FI82261C - Detergent-softener composition for laundry cycle with improved textural stability - Google Patents

Description

1 82261

The present invention relates to a composition and a method for cleaning and softening textiles in a laundry cycle. The present invention relates to a composition and a method for cleaning and softening textiles in a laundry wash cycle and to a mixture of detergent and fabric softener having improved substantivity to textiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to softening compositions suitable for use in a laundry wash cycle, especially when using hot water, and the composition comprises a nonionic surface tension reducing agent and a cationic quaternary ammonium compound as a plasticizer, and a polyfunctional additive which increases the softening agent.

Mixtures that can be used to treat textiles to improve their softness and "feel" properties are known in the art.

. When textile softeners are used in household laundry, they are typically added to the rinsing water during a rinsing cycle lasting only about 2-5 minutes. The user must therefore either monitor the laundry program or take: other precautions so that the fabric softener:, · · is added at the right time. This requires the consumer to return:: to the washing machine just before or at the beginning of the rinsing cycle of the washing operation, which is obviously burdensome for the consumer. In addition, special care must be taken to use an appropriate amount of textile softener and to avoid, ···. overdose, which may make clothing water repellent when a greasy film precipitates on the surface of the fabric, as well as. make the fabrics slightly yellow.

To solve the above problems, it has been known to use textile softeners that are compatible with: ordinary laundry detergents, so that fabric softeners can be combined with detergents in one and the same package for use during the wash cycle of a washing operation. Examples of such textile softener compositions added to a wash cycle are disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,351,438, 3,660,286 and 3,703,480. with.

But it is also known that the cationic softeners added to the wash cycle, either as a component of the detergent-softener mixture or as a fabric softener, interfere with the clarifying performance of the detergent as well as the cleaning performance. As a result, attempts have been made to compensate to some extent for this interfering effect of detergent-softener compositions by using non-ionic surface tension reducing agents, higher amounts of brighteners, carboxymethylcellulose, anti-yellowing agents, sealants, etc. using a wide variety of detergents, most of which are anionic.

But several detergent compositions known in the art have also been reported which contain cationic plasticizers, such as quaternary ammonium compounds as plasticizers and nonionic surfactants, as well as other surfactants, for example anionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric. Representative of this technique include U.S. Patents 4,264,457, 4,239,659, 4,259,217, 4,222,905, 3,537,993, 3,583,912, 3,983,079, 4,203,872, 4,264,479, 3,951,879, 3,360. 470, 3,351,483, 3,644,203, etc.

• The following patents disclose detergents and / or shampoos containing a nonionic surfactant with a polyfunctional additive; 3,313,734 (shampoo - quaternary ammonium - containing polymers); 3,351,557 (ethylene / maleic anhydride copolymers - emulsion stabilizers; 3,226,261); 3,509,059 (an acid group-containing polymer, for example polyacrylic acid formed in situ, i.e. in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant); 3,703,480 (anino-pcly urethane resins - for rendering a cationic fabric softener compatible with an anionic surfactant); 3,723,322 (carboxylated polysaccharide as a detergent enhancer); 3,962,418 (cationic cellulose ether - thickener and hair conditioner); 4,213,960 (polyaminoanides and quaternary ammonium nomopolymers 3a copolymers hair conditioner); 4,371,517 (cationic polymers and union polymers). The use of polycationic agents, polyamines and polyamides to enhance the softening effect of classical quaternary fabric softeners in fabric softeners added to the rinsing cycle has been violated, for example, from U.S. Patent 4,237,016, 6B patent applications 1,576,324, BE-2,064,326, and 2,041,025 patent 13780 and DE patent 2,525,659-1.

Although many of these prior art recipes provide a satisfactory washing and / or softening effect under a wide variety of conditions, they still suffer from a lack of sufficient softening effect - for example, compared to the softeners added to the rinsing cycle.

especially in hot water washing conditions, i.e. At temperatures of 60 ° C and above; they also form complexes. with a cationic compound; less effective plasticizers, water-soluble compounds, for example mono-higher alkyl, quaternary ammonium cationic compounds must be used; must be limited to • liquid mixtures, etc.

Today, it is no longer uncommon to use existing laundry-detergent compositions and conventional automatic home-washing machines, especially in the United States, to wash / clean dirty textiles using cold or warm washing water, especially in the case of delicate fabrics, so-called wash-and-use. textiles, permanently pressed fabrics, etc., but nevertheless it is considered that more efficient cleaning (removal of dirt stains) requires higher washing temperatures.In addition, in Europe and other 4 82261 countries, household washing machines operate at 60 ° C or higher, even at boiling water. advantageous for stain removal, they are not equally beneficial to the softening effect.

The present invention is based on the finding that the softening effect is greatly improved in a detergent composition based on a mixture of a nonionic detergent compound and a cationic quaternary ammonium compound acting as a softener when using a limited class of polyfunctional compounds compared to textiles and thus improve the softening effect. In addition, it has been found that the softening effect can be further enhanced by using as the nonionic surfactant one having a cloud point, either alone or in combination with an amphoteric surfactant, at least 5 ° C higher than a washing temperature of at least about 60 ° C. . In addition, this improvement in the softening effect is achieved without any, or at least without any significant deterioration in the washing (i.e. cleaning) performance.

The ratio between the cleaning power and the same point of the nonionic / cationic detergent mixture is known from U.S. Patents 4,222,905 · 4 and 4,259,217. More specifically, as shown in column 5, lines 40-61 of U.S. Patent 4,259,217: V "Methods for washing textiles using the compositions of the present invention, which provide better removal of grease and oil stains and have the advantage of gentle treatment of textiles, are described. These methods use laundry detergent compositions at temperatures such that the aqueous washing solution is either - * at or near the cloud point of the nonionic / cationic surfactant mixture (i.e., about 20 ° C from the cloud point, which is the temperature at which the phase rich in the nonionic surfactant separates from the wash solution). time by adjusting

II

5,226,21 these mixtures of nonionic / cationic surface tension reducing agents such that their cloud point occurs between about 0-95 ° C, especially between about 10-70 ° C, such as between about 20-70 ° C, most preferably from about 30 to about Between 50 ° C. During the washing operation, the temperature of the washing solution is kept within this temperature range and 20 ° C from the cloud point temperature.

The performance is further improved when the temperature of the aqueous washing solution is about 15 ° C, more preferably about 10 ° C away from the cloud point temperature of the nonionic / cationic surfactant mixture. "

The requirement to work at wash temperatures coinciding with or below the cloud point temperature is apparently based on the fact that the cloud point of the surfactant mixture in the wash water corresponds to the temperature at which the surfactant micelles aggregate to such an extent that these aggregates become so large that come out of solution, resulting in the observed turbidity. If the temperature is further raised, it causes a complete separation of the aqueous phase and the non-ionic surface tension reducing agent, as a result of which their washing power over dirty textiles and other cleaning power is lost.

But, although U.S. Patent 4,259,217 discloses that non-ionic / cationic compositions may, depending on the identity and concentration of the cationic component, provide advantages known in the art. However, it is clear that it does not recognize or suggest that the softening effect of cationic substances can be significantly improved by the use of certain non-ionic substances which themselves have high cloud points. ***. temperatures. That is, when U.S. Patents 4,222,905 and 4,259,217 show a relationship between a nonionic / cationic composition, washing temperature, and washing performance, it has now been found that it is a ratio of exclusively nonionic material (or between the non-ionic substance, the amphoteric substance and all the electrolytes present in the washing water) and the washing temperature, which affects the softening effect of the water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compound used as a plasticizer. In contrast to the requirement of this invention to use nonionic compounds having a high cloud point temperature (i.e., above about 60 ° C, especially above about 90 ° C, more particularly above about 100 ° C), and U.S. Patents 4,222,905 and 4,259,217 disclose nonionic surfactants and combinations of nonionic / cationic agents with relatively low cloud points are preferred.

Thus, it was completely unexpected that the softening effect of a cationic softener, especially in hot water wash conditions, could be so dramatically improved without reducing the washing performance of the nonionic surfactant by formulating the detergent-softener mixture at a cloud point above the wash temperature.

The use of nonionic surfactants with cloud points at least about 60 ° C higher than the wash water temperature is described in FI patent application No. 853381. The use of amphoteric surfactants to increase the cloud point of nonionic surfactants above the wash water temperature is also described in this application and described in more detail in connection with low cloud point nonionic surfactants in FI Patent Application No. 853340. The descriptions of these patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention is based on the finding that the softening power of water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compounds as textile softeners can be further improved by adding to a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a cationic textile softener an additional polyfunctional additive. the substantivity of the cationic fabric softener to the textiles to be treated, in addition to which the washing performance of the nonionic surfactant can be improved at the same time.

Il 7 82261

The present invention has been accomplished based on this finding.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the softening effect in detergent compositions containing water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compound and nonionic detergent compounds as softeners without significantly adversely affecting the overall detergent performance, in some cases even improving it.

This and other objects of the invention, which will become apparent from the following description, have been accomplished by developing a laundry detergent composition capable of washing soiled textiles in an aqueous wash liquor at an elevated temperature of at least about 60 ° C to about 100 ° C to the boiling point, and the composition contains 0 , 1 to 20 parts of a nonionic water-soluble surfactant, 2 to 20 parts of a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compound capable of softening the washed Textile, and 0.5 to 10 parts of a polyfunctional additive which increases the substantivity of the textiles, and possibly up to about 10 parts. part of an amphoteric surfactant. The essential features of the invention are set out in the appended claims.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the cloud point temperature of the nonionic substance is above the elevated temperature of the wash water. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the compositions contain both a high cloud point nonionic and an amphoteric surfactant. In both preferred embodiments, the detergent composition comprises at least one detergent additive, such as builders, thickeners, anti-fouling agents, anti-corrosion agents, bleaches, enzymes, colorants, sealants, optical brighteners.

Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention provides a detergent composition for washing and softening textile preparations in an aqueous medium at a particularly elevated temperature of at least about 60 ° C, and the composition comprises: (a) about 1-20% of a nonionic a surfactant, (b) about 2-20% of a water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compound as a textile softener, (c) about 0.5-10% of a polyfunctional additive selected from the group consisting of (i) diquaternary ammonium compounds, ( (ii) polymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride, (iii) cationic guar gum, and (iv) poly (methyl vinyl ether / maleic acid), and the amount of (b) plus (c) is about 4-22%, and the ratio of (b) to (c) is between about 10: 1 - noir. 1: 3, (d) about 0 to about 10% amphoteric surfactant, (e) about 25 to 80% at least one detergent builder, (f) 0 to about 40% bleach, (g) 0 to about 7% a bleach activator, (h) 0 to about 4% of each of the following: dirt suspending agents, anti-fouling agents and thickeners, (i) 0 to about 5% anti-corrosion agents, (j) 0 to about 1% organic chelating agents , (k) 0 to about 2% colors, dyes, pigments, sealants and optical brighteners, (l) 0 to about 2% enzymes, (m) 0 to about 0.5% perfume, (n) 0 - about 10% pH modifiers and buffers,: (o) 0 to about 50% inert fillers, free-flowing agents and carriers, and (p) about 2 to about 20% water.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a free-flowing detergent-softener mixture in powder or granular form, which can be used to clean and soften soiled textile preparations in an aqueous washing medium at an elevated temperature of about 60 ° C to about 100 ° C. based on: (a) about 3-15% of a nonionic surfactant having a hydrophobic group condensed with alkylene oxide 1

II

· 9 82261, which is sufficient so that the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant rises above the elevated temperature, (b) about 2-20% of a water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compound as a fabric softener, characterized in that that it has at least two long chain aliphatic groups having 16 to 22 carbon atoms, (c) about 1-10% of a polyfunctional additive selected from the group consisting of diquaternary ammonium compounds of the formula R-R-1 + i + R4- N + - R, - N + -R-. · 2X ~ 4 and R 2 wherein R 2 represents a divalent alkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms which may optionally have a hydroxyl substituent; each of the R 2 groups may be the same or different and are lower alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may optionally have a hydroxyl substituent; R - j is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, where. the hydrocarbon may have an oxygen or -CONH group interposed; . ! R4 represents a radical selected from the group consisting of! aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals which may optionally contain an oxygen atom or a -CONH group and having a total of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, alkylaryl radicals having: about 8 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety, and aryl, and X is a salt-forming anion; and polymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (d) 0.1-10% by weight of an amphoteric surfactant; and (e) the remaining detergent builders, detergent additives,. fillers and moisture.

- In the above preferred embodiment, it is particularly preferred to add about 25-50% detergent builders, 0-5% corrosion inhibitors, 0-1% organic chelating agent, 0-40% oxygen bleach 1 • · · 10 82261 substances, 0-7% bleach activator, 0-4% thickener and anti-settling agent, 0.2-0.5% optical brightener, 0.7-1.3% enzyme, 0- 0.5% perfume and the remaining about 20% moisturizer.

Although the cause is not yet fully known, it has now been found that the best softening effect of cationic fabric softeners is achieved when the softener is very finely divided in the wash water (diameters of the order of some μm to submicron) and insoluble in water. The finely divided particles must, of course, be evenly, albeit randomly dispersed throughout the wash water, so that they come into even contact with all the garments, towels, bedding and other garments to be washed. It appears that the plasticizer particles actually adhere to the textile fibers and adhere to them under the combined electrical, chemical, and physical attraction.

According to the present invention, the substantivity is improved with respect to the treated textiles and the softening effect of the cationic fabric softener is further increased when a polyfunctional additive, preferably a diquaternary compound, a polyquaternary compound or a cationic polymer is added to the detergent-softener mixture. Although these polyfunctional additives themselves soften the treated fibers due to their inherent affinity for textiles, as is known from the prior art mentioned above, their mode of action in the detergent-softener compositions of this invention is apparently not primarily or rather primarily based on both of the following factors: (1) their ability to stabilize the dispersion of the fabric softening quaternary compound; and (2) their ability to enhance contact between the quaternary compound and the textile **. Iin in between. Whichever way it works, polyfunctional additives improve softness, and

II

11 82261 is a feature of the present invention in that the softness of the textiles treated in the wash cycle is substantially the same as that obtained with the fabric softener conventionally added to the rinse cycle. In addition, it is possible to achieve a substantial improvement in cleaning efficiency by using the preferred compositions of this invention.

The main components of detergent-softener mixtures are therefore a nonionic surfactant, a water-insoluble cationic textile softener and a polyfunctional additive. The use of an amphoteric surfactant in addition to the above-mentioned ingredients is highly preferred, especially when the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant is below or equal to the temperature of the wash water.

Although the compositions of this invention provide good softening and cleaning results in cold wash water, e.g., about 20 ° C to 30 ° C, or in warm wash water, e.g., about 30 ° C to 40 ° C or above, the best results are obtained when the compositions are used in elevated , in washing water at a temperature of about 60 ° C to about 100 ° C (boiling point).

'**: Suitable non-ionic surfactants are commercially available and are derived from alkylene oxide or equivalent. condensation of a hydrophobic containing a reactive reactant and a reactive hydrogen. Hydrophobic organic compounds may be aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic, although the first two classes of compounds are preferred.

• Preferred hydrophobic types are higher aliphatic alcohols and alkylphenols, although others may be used, such as carboxylic acids, carboxamides, mercaptans, sulfonamides, etc. Ethylene oxide condensates with higher alkylphenols or higher fatty alcohols the preferred V categories of ionic compounds. The hydrophobic moiety should normally contain at least about 6 carbon atoms, and preferably at least about 8 carbon atoms, and may contain as many as: 50 carbon atoms and above, but the preferred amount is i2 82261 between about 8-22 carbon atoms. , especially with 10 to 18 carbon atoms with aliphatic alcohols and 12 to 20 carbon atoms with higher alkyl phenols. The amount of alkylene oxide varies considerably depending on the hydrophobic, but the general guideline and rule is that at least about 15 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of hydrophobic compound should be used up to 30 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of hydrotropic compound to obtain cloud point temperatures of at least about 60 ° C or above.

Preferred nonionic surface tension reducing agents can be represented by the formula R0 (CH2CH2O) nH (I) wherein R is a primary or secondary alkyl chain containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and n is on average 15-30; or R'O- (CH 2 CH 2 O) m H (II) wherein R 'is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of 4 to 12 carbon atoms and m is on average 15 to 30.

Preferred alcohols from which the compounds of formula I are prepared are lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl and oleyl alcohols and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred values for R are C 1 -C 6 -C 15 g, and C 1 -C 2 alkyls and mixtures thereof are particularly preferred.

; Preferred values for R 'are Cg-C ^ 2 »3a especially par Hain is considered to be Cg and Cg, such as octyl, isooctyl and nonyl.

A typical example of a non-ionic compound of formula I is lauryl alcohol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide. A typical example of a nonionic compound of formula II is isooctylphenol condensed with 30 moles of ethylene oxide.

Other nonionic compounds that can be used include organic acids such as higher fatty acids, resin

II

i3 82261 Polyoxyalkylene esters of acids, tall oil acids, acids derived from petroleum oxidation products, etc. These esters usually contain from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms in the acid moiety and from about 15 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide or equivalent.

Other nonionic surface tension reducing agents include alkylene oxide condensates with higher fatty acid amides. The fatty acid group usually contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and this is condensed with about 15 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide in the preferred example. The corresponding carboxamides and sulfonamides can also be used as suitable equivalents.

It is also within the scope of the invention to replace all or some of the high cloud point nonionics described above with the corresponding low cloud point surfactants, i.e., the same group of hydrophobic agents, but only with about 3 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide condensed. But when using non-ionic low cloud point temperatures, it is essential that one amphoteric surfactant is also added, as described in more detail below, to ensure a sufficiently high cloud point for the mixture. Preferably not more than 50%, especially not more than 30% and most preferably not more than about 20% of the total amount of nonionic surfactant is a low cloud point compound.

The amount of the nonionic agent is usually the smallest amount which, when added to the wash water with or without the amphoteric agent, produces a suitable cleaning effect. Usually amounts of about 2-20%, preferably about 3 to about 10%, and very particularly preferably about 4-9% by weight of the mixture provide a good purification result.

As used herein, the term "cloud point" means the temperature at which a graph representing the intensity of light scattering of a mixture relative to the temperature of a washing solution begins to rise sharply to its maximum value under the following experimental conditions:

The intensity of light scattering is measured using a model VM-12397 photogoniodiffusion meter, manufactured by Societe Francaise d'instruments de controle et d’analyses, France (henceforth referred to as SOFICA). The SOFICA sample chamber and its lid are washed with hot acetone and allowed to dry. A mixture of the surface tension reducing agent is made and dissolved in distilled water to a concentration of 1000 ppm. A sample of approximately 15 ml of solution is placed in the sample chamber using a syringe fitted with a 0.2 μm nucleus pore filter. The needle of the syringe pierces the lid of the sample chamber so that the inside of the chamber does not come into contact with atmospheric dust. The sample is left in a variable heat bath and both the bath and the sample are stirred continuously. The bath temperature is heated using a SOFICA heater and cooled by adding ice (heating rate = 1 ° C / min); the temperature of the sample is determined from the temperature of the bath. The light scattering intensity (90 ° angle) of the sample at different temperatures is then determined using a green filter without a polarizer in the SOFICA.

In the present invention, turbidity point measurements are made of solutions of nonionic substance (1% by weight) in both distilled water and water containing 10% NaCl, although the latter usually far exceeds the amount of salts and electrolytes actually observed in normal use. Thus, if the cloud point of a nonionic 1: substance measured in a 10% NaCl solution satisfies the cloud point of this invention, there should be no problem in formulating mixtures containing very high concentrations of builder salts and other electrolytes, up to about 85%: up to the mixture, as well as a polyfunctional additive. agent.

. · In this respect, it is known that the cloud point temperature of a particular mixture: depends on the physical and chemical properties of the cationic, non-ionic and other additional components contained in this mixture.

II

i5 82261 (CMC and solubility) and can be reduced by increasing the alkyl chain length of the nonionic and amphoteric surfactant, reducing the degree of ethoxylation of the nonionic component, or by adding electrolytes such as phosphates, polyphosphates, perborates, carbonates, sulfates. relatively small amounts (such as about 1 to about 15% of the administered mixture).

Since water-insoluble cationic softening compounds are used in the present invention, the cationic compounds have essentially no effect on the cloud point of the whole mixture. Because the cationic plasticizers used in this invention are insoluble in water, it is very difficult to measure the dew point temperature of the entire mixture because the mixtures are inherently somewhat turbid. Therefore, the cloud point of a nonionic compound is determined, with or without electrolytes in the absence of the cationic compound, and in this way a sufficiently accurate measurement of the cloud point of the whole mixture containing the cationic compound is obtained.

At washing temperatures of about 60 ° to 70 ° C, even in the presence of an additional polyfunctional component in the mixture, all the EO 15-30 nonionic surface tension reducing agents described above and in particular of the formulas I and II give cloud points above the washing temperature. .

; At higher washing temperatures, 71 ° C to 100 ° C, especially; · However, at 80 ° to 100 ° C it is necessary to use more ethoxylated surface tension reducing agents, for example 25-30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of hydrophobics. At these higher washing temperatures, the most preferred nonionic surface tension reducing agents are C8-C8-: alkylphenols ethoxylated with 25-30 moles, especially with 28-30 moles and particularly preferably with about 30 moles of ethylene oxide.

** *; As described in more detail in the above-mentioned FI patent applications 853381 and: 853340, it has now been discovered that the cloud point of any nonionic compound can be raised up to 40 ° C, usually by about 5 ° -20 ° C by adding an amphoteric surfactant, for example a carboxyethylated higher-fatty alkyl (e.g. coconut) imidazoline, an amphoteric compound, usually in an amount of about 0.5-10% by weight, preferably 1-4%, particularly preferably about 1- 3% by weight of the mixture.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is particularly suitable for washing soiled textiles in wash water at an elevated temperature of about 80 ° C to 100 ° C, the detergent composition therefore comprises (a) a non-ionic surface tension reducing agent of formula I or formula II, (b) a water insoluble , in addition to the quaternary ammonium compound of formula III or formula IV below and (c) the polyfunctional additive, (d) a sufficient amount of an amphoteric surface tension reducing compound so that the cloud point of the mixture rises above 80 ° C to 100 ° C above the elevated temperature.

The other main ingredient in the recipes in question is a cationic textile softener. Cationic textile softeners usually contain at least one hydrophilic group with a negative charge and a hydrophobic group containing a quaternary ammonium atom, which is positively charged.

In order to provide sufficient softness to the treated textiles, it is important that the cationic compound be insoluble in water. As used herein, a compound is considered to be insoluble in water if its solubility in water at a wash temperature is less than 1%, preferably less than about 1/2%.

It is usually desired that the cationic softener be added: to the mixture in a form which ensures good dispersion in the washing liquid and therefore maximum adhesion to its treated textile. Such dispersed particle sizes in the wash liquor are from about <10 to about 50 microns, preferably

II

i7 82261 more than about 10 to about 20 cationic softener to provide this effect.

Suitable commercially known water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds which are textile softeners have the following formula: R 1 / R 3! fr i X (III) ^ Ni 1.

Rr- ^ X (IV)

5 \ J

R / \ R

[R 6] wherein R 1 and R 2 and R 8 and R 8 each independently represent a long chain aliphatic radical having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms, R 8 and R 1 and R 2 independently represent lower alkyl radicals, or R 8 may be a group -RgNHCRg, Ö wherein Rg is a long chain aliphatic radical having 16-22 carbon atoms, and Rg is a divalent alkyl group having '1-3 carbon atoms, and X is a water-soluble salt-forming anion such as halide, for example chloride, bromide, iodide; sulphate, acetate, hydroxide, methosulphate, ethosulphate,:: or a similar inorganic or organic solubilising mono- or dibasic radical. The carbon chain of an aliphatic radical having 16 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 20 carbon atoms, may be straight or branched, and saturated or unsaturated. Lower alkyl radicals have 1 to 4 carbon atoms and may contain a hydroxy radical. Carbon chains are preferably obtained from long chain fatty acids such as those derived from tallow or soybean oil. The terms: "disodium" and "diethyl", etc., as used herein, refer to the source from which the long chain fatty alkyl chains: * are derived. Mixtures of the above, as well as other water-insoluble quaternary ammonium surfactants, may also be used if desired. The preferred ammonium salt is dialkyldimethylammonium chloride in which the alkyl group is derived from hardened tallow or stearic acid, or di-higher alkylimidazolinium chloride. Specific examples of emollient quaternary ammonium compounds of formula III suitable for use in the composition of the present invention include: cured diethyldimethylammonium chloride, dimethyldistearylammonium chloride, dimethylstearylcetylammonium bromide, diethyldimethylamide, dimethyldimethyldimethyl sulphate, methosulphate, ethosulphate, bromide and hydroxide salts, etc.

Examples of emollient quaternary ammonium compounds of formula IV are 1-methyl-1,2-diheptadecylimidazolinium chloride (bromide, methosulphate), 1,2-diicosylalkylamidoethyl-1-methylimidazolinium chloride (bromide), bromide, ), 2-hexadecyl-1-methyl-1 - [(2-dodecylamido) ethyl] imidazolinium methyl sulfate, 2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1 - [(2-stearylamido) ethyl] -imidazinolium methyl sulfate, 2-nonadecyl / henicosyl-1 - [(2-eicosyl / docosylimido) ethyl] imidazolinium methyl chloride.

Dimethyl-distearylammonium chloride has been considered particularly preferred due to its superior good emollient effect, its dispersion in nature, low water solubility, easy availability and cost.

The amount of cationic fabric softener may usually vary from about 2 to 20%, in particular from about 3 to about 16%, and particularly preferably from about 6 to 15% by weight of the mixture.

The weight ratio of nonionic surfactant to cationic textile: plasticizer is between about 1:10 and 5: 1, preferably about 1: 5 to 4: 1, particularly preferably 1: 2 to 3.5: 1.

Il i9 82261

Polyfunctional additives used to increase the substantivity of water-insoluble cationic textile softening quaternary ammonium compounds include (i) diquaternary ammonium compounds, (ii) polymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride, (iii) poly (methyl) and (c) guar gum, (iv) cationic guar gum, (iv) ) diimidazolinium compounds.

Diquaternal compounds are considered to be particularly preferred and can be generally represented by the following formula: R 2 R x x -R 4 -N + -R 1 -N + -R 3 -x “r 2 r 2 wherein represents a divalent alkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms which may optionally have a hydroxyl substituent; R 2 represents the same or different lower alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may optionally have a hydroxyl substituent; . . R 3 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to about 22; a carbon atom, and the hydrocarbon may optionally have an oxygen or -CONH group interposed; represents a radical selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals optionally interposed with an oxygen atom or a group -CONH- having a total of about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, alkylaryl radicals having about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety, and aryl; and X is a salt-forming anion, especially Cl ", Br_, CH2SO3", CH2CH2SO3 ", etc.

One class of diquaternary compounds that can be used in this invention are those represented by the formula: I6 I6 X R. “CH-CH0-N + -CHO-CH-CH-, -N + -CH_-CH-RcX ~ 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 and 2 | 5

OH R? OH R? OH

20 8 2 2 61 where Rj. is an alkyl radical containing from 6 to about 20, preferably from 10 to 14 carbon atoms, Rg and R? are methyl, ethyl or hydroxyethyl and X is chloride or bromide. Specific examples are tetramethyl-di- (octoxy-3-hydroxypropyl) -β-hydroxypropylene diammonium dichloride, tetramethyl-di- (3-hydroxydodecyl) -3-hydroxypropylene diammonium dibromide, tetramethyl-di- (3-hydroxytetradecyl) -β -hydroxypropylene diammonium dichloride, tetraethyl di- (dodecyloxy-5-hydroxypropyl) -β-hydroxypropylene diammonium dichloride. These compounds are described in U.S. Patent 3,983,079, columns 3 and 4.

A particularly preferred class of diquaternary compounds are N-mono-higher-alkyl-Penta-lower-alkyl-alkane-diammonium salts, such as the compounds represented by the following formula: R10 R10 X "-RQ-N + -RQ-N + -R ~ -X ~ o | 9 i 12 R11 R11 wherein Rg represents a long chain aliphatic radical having 12-22 carbon atoms, preferably 14-20 carbon atoms, Rg represents divalent alkyl having 2-4 carbon atoms, and R ^ q and R 1 and R 2 each represent lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X is a salt-forming anion such as chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate, nitrate, etc. As a specific example, there may be mentioned a compound sold under the trademark Adogen 477, a product of Sherex, which is N-talipentamethylpropane diammonium chloride.

Dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride polymers include both homopolymers and copolymers. Examples of copolymer comonomers include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and other similar copolymerizable monomers. Preferred are acrylamide and methacrylamide, and acrylamide is particularly preferred.

2i 82261

An example of a di-imidazolinium compound is a compound of the formula

CH CU

/ X + 1 + / \ “X- · H2 ^ f 2 -X-

N —-C-R R-C = N

3 wherein R is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, R 1 is a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, R is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X is a salt-forming anion.

As a specific example, 1-ethylene bis- (2-tallow-1-methylimidazolinium methyl sulfate) can be mentioned.

The polymerization can be performed by standard techniques well known in the art. The degree of polymerization is not particularly precise and satisfactory results are obtained with polymers having molecular weights of about 500 to about 10. These polymers, as well as cationic guar gums and poly (methyl vinyl ether / maleic acid) polymers, are commercially available.

The amount of polyfunctional additive is usually between about 0.5 or 2 to about 10%, preferably 2 to about 8% of the total mixture. It is also preferred that, within the above limits, a cationic textile softener (b) and a polyfunctional additive (c) are used in a weight ratio of (b): (c) about 10: 1 to 1: 3, preferably about 6: 1 to 1: 2, especially about 4: 1 - 1: 1.

As mentioned above in the preferred embodiment of the invention - ;;; form, the mixture also includes (d) an amphoteric surfactant.

A specific class of amphoteric surfactants are complex fatty amido surfactants with the general formula 22 82261 yC] i2 N CH_ II II +1 1 R - C- N - R - OM (V) Z '\ 2

OH Rz - COOM

wherein R is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 12 to 18 carbon atoms (such as lauryl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, palmityl, heptadecyl, stearyl, tallow, coconut, soy, oleyl, li-1 2 olyl), R and R are, independently of one another, a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms (for example, methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, 2-methyl-butylene, pentylene, etc.), M is hydrogen or an early metal (e.g. sodium, potassium , cesium and lithium). Examples of commercially available compounds of formula V are N CH 2 C 11 H 23 "C-CH 2 CH 2 - ° Na 0 H ~ CH 2 COONa available as Miranol CM (liquid) and Miranol DM (paste) from Miranol Chemical Co.; Soromine AL and Soromine AT, manufacturer GAF Corporation and Deriphat from General Mi11s.

The amphoteric compounds described in columns 3 and 4 of U.S. Patent 4,203,872 may also be used. These include the following seven groups of compounds.

(1) Betaine detergents of formula

R_ O

i l H

R 1 -N-R 4 -C-O- * 3

A suitable example is.

CH-, O I +3 II

(C10-C14) "n" alkyl "N CH2CC-ch3

II

Betaine detergents with an alkyl bridge of formula 23 82261

Ph E, O

I ·! i II

R1-CH2-C-N-CH2CH2CH2-N -R4-CO "R3

A suitable example is

0 „CH .. O

HH i +3 II _ (C10 "C14) _n_alkyl]" CH2-C "N ~ CH2CH2CH2-N ~ CH2 <" ° ch3 (3) Imidazoline detergents of the formula CH-COOH 0 _ I il _ R 1 -C -N -R.-O-CH-.CO

li I

N CH0 \ / 2 CH2

A suitable example is CH oC00H 0 I +2 il.

(C19C14) -n-alkyl-C: -N -CH2CH2OCH2CO

N CH- \ / 2 CH2. . (4) Alkyl iminopropionate detergents of the formula

B

R 1 -N-CH2CH2COOH

(5) Alkyl imidopropionate detergents of the formula

CH2CH2COOH

r1-och2ch2ch2- \ '

VNsCH2CH2COOH

(6) Ether bridged alkyl iminodipropionate detergents having the formula

'CHoCHoC00H

X 2 2

R 1 OCH2CH2CH2-N

V XCH2CH2COOH

(7) Amphoteric detergents based on coconut imidazoline, ·. with the formula 24 82261

H O

I + Il

R 1 -C-N -CH 2 OCH-CH-CO

1 l | I 2 2 2 N CH- \ / 2 CH2

Mixtures of any amphoteric detergent with each other and with the amine oxide detergents listed above can also be used.

In the above formulas (1) to (7), there is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic radical containing from about 7 to about 20, preferably from about 8 to 18, particularly preferably from about 10 to 14 carbon atoms, R 2 and R 2 are each lower alkyl is C 1 -C 4, preferably methyl or ethyl, particularly preferably ethyl, R 1 is divalent C 1 -C 4 alkyl, preferably methylene or ethylene, particularly preferably ethylene.

A particularly preferred class of amphoteric compounds are the carboxyethylated higher fatty alkyl imidazoline compounds of formula (8) CH u

H_C N -CH 2 CH-COO

I I

HOR4 - N == C-R1 wherein R1 is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 10 to 14 carbon atoms, and R1 is a divalent lower alkyl group, having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms. Preferred groups R 1 are coconut, tallow, heptadecyl, oleyl, decyl: and dodecyl, especially coconut (i.e. derived from coconut fat wax-Posta). The preferred group is ethylene (-CH2CH2-). The compound carboxyethylated coconut imidazoline is available as Rexoteric CSF, a trademark of Rexolin containing 100% active ingredient, or as a solution containing 45% active ingredient.

li 25 82261

Open-chain carboxyethylated higher-fatty acid derivatives are another preferred class of compounds. These include the above groups (4), (5) and (6), i. alkyl immopropionate detergents] ether-silyl-imyl propionate detergents. The carboxyethylated octylamine, obtained under the name Rexoteric OASF from Rexolin, is a particularly preferred member of this group.

Other suitable sole classes of amphetric surfactants include? -Ucinates, taurines, isethionates and the like.

Although there are no precise instructions on how to select combinations of nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, or appropriate amounts of both, to obtain the required cloud point temperature above the wash temperature that promotes the curing effect of the cationic textile softener, it is usually sufficient that using an amphoteric surfactant - with an amount of nonionic surfactant as defined above - an amount of about 0.1 to 10 k, preferably about 0.5 to about 4, especially about 1 to 3% based on the size of the mixture by weight.

··. ·. Suitable ratios for the above amounts of nonionic: amphoteric are about 1: 5 to 10: 1, preferably 1: 3 to 6: 1, especially 1: 2 to 4: 1, which provides the desired high cloud point and improved softening effect, especially in combination with a polyfunctional compound.

The detergent compositions of this invention are preferably supplied as free-flowing powders or granules, but may also be in liquid form.

The detergent composition of the invention may also contain and usually contains water-soluble builders. Water-soluble inorganic builders may be used: alone or in admixture with other builders, and are alkali metal carbonates, borates, phosphates, phosphates. (Ammonium or substituted ammonium salts may also be used.) Specific examples of such salts include sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium tetraborate, and diorthophosphate and potassium bicarbonate.Alkali metal silicates are useful builder salts that also make the mixture corrosion resistant to parts of the washing machine.Sodium silicates are preferred wherein the Na 2 O / SiO 2 ratios are 1.6 / 1 to 1 / 3.2, especially about 1/2 to 1 / 2.8. Potassium silicates with the same weight ratios can also be used.

Another class of enhancers useful in this context are water-insoluble aluminosilicates, both crystalline and amorphous types. Various crystalline zeolites (i.e., aluminosilicates) are described in GB Patent 1,504,168, U.S. Patent 4,409,136, and CA Patents 1,072,835 and 1,087,477, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. An example of amorphous zeolites useful herein is available from BE Patent 835,351 and this patent is also incorporated herein by reference. Zeolites usually have the formula: (m2o) x · (ai2o3) · (sio2) z-wh2o where x is 1, y is 0.8 to 1.2 and preferably 1, z is 1.5 to 3.5 or higher and preferably 2-3 and w is 0-9, preferably 2.5-6 and M is preferably sodium. A typical zeolite is type A or similar in structure, and type 4A is particularly preferred. The calcium alum exchange capacity of the best aluminosilicates is about 200 milliequivalents per gram, or greater, for example 400.

Other substances such as clay grades, especially water-insoluble types, can be used as additives in the compositions of this invention. Bentonite is particularly useful. This substance is mainly montmorillonite, which is a hydrogenated aluminosilicate in which about 1/6 of the aluminum atoms can be replaced by magnesium towers and with which 2? 82261 contains loosely varying amounts of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium, etc. Bentonite in its purified form (i.e. free of gravel, sand, etc.), which is suitable for detergents, always contains at least 50% montmorillonite and thus has a cation exchange capacity of at least about 50-75 milliequivalents 100 g of bentonite. Particularly preferred Bento rivets are Wyoming or Western US bentonites sold under the name Thixo-Jels 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Georgia Kaolin Co. These bentonites are known to soften textiles, as explained in GB Patents 401,413 and 461,221.

Examples of organic temporal sequestering enhancer salts which can be used either alone with a detergent or in admixture with other organic or inorganic excipients are alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, amino polycarboxylates, for example sodium and potassium methylenediamine tetiaacetate. , sodium and potassium nitrilotriacetates and triethanolammonium N- (2-hydroxyethyl) nitrilodiacetates. Mixed salts of these polycarboxylates are also suitable.

Other suitable organic type enhancers include carboxymethyl succinates, tartronates and glycollates. Of particular value are polyacetal carboxylates. Polyacetate lycarboxylates and their use in detergent compositions are described in U.S. Patents 4,144,226, 4,315,092 and 4,146,495.

Other similar patents include U.S. Patents 4,141,676, 4,169,934, 4,201,858, 4,204,852, 4,224,420, 4,225,685, 4,226,960, 4,233,422, 4,233,423, 4,302,564 and 4,303,777. European Patent Applications Nos. 0015024, 0021491 and 0063399 also deal with the same.

· '' Several other detergent additives or auxiliaries may be present · '; in a detergent product to give it the desired properties, either functional or aesthetic in nature. Thus, minor amounts of dirt-suspending or anti-staining agents can be added to the recipe, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, fatty amides, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose; optical brighteners, for example, brighteners for cotton, amine and polyester fibers, for example mixtures of stilbene, triazole and benzidine sulfones, in particular sulfonated substituted triazinyltilbene, sulfonated naphthotria-solistilbene, benzidine sulfone, etc .; the most preferred are mixtures of stilbene and triazole.

Sealants such as ultramarine blue; enzymes, preferably proteolytic enzymes such as subtilisin, bromelain, papain, trypsin and pepsin, as well as amylase-type enzymes; bactericides, for example tetrachlorosalicylanilide, hexachlorophene; fungicides; dyes; pigments (water dispersible); preservatives; ultraviolet light absorbing agents; anti-yellowing agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, a complex of C 1 -C 2 alkyl alcohol and C 1 -C 2 alkyl sulfate; pH regulators and pH buffers; non-cabbing bleaching agents, perfumes and anti-foaming agents or anti-foaming agents, for example silicone compounds.

Bleaching agents are generally classified as chlorine bleaching agents and oxygen bleaching agents for convenience. The chlorine bleaches are of the sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) type, potassium dichloroisocyanurate (59% free chlorine) and trichloroisocyanuric acid (85% free chlorine). Oxygen bleach is represented by sodium and potassium perborates and potassium monopersulfate. Oxygen bleaches are preferred. Bleach stabilizing and / or activating agents such as tetraacetylethylenediamine may also be used.

The proportions by weight of the components which may be present in the para-treated treatment compositions as a whole in% by weight (active substance) of the total weight of the final product are as follows: (a) non-ionic detergent - about 2% - about 20% , preferably about 3% to about 10%, especially 4-9%; (b) a quaternary textile softening ammonium salt - from about 2% to about 20%, preferably from about 3% to about 16%, especially

II

29 8 2 2 61 about 6-15%; (c) a polyfunctional additive - about 0.5 to 10%, preferably about 3 to 8%; (d) an amphoteric surfactant - 0 to about 10%, preferably 0.1 to 5%, especially 0.5 to 4% and most especially about 1 to 3%; (e) alkali metal enhancing salts - from about 25% to about 80% and preferably from about 25% to about 70% and especially from about 25 to 5%, and the rest of detergent additives, fillers and moisture. Suitable ranges for detergent additives are: enzymes - 0 - 2%, especially 0.7 - 1.3%; corrosion inhibitors - about 0 to 5%, and preferably 0.1 to 2%; anti-foaming and anti-foaming agents - 0 - 4%, preferably 0 - 3%, for example 0.1 - 3%, stain suspending and anti-settling agents and anti-yellowing agents - 0 - 4%, preferably 0.5-3% ; colorants, perfumes, brighteners and sealants in a total weight of 0% to about 2% and preferably 0% to about 1%; pH adjusting agents and pH buffers - 0 to 5%, preferably 0% to 2%; bleaching agents -0% to about 40% and preferably 0% to about 25%, for example 2-20%; bleach stabilizers and activators 0 to about 15%, preferably 0 to 10%, for example 0.1 to 8%. The choice of additives is made in such a way that they are compatible with the main components of the detergent composition.

Although non-ionic high cloud point non-ionic agents are preferably the only surfactant compounds used in the compositions of this invention, small amounts of other surfactants, such as anionic amphoteric ionic compounds, may also be used, preferably up to 20% by weight. -%, especially at most 10% by weight, and most preferably at most 5% by weight.

Examples of suitable anionic detergents are water-soluble salts of higher fatty acids, for example sodium, potassium, ammonium, alkylol ammonium salts containing. about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms.

Suitable fatty acids can be obtained from waxes and oils of animal or vegetable origin, for example tallow, coconut oil, tall oil and mixtures thereof. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of fatty acid mixtures derived from coconut oil and tallow, for example sodium coconut soap and potassium tallow soap.

The anionic class of detergents also includes water-soluble synthetic sulfate and sulfonate detergents having an alkyl radical of 8 to 26 and preferably about 12 to 22 carbon atoms in their molecular structure. (The term alkyl includes the alkyl moiety of higher acyl radicals).

Examples of sulfonated anionic detergents are higher alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulfonates, such as higher alkyl benzene sulfonates containing from 10 to 16 carbon atoms in a higher alkyl group, either in a straight or branched chain of higher alkyl sulfonates, for example higher alkyl alkyl benzene sodium, potassium and ammonium salts of phenol sulfonates, higher naphthalene sulfonate. One preferred sulfonate is a straight chain alkyl benzene sulfonate having a high content of 3- (or higher) phenyl isomers and a correspondingly low content of 2- (or lower) phenyl isomers (well below 50%), i.e. the alkyl group is attached to the benzene ring primarily in position 3 or higher (e.g., 4, 5, 6, or 7), and the concentration of isomers in which the benzene ring is attached in position 2 or 1 is correspondingly low. Compounds considered to be particularly good are described in U.S. Patent 3,320,174.

Other suitable anionic detergents include olefin sulfonates such as long chain alkene sulfonates, long chain hydroxyalkane sulfonates or mixtures of alkene sulfonates and hydroxy alkane sulfonates. These olefin sulfonate detergents can be prepared in a known manner by reacting SO 2 with long chain olefins containing 8 to 25, preferably 12 to 21 carbon atoms and having the formula RCH-CHR · ^, wherein R is a higher alkyl group having 6 to 23 carbon atoms. carbon and R 1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 17 carbons or hydrogen to form a mixture of sultons and alkenesulfonic acids, which are then treated to convert the sultones to sulfonates.

Other examples of sulphate or sulphonate detergents are paraffin sulphonates containing from about 10 to 20, preferably from about 15 to 20 carbon atoms, for example primary paraffin sulphonates made by administering long chain alpha-olefins and bisulphites and paraffin sulphonates with a sulphonate group. react with each other as disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,503,280, 2,507,088, 3,260,741, 3,372,188 and DE Patent 735,096; sodium and potassium sulfates of higher alcohols containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium tallow alcohol sulfate; the sodium and potassium salts of alpha-sulfo-fatty acid esters containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms in the acyl group, for example methyl alpha-sulfomyristate and methyl-alpha-sulfo-tallowate, mono- and ammonium sulphates of diglycerides, for example stearin monoglyceride monosulphate; sodium and alkylol ammonium salts of alkyl polyethyleneoxy ether sulfates prepared by condensing 1 to 5 moles of ethylene oxide with one mole of a higher (C8-C18) alcohol; sodium higher alkyl (C ^ Q-C ^ Q) -glyseryyli-eetterisulfonaatit; sodium or potassium alkylphenol polyethyleneoxy ether sulfates having from about 1 to about 6 oxyethylene groups per molecule and wherein the alkyl radicals contain from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms.

Suitable anionic detergents also include C8-C18-acyl-sarcosi-. sodium lauroyl sarcosinate), sodium and potassium salts resulting from the reaction of higher fatty acids with 8 to 18 carbon atoms, in which the acids have 8 to 18 carbon atoms esterified with isethionic acid, and sodium C8-C18 acyl-N-methyl taurides. and potassium salts, for example sodium cocoyl methyl taurate and potassium stearoyl methyl taurate.

Examples of zwitterionic surfactants are derivatives of quaternary ammonium compounds containing an aliphatic straight-chain group having 14 to 18 carbon atoms and an anionic sulfate or sulfonate group 32 82261 as a solubilizing group. Specific examples are 3- (N, N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio) -2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate, 3- (N, N-dimethyl-N-thalloylammonium) -2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate and 6-N, N- (dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio) hexanoate.

Regardless of the form of the laundry detergent, its use in the washing process is essentially the same. The mixture in particulate form is usually added to the washing water in an automatic washing machine so that its concentration in the washing water can be between about 0.05 and 1.5%, usually 0.1 to 1.2%. The water to which it is added is preferably of medium or low hardness, for example 30 to 120 ppm hardness as calcium carbonate, but both softer and harder waters may be used. The temperature of the water may be from 20 ° C to 100 ° C and is preferably from 60 to 100 ° C in cases where the textile or laundry is able to withstand high temperatures without deterioration or fading of the colors. When laundry is desired to be performed at a low temperature, the temperature is maintained between 20 ° and 40 ° C, and these conditions also result in good cleaning and softening, although the garment may not be as clean as when washed at higher temperatures. In said concentrations of detergent mixtures, the pH of the wash water is usually 7-11, preferably 8-10. At these pH values, the mixture is effective as a detergent, and is not unsuitable for the material to be washed or for human skin, and washes and softens effectively. The weight ratio of laundry: wash water is usually about 1: 4 to 1:30, or 1:10 to 1:30.

The compositions of the present invention provide a significantly improved softening result at washing temperatures of at least 60 ° C compared to, for example, identical recipes with a cloud point of a non-ionic detergent below 60 ° C, for example a straight chain higher fat (e.g. ^ -alcohol with 7 to 13 ethylene oxide units.

This effect could not have been predicted from the prior art because the correlation between the cloud point and the softening effect of the nonionic surfactant is not known.

n 33 82261

Methods for preparing the compositions described herein are well known in the art, and reference is made in particular to U.S. Patent 4,269,722, which discloses the preparation of relatively high density, enhanced nonionic powders from spray-dried spheres sprayed on the surface with a nonionic detergent. , (which may contain minor amounts of other conventional additives such as colorant, perfume, brightener, bleach, etc.). This entire patent specification is incorporated herein by reference.

Turbidity values (° C) for various nonionic surfactants and mixtures of nonionic / amphoteric surfactant at 1% w / w concentrations were measured in distilled water and 10% NaCl and are shown below:

Nonionic surfactant Distilled water 10% _ _ _NaCl__ A. C ^ 2 ~ C ^ - fatty alcohol EO 7: 1 43 + 2 <25 B. C ^ 2 ~ c ^ 5''fatty alcohol EO 1 85 + 2 59 + 2 C-ji 2 “C15-fatty alcohol EO 15: 1> 100> 60

Iso-octylphenol EO 30: 1> 100> 60

Nonylphenol EO 20: 1> 100 72

Nonylphenol EO 15: 1 91 70

Nonylphenol EO 8: 1 45 <30 A. + Rexoteric OASF (1: 2) 75 + 2 50 + 2 A. + Rexoteric OASF (4: 1) 58 + 2 28 + 2 A. + Rexoteric CSF (4: 1) 55 + 2 42 + 2 B. + Rexoteric OASF (1: 2)> 100 90 + 2 B. + Rexoteric OASF (4: 1) 95 + 2 85 + 2 B. + Rexoteric CSF (4: 1)> 100 80 2

The invention will be illustrated by the following illustrative, non-limiting examples. Unless otherwise indicated, all "parts" and "%" are by weight.

34 82261

Example 1

The following mixtures were prepared C (%) A (%) B (%)

Nonylphenol EO 20: 1 15.0 C12-ci5 ”fatty alcohol EO 11: 1 10.0 7.5

Rexoteric CSF (100% active) 2.5

Sodium tripolyphosphate 42.0 42.0 42.0

Dimethyl-distearyl-ammonium,. c _ .c „c chloride (95» active substance) 5'45 6'45 6.45 N-tallow-pentamethyl-propane diammonium dichloride (Adogen 3.0 3.0 3.0 477) (50 % active substance)

Small amounts of various additives (e.g., optical clear- Remaining Rest Remaining substances, perfume, moisture, etc.) were used 100 g of each of mixtures A, B and C and washed with bath towels and cured cotton velvet in about 20 liters of 60 ° C water.

Of the washed textiles, the softness was judged by a panel of four expert judges in several repetitions after cumulative washes. Each mixture is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 and 'ΊΟ'1 is the highest rating and represents the degree of softening provided by the plasticizer (dimethyldistearylammonium chloride) added to the rinse cycle. On this scale, mixture A and mixture B each received a grade of 8-10. Mixture C was rated 4-5.

In addition, Blends A and B were evaluated for their overall dirt and stain removal with 10 different types of soiled fabric and were found to give a similar excellent cleaning result.

Example 2

For each of the following blends, the softening effect was compared under the same conditions as described in Example 1:

II

35 82261

D E F G

%%%%

Nonylphenol EO 20: 1 - - - - -15.0- - - - -

Sodium metasilicate ----- 8,0- - - - -

Sodium tripolyphosphate - - - - -28,0- - - - -

Sodium pyrophosphate lOt ^ O _ _ _ - -23.0- ----

Sodium orthophosphate ----- 0,5 -----

Nitrilotriacetate, Na salt - - - - - 8,0- ----

Dimethyldistearylammonium chloride (93% active substance) 8.0 8.0 6.45 8.0

Copolymer (dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride / acrylamide) (40% active substance) 7.6

Adogen 477 (50% active ingredient) 3.0 6.0

Small amounts of various additives - - - - Rest -----

The following results were obtained for the softening of bath towels and cured cotton velvet fabrics:

E significantly better than D G significantly better than D F significantly better than D

E clearly better than G G clearly better than F F clearly better than D

Example 3

The following is the preferred recipe for the enhanced, complete powder or granular mixture of the invention in its broad weight range: 36 82261

Prosen- Percentage sexual weight range specific gravity C ^ 2-c ^ 5- ^ Asva-al ^ ° holi EO 11: 1 3-15 6.0

Rexoteric CSF (100% active ingredient) 0-3 1.5

Sodium tripolyphosphate 25-50 42.0

Sodium silicate (1: 2) (40% active substance) 0-5 3.0

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 0-1 0.45

Sodium perborate monohydrate (NaBO 3 * H 2 O) 0-15 13.0

Perborate Activating Agent (TAED) 0-7 2.8

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 0-4 2.6

Optical brightener (Tinopal) 0.2-0.5 0.33

Enzyme (alkalase 2T from NOVA) 0.7-1.3 1.0

Dimethyldistearylammonium dichloride 5-15 8.6 N-talipentamethylpropane-N-diammonium chloride 1-5 3.4

Inert carrier and free-flowing agent 0-5 3.0

Perfume 0-1 0.4

Water Rest Rest

II

Claims (9)

37 8 2 2 61 A laundry detergent-fabric softener mixture for cleaning and softening soiled textiles in a laundry wash cycle using an elevated wash water temperature of about 60 ° to 100 ° C, characterized in that said mixture contains (a) 0.1-20% of at least one water soluble a nonionic surfactant of formula I or II R 0 (CH 2 CH 2 O) n H (I) R 10 - (CH 2 CH 2 O) m H (11) wherein R is a primary or secondary alkyl chain having about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R 1 is a primary or secondary alkyl chain having about 7 to 12 carbon atoms and n and m are each an average of 3 to 30; (b) 2-20% of at least one water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compound of formula III or IV R1 ^ ^ - Rg + N ** X- (III) r2 ^ ^ R4 <N- | + X "(IV) N-1 r6 ^ ^ r7 wherein R1 and R2 and R5 and R8 each independently represent C1-C20 long chain aliphatic radicals, R3 and R4 and Ry are each independently lower alkyl radicals, or R8 may be a group -RgNHCRg, wherein II Rg is a long chain aliphatic radical of 16 to 38 82261 22 carbon atoms, and Rg is a divalent alkyl radical of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and X is a salt-forming anion; (c) about 0.5 -10% of a polyfunctional additive enhancing the substantivity of textiles selected from the group consisting of (i) diquaternary ammonium compounds of the formula R10 R10 X ".Ro-N + - Rq-N + -R10 .X" II R11 R11 wherein Rg is straight or branched , a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms; Rg represents a divalent alkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms; each of R 1, R 11, R 11 and R 12 is the same or different and represents lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and X is a salt-forming anion; (ii) polymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride, (iii) cationic guar gum, and (iv) poly (methyl vinyl ether / maleic acid); and (v) diimidazolinium compounds; (d) 0.1-10% by weight of an amphoteric surfactant; provided that the nonionic surfactant (a) either alone or in combination of the nonionic surfactant (a) and the amphoteric surfactant (d) results in a mixture when added to the wash water by 1% by weight: n concentration, a cloud point above the elevated temperature of the wash water, and (e) the remaining detergent builders, additives, inert substances and water. Mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that step (e) comprises about 25-50% detergent builders, 0-5% corrosion inhibitors, 0-1% organic chelating agents, 0-40% oxygen bleach, 0-7% bleach activator, 0-4% thickener and anti-redeposition agent, 0.2-0.5% optical brightener, 0.7-1.3% enzyme, 0-0.5% perfume and the rest up to 20% moisture. Mixture according to Claim 2, characterized in that point (b) is dimethyldistearylanonium chloride. Mixture according to Claim 1, characterized in that the water-insoluble cationic quaternary ammonium compound which is capable of softening the washed textiles is selected from the group consisting of compounds which can be represented by the following formulas R1-R8 + R- (III) ^ * r4 <N- | + X "(IV) NJ r6 r7 wherein R1 and R2 and R5 and R8 each independently represent C1-C20-Pi-aliphatic radicals, R3 and R4 and R7 are each independently lower alkyl radicals, or R8 may be a group -RgNHCRg wherein Rg is a long chain aliphatic radical of 16-22 carbon atoms and Rg is a divalent alkyl radical of 1-3 carbon atoms and X is a salt-forming anion, and the weight ratio of nonionic surfactant to cation is is between 1:10 and 5: 1. A mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that R is alkyl of 12 to 15 carbon atoms and R * is 40 8 2 2 61 alkyl of 8-9 carbon atoms, and m and n are each an average of about 15-30 . Mixture according to Claim 5, characterized in that the cationic compound (b) is dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride. Mixture according to Claim 1, characterized in that the cationic compound is dimethyl distearylammonium chloride. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one detergent additive selected from the group consisting of inorganic detergent builder salts, organic detergent builder salts, stain suspending agents, anti-fouling agents, fatty amides, foaming agents. and antifoams, optical brighteners, dyes, pigments, sealants, anti-yellowing agents, enzymes, anti-corrosion agents, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers, antibacterial agents, fungicides, preservatives bleaches, bleach stabilizers, bleach activators, perfumes and water. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains at least 0.1 part of an amphoteric surfactant (d) and wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of: (1) betaine detergents of formula R2 0 1 + 11 R 1 -N + -R 4 -C-0 r 3 (2) betaine detergents having an alkyl bridge and having the formula 4i 82261 OH Ro O II II II R1-CH2-CN-CH2CH2CH2-N + -R4-CH- r3 (3) imidazoline detergents of the formula CHoCOOH 0 i + 11 R 1 -C-N + -R 4 -O-CH 2 CO 2 IN 1 CHo \ / ch2 (4) alkyl iminopropionate detergents of the formula H r1-n- ch2ch2cooh (5) alkyl iminodipropionate detergents of the formula ^ • CH2CH2COOH R1-N2 ^ ch2ch2cooh (6) ether-bridged alkyl iminodipropionate detergents of the formula CH2CH2COOH ro-coco amphoteric detergents of the formula H 0 1 + II R 1 -C-N + -CH 2 OCH 2 CH 2 CO "N / CH 2 42 82261 (8) carboxyethylated higher fatty alkyl imidazoline-based amphoteric detergents of the formula CH2 / \. HoC hn + -ch2ch2coo "II HOR2 - N - C - Rx and mixtures thereof wherein R1 represents an aliphatic radical having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 each represent a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R4 represents a divalent lower an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.