ES2200047T3 - SOFTENING COMPOSITIONS OF FABRICS. - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION REFERS TO A SOFTENING LIQUID COMPOSITION OF FABRICS, WHICH REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF DYES RELEASED FROM COLOR FABRICS WITH DOMESTIC TREATMENT IN WET, AS IT HAPPENS DURING WASHING. SUCH COMPOSITION CONTAINS A CATIONIC FABRIC SOFTENER THAT HAS AT LEAST TWO LONG CHAINS, A CATIONIC DYING FIXING AGENT IN AN AMOUNT INCLUDED BETWEEN 0.1% AND 10% AND DOES NOT HAVE DETERGENT MATERIALS.

Description

Fabric softening compositions.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to compositions fabric softeners and more particularly to compositions that reduce the amount of dye released by colored tissues during a wet treatment like those that take place in a wash operation

Fundamentals of the invention

The domestic treatment of colored tissues is a problem known in the art by the manufacturer of laundry compositions. More particularly, the problem of formulation of laundry compositions that reduce the amount of dye released by the colored tissues during the wet treatment poses a particular challenge for the manufacturer of chemical products. This problem has been further exacerbated in the due to the tendency of consumers to opt for for more colorful fabrics.

Many have been proposed in the art solutions to solve this problem, such as treating the fabric with a dye sensor during the washing process and as described in documents EP 0.341.205, EP 0.033.815 and with a polyvinyl substance as described in WO 94/11482 or in the rinse cycle with a dye fixative as It is described in EP 0,462,806. However, with these solutions addresses the problem that when the fixer of dye used in the washing process can be destroyed or damaged by contact in storage or during the process, while when used in the rinse cycle a active detergent and a high level of dye fixative for provide an effective dye fixation result. Further, weight performance is a problem related to the use of dye fixatives in a softening composition. In such a way that although dye fixative levels greater than 10% by weight would provide an effective fixation of the dye, such use It would result in an increase in the cost of the formulation. Other problem related to the employment of a high level of fixatives of coloring in softening compositions is that the products resulting show phase instability. Moreover, the decreased levels of dye fixatives not would provide sufficient dye fixing properties and would would require a detergent material.

Therefore, despite the advances in the technique, there is still a need for softening compositions that effectively reduce the amount of dye released by colored tissues during wet treatment.

The applicant has now discovered that the employment of a liquid composition comprising a fabric softener cationic that has at least two long chains, a fixative of cationic dye in an amount of 0.1% to 10% by weight, said composition of detergent materials being free, satisfies such need.

Therefore, an advantage of the invention is provide liquid softening compositions that provide a effective reduction of the amount of dye released by colored tissues during wet household treatments.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide liquid softening compositions with softening properties effective.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide liquid softening compositions with effective properties of storage stability

For the purpose of the invention, the term "detergent materials" encompasses surfactant materials detergents selected from soapy, anionic materials non-soapy, non-ionic, dipole ion, and surfactants synthetic and natural amphoteric detergents that are not softeners This definition does not include fatty acids that they are fabric softeners, unlike those components Soaps that do not have softening properties.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a liquid softener composition comprising a cationic softener which has at least two long chains, as defined in the claim 1, and a cationic dye fixative in a amount from 0.1% to 10% by weight, said composition being free of detergent materials.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a method for tissue treatment is provided. The method comprises contacting the tissues during the cycle of rinsing of a consumer washing process with a medium aqueous containing at least 50 ppm of a softening composition of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention Cationic softeners

An essential component of the invention is it constitutes a cationic softener component that has at least two long chains, as defined in claim 1. By a component that has at least two long chains means a component containing at least two alkyl chains or alkenyl, each comprising 10 to 25 carbon atoms. Such softener provides treated tissues with advantages of effective softness.

The usual levels of such components softeners in liquid softener compositions vary from 1% 80% by weight of the compositions. Depending on the execution of the composition, which can be diluted with a preferred level of softening components from 1% to 5%, or concentrated, with a level Preferred softener components from 5% to 80%, plus preferably from 10% to 50% and more preferably from 15% to 35% in weigh.

Typical cationic softening components as defined in claim 1, which have at least two long chains, include the softening active materials of non-water quaternary ammonium, having been the most used commonly ammonium chlorides with two alkyl chains long

In recent years the need for greener materials and quaternary ammonium compounds quickly biodegradable have been presented as an alternative to traditional long chain double ammonium chlorides employees. Such quaternary ammonium compounds contain groups long chain chain interrupted by groups functional, such as carboxy groups. These materials and softening compositions containing them are described in numerous publications such as documents EP-A-0.040.562 and EP-A-0.239.910.

In this case the quaternary ammonium compounds and the amino precursors have the following formulas (I) or (II):

one

in which Q is selected from -O-C (O) -, -C (O) -O-, -O-C (O) -O-, -NR 4 -C (O) -, -C (O) - NR 4 -,

R1 is (CH 2) n -Q-T 2 or T3;

R2 is (CH 2) m -Q-T 4 or T 5 or R 3;

R 3 is an alkyl C 1 -C 4 or a hydroxyalkyl C 1 -C 4 or an H;

R 4 is H or an alkyl C 1 -C 4 or a hydroxyalkyl C 1 -C 4;

T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4, T 5 are independently alkyl or alkenyl C 11 -C 22;

n and m are integers from 1 to 4;

X - is an anion compatible with the softener.

Non-limiting examples of anions compatible with The softener includes methyl chloride or sulfate.

T 1 alkyl or alkenyl chains, T 2, T 3, T 4, T 5 must contain at least 11 carbon atoms, preferably at least 16 carbon atoms. The chain can be linear or branched.

Sebum is an adequate and economical source of long chain alkyl and alkenyl material: the compounds in that T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4, T 5 represent the mixture of typical long chain materials for tallow se They prefer in particular.

Specific examples of ammonium compounds Quaternary suitable for use in softening compositions Aqueous herein include:

one)

Chloride N, N-di (taloyl-oxy-ethyl) -N, N-dimethyl ammonium;

two)

Chloride N, N-di (taloyl-oxy-ethyl) -N-methyl, N- (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium;

3)

Chloride N, N-di (2-taloyl-oxy-2-oxo-ethyl) -N, N-dimethyl ammonium;

4)

Chloride N, N-di (2-taloyl-oxy-ethylcarbonyl-oxy-ethyl) -N, N-dimethyl ammonium;

5)

Chloride N- (2-taloyl-oxy-2-ethyl) -N- (2-taloyl-oxy-2-oxo-ethyl) -N, N-dimethyl-ammonium;

6)

Chloride N, N, N-tri (taloyl-oxy-ethyl) -N-methyl-ammonium;

7)

Chloride N- (2-taloyl-oxy-2-oxo-ethyl) -N- (taloyl-N, N-dimethyl-ammonium;

8)

Chloride N-methyl-N- (3-taloyl-propylamide), N- (2-taloyl-oxyethyl) ammonium;

9)

Chloride 1,2-ditaloyl-oxy-3-trimethylammoniopropane;

and mixtures of any of the above materials.

Of these compounds, 1 to 8 are examples of compounds of the Formula (I); compound 9 is a compound of the formula (II). Particularly preferred is the chloride of N, N-di (taloyl-oxy-ethyl) -N, N-dimethylammonium, in which sebum chains are at least partially found unsaturated The level of unsaturation of the sebum chain can be determine by means of the iodine (IV) fatty acid index corresponding, which in the present case should be found preferably in the range of 5 to 100, two distinguishing Compound categories, depending on IV being less than or greater than 25. In fact, for compounds of Formula (I) made from tallow fatty acids with an IV of 5 to 25, preferably 15 to 20, it has been proven that a cis / trans isomer weight ratio greater than 30/70, preferably greater than 50/50 and more preferably greater than 70/30 provides optimal concentrability. For the compounds of Formula (I) made from fatty acids of sebum with an IV greater than 25, it has been found that the ratio of cis / trans isomers is less critical unless required very high concentrations.

Other examples of suitable quaternary ammoniums for Formula (I) and (II) are obtained eg:

- replacing the "sebum" of the compounds above for, for example, coconut fatty acid chains, palm, lauryl, oleyl, ricinoleyl, stearyl, palmityl or similar, said chains being either completely saturated, or preferably at least partially unsaturated;

- replacing the "methyl" of the compounds above by ethyl, ethoxy, propyl, propoxy, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl;

- replacing the "chloride" of previous compounds by bromide, methylsulfate, formate, sulfate, nitrate and the like.

In fact, the anion is present simply as a counterion of ammonium compounds positively charged quaternary. The nature of the counterion does not It is in no way critical to the practice of the present invention. The Scope of this invention is not considered limited to any ion in particular.

By "amine precursors of them" is understands secondary or tertiary amines corresponding to previous quaternary ammonium compounds, said said ones being substantially protonated amines in the present compositions due to pH values.

For the previous biodegradable softeners, The pH of these compositions is an essential parameter of the present invention. In fact, it influences the stability of the compounds of quaternary ammonium or amino precursors, especially in prolonged storage conditions. The pH, as it is defined in the present context, it is measured in the compositions without dilute at 20 ° C. For optimal hydrolytic stability of these compositions, the pure pH, determined under the conditions previously mentioned, must be in the range of 2.0 to 4,5. Preferably, where the liquid softening compositions of the invention are in diluted form, the pH of the Pure composition is in the range of 2.0 to 3.0. The pH of These compositions can be regulated by adding an acid from Bronsted

Examples of suitable acids include acids inorganic minerals, carboxylic acids, in particular acids low weight (C 1 -C 5) carboxylic molecular and alkylsulfonic acids. Inorganic acids Suitable include HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, and H_ {3} PO_ {4}. Suitable organic acids include acid formic, acetic, citric, methylsulfonic and ethylsulfonic. The Preferred acids are citric, hydrochloric, phosphoric acid, formic, methylsulfonic and benzoic.

Cationic dye fixative

The other essential component of the invention is a cationic dye fixative. Dye fixatives cationic, or "fixative," are known materials, commercially available, designed to improve the appearance of dyed fabrics minimizing dye loss due to washed. Cationic dye fixatives are based on different quaternized or charged organic nitrogen compounds cationically in another way. The cationic fixators are they are available through several distributors with Different trade names. Representative examples include: CROSCOLOR PMF (July 1981, tax identification number: 7894) and CROSCOLOR NOFF (January 1988, tax identification number: 8544) of Crosfield; INDOSOL E-50 (February 27, 1984, reference number 6008.35.84; with polyethylamine base) from Sandoz; SANDOFIX TPS, also available through Sandoz and is a preferred polycationic fixative for use in this case and SANDOFIX SWE (cationic resinous compound), REWIN SRF, REWIN SRF-O AND REWIN DWR by CHT-Beitlich GMBH

In "Post-treatment for solidity improvement of textile fiber dye "by Christopher C. Cook (REV. PROG. COLORATION Vol. 12, 1982) other fixatives of cationic dyes. Suitable dye fixing agents for use in the present invention are such ammonium compounds as condensates of fatty acids and diamines eg hydrochloride, benzyl acetate, methylsulfate and hydrochloride oleyl-diethyl-aminoethylamine, methanesulfate oleyl methyl diethylene diamine,  methanesulfate monostearyl-ethylene-diaminotrimethylammonium, and oxidized tertiary amines products; derivatives of polymer alkyldiamines, polyamine and chloride condensates cyanuric and aminated glycerin dichlorohydrins.

The amount of dye fixative to be used in the composition of the invention is in an amount of 0.1% to 10% in composition weight, preferably 0.5% to 8% by weight, plus preferably from 0.8% to 5.5% by weight of the composition.

For optimal dye fixation result as well as smoothness, the weight ratio of the softener to the fixative dye is 60: 1 to 1.5: 1, more preferably 20: 1 to 3.5: 1, more preferably from 10: 1 to 3.5: 1.

Detergent materials

For the purpose of the invention, the term "detergent materials" includes surfactant materials detergents selected from soap detergent surfactants, non-soapy anionic, non-ionic, dipole ion, amphoteric synthetic and natural detergent surfactants, which are not softeners This definition does not include fatty acids which are softeners, unlike those soapy components that do not possess fabric softening properties.

Soapy and non-soapy anionic materials they are linear and branched primary alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethoxy sulfates, oleyl glycerol sulfates fatty, (ethylene oxide) ether sulfates alkylphenol, sulfates of (acyl C 5 -C 17) - N- (alkyl C 1 -C 4) and -N- (hydroxyalkyl C 1 -C 2) glucamine, and sulfates of alkyl polysaccharides; anionic sulfonated surfactants such as the salts of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates C 5 -C 20, alkyl ester sulfonates, primary or secondary alkane sulfonates C 6 -C 22, olefin sulfonates C 6 -C 24, polycarboxylic acids sulfonates, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl sulfonates or oleylglycerol, alkyl ethoxycarboxylates and sarcosinates of alkali metal

Nonionic detergent materials are the amides of fatty polyhydroxy acid, polyethylene oxide condensates, polypropylene and polybutylene with alkylphenols, products of alkylethoxylated condensation of aliphatic alcohols with about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide; C 6 -C 18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols and ethoxylated / propoxylated mixed fatty alcohols C 6 -C 18; alkyl polysaccharides and amides of fatty acid.

The dipole and amphoteric materials are the amine oxides, alkyl amphocarboxylic acids, betaines such as the coco-acyl-amidopropyl-dimethyl-betaine and hexadecyl dimethyl betaine.

Additional components

The compositions may also contain additional components such as softening materials additional, electrolyte concentration aids, stabilizers, such as known antioxidants and agents reducers, spot release polymers, bactericides, dyes, perfumes, preservatives, optical brighteners, agents of antiionization, antifoaming agents and chelating agents.

Additional softening materials

Additional softening materials can be used in addition to cationic softeners with double long chain. When be used, such additional softening materials will be found typically present in an amount of 0 to 15% by weight of the composition. Such materials are cationic softeners of Single long alkyl chain and / or fatty acids.

Single long alkyl chain cationic softeners.

Such cationic alkyl chain softeners only long suitable for use here are preferably salts of quaternary ammonium with the general formula:

[R 2 N + R 3] X -

in which the group R2 is a group C 10 -C 22 hydrocarbon, preferably a C 12 -C 18 alkyl group of the group corresponding interrupted by an ester link with a group short (C 1 -C 4) alkylenic between the bond ester and N, and having a similar hydrocarbon group, e.g., a choline fatty acid ester, preferably an ester of (coco) C 12 -C 14 hill and / or ester of sebum hill C 16 -C 18 by 0.1% to 20% in weight of the softening asset. Each R3 is an alkyl C 1 -C 4 or a substituted alkyl (e.g. hydroxy), or hydrogen, preferably methyl, and the counterion X - is an anion compatible with the softener, for example chloride, bromide, methylsulfate, etc.

Other materials can also be used cationic with aromatic structures such as imidazoline alkyl, imidazolium, pyridine and pyridinium salts, with a simple C 12 -C 30 alkyl chain. I know requires a very low pH to stabilize, e.g., the structures aromatic imidazoline.

Some alkyl imidazolinium salts and their imidazoline precursors useful in the present invention have the General Formula:

two

\hbox{C _{1} -C _{4} ;}

R_{6} es un radical aquílico C_{1}-C_{4} o H (para los precursores de imidazolina); R^{7} y R^{8} son cada uno independientemente seleccionados de R^{3} y R^{2} como se define anteriormente para el tensioactivo catiónico de cadena larga simple en la que sólo uno es R^{2}.wherein Y2 is -C (O) -O-, -O- (O) C-, -C (O) -N (R5) -, or -N (R <2>) 5) -C (O) - in which R 5 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical

 ? C 1 -C 4; 

R 6 is a C 1 -C 4 or H radical (for imidazoline precursors); R 7 and R 8 are each independently selected from R 3 and R 2 as defined above for the single long chain cationic surfactant in which only one is R 2 }

Some alkyl pyridinium salts useful in The present invention has the general formula:

3

in which R2 and X- are as define above. A typical material of this type is chloride from cetylpyridinium

Fatty acids

Suitable fatty acids include those that they contain 10 to 25, preferably 12 to 25 carbon atoms total, containing the fatty residue from 10 to 22, preferably of 16 to 22 carbon atoms. The shortest remainder contains 1 to 4, preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms. The level of unsaturation of the sebum chain can be measured using the iodine index (IV) of the corresponding fatty acid, which in the present case should preferably in the range of 5 to 100, more preferably in the range of 0 to 25.

Specific examples of acid compounds fatty substances suitable for use in the softening compositions Liquids of this invention include compounds selected from lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, oleic acid, coconut fatty acid, tallow fatty acid, partially hydrogenated tallow fatty acid and mixtures of them. A more preferred fatty acid compound is the tallow fatty acid with an iodine (IV) index of 18.

When fatty acids are used above mentioned, fatty acid will be present in a relationship of weight of said cationic softening agents with double chains to said fatty acid compounds of 25: 1 to 6.5: 1, plus preferably from 20: 1 to 10: 1 and most preferably from 20: 1 to 15: 1 In fact, if different relationships are used, the product resulting will tend to show phase instability and / or problems of viscosity.

Electrolyte concentration aids

Inorganic control agents of the viscosity that can also act as, or increase the effect of, surfactant concentration aids include salts Water-soluble ionizable agents that can also optionally incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. The incorporation of these components into the composition must take place at a very low speed.

A wide variety of salts can be used ionizable. Examples of suitable salts are those Metal halides of Groups IA and IIA of the table periodic elements, eg calcium chloride, chloride magnesium, sodium chloride, potassium bromide and lithium chloride. The ionizable salts are particularly useful during the process of mixing the ingredients to make these compositions, and more forward, to obtain the desired viscosity. The amount of salts ionizable used depends on the amount of active ingredients used in the compositions and can be adjusted according to the Manufacturer's wishes. Typical levels of salts used for control the viscosity of the composition are 20 to 20,000 parts per million (ppm), preferably 20 to 11,000 ppm, by weight of the composition.

Polyammonium salts can be incorporated alkylene to the composition to provide control of the viscosity in addition to or in place of the water-soluble ionizable salts previously mentioned. In addition these agents can act as sensors, forming ionic pairs with anionic detergent remnants of the main wash, in the rinse and in the tissues, and They can improve the results of softness. These agents can stabilize viscosity over a wider temperature range, especially at low temperatures, compared to electrolytes inorganic Specific examples of polyammonium salts alkylenic include monohydrochloride L-lysine and dihydrochloride 1,5-diamonium-2-methyl pentane

Another ingredient is a liquid vehicle. The Suitable liquid vehicles are selected from the water, organic solvents and mixtures of them. The liquid vehicle employed in the present compositions is preferably at least mainly water due to its relative availability at low Cost, safety and ecological compatibility. The water level in the Liquid vehicle is preferably at least 50%, the most preferably at least 60% by weight of the vehicle. As a vehicle liquid are useful mixtures of water and organic solvent of low molecular weight, eg, <200, eg a lower alcohol such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol. Low spirits molecular weight include monohydroxylated, dihydroxylated alcohols (glycol, etc.), trihydroxylates (glycerol, etc.) and alcohols (polyols) higher polyhydroxylated.

Composition Form

The softening composition can adopt a large variety of physical forms, including liquid, such as aqueous or non-aqueous compositions

Such compositions can be used as a added rinse product, or as a powdered product or in foam. Preferably the present composition is in form of addition to the rinse.

The compositions of the invention can be add directly during rinsing to provide a adequate employment concentration, e.g. at least 50 ppm and more preferably 100 to 10,000 ppm of the softening compositions liquids added to the rinse of the present invention.

Therefore, a method is provided for tissue treatment comprising contacting said tissues during the rinse cycle with an aqueous medium that it contains at least 50 ppm, preferably 100 to 10,000 ppm of the liquid softening composition of the invention.

Process

The fabric softener composition can be conveniently performed according to well known procedures for The expert in the art. In the document EP-A-0.668.902 is offered a description by way of example.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples, in which all percentages are in one weight basis unless otherwise indicated.

In the examples, abbreviated identifications of the components have the following meanings:

DEQA : Chloride di- (taloyl-oxy-ethyl) dimethyl ammonium Fatty acid : Stearic acid from IV = 18 Electrolyte : Chloride calcic PEG : Polyethylene Glycol MW 4000

Example 1

The following softener composition was prepared according to the present invention:

Component TO DEQA 19.0 Acid hydrochloric 0.02 Polymer stain release 0.2 PEG 0.6 Fragrance 1.0 Electrolyte 1200 ppm Colorant 50 ppm Sandofix TPS 5.0 Water and minor components for compensate up to 100%

Example 2

The following softener compositions are of according to the invention:

Component B C D DEQA 2.6 2.9 18.0 Acid fatty 0.3 - 1.0 Acid hydrochloric 0.02 0.02 0.02 Release polymer spots - - 0.2 PEG - - 0.6 Fragrance 1.0 0.5 1.0 Electrolyte - - 600 ppm Colorant 10 ppm 10 ppm 50 ppm Sandofix TPS 1.6 1.6 5.0 Water and components minorities to compensate up to 100%

Claims (6)

1. A liquid fabric softener composition comprising a cationic fabric softener that has at least two long chains and a cationic dye fixative in one amount from 0.1% to 10% by weight, said composition being free of detergent materials, in which each of said chains comprises an alkyl or alkenyl chain having 10 at 25 carbon atoms and wherein said fabric softener is a biodegradable fabric softener material. 2. A liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein said dye fixative Cationic is a polycationic dye fixative. 3. A liquid fabric softener composition according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said cationic dye fixative is in an amount of 0.5% at 8% by weight, preferably from 0.8% to 5.5% by weight of the composition. 4. A liquid fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein said softening material of Biodegradable tissues are selected from ammonium compounds quaternary and amine precursors with the formula (I) or (II) following: 4 in which Q is selected from -O-C (O) -, -C (O) -O-, -O-C (O) -O-, -NR 4 -C (O) -, -C (O) - NR 4 -, R1 is (CH 2) n -Q-T 2 or T3; R2 is (CH 2) m -Q-T 4 or T 5 or R 3; R 3 is an alkyl C 1 -C 4 or a hydroxyalkyl C 1 -C 4 or H; R 4 is H or alkyl C 1 -C 4 or hydroxyalkyl C 1 -C 4; T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4, T 5 are independently alkyl or alkenyl C 11 -C 22; n and m are integers from 1 to 4; Y X - is an anion compatible with softeners 5. A liquid fabric softener composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said Softener is present in an amount of 1% to 80% by weight. 6. A method for treating tissues that comprises contacting said tissues in the rinse cycle with an aqueous medium containing at least 50 ppm of a composition fabric softener liquid according to any one of the claims 1 to 5.