JPS6245780A - Article and method for treating cloth - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention provides stain removal, softening,
and articles and methods for imparting antistatic benefits to fabrics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Treatment in automatic fabric dryers has been shown to be an effective means of imparting desirable tactile properties to fabrics. For example, it has become common to soften fabrics in automatic fabric dryers rather than during the rinse cycle of a laundry operation (see US Pat. No. 3,442.692).

Fabric "flexibility" is a well-defined technical expression,
The feel or texture is usually understood to be the quality of the treated fabric, which is smooth, soft, and fluffy to the touch. Various compounds have long been known to have the ability to soften fabrics when applied during laundry operations.

Fabric flexibility also refers to the absence of "cling" with static electricity within the fabric, and commonly used cationic fabric softeners have a softening and antistatic effect when applied to fabrics. In fact, in the case of fabrics such as nylon and polyester,
Users may perceive and recognize antistatic benefits over true softening benefits.

On the other hand, softening treatment is not common in stain removal treatment for fabrics in automatic dryers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,531 discloses a soil release aid plus a "distribution aid", i.e. polyethylene glycol (PEG), in Examples 8 and 9 thereof. 1
The key combination of fabric softening and soil release treatment within a fabric dryer product is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 531 and other known prior art.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fabric soil release/softening article for use in automatic dryers that has superior soil release benefits and softening compared to the prior art.

This and other objects are obtained with the present invention as will be seen from the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides (a) a fabric conditioning composition comprising a polymeric soil release agent and a fabric softener; Includes an article suitable for use in an automatic washer/dryer comprising dispensing means to provide release of an effective amount of said composition and to provide fabric stain release benefits and to soften fabrics. do.

The present invention also provides an automatic fabric drying method comprising tampling the fabric under heat in a fabric dryer with an effective amount, i.e. a softening amount, of a composition comprising one or more softening actives and a soil release agent. The present invention includes methods for imparting soil release benefits and softening/antistatic effects to fabrics in a machine. Fabric stain removal benefits include a wide range of stains,
For example, it provides for oil stains and surprisingly clay stains on polyester and polyester/cotton blend fabrics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention provides a fabric conditioning composition (al) having a melting point greater than about 38°C and being flowable at dryer operating temperatures.
The fabric conditioning composition comprises 1 polymeric soil release agent 1% to 70% and 1 fabric softener 30% to 99%) (b) 1 automatic dryer operating temperature, i.e. 35° C. to 115° C.
The present invention includes articles suitable for providing fabric stain release and softening benefits in an automatic fabric dryer comprising a dispensing member that provides release of an effective amount of the composition to the fabric within the dryer at .degree.

When the dispensing member is a flexible substrate in the form of a sheet, the fabric conditioning composition has a weight ratio of conditioning composition to dry substrate of about 10=1 to about 0.5:
It should be releasably attached to the substrate so as to give 1.

The present invention also provides a method for stain release in an automatic fabric dryer comprising tampling the fabric under heat in the fabric dryer with an effective amount, i.e. a softening amount, of a composition comprising a softening active and a soil release agent. and methods of imparting softness/antistatic effects to fabrics.

The term "fabric conditioning composition" as used herein is defined as a mixture of a polymeric soil release agent and a fabric softener as defined herein.

Polymeric soil release agents useful in the present invention include hydroxyether cellulose polymers, block copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate, block copolymers of polyethylene phthalate and polyethylene glycol, and cationic guar gums. include. The stain release agent has a weight of about 1 to about 70% by weight of the fabric conditioning composition, more preferably about 10 to about 70% by weight of the fabric conditioning composition.
It is present in an amount of about 25 to about 50 parts by weight, most preferably about 25 to about 50 parts by weight.

Cellulose derivatives that are functional as soil release agents include hydroxy ethers of cellulose, such as methocel.
(Methoce Yu) HB-15000 (Dow),
Methyl oel
se) DM 7140 (Buckeye), and Klucel (Herkieles); also cationic cellulose ether derivatives such as polymer JR-1
25, JR-400, and yu-3oM (Union
carbide).

Other effective stain release agents are cationic guar gums such as Jaguar Plus (Stein Hall) and G endr
ive) (General Mills).

Preferred fabric conditioning compositions include methylcellulose, hydroxyglobil methylcellulose, or hydroxybutyl methylcellulose (the cellulose polymer has a viscosity of 15-75.00 in dihydric aqueous solution at 20°C).
0 centipoise).

A more preferred stain release agent is a copolymer having blocks of polyethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate. More specifically, these polymers have a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units of about 25:75 to about 3
5: Consisting of 65 repeating units of ethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate (bff
The polyoxyethylene terephthalate has a molecular weight of about 300.
~700 polyoxyethylene blocks). The molecular weight of this polymeric stain remover is approximately 25.0
00 to about 55°000. These preferred polymers are disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,959,230.

The melting point of the polymer is preferably below 100''C.

Another preferred polymeric soil release agent has an average molecular weight of about 300.
~90 polyoxyethylene terephthalate units derived from about 6,000 polyoxyethylene glycols
10 to 50% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units
a crystalline polyester copolymer having repeating units of ethylene terephthalate units containing 50% by weight, and wherein the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the crystalline polymer compound is from 2:1 to 6. =1. More preferred polymers are those in which the polyoxyethylene terephthalate units are derived from polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 1,000' to about 4,000. These polymers are disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,416,952.

Examples of these copolymers include the commercially available material Zercon® (
4780 (Dupont) and the registered trademark Milease T (IC Engineering), both of which are registered trademarks of Ohemica.
s5Service Registry No.

9016-88-0. Both Zercon 478o and Milease T are sold in aqueous dispersion form containing up to 85% water. It is preferred to prepare fabric conditioning compositions using dehydrated polymers to avoid incorporating excess water which is believed to make the resulting fabric conditioning article wet and sticky. Dehydrated polymers may be obtained by drying the commercial dispersions described above, or may be obtained directly from the manufacturer in concentrated form. An example of the latter is Zercon PG, a concentrated form of Zercon 4780, and is obtained from the DuPont Company.

The most preferred polymers are solid at room temperature, have a softening phase transition temperature of 30°C or higher, and become fluid liquids at 100°C or lower, preferably 90°C or lower. The softening phase transition temperature is
It can be measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The polymers, which are hard solids at room temperature, are used in fabric conditioning sheets while their softening and flowability at elevated temperatures facilitates the basic milling process and subsequent fabric conditioning active material transfer from the fabric conditioning sheet to the fabric in the fabric dryer. Desirable to avoid having a sticky feel.

Particularly preferred polymeric stain removers include: December 2, 1984
US Pat. the moiety is essentially an ethylene moiety or a substituted ethylene moiety having a C1-04 alkyl or alkoxy substituent;
The R3 moiety is at least one -803M, -CooM,
-0moR'0), 1o(OH20H20), -)-X
or -A((u2-A-x'-A)-)du'o),
(an2an2o), -)x ft chivalry group or another R3
At least one -A 壬CR2-A-
Substitutions 02-C1 with R'-A)+wR2-A-8 minutes
8 HydrocaryLene
and the R4 moiety is the R1 or R3 moiety, or a mixture thereof; each R is 03-C4 alkylene, or -R2-A-R'-, where R6 is C1""
C12 alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkenylene moiety); each M is ■ or a water-soluble cation; each X is H, 01-04 alkyl or -0R
7 (wherein R7 is C]~04 alkyl); m and n are -(CH20H20) partially -(-(R'O)
, n(OH2(H2O)n+ moiety of at least about 50 M
The number is such that it constitutes 1t%, provided that R or -R2-A
- When part of R6, m is 1; each n is at least about 10; U and V are numbers such that the u+v phase is from about 3 to about 25; W is 0 or less (both 1
and when W is at least 1, u, v
and W is a number such that the sum of u-)-v-)-w is fJ3 ~ about 3].

This latter combination has the formula 111! X-(OH20H20-na-at-hn-at pH0)-Y (in the formula,
Each R1 is a 1,4-phenylene moiety; R2 consists essentially of an ethylene moiety, a 1,2-propylene moiety, or a mixture thereof; each X is ethyl or preferably methyl; each n is from about 12 to about 43; U is about 3 to about 1
0) is particularly preferred.

A preferred polymeric soil release agent is POKT (polyoxyethylene terephthalate), a compound having the general formula above. It is synthesized from the following reactants:

1. Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ester, molecular weight 750, Aldrich Chemical Company, 1.
000 g (b, 33 mol) 2, dimethyl terephthalate, molecular weight 195, Aldrich Chemical Company, 359.9 g (b, 85 mol) 3, ethylene glycol, molecule [62, Aldrich Chemical Company
Chemical Company, 146.4 g (2.36 mol) 4, Calcium Acetate, MC! B, 7.9 g (catalyst)
5. Antimony trioxide, Fisher Scientific, 7.9 g (catalyst) 6. Butylated hydroxytoluene, Aldrich Chemical Company, 3.6 g (antioxidant) The reaction was carried out as follows. All of the above materials were added to 21 round bottom flasks with a mechanical stirrer. A 14 inch (approximately 35.6 am) unpacked column was also attached to the flask for methanol distillation.

The system was placed under a nitrogen atmosphere and the temperature was gradually increased to 200°C once the reaction mixture was molten. Reaction conditions of 200"C1 atmospheric pressure and constant mechanical stirring were maintained for 20 hours. To further complete the transesterification reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to 130 °C and the methanol receiving flask was emptied and simultaneously nitrogen sparged. A vacuum was applied while introducing water below the liquid reaction mixture. An absolute pressure of 25 mm Hg was obtained. Over a period of 2 hours, the temperature was gradually increased to 190°C to add more methanol and ethylene glycol. Distilled・In order to complete the reaction, the temperature was increased to 20℃.
The temperature was increased to 0'C and the pressure was reduced to 20 mm Hg. The nitrogen flow into the reaction mixture was interrupted. After 3.5 hours, the reaction was essentially complete as shown by reverse phase HPLO analysis (using a column packed with hexyl-blocked silica particles and acetonitrile/water envelope elution). This analysis showed that a significant portion of the polymer contained four or more terephthalate units per molecule. The general formula of the resulting compound is (wherein n is 1.75 on average).

The obtained polymer was extracted with 3 solvents (short chain alcohol extraction (IPA)
%EtOH, MeOH), RtOH, MeOH
The soluble fractions are combined in a ratio of 67:33.

This extraction method yields polymer samples containing primarily 3-5 terephthalate units per molecule as shown by HPLO analysis. Generally, the soil release 1 polymer is preferably solid at room temperature, with a softening phase. Transition temperature 30℃
or more, and less than 100°C, more preferably 90°C
Becomes a fluid liquid below ℃.

Fabric Softeners The term "fabric softeners" as used herein includes cationic fabric softeners and nonionic fabric softeners used alone and also in combination with each other. Preferred fabric softeners of the present invention are mixtures of cationic fabric softeners and nonionic fabric softeners.

Examples of fabric softeners include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,047; 4,237,155;
No. 025, No. 3,849,435, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,996. Particularly preferred cationic fabric softeners of this type include quaternary ammonium salts such as dialkyldimethylammonium chloride, methyl sulfate and ethyl sulfate (the alkyl groups can be the same or different and have a carbon number of from about 14 to about 22 ). Examples of such preferred materials include sitalloalkyldimethylammonium methylsulfate, distearyldimethylammonium methylsulfate, civalmityldimethylammonium methylsulfate, and dibehenyldimethylammonium methylsulfate. Particularly preferred are the tertiary alkylamine carboxylates disclosed in the aforementioned US Pat. No. 4,237,155. Examples include stearyl dimethyl ammonium stearate, distearyl methyl ammonium myristate, stearyl dimethyl ammonium palmitate, distearyl methyl ammonium palmitate, and distearyl methyl ammonium laurate. These carboxylic acid salts can be generated in situ by incorporating the corresponding amine and carboxylic acid into a melt fabric conditioning composition.

Examples of nonionic fabric softeners are sorbitan esters as described herein and 012-026 fatty alcohols and fatty amines as described herein.

Preferred articles of the invention include polymeric soil release agents from 10% to 7%.
0% and 30% to 90% fabric softener, said fabric softener selected from cationic fabric softeners, nonionic fabric softeners, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the fabric softener contributes from about 5 to about 80% of the fabric conditioning composition.
It consists of a mixture of about 10% to about 85% by weight of a cationic fabric softener and about 10% to about 85% by weight of a nonionic fabric softener. The selection of ingredients is such that the resulting fabric conditioning composition has a melting point above about 38° C. and is flowable at dryer operating temperatures.

A preferred fabric softener consists of a mixture of C1o-026 alkyl sorbitan esters and mixtures thereof with quaternary ammonium salts and tertiary alkyl amines. The quaternary ammonium salt preferably accounts for about 5 to about 25% of the fabric conditioning composition.

More preferably it is present in an amount of about 7% to about 20%.

The sorbitan ester is preferably present in an amount of about 10 to about 50 icfx of the total fabric conditioning composition, more preferably about 20 to about 40 icfx. The tertiary alkyl amine is present in an amount of about 5 to about 25%, more preferably 7 to about 20% by weight of the fabric conditioning composition. The preferred sorbitan ester is O1o
~C26 alkyl rubitan monoester and 010
~02g selected from the group consisting of alkyl rubitane diesters, and ethoxylates of said esters (one or more of the unesterified hydroxyl groups in said esters containing from 1 to about 6 oxyethylene units), and mixtures thereof. Consists of 11. The quaternary ammonium salt is preferably in the methyl sulfate form. Preferred tertiary alkylamines are selected from the group consisting of alkyldimethylamines and dialkylmethylamines and mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups can be the same or different and have from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms. .

Another preferred fabric softener consists of a carboxylate of a tertiary alkyl amine in combination with a fatty alcohol and a quaternary ammonium salt. The tertiary amine carboxylate salt preferably accounts for about 50% of the fabric conditioning composition.
It is used in the fabric conditioning composition in an amount of from about 5 ON[%, more preferably from about 15 to about 35% by weight.

The quaternary ammonium salt is preferably used in an amount of from about 5 to about 25 parts by weight of the total fabric conditioning composition, more preferably from about 7 to about 20 parts by weight. The fatty alcohol preferably accounts for about 10% of the fabric conditioning composition.
It may be used in an amount of up to about 251 kg, more preferably from about 10 to about 20 kg. Preferred quaternary ammonium salts are those in which the alkyl groups can be the same or different and have from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms, and the counteranion is selected from the group consisting of chloride, methyl sulfate, and ethyl sulfate. , preferably methyl sulfate. Preferred tertiary alkylamine carboxylate salts are selected from the group consisting of fatty acid salts of alkyldimethylamines in which the alkyl group has from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms. Preferred fatty alcohols have from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms.

Well-known optional ingredients that may be incorporated into fabric conditioning compositions useful in the present invention include U.S. Patent No. 4.103,0
No. 47 "Fabric Treatment Composition".

Dispensing member fabric conditioning compositions can be used, for example, by simply adding a predetermined amount to a dryer as a liquid dispersion; however, in a preferred embodiment, the fabric conditioner is effective in making the composition effective in an automatic fabric dryer. It is provided as an article in combination with a dispensing member, such as a flexible substrate that is peelable. Such dispensing members may be designed for single or multiple uses.

One such article consists of a sponge material releasably encapsulating sufficient fabric conditioning composition to effectively impart fabric stain release and softening benefits over several cycles of the fabric. This multi-use article may be prepared by filling a hollow sponge with 20 g of the fabric conditioning composition.

Other components and articles suitable for dispensing fabric conditioning compositions into automatic dryers are described in U.S. Pat.
Specification No. 03,047, Specification No. 3,736,668, Specification No. 3,701,202, Specification No. 3,634,94
Specification No. 7, Specification No. 3,633,538, and No. 3
, 435,537.

A highly preferred article of the present invention comprises a fabric conditioning composition releasably affixed to a disposable substrate in the form of a sheet. A highly preferred paper, e or nonwoven "absorbent" substrate useful in the present invention is U.S. Patent No. 3,686,02
It is detailed in the specification of No. 6.

It is known that most substances are capable of absorbing liquid substances to some extent. However, the term "absorbent" as used herein refers to the ability of a material to absorb 4 to 12 times its weight, preferably 5 to 7 times its weight (i.e., the parameter represents the ability of a material to take up and retain liquids). ).

The measurement of the absorbent capacity value was modified as follows: U.

S, Federal Subscriptions (O,S.

Federayu 5 specifications)
This is done by using the proficiency test method described in DO-T-595blc.

1. Use tap water instead of distilled water.

2. Soak the specimen for 30 seconds instead of 3 minutes.

3. Draining time is 15 seconds instead of 1 minute.

4. Weigh the specimen immediately on a twist balance with a pan with an upturned edge.

The absorbent capacity value is then calculated according to the formula given in said specification. Based on this test, 1-ply dense bleached paper (e.g., Kraft or Bond with a basis weight of approximately 32 Bond/3000 sq. ft.) has an absorbent capacity of 3.5 to 4, and is comparable to commercial household 1-ply towels. The paper has a value of 5 to 6 and commercially available 2-ply household towel paper has a value of 7 to about 9.5.

Using a substrate with an absorbent capacity of less than 4 tends to result in too rapid debonding of the fabric conditioning composition from the substrate, resulting in several disadvantages, one of which is uneven conditioning of the fabric. be. Using a substrate with an absorption capacity greater than 12 is undesirable because too little fabric conditioning composition is stripped off during normal drying cycles to condition the fabric in an optimal manner.

Such substrates are comprised of nonwoven fabrics having an absorbent capacity, preferably about 5 to 7, and a weight ratio of fabric conditioning composition to substrate of about 5:1 to 1:1 on a dry weight basis.

The nonwoven substrate is preferably comprised of cellulose* fibers having a length of 3A6 inches to 2 inches (about 0.476 cm to about 5.08 am) and a denier of 1.5 to 5;
The substrates are then adhesively bonded together with a binder resin.

The recursive substrate preferably has openings of sufficient size and number to reduce the article's restriction of airflow through the automatic washer/dryer. A better opening consists of multiple NH slits extending along one dimension of the substrate.

Use of the fabric conditioning composition described above to provide stain release, softening and antistatic effects to fabrics in an automatic washer/dryer includes applying an effective amount of the fabric conditioning composition (described above) to a wet fabric. The composition is approximately 38
C. and is flowable at dryer operating temperatures, said composition comprising about 1 to 70 inches of polymeric soil release agent and said cationic fabric softener, nonionic fabric softener and the like. A fabric softener selected from a mixture of 30%~
It consists of mixing the wet fabric pieces by tampling under heat in an automatic fabric dryer with a capacity of 99 mm.

The nature is done in the following way. Wet fabrics, typically containing about 1 to about 1.5 times their weight in water, are placed in the drum of an automatic fabric dryer. In practice, such wet fabrics are usually obtained by laundering the fabric in a standard washing machine, rinsing and spin drying. The fabric conditioning composition may be simply spread evenly over all fabric surfaces, for example by dispersing the composition onto the fabric from a shaking device; alternatively, the composition may be sprayed or applied to a dryer drum. It can be coated on itself.

The dryer is then operated in standard manner to dry the fabric, typically at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 80° C., for about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes, depending on the fabric load and type.

Upon removal from the dryer, the dried fabric has been treated for soil release benefits and is softened. Additionally, the fabric sorbs trace amounts of water which instantly increases the electrically conductive groups on the fabric surface, thereby quickly and effectively dissipating static charges.

In a preferred form, the method is carried out by creating an article comprising a substrate-like dispensing member of the type described above in releasable combination with a fabric conditioning composition. This article is simply added to the fabric dryer along with the wet fabric to be treated. The heat and tampling action of the rotary dryer drum evenly distributes the composition over all fabric surfaces and dries the fabric.

The following are non-limiting examples of the Articles and Methods.

Table ■-A Stain remover: Dry Secon 4780a) 37.2 43.5
-44.1 - Dry Millease Tb) --
--43,5---POETc)
----------37,5 Methocel Axisr,,vd
) ++ ++ ++ ++
++Fabric softener; 01, -018 Fatty acid -11111111016- "18 Fatty alcohol -------
-----PKG8000 --- ---
-- -- 12.5 Parvan 525
01)++ ++−−−−−−Clayj)6
．． 45.75.75.6 5.0 Article composition: Base type f/j, gA one yard 16 18
18 18 16 Coating amount g/9 inch
4.1 4.6 4.6 4.6 2.61 ratio (
Approx. 22.90 x approx. 27.9 Table I-B Stain remover: Met-1z#A15LVa) 23.6 --
-- -- -- -- Fabric softener: C16-C18 fatty acid -12,8 ---
--C16"-CIi+fatty alcohol -11,
1 axis - 111 clay') 6.8 4
．． 4-10.0 -Fragrance 1.71.3-2.
4-100.0% 100.011ω, 0% 100.
0% 100. o% Article composition: Substrate N1 g/square yard 16 16 16
16 16 coating amount g/9 inch x 3,
5 3.3 3.1 2.6 2.61] inches (approximately 2
2, 90m x approx.
CAS Registry No. 9016-88-0). Dry Zercon 4780 is a dehydrated dispersion that is dried to a thin film at about 100°C. Zercon 4780 is also described herein in the section entitled "Polymeric Stain Release Agent."

b) Mylease T is also an ethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene glycol copolymer (CAS Registry No. 9016-88-0) sold by ICI as a 15% dispersion in water. Dry Mylease T is a dehydrated dispersion that has been dried to a thin film at about 100°C. This polymer is further described in the section entitled "Polymeric Soil Release Agents."

c) POET (polyoxyethylene terephthalate) is a compound having the above general formula. it is,
Synthesized from the following reactants:

1. Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ester, molecular weight 750, Aldrich Chemical Company, 1o
oo g (b, 33 moles)2. Dimethyl terephthalate, molecular weight 195, Aldrich Chemical Company, 359.9 g (b, 55 moles) 3, Ethylene glycol, molecular weight 62, Aldrich Chemical Company
Chemical Company, 146.4 g (2.36 mol) 4. Calcium acetate, MCB, 7.9 g (catalyst) 5
, Antimony Trioxide, Fisher Scientific, 7.9 g (catalyst) 6, Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Aldrich Chemical Company, 3.6
g (Antioxidant) The resulting polymer is extracted with three solvents (short chain alcohols) (IPA, EtOH, MeOH).
and the EtOH, MeOH soluble fraction was
They are combined at a ratio of 7:33.

d) Methocel A15LV is a methylcellulose sold by the Dow Chemical Company.

e) DTDMAMS is sitalodimethylammonium methyl sulfate.

f) DTMA is sitalow methylamine.

g) SMS is sorbitan monostearate.

h) SDMA is stearyldimethylamine.

l) Parpan 5250 is a refined petroleum wax sold by Exxon Company.

j) Bentolite L sold by Southern Clay Products Example 1~
Components 3 and 5 to 10 were mixed and liquefied at 70°C. 3 denier 1i inch long (approx. 397 c
m ) each nonwoven substrate consisting of 70% rayon fiber and 30% polyvinyl acetate binder was cut into 9 inch x 11
An inch (about 22.9 cm x about 27.9 cm) sheet. A slightly larger amount than the target coating amount is distributed on the heating plate and the nonwoven fabric is placed on top of it. A small paint roller is used to impregnate the mixture into the interstices of the substrate. The article is removed from the hot plate and allowed to cool to room temperature, thereby solidifying the mixture.

After solidification of the fabric conditioning composition, the fabric is cut with a knife (conveniently the fabric is provided with 3 to 9 linear slits extending along one dimension of the substrate, said slits being in substantially parallel relationship). and about 1 inch (about 2.54 cm) from at least one edge of said dimension of the substrate.
]. The width of each slit is approximately 0.2
inch (approximately 0.51 am).

Example 4 A fabric conditioning article added to a dryer consisting of a rayon nonwoven substrate (having a weight of 1.4 g/99 square inches) and a fabric conditioning composition is prepared in the following manner.

Dry Cercon 4780 (44,1%), citallodimethylammonium methyl sulfate) 12.2%, citallomethylamine 12.2%, nlupitan monostearate) 24.5%, clay 5.6% and fragrance A fabric conditioning composition consisting of 1.3% is liquefied by mixing the individual components at 70°C.

Thus, the fabric conditioning composition contains 44.1% polymeric soil release agent and 55.9% fabric softener. By coating one side of a continuous length of the substrate 5 and contacting it with a rotating cylindrical member that serves to press the liquefied mixture into the interstices of the substrate, a 3-denier length 1-
A flexible substrate consisting of 70% cotton fiber and 30% vinyl acetate binder is impregnated. The substrate is passed over several chilled tension rolls that help solidify the conditioning mixture.

The base sheet is 9 inches wide and 11 inches wide to provide a removable sheet.
Drill holes in the line at 7.9 cm) intervals. Each sheet was cut with a series of knives to an average length of approximately 4 inches.
cm) to give three uniformly spaced parallel slits.

The fabric softening/stain release performance of the article is determined by fabric softening evaluation and soil release evaluation. In such evaluations, a load of 5-bond (approximately 2.38 kg) of fabrics representing a wide range of fabric types (cotton, polyester/cotton, polyester, acrylic, and nylon) was used as a primary detergent,
Medium hardness (8-10 grains/gallon hot water [100″F)
37.8°C)], cold water [6
Clean using a 2 minute rinse at 0"F and dry for 45 minutes in a standard domestic fabric dryer with the appropriate test treatment. lb(
A fabric load of approximately 2°38 kg) included four 100% cotton terry cloths to be used for the flexibility evaluation and an ioo% polyester or 65%/35% polyester/cloth to be used for the stain release evaluation. Four pieces of cotton each measuring 12 inches x 12 inches (about 30.50 m x about 30.5 m).
5 am) swatches are included.
Also removes "factory finishes": US registered trademark IVORY 5NOW detergent, medium hardness (8-1
O grains/gallon) of hot water [150'F (approximately 66°C)]
] and hot water [150) 1
The terry and swatches are laundered using a 2-minute rinse in 100 ml (approximately 66° C.). The entire wash/rinse cycle is then repeated in ERA® detergent.

This is followed by two 6 minute wash/2 minute rinse cycles in hot water [150”F]. The pre-cleaned terry and swatches are then dried and added to the test wash load. After washing and drying, a cotton terry cloth was removed from each fabric load for subsequent softening evaluation.A 57 bond (approx. Wash a total of 3 times using the method, wash between 3 rinses, and dry.

For fabric softening evaluation, cotton terry fabrics are graded "blind J" by three quality judges to determine the softening ability of different treatments (products). Comparisons between treatments are made below. Expressed in Grading Scale Units (GSU).

OGSU = No Difference I GSU = Slight Difference 2 GSU = Moderate Difference 3 GSU = Large Difference 4 GSU = Very Large Difference Summarize all treatment comparisons (judgment grades) and calculate the statistical one-way variance ( Qn@Way) Submit to analysis. Treatment relationships are reported in grading scale units (GSU) along with statistical estimates of test precision (least significant difference,
i.e. LSD).

Example articles of the invention (Examples 2 and 5) for flexibility evaluation
and another article (Example 9) are evaluated in separate tests, but both types of articles are compared to a "no softener" control.

The results of the flexibility rating are summarized in Table ■.

Table ■ Softness data (in rating scale units) Control without softener 0 Example 2 1.21 s Example 5 1.79 s Example 9 1.60 g Average LSD = 0.31 The data in Table ■ shows the results for articles of the invention. (Examples 2 and 5) are demonstrated to provide fabric softening performance comparable to that of a similar prior art fabric softening article (Example 9).

Polyester and polyester/cotton swatches are removed from the fabric load after the third wash/rinse cycle for soil release evaluation. Use standard paint plans to remove dirty motor oil, spaghetti, and grass.
, and smears of clay, etc., on each swatch by 2 inches (approximately 5.0
Apply in a circle of 8 cm).

Store the sample at 40"F overnight (approximately 12-16
Time) Store and set the stain. The next day, the swatches were allowed to equilibrate at room temperature and then the same 5-bond (approximately 2.38 kg
) under the same conditions as above. The swatches are dried in a standard domestic fabric dryer for 45 minutes without the use of fabric conditioner damaging substances.

Samples are "blind" rated by 3' quality judges to determine the stain removal performance of different treatments (products). Comparisons between treatments are expressed in terms of Grading Scale Units (GSU) below.

OGSU = No difference 1 GB [ ] 11 + 1 Slight difference 2 G30 - Moderate difference 30 BO - Large difference 40 SO - Very large difference Summarizing all treatment comparisons (judgment grades), a typical one-way analysis of variance attach Grading Scale Unit (GSO) treatment relationship with statistical estimates of test accuracy
(least significant difference, i.e. LED).

For soil release evaluations, the articles of the invention containing polymeric soil release agents and fabric softeners are the articles described in Examples 1-8. Various other articles are also comparatively tested for stain protection through the dryer (Examples 9 and 10). Additionally, data from direct application of soil release polymers is included.

In Example 1], approximately 1.0% of Ircon polymer was used as a sample of Cercon 4780 (dispersion). Apply directly (by pipette) at o. These swatches are air dried, then smeared, stored and washed as above. The results of dirt removal and roading are summarized in Table 11A-0.

The fabric treatment agents and soil release evaluation methods described above are illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as limitations thereof.

Table m-A Stain removal data Dirty motor oil 100% polyester O -0.83
2.67s-0. , 56 5/'3 5 Polyester/Cotton 0 -0.08 1.756 0
．． 7 Spaghetti Zoo polyester O -0.83
2.17 -65A5 polyester/cotton 0
-1.588 1,25 1.5 Glass 100% polyester O O. 508
0.58 days 1.26411/? 15 polyester/
Cotton 0 0.58-0.25 1.8
Clay 100% polyester 0 1.00 -
0.25 -1.465A5 polyester/cotton
0 2.50El 0.50 -0.3
B - Significantly different filters in Shinsui Sushin 95 compared to detergent alone - Significant calculations not available, data tabulated by hand - This is Example 9, i.e. soil on non-woven rayon substrate weighing 16 g/sq yd. Softener without release agent (sRA), i.e. Citalo dimethylammonium methyl sulfate 21.9 parts, Citalo methylamine 21.9 parts, Sorbitan monostearate 43.81 parts, Clay 10 parts, Fragrance 2.4 parts. .

1) This is true for example: drying Celco 74780 (75 mm), PII, G 800 (75 mm) on a non-woven rayon substrate with a heavy fpH of 16 g/sq.
It is an SRA with 25 Sections).

m) This is Example 1], ie SRA applied directly onto the fabric swatch (Cercon 4780 applied directly onto the stain swatch by pipette).

Table ■-B Dirty motor oil 100% polyester 0.4 4.3s
-0.2 0.56 5/15 Polyester/M
o. s -- -- 1.18 spaghetti - 100% polyester -1.1 3.1s
3.0g 2.7s65A5 polyester #/M
2,6+3 --- ----0.
2 glasses ioo% polyvarnish f roux - - -
- - 2. 2B6 5/15 polyester/
Cotton --- --- --- 1.7
Day clay 100qb polyester 1.9 days 2.9s
2. Os 1.4s- 65/'15 polynis dream shoulder 2.4e -- -- 1.9
sTable II+-c Detergent: T than RT Σ T than E T1
DK dirty motor oil 100% polyester 1.67e-0,5'--1
,565/'15 polyester/cotton 1.58s-0,
10,42,1 spaghetti - 100% polyester)vl, 33El 0.1 4
．． 78 2.665A5 polyester/cotton -0,2
5-0,3---0,6 glass 10o4 polyester 2.258'1.38 3.
98 3.665/'35 HoIJ! Souffle/, li
2.17s 1.8 2.68 3.5 Clay 100% Polyester 1.08 2.18
2.1 day 1.46v35 polyester/cotton 2.
088 2.38 3.28 2.58 - Significantly different than detergent alone at 95% - Significant calculation not available. Tabulate the data manually.

It should be noted that if two sheets/cycle of article are used, the profit is thereby increased. These data are compared to a detergent only control. These data demonstrate that articles of the invention, Examples 1-8, provide soil release performance against both grease/oil and clay stains, while Nos. 9, 1O and 11 provide excellent soil release performance against both grease/oil and clay stains. It was demonstrated that the soil removal performance was only achieved by using this method. In fact, Example 11, which shows the soil release performance of a directly applied soil release action, showed poorer clay removal than detergent alone.

Example 12 A dryer-added fabric conditioning article consisting of a rayon nonwoven substrate (having a weight of 1.4 g/99 square inches) and a fabric conditioning composition is prepared in a conventional manner.

First, 140 parts of stearyldimethylamine was added to C16-C1
A fabric softener premix is prepared by mixing with 128 parts of 8 fatty acids at 70°C. Next, 016-C
1. Add 112 parts of fatty alcohol and 112 parts of sitalodimethylammonium methyl sulfate and heat to 70°C.
Complete the preparation of the softener mixture by mixing. 420 parts of a pre-melted polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene terephthalate copolymer stain release agent (solid at room temperature, flowable liquid at 85° C.) is slowly added to the softener mixture under high shear mixing; Finely disperse the polymer. After the addition is complete and sufficient mixing time has elapsed, slowly add 61 parts of Pentri) L granular clay while maintaining high shear mixing action. Fragrance 27
to complete the preparation of the fabric conditioning composition. Impregnation of the flexible substrate with the fabric conditioning composition is carried out in the same manner as described in Example 4.

The resulting fabric conditioning sheet has a dry non-stick feel and provides good soil release/softening performance.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An article suitable for providing fabric stain release and softening benefits in an automatic fabric dryer, which: (a) has a melting point greater than about 38°C and is suitable for dryer operation; a fabric conditioning composition that is flowable at temperature, said fabric conditioning composition comprising a fabric selected from I. 1% to 70% of a polymeric soil release agent and II. a cationic fabric softener, a nonionic fabric softener and mixtures thereof; Softener 30%-99%
(b) an article comprising a dispensing member that provides exfoliation of the conditioning composition in an automatic washer/dryer at dryer operating temperatures. 2. In sheet form, the dispensing member has a fabric conditioning composition releasably affixed thereto to provide a fabric conditioning composition to dry substrate weight ratio of about 10:1 to about 0.5:1. An article according to claim 1, comprising a flexible substrate. 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the polymeric soil release agent is present in an amount from about 10 to about 70% by weight of the fabric conditioning composition. 4. The fabric softener comprises about 5% to about 80% by weight of the fabric conditioning composition of the cationic fabric softener and about 1% by weight of the fabric conditioning composition.
3. An article according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a mixture with 0 to about 85% by weight of a nonionic fabric softener. 5. The cationic fabric softener comprises (a) a quaternary ammonium salt, and (b) a carboxylate salt of a tertiary alkylamine, and (
(c) a fatty alkyl sorbitan ester; (d) a fatty alcohol; and (e) a fatty amine. Article according to claim 4, selected from the group consisting of binary and ternary mixtures of (d) and (e). 6. The stain release agent has a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units of about 25:7.
5 to about 35:65 repeating units of ethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate, where the polyoxyethylene terephthalate has a molecular weight of 3
00 to about 700, and the soil release polymer has a molecular weight of about 25,000.
55,000 and the melting point of the polymer is less than 100°C).
Articles listed in section. 7. The polymeric soil release agent comprises 90 to 50 polyoxyethylene terephthalate units derived from polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 300 to about 6,000.
10-50 ethylene terephthalate units together with weight%
% by weight of repeating units of ethylene terephthalate units, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the crystalline polymeric compound is 2.
The article according to claim 3, wherein the ratio is 1 to 6:1. 8. The polyoxyethylene terephthalate unit of the polymer stain remover has an average molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 4,00.
8. Article according to claim 7, which is derived from polyethylene glycol of 0. 9. The article of claim 7, wherein the polymeric soil release agent has a softening phase transition temperature of at least about 30°C and becomes a flowable liquid below 100°C. 10. The polymeric soil release agent becomes a free-flowing liquid below 90° C. and about 2% of the fabric conditioning composition.
10. The article of claim 9, present in an amount of 5 to about 50% by weight. 11. The polymer stain remover has the formula X (OCH_2CH_2)_n(OR^3)_m(
A-R^1-A-R^2)_u(A-R^3-A-R^
2) ＿v■-A-R^4-A■(R^5O)_m(CH
_2CH_2O)_n■X [In the formula, the A part is essentially ▲ there are mathematical formulas, chemical formulas, tables, etc. ▼ or ▲ there are mathematical formulas, chemical formulas, tables, etc. ▼ part; the R^1 part is essentially 1,4- is a phenylene moiety; and the R^2 moiety is essentially an ethylene moiety or is a substituted ethylene moiety having a C_1-C_4 alkyl or alkoxy substituent;
The R^3 part is at least one -SO_3M, -COO
M, -O■R^5O)_m(CH_2CH_2O)_n
■X or ▲There is a mathematical formula, chemical formula, table, etc.▼Substituted C_2 with at least one ▲Formula, chemical formula, table, etc.▼ moiety bridged to a substituent or another R^3 moiety
~C_1_8 hydrokarylene moiety; R^4 moiety is R^1 or R^3 moiety, or a mixture thereof; each R^5 is C_3-C_4 alkylene, or -R
^2-A-R^6- (In the formula, R^6 is C_1~C_1_
2 alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene moiety); each M is H or a water-soluble cation; each X is H, C_1 to C_4 alkyl, or R^7 is C_1~
C_4 alkyl); m and n are -(CH_2C
H_2O)-part is ■R^5O)_m(CH_2CH_
2O)_n■ constitute at least about 50% by weight of the portion, provided that R^5 is -R^2-A-R^6-
m is 1; each n is at least about 1
0; u and v are numbers such that the sum of u+v is from about 3 to about 25; w is 0 or at least 1;
and when w is at least 1, u, v and w
is a number such that the sum of u+v+w is from about 3 to about 25. 12. The above polymer stain remover has the following formula ▲ Numerical formula, chemical formula, table, etc. ▼ (In the formula, each R^1 is a 1,4-phenylene moiety; R
^2 consists essentially of an ethylene moiety, a 1,2-propylene moiety or a mixture thereof; each X is ethyl or preferably methyl; each n is from about 12 to about 43; u
is from about 3 to about 10). 13. The article of claim 3, wherein the polymeric stain release agent is a cellulose polymer. 14. The polymeric soil release agent is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, or hydroxybutylmethylcellulose (wherein the cellulose polymer has a viscosity of 1 in a 2% aqueous solution at 20° C.
14. The article of claim 13, having a diameter of 5 to 75,000 centipoise. 15. The polymeric soil release agent is solid at room temperature and has a softening phase transition temperature of at least about 30°C;
3. An article according to claim 2, which becomes a fluid liquid at temperatures below .degree. 16. The fabric softener contains about 5% quaternary ammonium salt.
～about 25%, sorbitan polyester about 10%～about 50%
%, and a mixture of about 5% to about 25% fatty amine (all percentages are by weight of the fabric conditioning composition). 17. (a) The quaternary ammonium salt may have the same or different alkyl groups and has about 14 carbon atoms.
to about 22 and the counteranion is selected from the group consisting of chloride, methyl sulfate and ethyl sulfate ions, (b) said fatty alkyl sorbitan ester is
_0~C_2_6 alkyl sorbitan monoester, C
_1_0 to C_2_6 alkyl sorbitan diester,
and (c) an ethoxylate of said ester, wherein one or more of the non-esterified hydroxyl groups in said ester contains from 1 to about 6 oxyethylene units, and mixtures thereof; The fatty amine is selected from the group consisting of alkyldimethylamines and dialkylmethylamines, and mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups can be the same or different and have from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms. Articles according to scope 16. 18, wherein the fabric softener comprises a mixture of about 7% to about 20% of the quaternary ammonium methyl sulfate, about 20% to about 40% of the sorbitan polyester, and about 7% to about 20% of the fatty amine (all % by weight of the fabric conditioning composition)
Articles described in Section 7. 19. The fabric softener contains about 5% quaternary ammonium salt.
~25%, about 1 carboxylate of tertiary alkylamine
0% to about 50%, and about 10% to said fatty alcohol.
6. The article of claim 5 comprising about 25% of the mixture (all percentages are by weight of the fabric conditioning composition). 20. (a) The quaternary ammonium salt may have the same or different alkyl groups and has about 14 carbon atoms.
to about 22, and the counteranion is selected from the group consisting of chloride, methyl sulfate and ethyl sulfate ions; (b) the carbon of said tertiary alkyl amine; wherein the acid salt is selected from the group consisting of alkyldimethylamine fatty acids in which the alkyl group has from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms, and (c) the fatty alcohol has from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms. Articles according to paragraph 19. 21. The fabric softener comprises about 7% to about 20% of the quaternary ammonium methyl sulfate, about 15% to about 35% of the fatty acid salt of the tertiary alkyl amine, and about 10% to about 20% of the fatty alcohol. 21. Article according to claim 20, comprising a mixture of %. 22, the substrate has an absorbent capacity of about 4 to about 12, and the fabric conditioning composition is impregnated into the substrate, and the weight ratio of fabric conditioning composition to substrate on a dry weight basis is about 5:1 to 1: 1. The article according to claim 2, which is within the scope of item 1. 23. The substrate is a nonwoven fabric made of cellulose fibers [the fibers have a length of 3/16 inch to 2 inches (approximately 0.2 inches).
23. The article of claim 22, wherein the fibers are adhesively bonded together with a binder resin. 24. The article of claim 23, wherein the flexible substrate has openings of sufficient size and number to reduce restriction by the article of airflow through an automatic washer/dryer. 25. The article of claim 24, wherein the opening comprises a plurality of linear slits extending along one dimension of the substrate. 26. The fabric softener comprises a mixture of a cationic fabric softener and a nonionic fabric softener, and the soil release agent is derived from polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 300 to about 6,000. A crystalline polyester having repeating units of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10 to 50% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with about 90 to 50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units; and ethylene terephthalate units in the crystalline polymeric compound. 26. The article of claim 25, wherein the weight ratio of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units is from 2:1 to 6:1. 27. The fabric softener may have (a) the same or different alkyl groups;
and about 7% to 20% dialkyldimethylammonium methyl sulfate having about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms; (b) about 15% to about 20% fatty acid salt of a tertiary alkylamine whose alkyl group has about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms; and (c) a mixture of about 10% to about 20% fatty alcohol having from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms (all percentages are by weight of the fabric conditioning composition). Articles listed in section. 28, (a) the dialkyldimethylammonium methylsulfate is ditallow dimethylammonium methylsulfate, (b) the fatty acid salt of the tertiary alkylamine is a stearyldimethylammonium salt of tallow fatty acid, (c) The fatty alcohol is C_1_6 to C_1_8
(d) the polymeric soil release agent has a softening phase transition temperature of at least about 30°C and becomes a free-flowing liquid below 100°C, and (e) the fabric conditioning composition comprises: 28. The article of claim 27 further comprising about 2% to about 10% granular clay and about 0.5% to about 4% perfume. 29. The wet fabric is treated with an effective amount of a fabric conditioning composition, said composition having a melting point greater than about 38° C. and being flowable at dryer operating temperatures, said composition being a polymeric stain release agent. about 1% to 70% fabric softener and 30% to 9% fabric softener
9% and the fabric conditioning composition is applied to the fabric from a flexible substrate). A method of imparting to fabrics an improved combination of stain release, softening and antistatic effects in the washer/dryer. 30. The fabric conditioning composition comprises: (a) about 7% to about 20% ditallow dimethylammonium methyl sulfate; (b) about 15% to about 35% stearyldimethylammonium salt of tallow fatty alcohol; (c) C_1_6 ~C
_1_8 fatty alcohol from about 10% to about 20%; (d) from 10 to 10 ethylene terephthalate units together with from 90 to 50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units derived from polyoxyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000; A crystalline polyester copolymer having repeating units of ethylene terephthalate units containing 50% by weight (the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the crystalline polymer compound is from 2:1 to 6:1) , the copolymer has a softening phase transition temperature of at least about 30°C, and 10
(e) about 2% to about 10% granular clay; and (f) about 0.5% to about 4% fragrance. The method according to item 29.