol.
It is preferred that the laundry treatment composition does not contain a peroxygen bleach, e.g., sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate, and peracid.

Polymers

The composition may comprise one or more polymers. Polymers can assist in the cleaning process by helping to retail soil in solution or suspension and/or preventing the transfer of dyes. Polymers can also assist in the soil removal process. Dye transfer, anti-redeposition and soil-release polymers are described in further detail below.
The composition may comprise one or more polymers. Examples are carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxpropyl cellulose, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl alcohol), ethoxylated polyamines, polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymers.

Dye transfer inhibitors

Modern detergent compositions typically employ polymers as so-called 'dye-transfer inhibitors'. These prevent migration of dyes, especially during long soak times. Generally, such dye-transfer inhibiting agents include polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganese pthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof, and are usually present at a level of from 0.01 to 10 wt.% based on total amount in the laundry composition.

Anti-redeposition polymers

Anti-redeposition polymers are designed to suspend or disperse soil. Typically antiredeposition polymers are ethoxylated and or propoxylated polyethylene imine or polycarboxylate materials, for example, Acrylic acid based homo or copolymers available under the trade mark ACUSOL from Dow Chemical, Alcosperse from Akzonobel or Sokolan from BASF.

Soil Release Polymers

Examples of suitable soil release polymers include graft copolymers of poly(vinyl ester), e.g., C₁-C₆ vinyl esters, preferably poly(vinyl acetate) grafted onto polyalkylene oxide backbones. Commercially available soil release agents of this kind include the SOKALAN type of material, e.g., SOKALAN HP-22, available from BASF (Germany). Further suitable soil release polymers of a different type include the commercially available material ZELCON 5126 (from DuPont) and MILEASE T (from ICI). If present, the soil release polymer may be included at a level of from from 0.01 to 10 wt.% based on total amount in the laundry composition. Further examples of soil release polymers are terephthalic acid / glycol copolymers sold under the tradenames Texcare, Repel-o-tex, Gerol, Marloquest, Cirrasol.

Hydrotrope

If in the form of a liquid, then the liquid detergent composition may optionally include a hydrotrope, which can prevent liquid crystal formation. The addition of the hydrotrope thus aids the clarity/transparency of the composition. Suitable hydrotropes include but are not limited to propylene glycol, ethanol, glycerol, urea, salts of benzene sulphonate, toluene sulphonate, xylene sulphonate or cumene sulphonate. Suitable salts include but are not limited to sodium, potassium, ammonium, monoethanolamine, triethanolamine. Salts of sulphonates can also be considered as anionic surfactants as defined herein. Preferably, the hydrotrope is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, xylene sulfonate, ethanol, and urea to provide optimum performance. The amount of the hydrotrope is generally in the range of from 0 to 30%, preferably from 0.5 to 30%, more preferably from 0.5 to 30%, most preferably from 1 to 15%.

Enzymes

Enzymes can also be present in the formulation. Preferred enzymes include protease, lipase, pectate lyase, amylase, cutinase, cellulase, mannanase. If present the enzymes may be stabilized with a known enzyme stabilizer for example boric acid.

Examples

The following base formulations A-F were formulated and shown in table 1. These show compositions having surfactant systems across a range of levels and ratios of components.

Table 1

	A	B	C	D	E	F
Neodol 25-7	6.28	2.51	12.52	7.63	18.76	11.28
LAS acid	13.04	5.16	8.52	5.07	4.31	2.87
SLES 3EO	8.71	3.57	6.01	3.56	3.01	1.39
Monopropylene glycol	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00
Fatty Acid	2.51	1.00	2.51	1.51	2.00	1.51
Cationic Polymer (LR400)	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Triethanolamine	2.44	0.80	2.52	1.53	2.53	1.49
Perfume	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00
Proxel GXL	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.11	0.11
Active Silicone	1	1	1	1	1	1
NaOH (To pH)	8-8.5	8-8.5	8-8.5	8-8.5	8-8.5	8-8.5
Water	To 100	To 100	To 100	To 100	To 100	To 100

Method of Production of formulation

Water and hydrotropes are mixed together at ambient temperature (approximately 22°C) for 2-3 minutes at a shear rate of 150 rpm using a Janke & Kunkel IKA RW20 overhead mixer. Salts and alkalis are added and mixed for 5 minutes prior to addition of surfactants and fatty acid. The mixture will exhibit a slight exotherm at this point. After allowing to cool to <30°C, the cationic polymer (LR400 added as an aqueous solution) solution, and any remaining components such as perfume, preservatives, dyes and silicones are added. The silicone was added at 1 wt.%, and was added as an emulsion.
Four silicones were tested, one standard PDMS and 3 anionic silicones from Shin-Etsu:-

100Cst PDMS ('X')
X22-3710E (1) - mid chain modified carboxy silicone with carboxy group perpendicular or pendent to the main silicone backbone
X22-162C ('Y') - dual terminal carboxy silicone with carboxy group at each terminal position of the main silicone backbone
X22-3710 ('Z') - single end terminal carboxy silicone with carboxy group at one terminal position of the main silicone backbone

Silicone 1 is according to the invention, while silicones X, Y and Z are comparative

Stability/Haze measurements

The 4 silicones were formulated in each of the 6 formulations (A-F). Samples from each formulation were taken and added to a 1 cm cuvette and measured by UV-Vis, with readings taken at 500nm. This UV-Vis measurement gives the level of the haze of the product. A lower reading indicates less haze.

Table 2

Formulation	Silicone X	Silicone 1	Silicone Y	Silicone Z
A	0.574	0.067	0.218	unstable
B	1.346	0.074	1.283	unstable
C	0.817	0.058	0.475	unstable
D	1.630	0.038	1.813	unstable
E	0.903	0.025	0.490	unstable
F	1.715	0.434	1.661	unstable

From the results in table 2, it is clear to see that the anionic silicone (silicone 1) that is functionalised by mid chain anionic substituents, and moreover doesn't contain a terminal anionic silicone group shows the best stability in terms of reduced haze, in comparison to a non-anionic silicone (silicone X) and anionic silicones that have a terminal anionic group (silicones Y and Z).

Claims

A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising:-
(a) from 5 to 40 wt.% of surfactant;

(b) from 0.05 to 5 wt.% of fabric softening anionic silicone; and

(c) from 0.05 to 2.5 wt.% of cationic polymer,
wherein the anionic group(s) on the fabric softening anionic silicone are located at least 5 Si atoms from a terminal position on the longest linear silicone chain; and,
wherein the liquid detergent composition has a pH of from 6 to 10.
A composition according to any claim 1, wherein the anionic silicone has a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 100,000, preferably from 2,000 to 50,000, even more preferably from 5,000 to 50,000, most preferably from 10,000 to 50,000; and/or the anionic silicone has an anionic group content of at least 1 mol%, preferably 2 mol%.
A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the anionic silicone comprises a carboxy silicone.
A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the silicone is added to the formulation in the form of an emulsion, preferably a nonionic emulsion, more preferably using a branched nonionic emulsifier.
A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the liquid detergent composition has a pH of from pH 6.5 to 9.5, most preferably from pH 7 to 9, for example from pH 7.5 to 8.5.
A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the cationic polymer is present at a level of from 0.1 to 2 wt.%, preferably from 0.1 to 1 wt.%, more preferably from 0.1 to 0.75 wt.%; and the anionic silicone is present at a level of from 0.1 to 2.5 wt.%, preferably from 0.1 to 2 wt.%.
A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the cationic polymer is a cationic polysaccharide polymer, preferably a cationic guar and/or cationic cellulose polymer.
A composition according to claim 7, wherein the cationic polysaccharide polymer is a cationic cellulose polymer, preferably quaternised hydroxy ethyl cellulose.
A composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from, fatty acids or salts thereof, shading dye, enzyme, an antiredeposition polymer, a dye transfer inhibiting polymer, builder, sequestrant, sunscreen, fluorescer, perfume, and/or soil release polymer.
Use of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9 to soften fabrics.