MXPA02010229A

MXPA02010229A - Wash cycle unit dose softener.

Info

Publication number: MXPA02010229A
Application number: MXPA02010229A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Alain Jacques
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 2000-04-26
Filing date: 2001-04-23
Publication date: 2003-04-25
Also published as: EP1276837A1; CA2406174A1; AU2001255577A1; BR0110354A; JP2003531311A; WO2001081520A1; CN1439046A

Abstract

A unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition for softening or conditioning fabrics in the wash cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dose comprising (a) a compacted granular fabric softener composition or (b) an encapsulated liquid and or granular fabric softener composition, the amount of (a) or (b) being sufficient to form a unit dose capable of providing effective softening or conditioning of fabrics in the wash cycle of said washing machine.

Description

WASHING CYCLE UNIT DOSE SOFTENER Field of Invention: This invention relates to laundry washing compositions of washing cycle unit doses for softening or conditioning fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to fabric softener compositions of unit doses which are granular compositions. compacted or encapsulated granular or liquid compositions suitable for use in the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine.

Background of the Invention Detergent compositions made in the form of a compacted detergent powder are known in the art. U.S. Patent No. 5,225,100, for example, discloses a compacted powder tablet comprising an anionic detergent compound which will be suitable for dispersing in the wash water.

Even though detergent compositions in the form of granular tablets compacted in various ways have received much attention in the patent literature, the use of such tablets to provide a fabric softener of unit doses which soften or condition the fabrics in the Washing cycle without impairing detergency or otherwise compromising the cleaning benefits provided by the detergent composition are not known.

Another possible option to provide a unit dose softener separate from the wash cycle is to introduce the softening ingredients directly into the wash cycle is to introduce the softening ingredients directly into the wash cycle, but for this type of product to be effective, several practical requirements must be satisfied. To begin with, the size and shape of the unit dose container should be easily compatible with the geometry of a wide variety of rinse cycle spouts designed for domestic washing machines to ensure easy introduction into the spout.

Also, in common with the general use of rinse cycle softeners, it is necessary to clean the rinse spout on a regular basis to prevent the residue from accumulating inside the spout or even at times preventing bacterial growth from occurring.

Still further, a unit dose composition for the wash cycle should be formulated to easily supply its contents in contact with water and in a period of time corresponding to the residence time of the unit dose at the pump, namely, the period of time during which the water enters and flows through the washing cycle spout.

The aforementioned practical requirements to date have not been successfully met with commercially available products and therefore there is still a need in the art for a unit dose smoother capable of activation in the wash cycle.

Laundry detergent compositions which also include a fabric softener to provide fabric softening or conditioning in the wash cycle of the washing operation are well known in the art and are described in the patent literature. See, for example, Patents of the United States of America 'Nos. 4,605,506 granted to Wixon; 4,818,421 granted to Boris and others, and 4,569,773 granted to Ramachandran and others all assigned to Colgate-Palmolive Company, and 4,851,138 granted to Akzo and 5,972,870 granted to Anderson that describes a tablet for washing multiple-layer laundry for laundry that includes a detergent in the outer layer and a softener, or a water softener or a fragrance on the inner layer. But this type of multiple benefit products suffers from the common disadvantage, namely an inherent compromise which makes the user between the cleaning and softening benefits provided by such products compared to using a separate detergent composition for cleaning only in the wash cycle and a separate smoothing composition only for smoothing in the rinse cycle. In essence, the user of such detergent softening compositions does not have the ability to independently adjust the amount of detergent and softener added to the wash cycle of a machine in response to the cleaning and softening requirements of a particular wash load.

Some attempts have been made in the art to develop active-type fabric softeners from wash cycles, typically in powder form. But, these products are characterized by the same inconvenience inherent with the use of powder detergents, namely, the problems of handling, of tampering in the container or the washing cycle spout, and the need for a dose device. to deliver the desired amount of active softener material to the laundry.

It has now been found that the softening of clothes can be carried out in the washing cycle with a flexibility which is independent of the detergent dose and with great convenience for the consumer by the use of a washing unit cycle wash softener. which avoids the common problems associated with the pouring and handling of granular or liquid detergent compositions.

Synthesis of the Invention The present invention provides a fabric softener composition of unit dose washing cycle for softening or conditioning the fabrics in the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dose comprising (a) a compacted granular fabric softening composition or (b) an encapsulated granular and / or liquid fabric softening composition, the amount of (a) or (b) being sufficient to form a unit dose capable of providing effective conditioning or softening of the fabrics in the wash cycle of the washing machine.

In a preferred embodiment the unit dose fabric softener composition is characterized as being in the form of a tablet and not having another discrete outer layer surrounding the fabric softener composed of an alkaline material so that the pH of the wash cycle is increase with the dissolution of the outer layer in the wash water.

In another preferred embodiment, the unit dose comprises a compacted granular softening composition which is essentially free of a soap surfactant.

The term "granular" as used herein to describe the fabric softener is intended to encompass relatively rougher granules ranging in size from about 150 to 2000 microns as well as a finer powder having a size as small as 30 to 50 microns. mieras The term "fabric softener" is used herein for convenience purposes to refer to materials which provide fabric softening and / or conditioning benefits in the washing cycle of a domestic or automatic washing machine.

The compacted granular fabric softening composition of the invention is preferably composed of a fabric softening clay optionally in combination with an organic fatty softening material. Especially preferred fabric softeners comprise a mineral clay softener, such as bentonite, in combination with a penteritritol ester compound as hereinafter described. Useful combinations of such a softener can vary from about 80% to about 90%, by weight, of clay and from about 10% to about 20% by weight of a fatty softening material such as a penteritritol compound (often abbreviated here as "PEC").

The encapsulated granular or liquid fabric softening composition contemplated for use herein comprises a gelatin capsule containing a non-ionic softener or clay to avoid any reaction with the anionic surfactants which may be present in the wash liquor. Useful liquid softening compositions include fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty esters, silicones (for example linear, grafted, bonded in the form crossed or ethoxylated) polyethylene waxes and fatty amides.

According to the process aspect of the invention there is provided a process for softening or conditioning the laundry comprising contacting the laundry with an effective amount of the laundry composition of unit dosage defined above. _ Detailed description of the invention The clays that are useful components of the invented products are those which cooperate with the organic fatty softening materials to provide an improved softening of the clothes. Such clays include clays containing montmorillonite which have swelling properties (in water) and which are of smectite structure, so that they are deposited on fibrous materials, especially cotton and cotton and synthetic blends, such as cotton / polyester, to give such fibers and the fabrics made therefrom a surface smoothness or lubricity. The best of the smectite clays for use in the present invention is the bentonite and the best of the bentonites are those which have a substantial swelling capacity in water, such as sodium and potassium bentonites. Such inflatable bentonites are also known as West or Wyoming bentonites, which are essentially sodium bentonite. Other bentonites, such as calcium bentonite, are usually non-swellable and are usually, in themselves, unacceptable as fabric softening agents. However, it has been found for such non-swelling bentonites that these exhibit an even better fabric softening in combination with the penteritritol compound than do the swelling bentonites, provided an alkaline metal source is present in the softening composition. or another solubilizing ion, such as sodium (which may come from sodium hydroxide, added to the composition, or from sodium salts, such as reinforcers and fillers, which may be functional components of the composition). Among the preferred bentonites are those of sodium and potassium, which are normally swollen, and calcium and magnesium, which are not swellable. It is preferred to use calcium bentonites (with a source of sodium being present) and sodium bentonites. The bentonites used can be produced in the United States of America such as Wyoming bentonite, but can also be obtained from Europe including Italy and Spain, as calcium bentonite, which can be converted to sodium bentonite by treatment with sodium carbonate, or they can be used as calcium bentonite. Also, other smectite clays containing montmorillonite with properties similar to those of the bentonites described can be replaced in whole or in part by the bentonites described herein and similar fabric softening results will be obtained.

Inflatable bentonites and similarly operational clays are of final particle sizes in the range of microns, for example, from 0.01 to 20 microns and actual particle ranges in the range of 100 to 400 sieve numbers, preferably 140 to 325. sieves, from the sieve series of the United States of America. Bentonite and other suitable swelling clays can be agglomerated to larger particle sizes as well, such as from 60 to 120 screens, but such agglomerates are not preferred unless they also include the penteritritol compound (in any particle products).

A major component of the invented compositions and articles of the present invention, and which is used in combination with the fabric softening clay is an organic fatty softener. The organic softener may be anionic, cationic or nonionic fatty chains (C10-C22 preferably C12-C18). Anionic softeners include fatty acid soaps. Preferred organic softeners are nonionic such as fatty esters, ethoxylated fatty esters, fatty alcohols and polyol polyols. The organic softener is more preferably a higher fatty acid ester of a penteritritol compound whose term is used in this disclosure to describe higher fatty acid esters of penteritritol, higher fatty acid esters of penteritritol oligomers, higher fatty acid esters of lower alkylene oxide derivatives of penteritritol and Higher fatty acid esters of lower alkylene oxide derivatives of penteritritol oligomers. The penteritritol compound is often abbreviated as PEC herein, which description and abbreviation may be applied to any or all of the penteritritol, oligomers thereof and alkoxylated derivatives thereof as or more preferably and more usually as the esters, as may be indicated by the context.

The penteritritol oligomers are preferably those of two to five halides of penteritritol, more preferably two to three, with such halves being joined together via ether bonds. The alkylene oxide derivatives thereof are preferably ethylene oxide or propylene oxide monomers, dimers or polymers, which end in hydroxyl and are attached to the penteritritol or the penteritritol oligomer via ether bonds. Preferably there will be from one to ten alkylene oxide moieties in such an alkylene oxide chain, more preferably from 2 to 6 and there will be from 1 to 10 such groups over the penteritritol compound, depending on the oligomer. At least one of the OH groups of the penteritritol compound and preferably at least two, for example 1 or 2 to 4, are esterified by a higher fatty acid or a higher aliphatic acid which may be an uneven number of carbon atoms .

The higher fatty acid esters of the penteritritol compounds are preferably partial esters. And more preferably there will be at least two free hydroxyls on them after esterification (on the penteritritol, the oligomer or the alkoxy alkane groups). Frequently, the number of such free hydroxyls is about two or about two, but sometimes it may be one such as in the penteratethiol tristearate. The higher fatty acids or aliphatics which can be used as esterification acids are those with carbon atom contents in the range of 8 to 24, preferably 12 to 22 and more preferably 12 to 18, for example, lauric, myristic acids , palmitic, oleic, stearic and behenic. Such may be mixtures of such fatty acids, obtained from natural sources, such as from bait or coconut oil or from such natural materials that have been hydrogenated. Synthetic acids of even or unmatched numbers of carbon atoms can also be used. Of the fatty acids, lauric and stearic acids are frequently preferred, and such preference may depend on the penteritritol compound being esterified.

Examples of some esters (penteritritol compound) within the present invention are given below: Monopentaerythritol esters R? - CH2 - C - CH2 - R3 CH, - R Monopentaerythritol Dilaurate R. = CH3- (CH2) 10 -COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 10 -COO- R3 = OH R = 0H Monopentaerythritol monostearate R. = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO- R2 = OH R3 = OH R = OH Monopentaerythritol Distearate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO- R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO- R = OH 4 = OH Monopentaerythritol tristearate R. = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO-R3 = CH3- (CH2) 15 -COO- R4 = OH Monopentearitritol Monobehenate R. = CH3- (CH2) 20 -COO- R2 = OH R3 = OH R4 = OH Monopentearitritol Dibehenate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 20-COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 20-COO-R3 = OH R4 = OH Dipentaerythritol Esters HO CH2 ~ C - CH2 ~ O - CH2 - C- CH2OH CH OR, CH2OR4 Dipentaetritol Tetralaurate R. = CH3- (CH2) 10 -COO- R2 = CH3- (CH2) 10 -COO- R3 = CH3- (CH2) 10 -COO-R4 = CH3- (CH2) 10 -COO- Dipentaerythritol Tetrastearate R. = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO- R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO-R ^ CHj-tCH ^ -COO- R4 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO- Ethylene oxide ester 10 Pentaerythritol CH, - 0- (CH2- CH20) nH I R1 - CH2 - C - CH2- R2 CH2- O- (CH2-CH20) n.H With n + n '= 10 Ethylene oxide distearate Monopentaerythritol 10 R. = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO-Propylene oxide esters Pentaerythritol 4 CH2 - O - (CH2 - CH - CH20) 2H I Ri - CH2 - C - CH2 - R2 CH2 - O - (CH2 - CH - CH20) 2H Propylene oxide monostearate Monopentaerythritol 4 R. = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO- R2 = OH Monopentaerythritol Propylene Disteararate 4 R. = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO- Although in the formulas given above some preferred penteritritol compounds are useful in the practice of this invention are illustrated and it will be understood that various other penterthritol compounds within the description may also be employed herein, including such as dihydrogenated seboato of penteritritol, pentero-thiitol disboate, pentrythritol dipalmitate and di-pentethritol tetraseboate.

To improve the softening efficacy of the unit dose compositions described herein, cationic softeners such as conventional quaternary ammonium softening compounds may optionally be added in minor amounts.

The combination of bentonite and organic fatty softening materials is generally from about 10% to about 99% bentonite and from about 1% to about 90% fatty softening material, preferably from about 50% to about 95% bentonite and from about 5% to about 50% fat softening material, and more preferably from about 80% to 90% bentonite and from about 10 to about 20% softening material fatty.

Other useful ingredients for the compacted granular unit dose compositions of the invention include the disintegration materials to improve the disintegration of the unit dose in the wash water.

Such materials include an effervescent matrix such as citric acid combined with baking soda or materials such as PVP polymers and cellulose. Granulating agents can be used such as polyethylene glycol; bactericides, perfumes, dyes and materials for protection against color fading, transfer of dye, against fraying and against shrinkage. For the purposes to improve the aesthetic properties of the final composition, cosmetic ingredients such as inks, micas and waxes may be used as coating ingredients to improve the appearance and feel of the unit dose.

The encapsulation provided for granular or liquid conditioning or softening materials is preferably a gelatin shell which is readily soluble in the wash water and which is compatible with the detergents used in the wash cycle. The manufacture of such gelatin capsules uses technology well known in the art and is described, for example, in the following publications which are incorporated herein by reference "Softgels: Manufacturing and Considerations" by Paul Wiikinson and Foo Song Hom, Science of Pharmaceutical Drugs (1990), pages 409-449, of Mediventure Inc., of Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; and "Coating of Gelatin Capsules" by Ann Mari Hannula and Peter Speiser, Pharmaceutical Act Technology (1988), pages 234-236.

Preferred liquid softeners of the invention include fatty alcohols such as oleyl alcohol, fatty acids, such as oleyl carboxylic acid; fatty esters, such as oleyl esters or vegetable fatty esters such as sunflower seed oil; silicones, such as polydimethyl siloxanes, linear or crosslinked, ethoxylated or non-ethoxylated and optionally including a amide functionality; polyethylene waxes, having a molecular weight of from 8,000 to 60,000; and fatty amides such as dioleyl amide formed by the reaction of diethylenetriamine with oleic acid having predominantly the following structure: O O I I I I R. C N CH2 CH2 NR, CH2 II C R. wherein R. represents an alkyl oleyl carbon chain; and R2 represents H or (EO) x with x varying from 0 to 6 (the degree of ethoxylation).

Although the chain length of oleyl carbon is more preferred for the purposes of providing smoothing and dispersing efficiency in the wash water, other lengths of higher alkyl chain may also be used for the invention.

Typical unit dose compositions for use herein may range from about 5 to 10 ml corresponding on a weight basis to about 5 to about 10 grams (which includes the weight of the capsule), and the number of dose per wash is two. Alternatively, when a unit dose / wash is used, the corresponding volume and weight is from about 10 to about 20 ml and from about 10 to about 20 grams (including the weight of the capsule) respectively.

Example 1 A compacted granular unit dose composition was prepared from the following ingredients: This method of manufacturing consisted of mixing all the ingredients with the exception of the perfume in a Loedige type mixer. The resulting mixture was dried in an oven and the perfume was added to the dried powder. The powder was then compacted using an alternating or rotary press mounted with appropriate dyes. The weight of the spherical unit dose was 60 grams and such unit dose was dispersed in water within 20 minutes when it was introduced into the washing load at the beginning of the washing in a loading washing machine by the European front Miele W832 put to a program of white colors at 40 ° C.

The softness provided by the unit dose compositions on the plush towels, cotton t-shirts and cotton kitchen towels was evaluated after the cumulative washes and compared with a commercial liquid fabric softener. A load to wash clothes of 3 kilograms It was used in the machine. The softness was evaluated by a panel of six judges using nine duplicates. The results were as follows: Example 2 A liquid dosage unit softener composition encapsulated with gelatin was prepared comprising the following ingredients: Polydimethylsiloxane The softness provided by the unit dose composition was evaluated on cotton t-shirts and towels in a European washing machine and compared with a commercial liquid fabric softener. The unit dose composition provided essentially equivalent smoothness.

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A fabric softener composition of unit dose washing cycle for softening or conditioning fabrics in the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine, said dosage unit comprising (a) a granular compacted fabric softener composition or (b) a encapsulated granular and / or liquid fabric softening composition, the amount of (a) or (b) being sufficient to form a unit dose capable of providing fabric softening or conditioning in the washing cycle of said washing machine.

2. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it is in the form of a tablet and does not have a discrete outer layer surrounding the fabric softener composed of an alkaline material so that the pH of the water of washing is increased with the dissolution of said outer layer in said washing water.

3. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it comprises a compacted granular fabric softening composition which is essentially free of a jelly surfactant.

4. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the fabric softening composition comprises a softening clay.

5. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that the fabric softening composition comprises a softening clay in combination with an organic fatty softening material.

6. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the softening clay is a montmorillonite-containing clay and said organic fatty softening material is a penteritritol compound ("PEC") selected from the group consisting of ester of higher aliphatic acid of penteritritol, a oligomer of penteritritol, a derivative of lower alkylene oxide of a oligomer of penteritritol and mixtures thereof.

7. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the softening clay is a montmorillonite-containing clay and said organic fatty softening material is a fatty alcohol.

8. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the softening clay is at least partially coated with said organic fatty softening material and serves as a carrier for the fatty softening material.

9. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that the softening clay is bentonite and said penteritritol compound is a higher aliphatic ester of penteritritol or a oligomer of penteritritol.

10. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the combination of clay and fatty softening material comprises by weight from about 50% to about 95% bentonite and from about 5% by weight. % to about 50% penteritritol compound.

11. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 10, characterized in that said combination of fatty softening material and clay comprises from about 80 to about 90% bentonite and from about 10% to about 20% of penteritritol compound.

12. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said fabric softener comprises a liquid fatty ester.

13. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that said fatty ester is sunflower oil.

14. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said fabric softening composition comprises a liquid silicone.

15. A unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said fabric softening composition comprises a liquid oleyl alcohol.

16. A process for softening or conditioning the laundry comprising contacting the laundry with an effective amount of the unit dose smoothing composition as claimed in clause 1.

17. A process as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that the softening composition comprises a softening clay in combination with a material organic fat softener.

18. A process as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that the softening clay is bentonite and said organic softening material comprises a fatty alcohol or a penteritritol compound selected from the group consisting of higher aliphatic acid ester of penteritritol, an oligomer of penteritritol, a lower alkylene oxide derivative of a penteritritol oligomer, and a mixture thereof.

19. A process as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that the fabric softening composition comprises a liquid fatty ester.

20. A process as claimed in clause 16, characterized in that the fatty ester is sunflower oil. SUMMARY A fabric softener composition of unit dose washing cycle for softening or conditioning fabrics in the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dose comprising (a) a compacted granular fabric softening composition or (b) a composition liquid softener and / or granulated encapsulated fabric, the amount of (a) or (b) being sufficient to form a unit dose capable of providing an effective conditioning or softening of the fabrics in the wash cycle of the washing machine.