MXPA02010287A

MXPA02010287A - Spherical compacted unit dose softener.

Info

Publication number: MXPA02010287A
Application number: MXPA02010287A
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: WO2001081521A3; CA2405862A1; BR0110345A; WO2001081521A2; CN1439048A; JP2003531312A; AU5377001A; EP1276836A2; AU2001253770B2

Abstract

A unit dose laundry composition for softening or conditioning fabrics which is suitable as an additive to the wash cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dose composition comprising a compacted granular composition comprising a fabric softener or a fabric conditioner, said compacted granular composition being characterized by having a spherical shape and having no discrete outer layer surrounding said fabric softener or conditioner, which outer layer is comprised of an alkaline material such that the pH of the wash water is increased upon the dissolution of said outer layer in said wash water.

Description

CONDENSED CONDITIONING SOFTENER OF UNIT DOSE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to laundry washing compositions of washing cycle unit doses for softening or conditioning the fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to unit dose fabric softening compositions which are granular compacted spherical compositions in the form and suitable for use in the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Detergent compositions made in the form of compact detergent powder tablets are known in the art. U.S. Patent No. 5,225,100, for example, discloses a compact powder tablet comprising an anionic detergent compound which will suitably be dispersed in the wash water.

Although the detergent compositions formed as tablets have received a great deal of attention in the patent literature, the use of such tablets to provide a fabric softener of unit dose is not known. which softens or conditions the fabrics without damaging the detergency.

One possible option to provide a unit dose softener 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 the shape and size of the unit dose container should be easily compatible with the geometry of a wide variety of wash rinse cycle spouts designed for domestic washing machines in order to ensure its easy introduction into the spout.

And further, the unit dose composition should be formulated to easily deliver its contents to the contact with water in a period of time corresponding to the residence time of the unit dose at the dispenser, namely, the period of time during which water enters and flows through the rinsing cycle spout. The aforementioned practical requirements to date have not been successfully met and therefore there is still a need in the art for a commercially acceptable unit dose softener capable of activation in the rinse cycle.

Washing cycle softeners were known in the art which condition the fabrics during the period of the wash cycle. Doses of tablet unit for detergent compositions are also known. Such tablets are typically compact and flat unit compositions which conceptually offer many advantages to the consumer, such as ease of dosing; Cleaner wash cycle jets that result from not being dosed with loose powder; less volume to carry and supply; ease of handling with respect to liquids; and environmental benefits inherent to reduced packaging requirements.

But, despite these advantages, there is a major disadvantage which does not occur in washing machines that are loaded by the front which represents at least 90% of the European market, and which are gaining acceptance by the consumer in North America . In washing machines that are loaded from the front, when a compact, flat object is inserted into the wash cycle, it is often trapped within a few minutes in the rubber seal surrounding the wash cycle window. Once caught in the seal, the tablet tends to remain trapped until the wash cycle is finished and consequently does not disperse in the wash water. To overcome this problem, different approaches have been taken.

Some tablet manufacturers provide a network or pouch designed to contain the dose of tablet unit, and thus avoid the problem of direct contact between the tablet and the stamp. Another proposed solution involves providing a rapidly dispersible tablet in the wash water by incorporating an effervescent matrix and / or a disintegrating agent into the tablet. But these proposed options are generally non-economic and often result in an unduly fragile tablet unable to easily withstand normal handling by the consumer without breaking. So, there is a need for an economic unit dose tablet capable of providing fabric conditioning and retaining its physical integrity during normal handling before being introduced into the washing machine.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a laundry detergent composition for fabric softening and conditioning which is suitable as an additive for the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dosage composition comprising a compacted granular composition comprising a fabric softener or a fabric conditioner, said compacted granular composition being characterized by having a spherical shape and by not having a discrete outer layer surrounding the fabric softener or conditioner, whose outer layer is composed of an alkaline material so that the The pH of the washing water is increased with the dissolution of said outer layer in said washing water.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the fabric softener or conditioner is composed of a fabric softening clay and an organic fatty softening material. Specifically preferred fabric softeners comprise a mineral clay softener, such as bentonite, in combination with a pentaerythritol compound as further described herein. Useful combinations of such softener may vary from about 83% to about 90%, by weight, of clay and from about 10% to about 17% by weight of a fatty softening material such as pentaerythritol compound ( often abbreviated here as "PEC").

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the fabric softener or conditioner is free of soap surfactant.

According to the aspect of the process of the invention there is provided a process for softening or conditioning the laundry which comprises putting the laundry in contact with an effective amount of the laundry composition for washing unit dose described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The clays that are useful components of the invented products are those which cooperate with the Organic fatty softener materials to provide improved softening of clothes. Such clays include clays containing montmorillonite which have swelling properties (in water) and which are of smectite structure, such that they are deposited on fibrous materials, especially cotton and cotton / synthetic blends, such as cotton / polyester, to give such fibers and 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 the 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 not normally swellable and are usually, in themselves, unacceptable as fabric softening agents. However, it has been found that such non-swelling bentonites exhibit even better fabric softening in combination with the PEC than do the swelling bentonites, provided that it is present in the softening composition, an alkaline metal source or other 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 function as components of the composition). Among the preferred bentonites are those of sodium and potassium, which are normally inflatable and calcium and magnesium, which are not normally inflatable. Of these it is preferred to use calcium (with a source of sodium being present) and sodium bentonites. Bentonites used can be produced in the United States of America, such as Wyoming bentonite, but can also be obtained from Europe, including from Italy and Spain, as calcium bentonite, which can be converted to sodium bentonite by treatment with Sodium carbonate or can be used as calcium bentonite. Also, other smectite clays containing montmorillonite of the properties such as those of the described bentonites can be replaced in whole or in part by the bentonites described herein and similar fabric softening results will be obtained.

The inflatable bentonites and the similarly operational clays are of final particle sizes in the range of microns, for example, from 0.01 to 20 microns and of actual particle sizes in the ranges of the numbers 100 to 400 of screens, 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 60 to 120 screens, but such agglomerates are not preferred unless PECs are included (in any particulate product).

A major component of the invented articles and compositions of the present invention and which is used in combination with the fabric softening clay is an organic fatty softener. The organic softener can be anionic or nonionic fatty chains (C10-C22, preferably Ci2-C?). • Anionic softeners include fatty acid soaps. Preferred organic softeners are nonionic such as fatty esters, ethoxylated fatty esters, fatty alcohols and polymers polyols. The organic softener is more preferably a higher fatty acid ester of a pentaerythritol compound, which term is used in this disclosure to describe higher fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol, higher fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol oligomers, higher fatty acid esters lower alkylene oxide derivatives of pentaerythritol and higher fatty acid esters of lower alkylane oxide derivatives of pentaerythritol oligomers. The pentaerythritol compound is often abbreviated as PEC herein, which description and abbreviation can be applied to any or all of the pentaerythritol, the oligomers, thereof and the alkoxylated derivatives thereof, such as, or preferably and more usually as the esters or they can be indicated by the context.

The pentaerythritol oligomers are preferably those of two to five pentaerythritol halves, more preferably 2 to 3, with such mitales. being united together through etheric bonds. The lower ethylene oxide derivatives thereof are preferably ethylene oxide or propylene oxide monomers, dimers or polymers, which end in hydroxyls and are attached to the pentaerythritol or the pentaerythritol oligomer through the ether bonds . Preferably there will be from one to ten halides of ethylene oxide in each alkylene oxide chain, preferably from 2 to 6 and there will be from one to ten such groups in a PEC, depending on the oligomer. At least one of the groups or OH of the PEC and preferably at least two, for example, 1 or 2 to 4, are esterified by a higher fatty acid or other higher aliphatic acid, which may be a non-uniform number of atoms of carbon. The higher fatty acid esters of the pentaetritol compounds are preferably partial esters. And more preferably there will be at least two free hydroxyls therein after esterification (on the pentaerythritol, the oligomer or the alkoxyalkane groups). Frequently, the number of such free hydroxides is two or about two but sometimes this can be by one, as in pentaerythritol tristearate, or as many as eight, as in pentaerythritol tetrapalmitate.

The higher aliphatic fatty acids that can be used as esterification acids are those of carbon atom contents in the range of 8 to 24, preferably 12 to 22 and more preferably 12 to 18, for example lauric, myristic, palmitic, oleic, stearic and behenic acids. Such mixtures of such fatty acids, obtained from natural sources, such as bait or coconut oil or from such natural materials that have been hydrogenated. Synthetic acids of non-even numbers or pairs of carbon atoms can also be used. But fatty acids are frequently preferred lauric and stearic acids, and such preference may depend on the pentaerythritol compound being esterified.

Examples of some esters (PEC's) within the present invention are given below: Monopentaerythritol esters CH, - R Monopentaerythritol Dilaurate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 10-COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 10-COO- R3 = OH R4 = OH Monopentaerythritol monostearate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO- R2 = OH R3 = OH R4 = OH Monopentaerythritol Distearate R ^ CTL, - (CH2) 16-COO- R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO- R3 = OH R4 = OH Monopentaerythritol tristearate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO- R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO- R3 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO-R4 = OH Monopentearitritol Monobehenate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 20-COO-R2 = OH R3 = OH R4 = OH Monopentearitritol Dibehenate R! = CH3 - (CH2) 20 -COO-R2 = CH3 - (CH2) 20 -COO- R3 = OH R4 = OH Dipentaerythritol Esters CH ORi CH2OR2 i "I HO CH2 ™ C - CH2 ~ O - CH2 - C - CH2OH CH.OR, CH2OR4 Dipentaetritol Tetralaurate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 10-COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 10-COO-R3 = CH3- (CH2) 10-COO-R4 = CH3- (CH2) 10-COO- Dipentaerythritol Tetrastearate R1 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO-R3 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO-R4 = CH3- (CH2) 16 -COO- Ethylene oxide ester 10 Pentaerythritol CH, ~ O- (CH2-CH20) nH I R1 - CH2 - C - CH2- 2 CH, - O- (CH2-CH20) nH With n + n '= 10 Ethylene oxide distearate Monopentaerythritol 10 R1 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO-R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16-C00- Esters of propylene oxide Pentaerythritol 4 CH2 - O - (CH2 - CH - CH20) 2H I Ri - CH2 - C - CH - »- R2 I CH2 - O - (CH2 - CH ~ CH20) 2H Propylene oxide monostearate Monopentaerythritol 4 R ^ CH, - (CH2) 16 -COO-R2 = OH Monopentaerythritol Propylene Disteararate 4 R1 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO- R2 = CH3- (CH2) 16-COO- Although in the formulas given herein some preferred pentaerythritol compounds which are useful in the practice of this invention are illustrated, it will be understood that various other pentaerythritol compounds within the description thereof given herein may also be employed, including such as pentaerythritol ceboatodihydrogenate, pentaerythritol sayboate, pentaerythritol dipalmitate and dipertitritol tetraceboate.

Other fabric softening materials can be incorporated into the presently disclosed unit dose laundry compositions as long as they are not ecologically unacceptable and if they do not interfere with the fiber softening action of the clay and the organic fat softening material. In fact, sometimes, when the antistatic action on the product is desirable, such additions may be important because even though the PEC, for example, has some antistatic properties, these are generally insufficient for the intended purposes. Therefore, it is possible to formulate fabric softening compositions and articles with the PEC is complemented by other antistatic agents and also with other fabric softeners. The best of such antistatic materials are the salts of quaternary ammonium but when these are present there may be ecological problems, due to the alleged toxicities for aquatic organisms. Other antistats and fabric softeners include: higher alkyl neoalkanamides, for example N-stearyl neodecanamide; isostearamides; amines, such as N, N-dikeboalkyl N-methyl amine; esterified quaternary salts or estercuats: amidoamines; amidocuats; imidazolines; imidazolinium salts.

Other useful ingredients for the unit dose laundry compositions of the invention include the disintegration materials to improve the disintegration at 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 polymer and cellulose. Granulating agents can be used such as polyethylene glycol; bactericides, perfumes, dyes and materials to protect against color fading, dye transfer, anti-slip and anti-shrinkage. For the purposes of improving the aesthetic properties of the final composition, cosmetic ingredients such as dyes, micas and waxes can be used as coating ingredients to improve the appearance and feel of the unit dose.

Example 1 The unit dose composition was prepared from the following ingredients: This manufacturing method consisted in mixing all the ingredients with the exception of the perfume in a Loedige type mix. The resulting mixture was dried in an oven and the perfume was then 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 60g and such unit dose was dispersed in water within 20 minutes when it was introduced into the wash load at the beginning of washing in a washing machine which is loaded 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 shirts and cotton kitchen towels was evaluated after cumulative washes and compared with a liquid fabric softener. commercial. A load of 3 kg clothes was used on the machine. The softness was evaluated by a panel of six judges using 9 duplicates. The results were as follows: Example 2 The unit dose softener compositions were prepared as mentioned in Example 1 to provide 60 grams of spherical softeners having a diameter of 44 millimeters. The typical range of spherical dose diameters is from about 5 to about 60 millimeters; preferably from about 20 to about 40 millimeters; and more preferably from about 30 to about 35 millimeters. The dissolution behavior of a unit dose softener in the washing machine was compared to a compacted tablet of 35 grams. The European washing machine and the washing conditions were as described in Example 1. The spherical unit dose softener of the invention and the tablet were introduced into the washing machine before the start of washing. The results were as follows: Scattering Evaluation Both the spherical unit dose and the tablet were trapped in the rubber packing of the washing machine within a few minutes of the wash cycle. However, the dose of the spherical unit was able to easily disengage itself from the packing and return to the clothing while the tablet remained trapped in the packing.

Of ten wash cycles, the tablet was caught in the rubber gasket in the machine each time (ten times).

The average time to get caught was around 10 minutes. In contrast to this, of ten wash cycles, the spherical unit dose softener was never trapped in the rubber gasket and dissolved in the wash water without difficulty.

Claims

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

1. A unit dose washing composition for fabric softening or conditioning which is suitable as an additive for the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dosage composition comprises a compacted granular composition including a fabric softener or a fabric conditioner, said compacted granular composition being characterized by having a spherical shape and not having a discrete outer layer surrounding said fabric softening or conditioner, whose outer layer is composed of an alkaline material so that the pH of the washing water is increased with the dissolution of said outer layer in said wash water.

2. A unit dose laundry composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the fabric softener or fabric conditioner comprises a softening clay in combination with an organic fatty softening material.

3. A unit dose laundry composition as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that the softening clay is a montmorillonite-containing clay and said organic fatty softening material is a pentaerythritol compound ("PEC") selected from the group consisting of of an ester of higher aliphatic acid of pentaerythritol, a pentaerythritol oligomer, a lower alkylene oxide derivative of a pentaerythritol oligomer, and mixtures thereof.

4. A unit dose laundry composition as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that the softening clay is at least partially coated with said organic fatty softening material and serves as a carrier for such a fatty softening material.

5. A unit dose laundry composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that it is essentially free of a fabric softener of quaternary ammonium compound.

6. A unit dose laundry composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said fabric softener or fabric conditioner is free of a soap surfactant.

7. A unit dose laundry composition as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that the softening clay is bentonite and said pentaerythritol compound is a higher aliphatic ester of pentaerythritol or of a pentaerythritol oligomer.

8. A unit dose laundry composition as claimed in clause 7 characterized in that it comprises, by weight, from about 83% to about 90% bentonite and from about 10% to about 17% of said pentaerythritol compound.

9. A process for softening or conditioning clothes which comprises contacting the clothes with an effective amount of the unit dose composition as claimed in clause 1.

10. A process as claimed in clause 9 characterized in that the fabric softener comprises a softening clay in combination with an organic fatty softening material.

11. A process as claimed in clause 10 characterized in that said softening clay is bentonite and said organic softening material comprises a pentaerythritol compound (PEC) selected from the group consisting of higher aliphatic acid ester of pentaerythritol, an oligomer of pentaerythritol, a lower alkylene oxide derivative of a pentaerythritol oligomer, and a mixture thereof. SUMMARY A unit dose washing composition for softening or conditioning the fabrics which is suitable as an additive for the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dosage composition comprising a compacted granular composition comprising a fabric softener or a fabric conditioner, said compacted granular composition being characterized by having a spherical shape and by not having a discrete outer layer surrounding said fabric softener or conditioner, whose outer layer is 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.