FI84837B - KONCENTRERAD, STABIL, VATTENFRI TYGMJUKGOERARKOMPOSITION. - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to fabric softener compositions suitable for use in the rinsing cycle of a laundry washing process, and in particular to highly concentrated fabric softener compositions which are readily dispersed in water, particularly in washing machines with automatic dispensers.

Mixtures containing quaternary ammonium salts having at least one long chain hydrocarbyl group are commonly used to provide fabric softening benefits when used in a laundry rinsing operation, cf. e.g., U.S. Patents 3,349,033, 3,644,203, 3,946,115, 3,997,453, 4,073,735, and 4,119,545.

For most aqueous plasticizer compositions containing quaternary ammonium compounds as active ingredients, the concentration of such cationic materials is generally limited to about 3-5% by weight (see U.S. Patents 3,904,533 and 3,920,565). Such a low concentration is generally necessitated by the fact that cationic substances form gels in aqueous systems at concentrations greater than about 8%, and although the use of electrolytes to calculate the viscosity of such mixtures is known (see, in particular, U.S. Patent 4,199,545), such electrolytes are anything but satisfactory. From a functional point of view, electrolytes often do not function as required, especially at concentrations of cationic substances of about 12-15%. Furthermore, although the performance of electrolytes may alleviate some of the gelation problem, their use is anything but satisfactory in providing a highly concentrated aqueous system of cationic substances that does not gel or whose viscosity does not "1 change greatly in the normal temperature range that occurs when handling them." for example from about -18 ° C to: about 60 ° C or in dispensers from washing machines.

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In the normal use of automatic washing machines in European households, the user places the rinsing cycle in the dosing unit of the fabric softener (e.g. in the dosing compartment). Thereafter, while the machine is operating during the rinsing cycle, the plasticizer mixture is exposed to a stream of cold water to transfer it to the drum. In winter, when the softener mixture and the water fed to the dispenser may be particularly cold, problems may occur, some of the mixture may not be completely flushed out of the dispenser during machine operation and the mixture may accumulate with repeated washing cycles so that it may be necessary for the user to rinse the dispenser properly with water. This problem may be particularly severe with very concentrated plasticizer formulations due to the aforementioned gelling problem and also when a nonionic surfactant is present with the cationic plasticizer, as the viscosity of the nonionic agent tends to increase when mixed with cold water to form a gel.

British Patent Application 2053249A discloses cationic fabric softening compositions containing 15-60% by weight of a cationic plasticizer, 35-75% by weight of an aqueous intermediate. . and 0.5 to 40% by weight of the defined water-soluble polymer.

; U.S. Patent 4,351,737 discloses concentrated fabric softeners comprising both cationic and nonionic plasticizers and a nonionic dispersant together with a solvent mixture comprising a C 1 -C 4 alkanol and a liquid glycol, a polyglycol. or an alkyl ether thereof. Hexylene glycol has not been explained. It has now been found that the dispersibility in cold water and the flow from automatic dispensers, even in highly concentrated liquid fabric softener compositions containing a nonionic surfactant, can be greatly improved by partially or completely replacing the anhydrous liquid softener mixture.

This invention relates to substantially anhydrous, stable, concentrated plasticizer compositions based on plasticizer quaternary ammonium compounds and a carrier liquid consisting of hexylene glycol, and optionally a nonionic surfactant. This invention also relates to a process for preparing and using highly concentrated fabric softener compositions.

The compositions of this invention are stable, substantially anhydrous compositions containing a high concentration of a cationic fabric softener which is a water-dispersible quaternary ammonium compound, as described below, and hexylene glycol as or as a liquid carrier. Preferred compositions may also contain a nonionic surfactant and an electrolyte.

The compositions of this invention contain at least about 20% cationic plasticizer and up to about 80% thereof, preferably up to about 70% and even more preferably up to about 60% of said cationic plasticizer has the general formula: - Γ r Ί +

R -N- R VI

; L R

wherein two of R's are tallow, stearyl, hexyldecyl or hydrogenated tallow and the other two Rs are methyl or ethyl 4,84837 and Y is a water-soluble anion such as chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, sulfate, methosulfate, nitrite, nitrate , phosphate and carboxylate (i.e., acetate, adipate, propionate, phthalate, benzoate, oleate, Tue, etc.). · Typical cationics of formula I are: distearyldimethylammonium chloride ditallow diheksadekyylidimetyylianunoniumkloridi distearyylidimetyylianunoniumkloridi di (hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium chloride ditallow isopropyylimetyyliammoniumkloridi distearyylidi (isopropyl ) ammonium chloride distearyldimethylammonium methosulphate.

A very preferred class of cationic compounds are those compounds of formula I wherein two of R 1 are C 1 -C 4 alkyl groups, one R is methyl or ethyl and one R is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, hydroxy. -ethyl or hydroxypropyl group.

Other quaternary plasticizers that can be used are imidazolinium compounds of the formula: N f C - R 4

Il> Il C - N - (CH2) m - N - C - R7 Y (II)

/ I I

wherein R 2 is a C 8 -C 6 alkyl and preferably a C 8 -C 6 alkyl or alkenyl group; R 3 and R 4 are independently hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 4 alkyl groups; R5 is a C1-C4 alkyl group; 5,84837

R 9 is a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; R 7 is a C 8 -C 30 alkyl group and preferably a C 8 -C 6 alkyl group; n is 2 or 3; m is 2 or 3, and Y is a water-soluble anion.

Typical compounds of formula II include: 1-methyl-1 - [(thalloylamido) ethyl] -2-thaloyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium methyl sulfate; 1-methyl-l - [(palmitoyyliami-do) ethyl] -2-octadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidatsoliniumkloridi.

Particularly preferred cationic compounds are: ditalimonomethyl-monohydroxypropylammonium chloride, distearyldimethylammonium chloride, ditalidimethylammonium chloride, dithalisopropylmethylammonium chloride, etc.

The anhydrous carrier may comprise about 80-20% and preferably about 60-25% by weight of the mixture.

The anhydrous carrier of the composition of this invention contains at least about 25% and preferably at least 30% hexylene glycol and the remainder C 1 -C 6 alkanol, preferably ethanol or propanol, C 2 -C 6 glycol, preferably diethylene glycol or propylene glycol, or C 1 -C 6 of these glycols. mono- or dialkyl ether. . or mixtures thereof. The entire carrier may consist of a hexylene glycol to exclude alcohols and / or glycols (and / or glycol ethers). Hexylene glycol is the trade name for 2-methyl-lipentane-2,4-diol.

Typical carriers may include (a) 25% hexylene glycol and 75% propylene glycol; (b) 31% hexylene glycol and 69% propylene glycol; (c) 31% isopropanol and 69% hexylene glycol; (d) 100% hexylene glycol.

The total weight of the cationic fabric softener and the anhydrous liquid carrier in the mixture is at least about 80% and 100% by weight, preferably about 85-99% by weight, with the remainder containing a nonionic surfactant, electrolyte and / or optional conventional additives.

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The optional nonionic component of the composition in question constitutes about 0-15% and preferably about 1-12% by weight of the mixture and may generally vary with the cationic plasticizer in a weight ratio of cationic to nonionic of about 25: 1-3: 1. preferably about 12: 1 to 6: 1 and particularly preferably about 10: 1. Suitable nonionic compounds include ethylene oxide and propylene condensates (and mixtures thereof) of C 8 -C 10 aliphatic alcohols and mono-, di- and trialkyl (each C 1 -C 4) phenols. In general, the nonionic compounds preferred herein are moderately hydrophilic in nature, including a moderate hydrophilic group. In the present invention, this group is preferably an oxyethyl chain generally having at least about two terminal ethoxyethyl groups (i.e., the oxyethyl groups are adjacent and terminate in a hydroxyl group) and up to about 20 such groups, although oxyethylene may be up to 200 moles per mole of hydrophobic group.

Particularly suitable nonionic surfactants are C9-1 aliphatic alcohols containing 8 moles of condensed ethylene oxide; ethoxylated nonylphenol with 6 moles of ethylene oxide, ethoxylated octylphenol with 4.5 moles of ethylene oxide and aliphatic alcohol with 7.5 moles of ethylene oxide.

In addition to the above components of the emollient compositions of this invention, a number of conventional, complementary and optional ingredients may be included which do not adversely affect Thus, common fragrances, dyes, pigments, opacifiers, antimicrobials, optical brighteners, corrosion inhibitors (e.g. sodium silicate), polymers, antistatic agents and the like may be present. When used, each may form, for example, 0.01 to about 5% by weight of the mixture.

It is, of course, recognized and realized that most of the materials available, and in particular those containing a li 7 84837 hydrocarbon group, are generally mixtures of closely related groups.

Thus, the long chain alkyl substituents (R) in the cationic agents used in this invention may be not only carbon chains of a certain length, but more likely mixtures.

A particularly useful quaternary salt in this regard, in which the alkyl groups are derived from tallow, may contain about 35% C 1-10 and 60% C 1-10 and minor amounts of C 1-4 and others. Likewise, the aliphatic alcohol precursor compounds of the nonionic compounds used herein may be of a specified carbon chain length, but more likely, again, they may be a mixture of compounds of useful chain length in any ratio.

The fabric softening compositions of this invention should have viscosities of between about 0.1-2.5 cm / s and preferably 0.25-1.5 cm / s in addition to having substantial dispersibility in water during the rinse cycle (or where in any other dilution form before use).

The manner in which hexylene glycol, other optional carriers, cationic plasticizer, and optional nonionic surfactant, electrolyte, and other optional conventional additives are combined is not particularly critical, nor is the order of addition. However, some care should be taken to avoid overheating to limit the volatility of the solvent and, more importantly, to stay below the flash point of the carrier and any other low boiling liquids that may be present: ': \ - or that have been added to the plasticizer, etc. as components. For example, hexylene glycol has a flash point of 93 ° C. In general, however, it is preferable to combine all the ingredients at room temperature, e.g. at about 15-25 ° C or below.

In a suitable procedure for preparing the compositions of this invention, all nonionic and other additives (e.g., brightener, colorant, perfume, etc.) are dissolved in the carrier and then added to a ____: cationic material, which is preferably in liquid form, e.g.

8,84837 as a dispersion in a carrier for a component of the mixtures (e.g. as a dispersion in isopropanol).

The following examples illustrate the present invention without being construed as limiting it. Parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1

Following the procedure described above, 2 parts of ethoxylated nonylphenol (containing 6 moles of ethylene oxide) are dissolved in about 75 parts of hexylene glycol at a temperature of about 20 ° C. To this solution is slowly added 20 parts of distearyldimethylammonium chloride (75% active in isopropanol) with stirring. A stable product with a viscosity of about 1 cm 2 / s is obtained.

Example 2

The procedure of Example 1 is repeated using the following parts by weight (A) of the cationic compound (active); (B) a surfactant, (NaCl) and (C) hexylene glycol.

(a) A = 22; B = 2.0; C = 76.0 (b) A = 34; B = 315; C * = 62.5 (c) A = 46; B = 4.8; C = 49.2 (d) A = 58; B = 5.5; C = 36.5 * weight ratio of hexylene glycol / ethylene glycol 3: 1.

Example 3

Examples 1 and 2 are repeated using the following instead of distearyldimethylammonium chloride; (a) ditalidimethylammonium chloride; (b) distearyldimethylammonium methosulfate (c) di (hydrogenated tallow) dimethylammonium bromide (d) dihexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (e) distearyldiethylammonium chloride (f) 1-methyl-1-t- (tallowalkylamido) ethyl] dihydroxy] dihydroalkyl] -2-tallowalkyl

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Example 4

In order to demonstrate the improved dosability of the hexylene glycol-based liquid carrier, the following blends A-E are prepared with concentrated plasticizer mixtures:

Weight-%

Solvent (A-E) 31.9

Cationic fabric softener ^ 60.0. 2)

Non-ionic substance 5.0

Perfume, colorant, minor constituents 3.1 ^ 75% active ingredient in isopropanol 2) 'nonylphenol, ethoxylated with an average of 6 moles of ethylene oxide (C-9 phenol EO 6: 1)

The following are used as solvents: A - 10% isopropyl alcohol and 21.3% diethylene glycol (reference) B - 10% hexylene glycol and 21-9% propylene glycol C - 10% isopropyl alcohol and 21-9% hexylene glycol D - 31.9% hexylene glycol E - 31 .9% propylene glycol (comparison)

Each of the above plasticizer blends is added to the dispenser of a typical European washing machine, AEG 802 ... and after three cumulative boiling point elevations (filling the dispenser for each cycle), the amount of mixture remaining in the dispenser is measured. Results pre- ·; · Is given in the following table as a percentage of the total amount used (ie the total dose): 10 84837

Mixture Solvent Residual amount,% A 10% isopropanol 15 21.9 diethylene glycol B 10% hexylene glycol 6.7 21.9% propylene glycol C 10% isopropanol 3.6 21.9% hexylene glycol D 31.9% hexylene glycol 2.8 E 31.9% propylene glycol

From the above results, it can be readily appreciated that the use of hexylene glycol to replace all or part of the conventional anhydrous liquid carriers, added to the rinse cycle as a fabric softener mixture, greatly improves cold water dispersibility and flow (dosing) even with concentrated ionizers.

In addition, the concentrated liquid fabric softener compositions of this invention are stable for long periods of time at both low, e.g., 4 ° C, and high, e.g., 35 ° C, storage temperatures. . including freeze-thaw cycles, for 6 weeks or longer.

The compositions of this invention have the additional advantage that hexylene glycol is non-toxic and therefore the mixtures are safe to use.

Although these mixtures are mainly intended for direct use: in the rinsing cycle of automatic washing machines, they can also be used in diluted form and for manual handling, both inside and outside the washing machine.

It is still to be understood that as used herein, the term "anhydrous" means that water is not intentionally added to the system, although minor amounts of water, e.g., up to about 5%, may be present based on the composition of certain ingredients, e.g. addition of dyes in the form of aqueous solutions, water contained in a plasticizer, etc.

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Claims (11)

1. Stable, substantially anhydrous, concentrated fabric softener composition, characterized in that it contains substantially about 20-80% by weight of a water-dispersible quaternary ammonium compound as cationic plasticizer (A); about 80-20% by weight of an anhydrous carrier liquid (B) containing at least 25% by weight hexylene glycol, and about 1-15% by weight, based on the fabric softener composition of a nonionic surfactant (C), which is a ethylene oxide or propylene oxide or their mixed oxide condensate with a C C-C₂o aliphatic alcohol or a mono-, di- or trialkylphenol, each alkyl group of the alkyl phenol containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and the cationic plasticizer (A) selected from a group of state of compounds of formula (I) or (II) Γ 1+ RR \ / NY (I) / \ RR f * f N f C - R 4 0 11 * II C - N - (CH 2) m - N - C - R 7 Y (II) / 1 I 1 * 2 R 5 R 6 where two of R are tallow, stearyl, hexyl decyl or hydrogenated tallow and the other two R are methyl or ethyl; and R 2 is a C 6 -C 8 alkyl or alkenyl group; R 3 and R 4 are independently hydrogen atoms or C 1 -C 4 alkyl groups; R 9 is a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; R 9 is a hydrogen atom or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; R7 is a C8-C3 alkyl group, m is 2 or 3; n is 2 or 3, and Y is a water-soluble anion. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight ratio between the cationic fabric softener and the nonionic surfactant is about 25: 1-3: 1. 15 84 837 Composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the anhydrous carrier (B) contains at least 35% by weight of hexylene glycol. Composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the anhydrous support consists of hexylene glycol. Composition according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the anhydrous carrier consists of a mixture containing at least 25% by weight of hexylene glycol and the ether is a C 1 -C 3 alkanol, a C 2 -C 8 glycol, a C -C8 mono or dialkyl ether of said glycol or mixtures thereof. Composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anhydrous carrier contains (a) 25. hexylene glycol and 75% propylene glycol, (b) 31% hexylene glycol and 69% propylene glycol, (c) 31% isopropanol and 69% hexylene glycol or (d) 100% hexylene glycol. Composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixed oxide condensate formed by the nonionic surfactant contains about 2-20 moles of ethylene dioxide per mole alcohol or phenol. Composition according to claim 7, characterized in that the non-ionic surfactant is a C 6 -Cn aliphatic alcohol with 8 moles of condensed ethylene oxide; ethoxylated nonylphenol with 6 moles of ethylene oxide; ethoxylated octylphenol with 4.5 moles of ethylene oxide or a C8 aliphatic alcohol with 7.5 moles of ethylene oxide. Composition according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the cationic plasticizer (A) is 1-methyl-1 - [(talgoylamido) ethyl] -2-talgoyl-4,5-dihydroimidatesolinium methylsulfate or 1-methylsulfate. l - [(palmitoylamido) ethyl] -2-ok tadekyl-4,5-dihydroimidatsoliniumklorid. 16 84837 Composition according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the cationic plasticizer (Λ) is ditalg-monomethylmonohydroxypropylammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl-ammonium chloride, ditalgdimethylammonium chloride or ditalgisopropyl methylammonium chloride. 11. A composition according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the cationic plasticizer (A) is dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium bromide, di (hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium bromide, distearyl di ammonium dichloromethyl chloride,