NL8302227A - CONCENTRATED COMPOSITIONS FOR SOFTENING TISSUE AND METHODS FOR PREPARING THEREOF. - Google Patents

Description

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Concentrated tissue softening compositions and methods of making the same.

The invention relates to fabric softening compositions suitable for use in the rinsing cycle of a washing process / and in particular to concentrated aqueous fabric softening compositions which are stable at both low and high ambient temperatures, viz. non-gel formulations which are readily dispersed in water when used.

Compositions containing quaternary ammonium salts with at least one long chain hydrocarbyl group are frequently used in the rinse cycle of a washing process to soften the fabric. For this, reference may be made, for example, to U.S. Patents 3,349,033, 3,644,203, 3,946,115, 3,997,453, 4,073,735 and 4,119,545.

For most aqueous softening compositions containing cationic quaternary ammonium compounds as active ingredients, the concentration of such cationic compounds is generally limited to the range of about 3-6% by weight (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,904,533 and 3,920. 565). Such a low concentration is generally necessary due to the fact that cationic compounds form gels in aqueous systems at concentrations above about 8%, and although the use of electrolytes to reduce the viscosity of such compositions is known (see in particular U.S. Patent 4,199,545), such electrolytes are far from satisfactory. From a functional standpoint, the electrolytes often do not function as required, particularly at concentrations of the cationic compounds in the range of about 12-15%. While the action of the electrolytes can solve the gel problem to some extent, their use is far from satisfactory to provide a highly concentrated aqueous system of cationic compounds that do not gel or change significantly in viscosity within the usual temperature range. when handling it, for example, at temperatures from about 8302227 *> 2 spring -18 ° C to about 60 ° C. U.S. Pat. No. 3,681,241 discloses a concentrated tissue softening emulsion consisting essentially of 3.5-6.5 parts by weight of a compound such as, for example, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, 3.5-6.5 parts by weight. 5 parts of an alkylamidoimidazolinium alkyl sulfate, and 0-3 parts by weight of another but similar fatty amido imidazolinium alkyl sulfate, the latter compound being said to provide low temperature stability of the composition. The total concentration of active substances is about 8-13%.

British Patent Application No. 2053249A, published February 4, 1981, discloses cationic fabric softening compositions comprising 15-60 wt% cationic softener, 25-75 wt% of an aqueous medium and 0.5-40 wt% of a specified water-soluble polymer.

US Patent 3,974,076 discloses quaternary ammonium compounds containing softening compositions containing conventional concentrations of cationic compounds, ie about 3-6%. These compositions are characterized by the very small particle size of the quaternary ammonium type substantially water-insoluble softening compounds. Namely, 90% by weight of the quaternary ammonium compounds are present in the form of particles that do not pass through a 1.2 µm filter. The compositions have been described as a combination of the cationic softener, a C 8 to C 2 alkyl alcohol with from about 0.1% to about 2.0% of a nonionic surfactant having an Ht.b from about 8 to about 15, and preferably from about 10 to about 14. The preferred nonionic compounds have a lipophilic hydrocarbyl group equivalent of 8-15 carbon atoms with 7 to 13 ethylene oxide hydrophilic groups. This patent does not address the problem of stability of concentrated aqueous cationic compositions having softening action, but rather improving the degree and uniformity of softening using conventional concentrations.

The present invention provides stable, concentrated, aqueous softening aqueous compositions based on quaternary ammonium compounds 8302227 ir * 3 with softening activity and a small amount of both a nonionic surfactant and an electrolyte. The present invention also provides a method of preparing highly concentrated fabric softening compositions.

The compositions of the present invention are stable aqueous compositions containing a high concentration of the cationic fabric softener, which is a water-dispersible quaternary ammonium compound as described below, and which are further non-ionic surfactant. contain dust and electrolyte.

The aqueous compositions of the invention contain at least about 12% to about 20% cationic softener, which corresponds to the general formula: R + 15 1 R-N-R y "

R

Wherein the groups R are selected from -C 1-4 aliphatic groups, preferably alkyl or alkenyl, aryl (eg phenyl, tolyl, cumyl, etc.); aralkyl (e.g. benzyl, phenethyl, etc.); and the halogen, amide, hydroxyl and carboxy 1 substituents thereof; with the proviso that at least one group R has the meaning of - C ^ g and preferably 25 C ^ - C ^ g, and the others are lower alkyl, and most preferably at least two groups R have the meaning vaxi- - C ^ g and the other lower alkyl with C 1 -C 4 (and most preferably methyl or ethyl), and Y is a water solubilizing anion such as chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, sulfate, methosulfate, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and carboxylate (viz.

Acetate, adipate, propionate, phthalate, benzoate, oleate, etc.). Typical cationic compounds of the above formula are the following compounds: distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride ditalalkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride distearyl dimethyl ammonium bromide di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium bromide 8302227 4 distearyl di (is ammonium chloride distearyl dimethyl ammonium methosulfate

The nonionic component of the present compositions constitutes from about 1 to about 5% by weight of the composition and is generally present in such a concentration that the weight ratio of the cationic component to the nonionic component ranges from about 20: 1 to about 3: 1, and preferably from about 10: 1 to about 5: 1. The nonionic compounds are ethylene oxide condensates of "C" q aliphatic alcohols and 10 alkyl phenols characterized by an HLB (hydrophilic lipophilic balance) of • 16.5 ± 1.0. A full discussion of the HLB system can be found in "The HLB System" (1976 edition, 16 pages) published by ICI United States, Ine., And this reference is incorporated by reference herein. In general, the nonionic components considered here are hydrophilic in nature with a large and strong hydrophilic group. According to the present invention, this group is an oxyethyl chain generally having at least about 15 terminal oxyethyl groups (i.e., the oxyethyl groups are adjacent and terminate in a hydroxyl group).

Particularly suitable non-ionic surfactants include an aliphatic alcohol containing 20 moles of condensed ethylene oxide and available as Synperonic A20; an ethoxylated octylphenol with 16 moles of ethylene oxide, available as Triton X-165, and an ethoxylated nonylphenol with 30 moles of ethylene oxide, available as Dowfax NP30.

A third preferred ingredient is an electrolyte (ionic) material in an amount from about 0.1 to about 1.5 wt%. The use of an electrolyte not only works to control the viscosity, but also helps stabilize the system against gel formation and phase inversion at high temperatures, for example above about 40 ° C. Particularly suitable electrolytes include sodium formate, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate and sodium acetate as well as water-soluble salts of other cations such as potassium, lithium, magnesium, ammonium and the like.

Minor amounts of lower alkanols can be used, especially when it is desirable to further modify the viscosity. Generally, alcohols tend to lower the viscosity 8302227-J * 5 at normal temperatures, although moderate amounts can effect a decrease in phase inversion temperature. The preferred compositions of the invention have phase inversion temperatures above about 80 ° C, preferably above about 90 ° C with 5 amounts of alcohol ranging from about 1 to about 10% by weight. Particularly suitable alcohols are ethyl and isopropyl alcohol.

In addition to the aforementioned components of the present softening compositions, numerous conventional additional and optional ingredients may be included which provide the stability and / or functional characteristics of the present compositions. not adversely affect. For example, there may be present used perfumes, dyes, pigments, opacifiers, germicides, optical brighteners, anti-corrosion agents (eg sodium silicate), water-soluble polymers, anti-static agents and the like. When used, any of them may be present in an amount from 0.01 to about 5% by weight of the composition.

It is, of course, clear and self-evident that most of the available chemical materials, especially those containing a hydrocarbyl group, are generally mixtures of closely related groups. Thus, the long chain (R) alkyl substituents in the cationic components used in this invention may not only consist of single carbon number chains, but are more likely to be a mixture. A particularly suitable quaternary component, wherein the alkyl groups are derived from tallow alkyl, may contain, for example, about 35% and 60% Cl 2 as well as smaller amounts of Cl 2 and even others. Similarly, the aliphatic alcohol precursors for the nonionic components used in the present invention may consist of single carbon chain alcohols, but they too will and may more likely consist of a mixture in any ratio of the compounds having a effective chain length.

The fabric softening compositions of the invention, in addition to viscosity and phase stability, must have the required viscosity (i.e., for pouring) and water dispersibility in the rinse cycle (or any other dilution form prior to use), which users have since come to accept and ask regarding their use of the less concentrated products. Thus, the products contemplated herein may have viscosities ranging from about 30 cps to about 250 cps, and preferably from about 40 cps to about 120 cps.

There are several processes for preparing the present compositions wherein the final product will vary slightly in stability. The processes differ in the order of material addition as well as in the treatment conditions.

According to a preferred method (A), the nonionic materials and colorants are added to the weight required for the recipe in a water having a temperature of about 70 ° C. The cationic softener is slowly added to this solution in the molten state. Usually a gel is formed. The mixture is cooled to about 40 ° C and then the electrolyte is added to break the gel. The composition is then cooled to room temperature with stirring. According to a modification of process (A), the pH is adjusted to about 12 before adding the molten cationic compound. In this case, no gel is formed. After cooling to about 40 ° C, the pH is reset to 5-6, is cooled to room temperature with stirring, and then electrolyte is used to adjust the viscosity (Process B). In yet another process (C), the nonionic compounds are added to at least 80% warm water (not above about 40 ° C), then the electrolyte is added and finally the addition of the molten cationic compound follows. Then, if appropriate, the rest of the water is added and the composition is then cooled to room temperature with stirring.

The invention is further elucidated by means of the examples below, which, however, have no limiting meaning. Parts are parts by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example I

According to the process (A) as described above, 2 parts of an ethoxylated nonylphenol (containing 16 moles of ethylene oxide) were dissolved in about 75 parts of water at a temperature of about 70 ° C. 20 parts of distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (75% active and containing about 10% isopropanol and the balance water) in 8302227> 7 molten state (temperature = 55 ° C) were slowly added to this solution with stirring. A gel was formed. The gel was cooled to about 40 ° C and then 0.5 part of calcium chloride dehydrate was added. The mixture was cooled to room temperature (about 20 ° C) with stirring. A stable product with a viscosity of about 100 cPs was obtained.

Example II

The procedure of Example I was repeated using the following parts of (A) cationic (active), (B) surfactant and (C) electrolyte (a) A = 12; B = 1.0; C = 0.5 (b) A «14; B = 1.5; C = 0.5 (c) A = 15; B = 1.8; C = 0.7 (d) A = 18; B = 2.5; C = 1.0

Example III

Examples I and II were repeated, using the following compounds in place of distearyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride: (a) ditalalkyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride (b) disaryl-dimethyl-ammonium methosulfate (c) di (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) - dimethyl ammonium bromide (d) dihexadecy 1-dimethyl 1 ammonium chloride

(e) distearyl diethyl ammonium chloride Example IV

Examples I, II and III were repeated, in which in each case 1 part of polyethylene glycol (MW40Q) with the n-ion ionic component was added in the first step of the preparation.

Polyethylene glycol (MW400) is illustrative of low molecular weight water-soluble polymers which can be optionally used in the softening compositions of this invention. For other useful polymers, reference is made to the aforementioned published British Patent Application 2053249A, which is incorporated herein by this reference. The compositions of the invention may each contain any such polymers as well as other water-soluble polymers. In the compositions according to the invention, these materials can be used in amounts of 0.1 - 20% by weight, based on the total composition.

Example V

Each of the foregoing Examples X-IV was repeated using the following electrolyte: 5 (a) sodium chloride (b) sodium nitrate (c) sodium formate (d) ammonium bromide (e) potassium chloride 10 (f) calcium nitrate (g) lithium acetate (h magnesium chloride.

Example VI

Each of Examples I - V was repeated, composition after composition, but according to the process (B) for preparing the compositions. According to this procedure, the change from the procedure described in Example 1 includes that the pH was adjusted to 12 with sodium hydroxide after the solution of the nonionic component (and polyethylene glycol if used), and the pH with chlorine Hydrogen acid was again adjusted to 5-6 after the addition of the cationic component. At this point, no gel was formed as in the process (A). The electrolyte was added after the mixture had cooled to room temperature.

Example VII

Each of Examples I-V was repeated again, co-selling after composition, but using the Process (C) to prepare the compositions.

According to this process, the nonionic component (and the water-soluble polyethylene glycol if used) was dissolved in 80% of the recipe weight of water at a temperature of 35-40 ° C.

The electrolyte was then added, followed by the addition of the molten cationic component. The residual recipe weight of water was then added and then the mixture was cooled to room temperature with stirring.

The aqueous softening compositions of the invention can generally be used as other such compositions, and are particularly suitable for use in the rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine. In such treatments as well as any other clothing treatment method desired, the compositions are usually used to obtain a concentration of active components which is generally about 0.005-0.3% based on the weight of the treated clothing, preferably 0.007 to about 0.2%, and most preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.15%.

/ 8302227

Claims (10)

Stable, aqueous, concentrated fabric softening composition, characterized in that the composition comprises about (A) 12 - 20% by weight of a cationic softener of the formula: 5 * 1 r3 N 'X- ___ R2 H1; wherein R ^, R ^, R ^, and R ^ are aliphatic radicals with up to C ^ q, at least two of which are alkyl with up to C ^ q; and X is a water solubilizing anion (B) 1-5 wt. % of a non-ionic surfactant with an HLB value of 16.5 ± 1.0; and (C) 0.5 to 5% by weight of an electrolyte. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that 15. is distearyl-dimethyl ammonium chloride. · The composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-ionic surfactant is an ethoxylated nonylphenol containing on average about 16 moles of ethylene oxide. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of (A) to (B) is about 20: 1-3: 1. Composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the amount of the compound (A) is about 12% and that of (B) is about 2%. 6. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the total softener concentration is about 12-15% by weight. A method of preparing a composition as defined in claim 1, characterized in that an aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant in warm water is first prepared at a temperature of at most about 80 ° C, then Cationic softener in molten form is added to form a gel, this gel is cooled to below 40 ° C, and then electrolyte is added to break the gel. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the 8302227-9.9 temperature of the hot water is about 70 ° C, the gel is cooled to just below 40 ° C, and, after the gel is broken, the mixture it is cooled to room temperature with stirring. Method for preparing a composition as defined in claim 1, characterized in that an aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant in warm water is first prepared at a temperature of at most about 80 ° C, the pH with an alkaline material is adjusted to a value above about 10, the cationic softener in molten form is added, the pH is re-adjusted to below 7, cooled to about room temperature and then electrolyte is added to adjust the viscosity. set. 10. A method of preparing a composition as defined in claim 1, characterized in that an aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant is first prepared, then electrolyte is added, followed by the addition of the cationic softener in the molten state, and cooled to room temperature. 8302227