MXPA05001228A - Unit dose nonaqueous liquid softener disposed in water soluble container. - Google Patents

Abstract

A water soluble container having disposed therein a nonaqueous liquid fabric softener composition. The container is formed from a polymer chosen from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohols copolymers, partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, alkyl celluloses and their ethers and esters, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, dextrin maltodextrin, polyacrylates, polyacrymides and acrylic acid/maleic anhydride copolymers. The softener composition comprises at least one organic softening agent chosen from the group consisting of fatty acid soaps,glycerol esters, ethoxylated fatty esters, fatty alcohols, polyol polymers, higer fatty acid esters of pentaerythritol, silicone oil compounds, olein esterquat compounds, olein amido-amine compounds, quaternised alkyl imidazoline compounds, synthetic esters and natural esters.

Description

NON-AQUEOUS LIQUID SOFTENER ÜE UNIT DOSE PLACED IN A SOLUBLE WATER CONTAINER Field of the Invention. . | F | | ' The present invention relates to laundry compositions of unit doses for softening or conditioning fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to liquid fabric softener compositions of unit doses, which are contained in a 'suitable water-soluble container' for use in an automatic washing machine.

Background of the Invention '1,' '' :. ' |,:. . , "· · · · · · · · · · Detergent compositions, manufactured in the form of a compacted detergent powder, are known in the art. U.S. Patent No. 5,225,100, for example, discloses a tablet of a compacted powder comprising an anionic detergent compound, which will be properly dispersed in the wash water.

Even though detergent compositions in the form of compacted granular tablets of various forms have received a great deal of attention in the patent literature, the use of such tablets to provide a unit dose fabric softener which will soften or condition it is not known. the fabrics in the washing cycle without imparting detergency or otherwise compromising the cleaning benefits provided by the detergent composition. · > ·, I · Laundry detergent compositions which also include a fabric softener to provide softening or conditioning of the fabrics in the wash cycle of the washing operation are well known in the art and are described in the literature. patent. See, for example, the 'patents of the United States of America Nos. 4, 605.50.6, issued to Wixon; 4,818,421 granted to Boris and others' and 4, 5.69,773 granted to Rámachandran 'and others, all assigned to Colgate-Palmolive Cómpany, and 4,851,138' assigned to Akso. The patent of '. US No. 5,972, 870, issued to Anderson, describes a laundering system for washing multiple layers of laundry which may include a detergent on the outer layer and a fabric softener, or a fabric softener. water or a fragrance in the inner layer. Peró this type of products of multiple benefits suffers from a common disadvantage, namely that there is an inherent commitment which the user necessarily has to do between the cleaning and the smoothing benefits provided by such products compared to using a separate detergent composition only to clean in the wash cycle and a separate softener composition only to soften in the rinse cycle. In essence, the user of such softening detergent 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 cleaning and smoothing requirements. , the load of particular clothes.

Some attempts have been made in the art to develop active fabric wash cycle softeners, typically in powder form. But these types of products are characterized by the same inconvenience inherent in the use of powdered detergents, namely, the problems of handling, of filling in the container? at the spout of the wash cycle,, and, the need for a dosing device for delivery. desired amount of active softening material to washout water.- ·; . -.| · · |; ·.'.· 1 . |. ·.-.-. | .: 1 The use of a unit dose fabric softening composition contained in the water soluble container such as a pouch offers numerous advantages. To be effective, fabric softener compositions of unit doses, contained in a pouch, must be capable of dispersing in the wash liquor in a short period of time to avoid any residue at the end of the wash cycle.

Typically, the wash cycle time can be as short as 12 minutes and as long as 90 minutes (in typical European washing machines) depending on the type of washing machine and the washing conditions. Therefore, the water soluble sachet must be soluble in the wash liquor before the end of the cycle.

Synthesis of the Invention The present invention provides a fabric softener composition of a unit contained in a water soluble softener for softening or conditioning fabrics in an automatic washing machine; said unit dose comprises: (a) a water soluble container; and (b) placed in the water-soluble container is a "non-aqueous" liquid fabric softening composition, the amount of the composition will be sufficient to form a "unit dose" capable of > provide an effective softening or conditioning of the fabrics in the washing machine. , '' _ The term "fabric softener" is used herein for convenience purposes to refer to materials which provide smoothing and / or fabric conditioning benefits in an automatic or household washing machine.

The fabric softening composition of the invention is preferably composed of one or more fabric softening agents, optionally, a dispersing agent, and optionally a perfume.

In accordance with the process aspect of the invention, there is provided: a process for, softening or conditioning clothing: which comprises contacting, clothing with an effective amount of. the laundry detergent composition of the unit dose defined above.

Detailed description of the invention The non-aqueous liquid fabric softening composition contained in the water container which is formed of a water soluble polymer which is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, such as alcohol polyvinyl / polyvinyl pyrrolidone, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, alkyl hydroxy cellulosic, such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium, dextrin, maltodextrin, alkyl cellulosics such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and propyl cellulose, ferric ethers; and alkyl cellulosic esters such as methyl cellulose, ethyl, and ethyl.

• . · I 'l'. '. · Cellulose and propyl. cellulose, 'poly' water-soluble crilates, water-soluble polyacrylamides' and copolymers of maleic acid anhydride / acrylic acid comprises: (a) 72% to 100%, more preferably, preferably .75% to 99.5% of so. less a fabric softening agent; (b) from 0 to 12%, more preferably from 0.5% to 10%, of a dispersing agent; (c) from 0 to 105, most preferably from 0.5% to 8% of an alkanol ¾-03 such as isopropanol; (d) 0 to 8% more preferably 0.5% to 6% of a perfume, wherein the composition contains less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 8% by weight of water and the composition does not contain a surfactant of anionic sulfate, an anionic sulfonate surfactant, hexylene glycol, an amine oxide surfactant.

The present compositions do not contain a detergent builder salt, a silicone glycol copolymer, a nonionic surfactant, a green dye, a yellow dye or a poly (oxyalkylene) subtracted dye.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the term "perfume" is "used," in its ordinary sense to refer to and include any non-soluble fragrant substance, in water or mixture of substances including natural odoriferous substances, ( for example, obtained by the extraction of artificial flowers, herbs, fluorescence, plants, etc. (for example, mixture of natural oils or oil constituents) (synthetically produced substance). Typically, perfumes are complex mixtures of. combinations of various organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, aromatics' and variable amounts of essential oils (for example, terpenes) such as from about 0% to about 80%, usually from 10% to 70% by weight, the essential oils themselves · are odoriferous compounds · volatile and, also -serve for disolvel: the otfos. Perfume components In the present invention, the precise composition of the perfume is not of a particular consequence for the softening performance as long as it satisfies the criterion of inmissibility in water. have a pleasant smell. Naturally, of course, especially for the softening compositions intended to be used in the home, the perfume as well as the other ingredients must be cosmetically acceptable, for example, toxic, hypoallergenic.

A principal component of the invented compositions and articles of the present invention is a softening agent which is an organic fatty softener. The organic softener 1 may be cationic, or non-ionic, "fatty," "cationic, chains" (preferably C 10 -C 22, preferably C 12 -C 16),. Anionic softeners include fatty acid soaps. The organic softeners. Can be nonionic such as, fatty esters of glycerol, ethoxylated fatty esters, fatty alcohols, polyol polymers, ester of. Higher fatty acid of a p.entaerythritol compound and oil, silicone compounds. ·; Other softening agents are olein compounds 'est'erquat, such as oleythyl hydrpxy. ethyl ammonium methosulfate, olein amido-amide compounds, | Imidazoline compounds of: quaternized alkyl, synthetic esters such as oleate, glyceryl, pentaerythritol oleate, 2-ethyl-tiexyl oleate and natural esters such as copra oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil.

The dispersing agent used in the present non-aqueous liquid fabric softening composition is selected from the group consisting of glycereth cocoate, PEG200 oleate, PEG400 dioleate, and ethoxylated nonionic surfactants formed from the reaction of one mole of C12-i3 fatty alcohol and 2 to 4 moles of ethylene oxide and mixtures thereof.

The water-soluble container which may be in the form of a bag, pouch, or blow-molded capsule or other blow-molded shapes, an injected-molded ampoule, or other molded fibrins of, Injection, or rotationally molded spheres or capsules are formed of a water-soluble thermoplastic resin. The water soluble polymers sOn. selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol / polyvinyl pyrrolidone, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, alkyl cellulosics such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and propyl. cellulose, ethers and esters of alkyl cellulose, hydroxy cellulose of. alkyl such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypioyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, dextrin, jnaltodextrin, polyacrylates. 'soluble in' water, poliac ilatps '' soluble in water,; polyacrylamides soluble in water and soluble polyacrylamides', water 1 and. copolymers of maleic anhydride / acrylic acid. Especially preferred water-soluble plastics which can be considered to form the container include chemically modified and / or low molecular weight polylactides; such polymers have been produced by Chronopol, Inc., and have been sold under the Heplon brand. Also included in the family of water-soluble polymers are melt-processable poly (vinyl) alcohol resins (PVA); Such resins are produced by Texas Polymer Services, Inc., under the brand name Vinex and are produced under license from Air Producs and Chemicals, Inc. and Monosol film produced by Monosol LLC. Other suitable resins include poly (ethylene oxide) and the water soluble carbohydrates derived from cellulose. The trainer is produced by Union Carbide Inc., and sold under the trade name 'Polyox; The latter is produced by Dow Chemicals .Inc., and sold under the Methocel brand. Typically, the water-soluble 1 polymer derivatives of cellulose are not easily melted and processable. The water-soluble thermoplastic resin 'preferred for the application is PVA produced > by Monosol, LLC. Any number or combination of resins of polyvinyl alcohol can be used. The prefered degree, considering. ' the processability of the resin, the duration of the container, the water solubility characteristics and the commercial viability is the Monosol film having a weight average molecular weight in the range of about 5 · 5 > 000 to 65,000 and an average number-1 molecular weight range of around 27,000 to '·, .33,000.' ', ·'. , "," The bag can be | formed from a poly (vinyl) alcohol film. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) resin, processable with melted and dried previously and made in pellets, is fed by a film extruder. The delivery material may also contain a pre-dried color concentrate which uses a polyvinyl alcohol carrier resin. Other, similarly prepared additives, such as antioxidants, ultraviolet stabilizers, anti-blocking additives, etc., can be added to the extruder. The resin and the concentrate are mixed with melted to the extruder. The extruder die may consist of a circular die to produce a film. 1 '· 11' blown or · a matrix of *. bag hanger to produce a forged film. The circular shafts may have rotating die lanes and / or mandrels to modify the visual appearance1 and / or the properties; Alternatively, the PVA resins can also be dissolved and formed into films through a solution setting process, wherein the resin or PVA resins are dissolved and mixed, in an aqueous solution together with the additives. This solution is set through a 'bag hanger matrix or on the front of a doctor's blade' or through a set box to produce a solution layer of a consistent grinder. This solution layer is set or coated on a drum with a suitable substrate setting band to carry it through a furnace or series of furnaces to reduce the moisture content to a level. . · '· ·· ,: and |.'| ·' _ ·. | | And -.-, appropriate. The extruded? · Bonded film is cut to an appropriate width and rolled over, the core. Each core holds a film reel.

• Typical film properties are: 1. Stress resistance (125 mils, break, 50% relative humidity (= 4,700 to 5,700 pounds per square inch) 2. Voltage module (125 mils, 125 relative humidity) = 47,000 to 243,000 pounds per square inch; Preferred range is 140,000 to 150,000 pounds per square inch. > 1 3. Tearing resistance (medium). (ASTM-D-199 '' 4. Impact resistance · (medium) (AST-D-1709 gm / ml) = 600-1,000 ' 5. 100% elongation (medium) (ASTM-D-882 pounds per square inch) = 300-600 6. Transmission of ^ '' -oxygen (1.5 thousandths of •: inch, '0% RH, 1 atm) = 0.0350' to '0.450 cc / 100 inch ', square / 2 hours. , | _, _ 'V 7. Oxygen transmission (1.5 thousandths of an inch, .50% RH lat. = 1.20 to 1.50 cc / 100 square inches / 24 hours. 8. 100% module (medium) (ASTM-D-882 pounds per square inch) = 1000-3000. 9. Solubility (sec) (MSTM-205, disintegration = 1-15, dissolution = 10-30.

The typical resin properties are: '·'. · '· 13' '' 1 i. * '1 1. Glass transition temperature (° C) 2.8 to 38; the preferred one is from 28 to 33. | 2. Weight average molecular weight (Mw) = 15,000 a 95,000; preferred is 55,000-65,000. 3. Average molecular weight of number (Mn) = 7,500 to '60,000; -.the preferred one is from 27, '000 to 33,000. The preferred polyvinyl alcohol film is formed of Monosol 7030 or Monospl 8630.

] "The reels, of cut film, are fed into a seal machine, of the same type and form (FFS).

. · '·.::' · · '· |' '' · '· V' '; - · '·.' ·. '·',. seal, filling, and form (FFS) manufactures the appropriate pouch (cylinder), square, pillow, oval etc. shape of the film, fills the pouch with the product, and seals. the bag . · There are many form, fill and seal machines that can convert water soluble films, including vertical, horizontal and rotating machines. To make the appropriate pouch form, one or multiple films can be used. The 'pouch form can be folded into the film, mechanically formed in the film, or thermally formed in the film; The forming pouch can also use the thermal bonding of multiple film layers or multiple film layer solvent bonding. When polyvinyl alcohol is used, the most common solvent is water. A 1 · '|' '· ·' |. Once the appropriate form bag is filled with the product, the bag can be sealed using either the thermal bond of the film or the solvent bond of the film.

The isoplated molded capsules are formed from the poly (vinyl alcohol) resin having a molecular weight of about 50,000 to about; 70/000 and a glass transition temperature of around 28 to 33 ° C. The concentrated pellet resin and concentrate are fed into an extruder. The extruder inside which these are fed has a circular, oval, square or rectangular matrix and a suitable mandrel. _ The mass of melted polymer leaves the matrix and assumes the '; shape of the matrix / mandrel combination. The air blown inside the interior volume of the extrudate (hollow tube) while the extrudate makes contact with a pair of divided molds. The molds control the final shape of the package. While they are in the mold, the package is filled with the appropriate volume of liquid. The mold tempers the plastic. The liquid is contained within the interior volume of the molded or blown package.

An injection molded capsule or ampule is formed of the polyvinyl alcohol resin having a molecular weight of about 50,000 to about 70,000 and a glass transition temperature of about 28 to 38 ° C. The resin in pellets and the concentrate or concentrates are fed to the throat of a reciprocating screw of the injection molding machine. The rotation of the screw pushes the dough with pellets forward while the diameter is increased, of the screw that compresses the pellets and forces them to make contact with the heated barrel with the machine.

The combination of heat, conduction of the pellets by the barrel and the heat generated by the contact of the pellets with the rotating screw, melts the pellets when being pushed forward, towards the front. The melted polymer mass is connected in front of the screw when the screw is turned and begin to retract, a. , the rear part of the machine. At the appropriate time, the screw is forced forward by forcing the melt through the nozzle at the tip of the machine and into a mold or hot running system which feeds various molds. The molds control the shape of the finished package. The package can be filled with liquid either while in the mold or after injection from the mold. The filling port of the package is heated with sealing after the filling is completed. This process can be conducted either online or offline.

A rotationally molded capsule or sphere is formed of the polyvinyl alcohol resin having a molecular weight of about 50,000 to about 70,000 and a glass transition temperature of about 28 to 38 ° C.

The pelletized resin and the concentrate are sprayed at a typical mesh size appropriate to this. of 35 meshes. A specific weight of the powdered resin is fed to a cold mold having the desired shape and volume. The mold is sealed and heated while it is rotated simultaneously in three directions. The powder melts, and covers the entire interior surface of the mold. While rotating continuously, the mold is cooled so that the; resin solidifies in / a form which doubles the size and texture of the mold. After rejection of the finished package, is the liquid injected into the hollow package using a needle or? heated probe after filling, | the injection port'1 of the package is > sealed with heat. ''. · '"' '.

Typical unit dose compositions for use herein may vary from about 5 to about 20 milliliters and correspond on a basis weight of about 5 to about 20 grams (which includes the weight of the capsule).

The following examples illustrate the fabric softening compositions of the described invention. Unless otherwise specified, the proportions in the film and in other parts of the description are by weight. • | · · 1 · '. Example 1 The following fabric softener that is going to be used 'in. the wash cycle was prepared by purchasing the following ingredients: | '(*) polydimethylsiloxane The . formula, previous · was filled · by the · method previously .described in a, 'polyvinyl alcohol sachet what ··. ·, | '' I '' '' she has a thickness, film about 0.25 to 5 mils ·, more preferably 'from 1 to 3 mils.

The sachets containing the above formulas were dissolved in one to two minutes during the wash cycle.

The softness provided by the unit dose composition was evaluated on towels and cotton shirts on a | machine European washing machine and compared with a commercial liquid fabric softener .. The unit dose composition provided a substantially equivalent softness.

'Example, 2' 1 '·' ''. · ',. '· 1 The formulas for the composition of fabric smoothing formulas that follow. to be used in a wash cycle they were prepared in percent by weight by simple mixing: (1) Pentaerythritol tetraoleate (ex Fina) (2) Glycerol trioleate (ex Fina) (3) 2-Ethylexyl oleate (ex Fina) (4) C12-13 EO fatty alcohol 3: 1 The above formulas were filled at a dose of 8.0 milliliters by the method previously described in a polyvinyl alcohol sachet having a film thickness of about 0.25 to 5 mils, more preferably 1 to 3 mils.

The above three were evaluated in a machine '.europea washing', of 'l, to' real life 'one' dose of 8.0 milliliters against '. 110 milliliters of a regular French 'current Soupline. ? . | I i l Test Conditions | Miele W 832 washing machine, heavy duty cycles' 300 parts per million water hardness of the key t I • 150 grams HDD detergent for the wash cycle. , 110.0 milliliters1 Soupline for 'rinse' cycle ',' '·' '| · ·' "· 1 '·' ·. '·.' | ·, · | 8.0 milliliter.s non-aqueous prototype for rinse cycle . 'Smoothing evaluations by comparison by 4 judges.

Smoothing results Product Qualification Conclusion of Sopuline 0.250 Statistics Prototype 1 0.469 Proto2 = Proto3 = Soupline Prototype 2 -0.500 = Protol Prototype 2 -0.219 '·' ', Using a' prototype '' .de, 8.0 'milliliters one can deliver a softer smoother than the Soupline I · 110 milliliters, however, at 9-5% confidence these are equivalent. The clear, concentrated FS prototypes, containing only liquid ingredients, can therefore deliver smoothing performance - fourteen times compared to Soupline. ·; Example '3 The following formulas' will composició 'fabric softener for use in el- rinse cycle were prepared on a weight by .ciento by' simple mixing. (1) Glycerol trioleate (ex Fina) (2) Glycerol-1 cocoate (ex Fina) (3) Dioleate PEG400 (ex Fina) (4) Mono-oleate PEG200 (ex Fina) The above formulas were filled at a dose of 8.0 grams by the method, previously described within an alcohol saucer, of polyvinyl having a film thickness of about 0.25 to 5 mils, more preferably 1 to 3 mils.

Claims (9)

'|' 22"'' R E I. V I N D I C A C I O N S
1. '1. A smoothing system which comprises: (a) a water soluble container which is formed of a water soluble polymer which is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, alkyl celluloses, ethers and alkyl cellulose esters; hydroxyalkyl, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, dextrin, maltodextrin, water-soluble polyacrylates, water-soluble polyacrylates, water-soluble polyacrylamides and acid copolymers. acrylic / maleic anhydride. _ '.' '; (b) a fabric softening composition placed in said container, soluble in water, wherein said fabric softening composition comprises approximately 72 weight percent, 100% of at least one organic softening agent which is selected from the group that consists of fatty acid soaps, glycerol esters, ethoxylated fatty esters of glycerol, ethoxylated fatty esters, fatty alcohols, polyol polymers, higher fatty acid esters of a pentaerythritol compound, silicone oil compounds, olein esterquat compounds, olein amido-amide compounds, quaternized alkyl imidazoline compounds, synthetic esters and natural esters and mixtures thereof. | · '. ·' | 23 '' '
2. 2. The system as claimed in, clause 1, characterized in that the container is formed of a polyvinyl alcohol polymer or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer. 1
3. 3. The system as such and as claimed in clause 1, characterized, because a container is a pouch, bag, ampule, capsule or sphere. ' .*
4. 4.' The, system as claimed in clause 1 ,. characterized in that at least one softening agent of said compound is known and said compound is amide-amide compound, a synthetic compound or said natural ester.
5. 5. The system as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that said synthetic ester is selected from the group consisting of glycerol oleate, pentaerythritol ethylexyl oleate and mixtures thereof.
6. 6. The system as claimed in clause 4, 'characterized in that the natural ester is selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, copra oil and sunflower oil and mixtures thereof.
7. 7. The system as claimed in the · 't, 24"-: | clause 1, characterized because it also includes 0.5% by weight a |' | s · '· ·, · 10% 'po, weight of why you lie an assortment assistant.,
8. 8. The system is such, and as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that at least one 'assortment agent is selected from the group consisting of glycereth cocoate, oleate PEG200, dioleate, PEG 00 and ethylene oxide Ci2. -Ci3 EO, 3: 1 fatty alcohol ethoxylate and mixtures of the same .. '
9. 9. The system as claimed in clause 8, characterized -because it also includes Ó.5% by weight 6% by weight of a perfume. ' '. · | | R'E S ', U E N' A water-soluble container that has placed there a softening layer of liquid watery fabric. The container is formed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, copolymer of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl. acetate, partially hydrolyzed, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, alkyl celluloses and their ethers and esters,. carboxymethyl cellulose of sodium, dextrin, maltodextrin, polyacrylates, polyacrylamides and copolymers of acrylic acid / maleic anhydride. The softening composition comprises at least one organic softening agent selected from the group consisting of "soaps, acid, fatty acids, glycerol esters, fatty esters, ethoxylates, fatty alcohols, polymers of polyol esters of higher fatty acid of pentaerythritol, compounds of silicone oil, olein esterguath compounds, olein amide amine compounds, quaternized alkyl imidazoline compounds, synthetic esters and natural esters.