JPH06128876A - Liquid softening finishing agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a softening finishing agent having biodegradability, providing various yarns with excellent softness and elasticity, comprising a specific hydroxycarboxylic acid and/or a bifunctional carboxylic acid and a neutralized substance of a specific ester amine compound as essential components. CONSTITUTION:(A) 1-20wt.% hydroxycarboxylic acid of formula I (X and Y are H, 1-4C alkyl, OH or CH2COO; (n) is l-3) and/or formula II (R is single bond or 1-3C alkylene) such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid or tartaric acid and/or bifunctional carboxylic acid such as oxalic acid or adipic acid is blended with (B) 3-25wt.% neutralized substance of an ester amine compound of formula III and/or having IV and/or formula V (R1 and R2 are 11-23C hydrocarbon; R' is 1-24C hydrocarbon, hydroxyethyl, etc.; (m) and (n) are 2 or 3) with an inorganic acid as essential components to give a liquid softening finishing agent having pH1.5-3.5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a softening finish, and more particularly to a household liquid softening finish which can impart excellent flexibility and elasticity (puffiness) to various fibers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently,
Most of the products marketed as household softening agents are 1
It is a composition containing a quaternary ammonium salt having 1 to 2 long-chain alkyl groups in the molecule as a main component. The reason why the quaternary ammonium salt is mainly used is that a small amount of the quaternary ammonium salt has a good softening effect on various fibers. Softening agents based on quaternary ammonium salts are usually marketed as 4-20% dispersions,
It is used.

The quaternary ammonium salt has a remarkable softening effect on cotton, but it cannot be said to be sufficiently effective on synthetic fibers such as acrylic, polyester and polyamide. If the treatment is performed at a higher concentration, the elasticity of the clothing may be deteriorated and the texture may be impaired.
When storing for a long period of time, especially at low temperatures,
May form gel or separate. For this reason, various polyoxyethylene-based nonionic activators, electrolytes, and solvents other than the soft component are required, and many of them are compounded for stabilization, but the effect is still insufficient.

Further, since the quaternary ammonium salt has a strong hydrophobicity, when it is poured into the rinse water, if the stirring power is weak, the dispersibility in water is poor, and therefore the clothing may be uneven. Commercially available softeners are mixed with various additives in addition to the above quaternary ammonium salt to improve dispersibility in water, but the effect is still insufficient.

Further, in addition to a softening agent having a quaternary ammonium salt as a softening agent, liquid softening agents having various amines as a softening agent have been conventionally known. For example, JP-A-5
JP-A-58-60070 discloses a composition for imparting flexibility to a fiber containing a long-chain alkylamine such as methyldi (cured tallow alkyl) amine.
In the publication, acylated alkanolamines, water-soluble-fourth
A fiber material finishing agent that imparts smoothness and comfortable feel to a fiber containing a quaternary ammonium salt and a fatty acid ester is disclosed in JP-A-61-167083, which is a quaternary ammonium compound, a higher fatty acid and a hydroxy lower alkyl polyamine polyglycol. A softening agent containing ether and having good dispersibility is disclosed in JP-A-61-275474, which is a stable aqueous dispersion for treating textiles, containing a di (higher alkyl) cyclic amine and a Bronsted acid. 64-85368
JP-A-2-6662 discloses a softening composition containing a dilong-chain alkylamine-anionic surfactant ion pair complex, a non-silicone wax and a liquid carrier. A fabric conditioning composition containing an amine such as a condensate of a higher fatty acid and an amphoteric fabric conditioning agent is disclosed in JP-A-2-
No. 14076 describes a softening agent containing a dilong-chain alkylamine-polyfunctional carboxylic acid complex, and a fabric conditioning composition imparting antistatic properties. Furthermore, JP-A-52-5394 describes a fabric condition-controlling composition containing a mono- or di-long-chain alkylalkylenediamine antistatic agent and a quaternary ammonium softener.

However, the effect of the softener containing these amines is not yet sufficient. In addition, recently, there is a growing concern over the impact on the environment worldwide, and a base material having excellent biodegradability is beginning to be desired. The softener of No. 1 is not yet effective in this respect as well.

[0007]

The present inventors have arrived at the present invention as a result of intensive research to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. That is, the present invention provides a liquid softening agent containing the following components (a) and (b) as essential components and having a pH of 1.5 to 3.5. Component (a): Compound represented by the following general formula (I) and / or compound represented by the following general formula (II) 1 to 20% by weight

[0008]

[Chemical 3]

[In the formula, X and Y are the same or different and each represents H, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, OH or CH ₂ COOH. n
Represents an integer of 1 to 3. HOOC-R-COOH (II) [In formula, R shows a single bond or a C1-C5 alkylene group. Component (b): Neutralized product of a compound represented by the following general formula (III) with an inorganic acid and / or neutralized product of a compound represented by the following general formula (IV) with an inorganic acid and / or general Neutralized product of a compound represented by formula (V) with an inorganic acid 3 to 25% by weight

[0010]

[Chemical 4]

[Wherein R ₁ and R ₂ are hydrocarbon groups having 11 to 23 carbon atoms, R'is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, hydroxyethyl group or hydroxylpropyl group, and m and n are 2 or Represents 3. ].

As typical examples of the organic acid as the component (a) used in the present invention, those represented by the general formula (I) are represented by the following formulas: glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid. An acid having a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group, and as represented by the general formula (II), dibasic acids represented by oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, etc. Is mentioned.

The component (b) is represented by the general formulas (III), (IV),
It is a neutralized product of an amine compound represented by (V) with an inorganic acid, and these may be used as a mixture of two or more kinds. Further, in the general formulas (III) to (V), R ₁ and R ₂ are each a carbon number of 11 to 23.
A hydrocarbon group, which may be the same or different,
It may be linear or branched, and may be saturated or unsaturated. Further, when R ′ is also a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, it may be linear or branched, and saturated or unsaturated.
Since the component (b) according to the present invention has an ester group in the molecule, it is excellent in biodegradability and is one of the features that it is a base that does not pose a problem to the natural environment. .

Typical examples of the component (b) used in the present invention include alkanolamines such as triethanolamine, tripropanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine, N-methylpropanolamine, N-long-chain alkyldiethanolamine and the number of carbon atoms. Examples thereof include compounds obtained by neutralizing an ester amine compound obtained by reaction with 12 to 24 fatty acids or fatty acid alkyl esters with an inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid. As the fatty acid used in this reaction, naturally derived fatty acids such as coconut oil, palm oil, beef tallow, rapeseed oil and fish oil are generally used, but chemically synthesized fatty acids may also be used.

The liquid softening finish of the present invention is, for example, (b)
It is obtained by slowly adding a melt or a concentrated solution of an amine compound as a component to an aqueous solution containing a neutralizing agent under stirring or shear mixing, and then adding the component (a), but the method is not limited to this method. However, it can also be obtained by a method in which the neutralized product is produced in advance or the neutralized product is added later.

In the liquid softening agent of the present invention, the component (a) and the component (b) are compounded in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight of the component (a) and 3 to 25% by weight of the component (b).

The softening agent of the present invention may be further modified with a silicone compound such as dimethylpolysiloxane or dimethylpolysiloxane partially modified with an amino group or a polyoxyalkylene group, particularly preferably partially modified with a polyoxyalkylene group. By blending the dimethylpolysiloxane described above, it is possible to improve the feel of the softly treated clothing without impairing the water absorption. These silicone compounds are
It is preferable to add 0.3 to 5% by weight to the component (b).

The liquid softening agent of the present invention has substantially the same softening effect as that of the hardened tallow alkyldimethylammonium chloride which has been widely used in the past, but surprisingly, it has elastic softness. I understood.

When the composition of the present invention is used as an aqueous liquid softening agent, an inorganic electrolyte such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride or magnesium chloride is added in an amount of 0.05 to 0.4 in order to adjust the viscosity.
Addition by weight% is desirable.

The liquid softening agent of the present invention has high stability for long-term storage, but for further stabilization under severe storage conditions, polyoxyethylene (5 to 50 mol) alkyl or alkenyl (C ₁₂ To C ₂₄ ) ether or other nonionic surfactant, ethanol, a solvent such as propylene glycol or ethylene glycol, glycerin, urea or the like can be added. Also, known esters as soft bases, nonionic or cationic compounds, long-chain alcohols,
You may use together long-chain fatty acid etc.

It is also possible to incorporate pigments or dyes for the appearance of the product, optical brighteners for the whiteness of the finished product, and fragrances for a better appearance when used and after the finish. The balance of the liquid softening agent of the present invention is an optional component and water.

The liquid softening agent of the present invention has a liquid pH of 1.5.
It is preferably in the range of -3.5, especially 1.8-2.5.
If the pH exceeds 3.5, sufficient elasticity cannot be obtained, and the pH
If it is less than 1.5, storage stability over a long period of time may be impaired, and problems may occur.

[0023]

Industrial Applicability The liquid softening finish of the present invention is capable of imparting sufficient flexibility and antistatic properties to various fibers, imparting excellent elasticity, and excellent biodegradability.

[0024]

EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Examples 1 to 11 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 A softening agent containing the component (a) shown in Table 1 and the component (b) shown in Table 2 in the ratio shown in Table 3 (the balance being water) was used. It was used to evaluate flexibility and elasticity. (1) Cloth treatment method Commercial cotton towel 2kg, acrylic jersey 1kg 3.5 °
After washing with a commercially available detergent attack (registered trademark, manufactured by Kao Corporation) 5 times with DH hard water (30 liter washing machine) to remove the fiber treatment agent attached to each fiber, Table 3
Add 1.5g of liquid softening agent as an active ingredient, and
The mixture was treated under stirring at 1 ° C for 1 minute. (2) Flexibility and elasticity evaluation method After air-drying the cloth treated by the above method indoors, 25 ℃, 65% RH
It was left in a constant temperature and humidity room for 24 hours. The softness and elasticity of these cloths were evaluated. For the evaluation of softness and elasticity, pairwise comparison was carried out by using a cloth treated with 10 cc of a softening agent consisting of 15% by weight of dihydrogenated tallow alkyldimethylammonium chloride as a control. The evaluation is expressed as follows. +2; softer or more elastic than the control +1; slightly softer or more elastic than the control 0; same as the control -1; slightly softer than the control or slightly less elastic than the control -2: the control Is softer or less elastic than the control

[0026]

[Table 1]

[0027]

[Table 2]

[0028]

[Table 3]

Examples 12 to 14 and Comparative Examples 6 and 7 The liquid softening finishes obtained in Examples 1, 7 and 11 and Comparative Examples 2 and 4 were piled up with cotton towels in order to evaluate elasticity. Height was measured as follows. <Evaluation of elasticity> A cotton towel treated in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 11 is folded in three and stacked up in three layers.
After pressurizing with a pressure of 5 g / cm ² for 5 minutes, the pressure is removed,
The height of the towel was measured. The higher the towel height, the better the elasticity.

[0030]

[Table 4]

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location D06M 13/36

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A liquid softening agent comprising the following components (a) and (b) as essential components and having a pH of 1.5 to 3.5. Component (a): 1 to 20% by weight of a compound represented by the following general formula (I) and / or a compound represented by the following general formula (II) [In the formula, X and Y are the same or different and each represents H, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, OH or CH ₂ COOH. n shows the integer of 1-3. HOOC-R-COOH (II) [In formula, R shows a single bond or a C1-C5 alkylene group. Component (b): Neutralized product of a compound represented by the following general formula (III) with an inorganic acid and / or neutralized product of a compound represented by the following general formula (IV) with an inorganic acid and / or general Neutralized product of a compound represented by formula (V) with an inorganic acid 3 to 25% by weight [In the formula, R ₁ and R ₂ represent a hydrocarbon group having 11 to 23 carbon atoms, R'represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, a hydroxyethyl group or a hydroxylpropyl group, and m and n represent 2 or 3 . ]