KR100839703B1 - Transparent fabric softening composition - Google Patents

Abstract

A transparent fabric softener composition is provided to improve dispersion and the storage stability according to temperature change with reducing the amount of a main solvent and to decrease base smell. A fabric softener composition comprises 5-50 wt% of a cationic softening component (cationic surfactant); 5-45 wt% of a main solvent; and 0.1-5 wt% of an N-alkylpyrrolidone represented by the formula 1 as a main solvent extender, wherein n is an integer of 5-14. Preferably the cationic softening component comprises at least one selected from the quaternary ammonium salts represented by the formula 2 or 3 and its precursors, wherein R is independently a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl group or a benzyl group; R1 is a C11-C22 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group; Q is (R2O)x-P; R2 is a C1-C3 alkyl group; P is independently -O-C(=O)-, -C(=O)-O-, -NH-CO- or -CO-NH-; X is Cl-, Br- or CH2OSO3-; m is 1-3; n is 1-4; and x is 0-4.

Description

Transparent fabric softening composition

The present invention relates to a fabric softener composition for softening the fiber, the fiber softener composition that can soften the fiber while having a transparent appearance and excellent dispersibility, less residue on the fiber when rinsing, and can feel an improved aesthetics to the consumer It is about.

In general, conventional household fabric softeners have a opaque appearance as a type in which a cationic flexible component is dispersed. However, in recent years, there have been many technical developments on the fabric softener composition having a transparent or translucent appearance and a manufacturing method thereof.

Transparent softeners have excellent dispersibility compared to opaque softeners to reduce the residue on the fibers during rinsing, and to allow consumers to have an improved aesthetic feeling. However, cationic surfactants, which are mainly used as flexible components, have considerable hydrophobicity on their own, and because of their extremely low solubility in water, there is considerable technical effort to provide transparent and stable softener compositions using them.

Early transparent or translucent softeners enabled this by using a high content of solvent. However, despite high solvent content, it does not have sufficient stability such as opacity or phase separation at low temperature (5 ° C.) and high temperature (40 ° C.), and it is difficult to apply the fragrance of the softener due to the inherent odor of the solvent. In addition, there was a problem that the consumer can be burdened with price due to the high cost increase factor.

Accordingly, in order to solve this problem, International Patent WO 99 / 27,050 proposes a technique for reducing the amount of main solvent used by using an excessive amount of electrolyte, in particular, an excessive amount of inorganic salt, and US Patent No. 6,608,024 describes a specific main solvent. And technology using benzylbenzoate, methyl ester and hydrotrope as main solvent extenders, but the need to develop more cost-effective formulations by reducing main solvent usage. Still exists.

In this respect, there has been a continuous need for a transparent softener composition having sufficient stability and softening effect while using less solvent.

Therefore, in the present invention, as a result of research experiments to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, a fiber blended with a cationic flexible component, a specific main solvent and a specific extender (main solvent extender) for reducing the amount of the main solvent used in an appropriate ratio The softener composition was found to be excellent in storage stability according to temperature change while maintaining the transparency of the product, and to reduce the base odor, as well as to provide excellent flexibility to the fiber, thus completing the present invention.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention provides a fabric softener composition comprising N-alkylpyrrolidones of the general formula (1) as a main solvent extender:

Here, n is 5-14, Preferably it is 6-10.

N-alkylpyrrolidone main solvent extender of the formula (1) is preferably included in 0.1 to 5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total composition.

The main solvent extender is preferably included in an amount of 0.5 to 3 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total softener of the fabric softener.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is based on 100 parts by weight of the total softener of the fabric softener a) 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of N-alkylpyrrolidones of Formula 1 as main solvent extender b) 5 to 50 parts by weight of cationic flexible component Part, c) may include 5 to 45 parts by weight of the main solvent as a component for clarification.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

The present invention relates to a transparent liquid softener composition in which a specific main solvent extender is used in combination with the main solvent, thereby reducing the amount of the main solvent used. By adding a specific extender according to the present invention it is possible to reduce the amount of the main solvent required to maintain a transparent appearance. In addition, by reducing the amount of the main solvent, there is also an advantage to minimize the base odor of the composition by the main solvent that has a unique odor, which can be a problem when using a significant amount. Typically extenders include hydrophobic materials such as polar or nonpolar oils and hydrophilic materials such as hydrotrope. The extender of N-alkylpyrrolidones, which is an extender used in the present invention, is a solvent in which a medium-length hydrocarbon group having hydrophobicity is hydrophilic to a hydrophilic group having a bulky cyclic structure and acts as a co-surfactant. . Therefore, it is located at the water / oil interface of the transparent microemulsion composition while increasing the thickness of the water / oil interface, acting in the direction of decreasing the polarity of the water layer or increasing the polarity of the oil layer, and consequently the water / oil mixture. It is thought to be able to reduce the amount of the main solvent by improving the Mars. In addition, due to such a feature, it is possible to form a softening agent having a transparent appearance while using a smaller amount than a conventional extender, and also has an advantage of ensuring phase stability.

As a main solvent extender of the N-alkylpyrrolidones of the general formula (1) according to the present invention, representative examples include N-octylpyrrolidone, N-nonylpyrrolidone and the like.

In the present invention, the main solvent extender occupies 0.1 to 5 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total composition. This is because when the content of the main solvent extractor is too small, the content of the main solvent required for securing transparency is relatively increased, resulting in problems such as a base odor and an increase in manufacturing cost, and when the content is 5 parts by weight or more, This is because the increase in cost does not mean reducing the main solvent.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cationic flexible component of b) may include one or more selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts of Formulas 2 and 3 and precursors thereof.

In Formula 2 and Formula 3, R is independently C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₆ hydroxyalkyl, benzyl and mixtures thereof, R 1 is C ₁₁ -C ₂₂ straight alkyl or alkenyl, C _11- C ₂₂ branched alkyl or alkenyl and mixtures thereof, Q is (R 2 O) x -P, R 2 is C ₁ -C ₃ , P is independently

,

,

,

에서 선택된다.

,

,

,

Is selected.

X is selected from Cl-, Br-, CH ₃ OSO ₃ ^- and mixtures thereof, more preferably Cl-, CH ₃ OSO ₃ ^- as an anion compatible with the softening agent. m is 1 to 3, n is 1 to 4, more preferably 2, and x is 0 to 4, more preferably 1 to 2.

Representative cationic flexible components include cationic surfactants of Formula 2, wherein R is independently C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₆ hydroxyalkyl, R 1 is C ₁₁ -C ₂₂ straight alkyl or alkenyl, Q is (R2O) x - P, R2 is C ₁ -C _3, P, x is Cl-, CH ₃ OSO ₃ ^- is selected from, m is 1 to 3, n is 2, x is 1 to 2.

In the composition of the present invention, the cationic surfactant is included in an amount of 5 to 50 parts by weight, preferably 10 to 30 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total composition. This is because when the content of the cationic surfactant is relatively small, it is difficult to prepare a composition having a stable and transparent appearance as well as a softening effect, and when the content is excessively high, the viscosity rises and the stable microemulsion phase is too high. The production of transparent compositions is difficult.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the b) component main solvent is C ₄ -C ₈ diols, alkylglyceryl ethers, and arylglyceryl ethers. More specifically, C ₆ diols, C ₇ diols, octane diols, propylene glycol normal butyl ether, dipropylene glycol normal butyl ether, ethylene glycol normal butyl ether, diethylene glycol normal butyl ether, ethylene glycol hexyl ether, phenoxy Ethanol and the like.

In the composition of the present invention, the main solvent includes 5 to 45 parts by weight, preferably 30 parts by weight or less, more preferably 20 parts by weight or less, and more preferably 15 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the total composition. do.

This ensures sufficient transparency for the purpose of using the main solvent in the present invention, while maintaining stability for a long time even at a low temperature of about 5 ° C. and a high temperature of 40 ° C., while minimizing the inherent odor of the solvent in the composition even when the required amount of the main solvent is used. This is because there should be no problem applying the fragrance.

Auxiliary components may include nonionic surfactants, stabilizers and the like.

Unlike the main solvent, the nonionic surfactant has a large surfactant property, so it is positioned at the interface between water and oil in the transparent softener composition to serve to provide interfacial stability even if the main solvent changes to some extent. Preferred nonionic surfactants include primary or secondary, linear or branched alcohol alkoxylates, alkylamine alkoxylates and the like.

As a stabilizer according to the present invention, antioxidants such as BHT, BHA, ascorbic acid may be used for phase stability of the final composition.

In addition, organic acids such as EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetate), NTA (nitrilotriacetate), citric acid and the like may be used as the chelating agent. Here, the polyhydric organic acids are also expected to buffer the pH against the change over time.

Other options may include fragrances, pigments, antibacterial agents, anti-infective agents, anti-contamination agents, antifoaming agents, process agents, preservatives, anti-wrinkle agents and the like.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Unless otherwise stated in the following table, the unit is% by weight.

Example  1-9

According to the conventional fabric softener manufacturing method was prepared a composition of the components and ratios shown in Table 1.

ingredient Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Example 8 Example 9 Cationic Surfactant1 ^{Note 1)} 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 Cationic Surfactant2 ^{Note 2)} 20 Diethylene glycol normal butyl ether 18 16 14 13 10 16 14 14 Propylene Glycol Normal Butyl Ether 13 N-octylpyrrolidone 0.5 One 2 2 5 2 2 N-nonylpyrrolidone One 2 Lauryl Alcohol Ethoxylate (9EO) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Citric acid 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 incense 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Etc Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Purified water Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount

* 1) N, N-di (oleyl ester ethoxylate ethyl), N-methyl, N-hydroxyethylammonium methyl sulfate

* 2) N, N-di (oleyl esterethyl), N-methyl, N-hydroxyethylammoniummethyl sulfate

Comparative example  1-8

For comparison, according to the conventional fabric softener manufacturing method, the composition of the ingredients and ratios as shown in Table 2 was prepared.

ingredient Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 3 Comparative Example 4 Comparative Example 5 Comparative Example 6 Comparative Example 7 Comparative Example 8 Cationic Surfactants1 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 Cationic Surfactant 2 20 Diethylene glycol normal butyl ether 18 18 16 14 16 14 14 Propylene Glycol Normal Butyl Ether 13 Benzylbenzoate 0.5 One 2 2 2 Sodium xylenesulfonate One 2 Lauryl Alcohol Ethoxylate (9EO) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Citric acid 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 incense 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Etc Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity Purified water Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount Remaining amount

The initial and temporal turbidity change, phase stability, and flexibility of the fabric softener composition stock solutions prepared according to the above Examples and Comparative Examples were measured and shown in Table 3 below.

Experimental Example

1) Turbidity Evaluation Test

The turbidity was measured using the color difference meter (MINOLTA CT-310) L value (transmittance) of the properties of the fabric softener composition prepared according to Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8 according to the initial and temperature conditions. Then, the stability of the physical properties of the clear liquid formulation over time was determined according to the following evaluation criteria.

Turbidity visual Appearance Judgment  Result criteria

L value over 99: Fully transparent ◎

L value of 95 or more and less than 99: unsuspended transparent ○

L value 80 or more but less than 95 unsuspended translucent △

L value less than 80 suspension opacity X

2) Phase stability evaluation

After varying the softness of the fabric softener composition prepared according to Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8 with temperature, the phase stability was evaluated by the following method.

No phase separation: X

Phase separation occurs: ○

3) flexibility test

The softness of the fabric softener composition prepared according to Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8 was measured by the following conditions and methods.

Washing machine: Automatic washing machine (Pulsator type)

Cleaning temperature: 25 ℃

Bath time: 20 sheets of 200g towel / 60L washing water

Test cloth: Towel (200g, 100% cotton)

Softener Concentration: 0.3333g / L

Evaluation of Softness: The treated towels were touched by 20 panelists and scored according to their softness.

4.0 or higher: ◎

3.0 or more and less than 4.0: ○

2.0 or more and less than 3.0: △

Less than 2.0: X

Item Conditions over time Example Comparative example Temperature term One 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 One 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Turbidity 20 ℃ 4 Weeks ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ 12 Weeks ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 5 ℃ 4 Weeks ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ △ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ 12 Weeks ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ ◎ ○ ○ X △ △ △ ○ ○ ○ X 40 ℃ 4 Weeks ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ X △ △ △ △ △ X X 12 Weeks ○ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ X X X X X X X X Stability 20 ℃ 4 Weeks X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 12 Weeks X X X X X X X X X ○ X X X X X X X 5 ℃ 4 Weeks X X X X X X X X X ○ X X X X X X X 12 Weeks X X X X X X X X ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 40 ℃ 4 Weeks X X X X X X X X X ○ X X X X X X X 12 Weeks X X X X X ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Flexibility △ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ◎ △ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

As can be seen in Table 3, Examples 1 to 9, especially Examples 2 and 3, Examples 4 and 7, although the use of a relatively small solvent content compared to the comparative example, transparency at low and high temperatures It can be seen that the fats and oils and phase stability are excellent, and the fiber softness is also excellently maintained.

As described above, the transparent liquid fabric softener composition according to the present invention, while reducing the amount of the main solvent relatively, the composition is excellent in storage stability according to the change of temperature while maintaining the transparency of the product, and can also reduce the base odor. Rather, it shows the effect of imparting excellent flexibility to the fibers.

Claims (5)

To 100 parts by weight of the total softener of the fabric softener, a) 5 to 50 parts by weight of cationic softener and b) 5 to 45 parts by weight of main solvent, c) 0.1 to N-alkylpyrrolidones of the general formula (1) as main solvent extenders. Fabric softener composition comprising 5 parts by weight: Formula 1

Where n is from 5 to 14. The fabric softener composition of claim 1, wherein the main solvent extender is included in an amount of 0.5 to 3 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total composition. The fabric softener composition according to claim 1, wherein the main solvent extender is N-octylpyrrolidone or N-nonylpyrrolidone. The fabric softener composition of claim 2, wherein the cationic flexible component comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts of Formulas 2 and 3 and precursors thereof: Formula 2

Formula 3

Wherein R is independently C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₆ hydroxyalkyl, benzyl and mixtures thereof, R 1 is C ₁₁ -C ₂₂ straight chain alkyl or alkenyl, C ₁₁ -C ₂₂ branched alkyl or Alkenyl and mixtures thereof, Q is (R 2 O) x -P, R 2 is C ₁ -C ₃ , P is independently

,

,

,

Is selected from X is selected from Cl-, Br-, CH ₃ OSO ₃ ^- and mixtures thereof as anions compatible with the softening agent, m is 1-3, n is 1-4, x is 0-4. The method of claim 1, wherein the main solvent is C ₆ Selected from the group consisting of diols, C7 diols, octanediols, propylene glycol normal butyl ether, dipropylene glycol normal butyl ether, ethylene glycol normal butyl ether, diethylene glycol normal butyl ether, ethylene glycol hexyl ether or phenoxyethanol A fabric softener composition comprising at least one or more.