NL8600192A - TISSUE SOFTENING AND ANTI-STATIC LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS. - Google Patents

Description

%. 4 VO 8020

Title: Fabric softening and anti-static liquid detergent compositions.

This invention relates to a liquid detergent incorporating one or more antistatic agents described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 674,194, filed November 23, 1984, which is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 404,794, which was filed August 3, 1982 and published as US patent

The present invention relates to detergent compositions. More particularly, it relates to fabric softening and anti-static liquid detergent compositions, preferably builder-containing detergent compositions, which include: a synthetic organic detergent, a builder (preferably) for the detergent, bentonite and a Antistatic compound based on an N-high aliphatic isostearamide, in an aqueous medium The invention also relates to a method for washing and drying laundry, whereby laundry is obtained which is soft and although subject to it has been in a normal drying operation in a tumble dryer that is free of static electricity or has a low electrostatic charge.

Builder-provided synthetic organic detergent compositions are currently the preferred cleaning materials for washing soiled laundry. Such compositions have been found to be exceptionally effective in washing textile products made from synthetic and / or natural fiber materials, whether smeared with oil, egg white or clay soils, which are three types of soiling in household washing which are soiled most commonly found and fairly representative of soils that are common and present on regular soiled laundry. By replacing soap in detergent compositions with synthetic organic detergents, the soap's softening effect is -2- «» * '

Usually as an insoluble soap that has deposited on the laundry textile fibers) and, especially in the presence of certain inorganic builder salts, the laundry will often feel uncomfortable, rough and stiff or hard. It has been known for years that when added to synthetic organic detergent compositions based on anionic detergents, bentonite could help soften the laundry and thereby create detergent compositions that are modified to be suitable for the consumer are acceptable.

Although liquid detergent compositions have been known for years, it was only relatively recently that liquid detergent heavy duty laundry detergent compositions provided with a builder became very popular. Such formulations, especially when they contain suspended solids, are sometimes thickened to prevent settling separation of components upon storage. Gelation-type bentonite, such as western or wyoming bentonite, has thickening properties and is also a fabric softener.

With the advent of synthetic polymeric fibers and clothing and other laundry articles made therefrom, and of blends of such synthetics and natural fibers, such as blends of cotton and polyester, and with the increasing use of automatic laundry dryers that remove almost all of the tumble dryer It has been found that dried laundry often caused electrostatic charges to accumulate, which would cause the laundry to clog in an annoying manner, hindering normal handling and folding of the laundry for storage. Cationic compounds such as quaternary ammonium salts, for example di-high-alkyl-di-low-alkyl-ammonium halides, have been known for years to act as anti-static agents reducing static charges on textiles and preventing static sticking . When softening laundry, such halides would normally be added in the rinse water during a wash cycle and not in a detergent composition or in the wash water because they react chemically with anionic detergents, which are the detergents used in synthetic organic detergent compositions are used very often. Such a reaction, which would be expected to be more severe in liquid detergents than in small particulate products, would reduce the detersive power of the detergent composition and may cause undesired reaction products to form on the laundry. , which could be washed, where. dirty or greasy dots would form. In recent years, cationic compounds, such as the quaternary ammonium halides, have been formulated into builder-containing detergent compositions, particularly small particulate detergent compositions, in which they do not chemically react with the anionic detergents during storage, but rather react slightly in the wash water.

Although such compositions exert an anti-static effect and reduce static adhesion of the washed laundry, it has been noted that the detergent of the compositions in which they are present is less good than that of the base composition without the anti-static agent.

2S In the U.S. Patent corresponding to Serial No. 404,794 filed August 3, 1982, and Continuation-in-Part Serial No. 674,194 filed November 23, 1984, discloses the use of N-primaLr alkyl isostearamides as antistatic agents in detergent compositions mentioning that such isostearamides did not react annoyingly with anionic detergents in the compositions or in the wash water. In that patent it was disclosed that the disclosed isostearamides could be combined with bentonite and used with small particulate detergent compositions and produce a wash water that both soften tissue. »1 has the anti-static properties, so that laundry washed with it is soft and free from annoying static. adhesion would be. The present application describes in detail liquid detergent compositions containing both bento-5 non and an N-substituted isostearamide antistatic agent and describes the desired effects thereby obtained which include: washed laundry of satisfactory softness (especially towels, which made from textile products, which are woven or otherwise manufactured from natural, organic, vegetable fibers, such as cotton fabrics and terry cloth), washed laundry with little or no static adhesion, improved detergent and no stains from quaternary ammonium compounds (" quat ") on washed laundry-good. Particularly noteworthy is the unexpected improvement in the anti-static effect of the N-primary aliphatic isostearamide due to the presence of the bentonite in the liquid builder-containing detergent composition (in the presence of an anionic detergent). In addition, no reductions in foaming power and no reductions in fluorescent whitening effects are noted when the present anionic detergent compositions containing bentonite and CISA (short for coconut iso-stearamide) are used, while when quaternary ammonium salts are used as antistatic agents, the foaming capabilities are reduced, apparently as a result of the reaction of the quaternary salt with the anionic detergent. Furthermore, yellowing and similar laundry discoloration by an antistatic agent, as well as soil redeposition, are reduced, compared to the related results obtained when a quaternary ammonium halide is used with an anionic detergent, in other builder-containing detergent compositions, wherein the can contribute to any anti-static properties.

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According to the present invention, a small discrete fabric softening and anti-static liquid detergent composition comprises: a detersive amount of a synthetic organic detergent, a fabric softening amount of bentonite and an anti-static amount of one of a high -aliphatic isostearamide existing anti-static agent, in an aqueous medium. Typically, the active detergent component of the described detergent composition is an anionic detergent (which would be reactive with a quaternary ammonium salt) and the detergent composition is a builder-containing composition comprising a detergent builder such as sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, NTA or polyacetal carboxylate or other suitable builders or a mixture of such builders. In a preferred liquid detergent composition, the isostearamide is dissolved, emulsified or dispersed and the bentonite is present as a finely divided dispersion, its particles preferably being less than 0.074 mm, such as <0.074 mm to 0.038 mm, eg 20 smaller then about 0.044 mm. If desired, the bentonite and / or N-isostearamide can be added to the wash water before, after or together with the rest of the components of the liquid detergent composition described.

The anionic synthetic organic detergent 25 of the present detergent composition usually consists of one or more sulfated and / or sulfonated lipids with an alkyl chain of 8 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 18 and especially 12 to 16 carbon atoms, and consists of preferably from a particular mixture of two types of such detergents. Although various water-soluble salt-forming cations can be used to form the desired soluble sulfated and sulfonated detergents, including ammonium and low-alkanolamine (such as triethanolamine) and magnesium, usually an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium much preferred is sodium as such a cation. Of the various anionic detergents useful in the practice of this invention, the linear high alkyl benzene sulfonates wherein the alkyl chain is from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably from 12 to 16 and especially about 12 to 14 carbon atoms contains 5 e.g. dodecyl and tridecyl, considered the most suitable, often with a sulfuric acid salt of a polyethoxylated high fatty alcohol. The alcohol ether sulfate is usually a high linear (e.g. fat) alcohol with 10 to 18, preferably 12 to 15 carbon atoms, and the degree of ethoxylation is usually 1 to 15, preferably 2 to 10, especially 2 to 5 , for example, 3 ethoxy groups per mole. Of other synthetic detergents, the monoglyceride sulfates, high fatty alcohol sulfates, alkane sulfonates and olefin sulfonates are also useful, with the alkyl group present in all of these compounds usually containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Some of such alkyl groups may be slightly branched (which is not preferred) but still have a carbon chain length within the range described.

Although the linear high alkyl benzene sulfonates and the sulfated, the polyethoxylated high alcohols, such as the sodium salts, are the preferred anionic detergents used in the practice of the present invention, mixtures of such detergents with others of such sulfonates and sulfates containing various cations are used, as well as mixtures of such detergents with others such as the fatty alcohol sulfates. In some instances, only relatively small or reduced amounts of the linear alkylbenzene sulfonates and polyethoxylate sulfates will be present or the anionic synthetic organic detergent may be a mixture of other anionic detergents of the types described. Also, various other anionic detergents can be used, such as those known in the art and described in various annual publications entitled McCutcheon Detergents and Emulsifiers, for example, those published in 1969 *.

Although the present invention primarily relates to anionic detergent compositions having anti-static properties, the desired results mentioned herein may also be obtained with compositions containing other types of synthetic organic detergents, often with the anionic detergents, such as non-ionic and amphoteric detergents. The listed nonionic and amphoteric materials are usually present in only minor amounts, if any, and usually at most only half as much of the synthetic anionic organic detergent is present. Preferred nonionic detergents are the ethylene oxide condensation products of high fatty alcohols, such as condensation products of high fatty alcohols with 12 to 18 carbon atoms with 3 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide, preferably condensation products of high fatty alcohols with 12 up to 15 carbon atoms with 5 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide.

The detergent preferably contains a detergent builder, so that it has an increased cleaning power and is suitable for "heavy duty" cleaning applications. Builders useful for the present compositions include the polyphosphates such as sodium tripolyphosphate and tetra-sodium pyrophosphate , sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium 25 sesquicarbonate, sodium silicate (Na 2 O: SiO 2 = 1.6 to 3.0, preferably 1: 2.4), NTA, sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, borax, other borates, zeolites, polyacetal carboxylates and other suitable builders known in the art with respect to liquid detergents. Sodium silicates will often be omitted, because they can react with liquid carbonate and zeolite builders in an unpleasant manner. with bentonite to form undesirably thick or coagulated products or precipitates.

When zeolite builders are used, they usually correspond to the formula (Na2O) x. (A ^ O ^). (SiO ^), w ^ 0, -8- wherein x equals 1, y equals 0.8 to 1.2, preferably about 1.2 equals 1.5 to 3.5, preferably 2 to 3 or about 2, and w equals 0 to 9, preferably 2.5 to 6. Such zeolites are cation-exchanging and have an exchange power for calcium ions in the range of about 200 to 400 or more milligrams equivalents of calcium carbonate hardness per gram. They are very often hydrated with a content of 5 to 30¾, preferably 10 to 25¾ moisture, for example about 20¾ moisture.

Zeolite A is preferred (types X and Y are also useful, and for such zeolite type 4A is most preferred. Particle sizes of the zeolites are usually in the range of <0.149 mm to .0.038 mm, preferably ^ 0.105 mm or 0.074 mm to 15 ^ 0.044 mm, but their extreme dimensions are below 1 micrometer The various zeolites are described in detail in the publication: Zeolite Molecular Sieves, by Donald W. Breek, published in 1974 by John & Wiley & Sons in particular on pages 747-749.

When polyacetal carboxylates are present, they can be considered as belonging to those described in U.S. Patent 4,144,226 and can be prepared according to the method described therein. A typical example of such a product corresponds to the formula 25, in which M is selected from the group of alkali metal, ammonium, alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, tetraalkyl ammonium groups and alkanolamine groups, which have 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl groups thereof, n is on average at least 4 and R 1 represents any chemically stable group which stabilizes the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution. Preferably, the polyacetal carboxylate is one in which M represents alkali metal, for example sodium, n equals 20 to 200, R 1 represents a group of the partial formula 2 or of the partial formula 3, or a mixture thereof, R 2 represents a group of the sub-formula 4 and wherein n is on average equal to 20 to 100, in particular 30 to 80. The -9- calculated weight-average molecular weights of the polymers are usually in the range from 2000 to 20,000, preferably 3,500 to 10,000 and in particular 5,000 to 9000, for example, about 8,000.

Although the preferred polyacetal carboxylates have been described, it is to be understood that they may be replaced in whole or in part by other such polyacetal carboxylates or related organic builder salts which, in several Monsanto patents concerning such compounds, methods of their preparation and compositions in which they are used have been described. Also chain terminating groups, which are referenced in the Monsanto patents, especially U.S. Pat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,226 have been used provided they have the desired stabilizing properties that allow said builders to be depolymerized in acidic media, thereby facilitating biodegradation thereof in waste streams, but their stability. retain alkaline media, such as wash solutions.

When it is desired to avoid the presence of phosphorus in the detergent composition, polyphosphate builders may be omitted from the present formulations, in which case it is preferable to use other nonphosphate builders, such as those disclosed herein. Zeolite and polyacetal carboxylate combinations are very suitable substitutes for the polyphosphate builders and such combinations with N-alkyl isostearamides in detergent compositions (but without bentonite) are described in U.S. Pat. Patent Application Serial No. 674,899, concerning "Antistatic Builder-containing Synthetic Organic Detergent Composition", filed November 26, 1984. Preferably, the sodium salts of such builders are used, but other alkali metal salts and other soluble salts may in part, be applied instead.

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Electrolytes and fillers may be present in the liquid detergent, such as sodium sulfate (preferred) and sodium chloride, to modify its physical characteristics and add electrolyte to the product and to the wash water, if deemed desirable, while they can also serve for other functional purposes.

The preferred anti-static agent in the practice of the present invention is 10 N-coconut ispstearamide. One such anti-static agent is an amide, which can be chemically derived from isostearic acid and coconut amine, according to the condensation reaction equation 5.

Isostearic acid, RC (= 0) -OH, is a saturated fatty acid of the formula C 1 y H 2 COOH, which is a complex mixture of isomers, primarily of the methyl branched series, which are mutually soluble and practically not of can be separated. Although such an acid usually has similar applications to those of stearic or oleic acid, it is considered far superior to substances used in the production of effective antistatic agents which are well suited for use in synthetic materials. * to include organic, anionic, liquid detergent compositions of the invention. Coconut amine is an aliphatic amine in which the aliphatic group is derived from coconut oil. Other primary aliphatic amines, preferably high alkylamines with 7 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, such as R'N ^, where R 'represents such a high alkyl group, may also be used, but coconut produces N-alkyl isostearamide with the best properties for incorporation into detergent compositions.

One such amine is called: CISA.

Although CISA is the most preferred antistatic agent, the use of other N-aliphatic-35 isostearamides, such as those derived from primary aliphatic amines having up to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 7-18 carbon atoms, includes the aliphatic moieties -11- thereof may or may not be hydrogenated, within the broader range of this invention, provided that the amides prepared have a sufficiently strong antistatic effect in the described application. Some S examples thereof are: the N-alkyl isostearamides having 7 to 18 carbon atoms, such as N-decylamine, N-octylamine and those derived from N-tallow amine. However, CISA is considered the best representative of the N-alkyl isostearamides in antistatic activity, and therefore, when the other isostearamides are used, such use will preferably take place with CISA, the content of one or more other , iso-stearamides. with regard to CISA will preferably be small.

In some cases, the hydrogen atom on the amide nitrogen can be replaced by suitable residues, such as low alkyl, eg methyl, provided that a desired antistatic effect is still obtained, but it has been found that the tertiary isostearamides are usually have little anti-static effect.

The bentonite used is preferably a Wyoming bentonite or a western bentonite with a swelling capacity in the range of 3 to 15 ml / g, preferably 7 to 15 ml / g, while its viscosity at a concentration in water of 61 is usually in the range of 3 to 30 mPas, preferably 8 to 30 mPas. Suitable swelling bentonites of this type are marketed under the trade name Mineral Colloid, as industrial bentonites, by Benton Clay Company, a subsidiary of Georgia Kaolin Co. Such materials were previously marketed by such a company under the trademark THIXO-JEL They are selectively mined and reduced bentonites and those considered to be the most suitable are available as Mineral Colloid 101, etc., and correspond to those previously marketed as THIXO-JEL's nos 1,2,3 and 4. These substances have pH's (concentration in water 6¾) in the range of -12- 8 to 9.4, maximum free moisture contents of about 81 and specific gravities of about 2.6, while for the powdery grade 85¾ has a particle size of less than 0.074 mm. To such a bentonite equivalent is a bentonite, which is marketed as Bentonite Clay AEG 325 by American Colloid Co. and which has a particle size of substantially less than 0.044 mm.

Reduced Wyoming bentonite is preferred as a component of the present composition, but other bentonites are also useful, especially when they make up only a small portion of the bentonite used. It has been found that in the bentonite initially, before it is mixed with other granular components and with the liquid medium for the liquid detergent, at least about 2%, preferably at least 4 ° a, and especially 5¾ or more, to about 8 ° a, water should be present. It has been determined that further drying beyond the point where the bentonite loses its "internal" moisture interferes with the bentonite's ability to effectively hydrate in an aqueous medium, and the utility of the present compositions with respect to fabric softening. can significantly reduce.

The various adjuvants which may be present in the present liquid detergents include colorants such as dyes and pigments, fragrances, enzymes, stabilizers, thickeners, solvents, dispersants, activators, fluorescent whiteners, bleaches, buffers, fungicides, germicides, foaming agents, anti-foaming agents, and flow promoters. Also included are auxiliaries, builders and fillers, unless they belong to other classes mentioned: various additional components or impurities, which are sometimes present in the components of the compositions. For example, it is known, for example, that sodium carbonate and water often contain poly acetal carboxylate in Builder U, a product which is a current source of polyacetal carboxylate.

The proportions of the major components of the detergent compositions are such that they thereby make them effective for the intended purposes of the compositions. Thus, the synthetic organic detergent or mixture thereof is present in the liquid detergent in a detergent amount, while the bentonite is present in a fabric softening amount and the high aliphatic isostearamide used as the antistatic agent is present in an antistatic content . When the builder or builder mixture is present, as is the case in most detergent compositions of this invention, it will be present in a detergent building amount. The contents described will usually comprise from 3.5 to 25% of the liquid detergent, preferably from 3 to 15¾ sodium linear high alkyl benzene sulfonate, and especially from about 15 to 131 thereof, for example, about 9¾ sodium linear alkyl benzene sulfonate having 12 to 13 or 14 carbon atoms, containing 0.5 to 10¾ sodium high fatty alcohol polyethoxyether sulfate having 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alcohol and 1 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole, preferably 1 to 51 sodium high-20 primary alcohol polyethoxyether sulfate having 12 to 15 carbon atoms in the alcohol and 2 to 4 or 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole, for example about 2¾. The liquid detergent builder, which can be a mixture of builders, will usually comprise 5 to 40¾ of the composition, often being preferably a combination of 5 to 25¾ sodium tripolyphosphate and 2 to 10¾ sodium carbonate, and in particular often is a combination of 8 to 14¾ sodium tripolyphosphate and 3 to 7¾ sodium carbonate, eg about 11¾ resp. 4¾. The bentonite component usually makes up 3 to 20¾ of the liquid detergent composition, preferably 5 to 20¾ thereof, and in particular about 5 to 15¾ thereof, e.g. about 12¾ thereof, the isostearamide used as antistatic agent usually 1 to 10¾ of the liquid detergent composition, preferably 1 to 71 thereof and 35. in particular about 3 to 1% thereof, for example about 5¾ thereof. The water content or the aqueous medium content of the liquid detergent is usually in the range of from 3 to 80%, preferably from 40 to 70%, especially from about 45 to 65%, and is, for example, from about 55%.

In the liquid detergent composition, the ratio of bentonite to antistatic agent is usually in the range of one part antistatic agent to 1 to 20 parts of bentonite, the ratio preferably being in the range of 1: 1.5 to 4 and in the especially in the range from 1: 2 to 3 and for example 1: 2.4.

In preparing the liquid detergent compositions of the invention, the various components of the final product are usually merely mixed together or combined and stirred or otherwise agitated sufficiently to provide a uniform liquid product. Sequences of addition of components can be controlled to promote the best mixing. Sufficient liquid medium should be present at all times to prevent the solids from co-baking with an insufficient amount of liquid and to prevent the formation of clumps which would be difficult to disperse later. Usually, finely divided, particulate components, both soluble and insoluble, are mixed with a portion of the aqueous medium and then the remainder of the aqueous medium is used to dilute the mixture according to normal production techniques. The mixture can be subjected to passage through a homogenizer to aid in obtaining dispersions of the components and to prevent separation by settling thereof while in some cases hydrotropic substances such as sodium cumene sulfonate and sodium xylene sulfonate, usually may be present in the formulation in small amounts, for example not more than about 1 or 2%, to promote that the liquid composition remains homogeneous.

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Also, solvents, such as ethanol and ethylene glycol, or other suitable glycols, can be used to solubilize composite components, such solvents also helping to prevent freezing of the product when subjected to cold weather conditions.

The various solid components of the liquid detergent composition that are used are usually in a finely divided, separately particulate state, to promote easy dissolution (when they are soluble) or dispersion in the aqueous medium. Usually, the powdered substances have a particle size of less than 0.105 mm or less than 0.074 mm, and usually such particle sizes are usually in the range of from <0.105 mm to 0.038 mm, usually preferably 0.074 mm to 0.038 mm, for example, less than about 0 * 044 mm. With easily soluble components, such as sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate and the synthetic organic detergents, the particle sizes may be within the larger limits of the given ranges, or even larger. for insoluble or slowly soluble substances, such as zeolites and clays, the smaller particle sizes are generally more desirable.

In the practice of the present invention, laundry is washed with a disclosed liquid detergent composition in wash water and such washing is easily performed according to normal washing procedures, with standard equipment and normal washing concentrations of the liquid detergent compositions according to the invention, wherein the laundry results in a clean laundry that is soft to the touch and does not exhibit a troublesome static adhesion, even when substantial amounts of synthetic materials, such as polyesters, eg Dacron, and polyamides, eg nylons, are present. The wash water used can be any normal city water, and the liquid detergent compositions present are effective even when the hardness reaches 300 ppm, as calcium carbonate and sometimes even higher. Normally, the water hardness is a mixed magnesium and calcium ion hardness, the calcium hardness making up most of it.

Preferably, the wash water has a hardness of no more than 250 ppm and commonly used city water has a hardness of 20 to 150 or 200 ppm, for example about 50 or 100 ppm. The present. compositions can be applied with wash water of various temperatures (10 to 90 ° C) and they are effective even with wash water of lower temperature, such as about ambient temperature.

Following European practice, the compositions can be applied in wash water at temperatures approaching the boiling point, for example, 70 ° to 90 ° C, but lower temperatures are used in conventional American practice. Particularly good results are obtained in American washing practice by applying the present compositions in washing water at temperatures in the range of from 10 to 50 ° C, preferably from 30 to 50 ° C, 20 ° C. about 40 ° C. The concentration of the liquid detergent composition in the wash water can be varied depending on the conditions, but usually it will be in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 wt., Preferably 0.1 to 0.4 ¾ and in especially 0.15 to 0.25¾, for example about 0.2¾. For example, half a cup or 145 g of the liquid detergent, often with a density of about 1.1 to 1.3 g / ml, for example about 1.2 g / ml, can be used in a washing machine containing about 65 liters of water to wash a normal load wash, which is about 2.7 to 4.5 kg, for example, about 3.6 kg of dry laundry. In some instances, such as when it is desired that the liquid detergent be such that larger or smaller volumes are used per wash load, the concentrations of the components in the liquid composition may be increased or decreased accordingly within practical limits .

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Standard household washing machines and the normal washing cycles for such machines can be used or industrial or commercial washing machines can be used.

Washing of laundry is accomplished in a normal cycle in a period of about 2 to 30 minutes, such as 5 to 20 minutes, for example about 10 minutes, usually depending on the soiling of the laundry and the nature of the fabric. After completion of the wash cycle, the laundry is automatically rinsed and then dried in an automatic laundry dryer, in which it is tumbled while subjected to passing drying air therethrough.

Rather than a liquid detergent comprising all of the described detersive, building fabric softening and antistatic components of the composition of the invention, in a variation of the present invention, a liquid composition can be made comprising fabric softening and antistatic components wherein such a composition can be used in conjunction with a suitable liquid detergent such as any of the many products of that type on the market to impart fabric softening and anti-static properties to the laundry washed with such detergent. For example, CISA or another suitable N-primary-aliphatic-isostearamide and bentonite (or other suitable tissue softening clay) can be emulsified, dispersed, suspended and / or partially dissolved in a suitable, preferably aqueous, liquid medium, with a small amount of hydrotrope, emulsifying agent, suspending agent and / or solvent, whereby a suitable pourable liquid preparation is obtained, which can be used in addition to the liquid detergent. Such a liquid composition can be previously added to the liquid detergent and / or added to the washing medium together with the liquid detergent or it can be added to compositions of this invention or to the washing water of such compositions so that the softness and anti-static properties of washed laundry are further improved.

Using the additional fabric softening and antistatic compositions, one is able to adapt the present invention to use with any of the various liquid detergent formulations. Thus, it is left to the consumer to determine, within the allowable range, how many softening and anti-static effects should be imparted to the laundry, while it is possible to use more of the supplement when using detergent compositions which are particularly effective (or sharp) detergents which require stronger softening and more anti-static treatment. In the additional liquid compositions described, the content of combined fabric softener and antistatic agent present is usually 10 to 30%, but 10 to 50% is possible, especially if a cosolvent such as ethanol is present.

The ratio of anti-static agent to bentonite is in the same range as previously given for the described liquid detergent compositions containing Z0W® anti-static agent as a softener.

Several advantages of the invention, previously alluded to, are clearly illustrated in the embodiments that follow. The N-primary aliphatic-isostearamide used as an antistatic agent does not interfere with bentonite and does not react with the anionic detergents in this way, and therefore compositions of this invention are relatively stable upon storage and do not lose significant amounts of their desired detersive, emollient and anti-static effects when stored or before or during use.

Unlike compositions based on the conventional cationic fabric softener and anti-static agents currently used, such as quaternary ammonium salts, the present compositions do not deposit reaction products of such cationics and anionic detergents on the laundry being washed. so that such S laundry is not as subject to soiling during washing processes when the present invention is used. The detergent compositions of the invention provide whiter laundry and, moreover, less soil redeposition, while laundry washed with compositions containing an anionic detergent and a quaternary ammonium salt (in antistatic and fabric softening amounts) tends to become more yellow. especially with repeated washings. Detention is measurably better when the present compositions are used than when those compositions are used in which a quaternary ammonium salt is present in place of the isostearamide. Also, disturbance of the foaming power of the anionic detergent, which is usually noted when cationic compounds, such as quaternary ammonium salts, are present, and reactions of the like, quats, f with fluorescent brighteners and resulting diminished brightening. laundry, avoided when using the present anti-static agents. Such undesirable interactions of anionic and cationic agents are particularly serious and bothersome when both the anionic detergents and the anti-static cationic softeners used are present in intimate contact for relatively long periods of time, which is the case when they are in the same aqueous medium, such as some fabric softening anionic liquid detergents. It is clear that the present invention represents a significant improvement in the detergent technique, it is important today that detergent compositions have, in addition to excellent detergent, fabric softening and anti-static properties.

The liquid detergents of this invention -20- and the liquid additives described above are both preferably sufficiently viscous (or thixotropic) so that finely divided, discrete components are kept in suspension and separation by S settling thereof upon storage is prevented while the liquids must still be able to flow freely through a metering opening of a bottle with a relatively narrow neck. It has been found that liquids with viscosities in the range of 1,000 to 5,000 mPa.s usually do not exhibit settling by settling and have the desired flow characteristics. Accordingly, it will be desirable that the subject liquids have a viscosity in such a range. More preferred is a range from 3,000 to 5,000 mPa.s., for example about 4,000 mPa.s, at ambient temperature (25 ° C). While the viscosities of the present compositions are considered to be relatively stable, it is recognized that relatively small changes in factory production processes and changes in storage conditions can affect the product viscosity, which increases more often than decreases upon storage. If the viscosity or thickness increases excessively, it will usually be found that placing a container of packed bottles in a shaker will almost always allow the composition to flow out of the bottle and any component that may have separated, will disperse.

The following examples further illustrate the invention without limiting it. Unless otherwise indicated, in the examples, in the description and in the appended claims, all parts are parts by weight and all temperatures are expressed in ° C.

v. -Λ -, 1 Λ J, - /, v: ** -21-

EXAMPLE I

Component Percent

Sodium linear tridecylbenzene sulfonate 9.0

Sodium primary high alcohol ether sulfate * 2.0 5 Bentonite (American Colloid Company AEG 325) 12.0

Sodium tripolyphosphate 11.0

Sodium carbonate 4.0 N-coconut-alkyl-isostearamide 5.0

Optical brightener (Tinopal LMS X (CIBA GEIGY) 0.3 10 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 0.2 T itane dioxide 0.5

Coloring pigment (Ultramine blue) 0.2

Dye (Polar Brilliant Blue, 1% aqueous solution 0.6 15 Fragrance 0.5

Deionized water 54.7 100.0 * Reaction product of a primary alcohol of 12 to 15 carbon atoms and 3 moles of ethylene oxide per mole.

The detergent components are dissolved in 2/3 of the water, after which the CISA is dispersed and dissolved in the detergent solution thus prepared, while the builder salts are dissolved in such an aqueous medium, after which the bentonite is finely divided from small Individual particulate form in the composition is dispersed followed by additions of various excipients and the rest of the water. The resulting product has a viscosity of about 3000 mPa.s at 25 ° C, for the determination of which a Brookfield viscometer with a No. 3 spindle is used at a speed of 12 rpm. The detergent composition is stable, with its components remaining dispersed in the aqueous medium and not separating by settling or otherwise separating.

A mixed fabric load of 3.6 kg of laundry composed of various fabrics (polyester, nylon, acetate 5 and polyester-cotton blend) is washed in a conventional G.E. top loading washing machine containing 65 liters of water with a mixed calcium and magnesium ion hardness of 100 ppm as calcium carbonate using 145 g of the liquid detergent composition of the above formula and the washed laundry including of sample swatches of the various substances mentioned, is rinsed and then dried in an automatic laundry dryer of the drum dryer type.

The softness of the various fabrics is evaluated by expert evaluators, while the protection of each of the fabrics against the development of electrostatic charge (and annoying static adhesion) during drum drying and during other movement is also evaluated by the degree of static adhesion, which note the individual laundry items being displayed. The washed laundry is satisfactorily soft and has no adhesion.

Quantitative measurements of the absorption of electrostatic charge by the different washed and dried fabrics is obtained by rubbing each of the fabrics with wool 25 in a controlled manner at a low relative humidity (from 25 to 30%) and the charges accumulated by the sample patches to measure. A multitude of sample patches were used in this test and average readings are calculated for each substance. In order to obtain an anti-static agent index, which represents an overall evaluation of the ability of a liquid detergent composition as an anti-static agent, it has proved useful to use the sums of the charges on the listed substances. Thus, for the present liquid detergent, such a sum is 12 kilovolts, while for a liquid detergent standard for comparison and with the same formulation but omitting bentonite and GISA, the index is 48 kilovolts -23-. For the present tests, readings in excess of 35 kilovolts are usually unacceptable (the laundry then becomes a nuisance). When evaluating for softness (bath towels form the washed test fabrics) by a panel of experienced evaluators to evaluate this property in laundry, the towels washed with the liquid detergent composition of this example are rated 9 for softness by the method described above on a scale of 10 from 1 to 10, 10 being the softest. Towels that have been washed in the same way with the comparison composition are rated with number 1.

In other tests performed, the degree of redeposition of soil on the washed laundry was found to be about the same with the product of the invention as with a second product as standard for comparison, which has the same formulation as the product of the invention with this difference that N-alkyl isostearamide has been replaced by water and such redeposition is worse (greater) for a third comparative detergent composition having the same composition as the composition of the invention except that the isostearamide is replaced is by the same percentage of dimethyldistearyl ammonium chloride.

The test cloths and the washed laundry showed no "quat" stains in the product of the invention, which is sometimes noted in washed laundry of similar formulations containing dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride or other quaternary compound instead of the N-alkyl isostearamide used as an antistatic agent Also, the optical brightening effect for the product of the invention, which contains N-alkyl isostear atyide, is greater than for a similar product, the isostearamide being replaced in the formulation 55 by dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride or the like antistatic quaternary ammonium halide. Another advantage of using CISA in place of the "quat" -24- is an improvement in the appearance of the liquid detergent composition due to the absence of any the reaction of the quat and the anionic detergent formed precipitated product.

When in the formulation of the given product according to the invention the 5N-coconutalkyl-isostearamide is replaced by 1%, 3% and 7% of such an isostearamide, respectively, the softness evaluations of the resulting products, respectively. 8, 8 and 9, and the static 10 indices are 27, 19 and 10. Softness indices of 8 or more are considered satisfactory, as are static indices of less than 30, with softness indices of only 7 and static indices that are themselves 35 sometimes be judged acceptable. When CISA is omitted from the formulation as in the second standard for comparison, the washed laundry is given a softness rating of 8, while the electrostatic charge index is 36 kilovolts.

When in practical laundry tests the first comparison standard and the compositions of the invention are compared, it appears that the comparison standard does not satisfactorily soften the laundry and produces large electrostatic charges and a nuisance static cling. When bentonite is omitted from the composition formulation of the invention, as in the fourth comparative standard, the detergent compositions are unsatisfactory with regard to both softening and inhibition of static adhesion, even when a relatively high content of the isostearamide 30 is present. When the isostearamide is omitted, annoying static adhesion of washed laundry is observed, despite the presence of 12¾ bentonite. Thus, it appears that the combination of bentonite and N-high-alkyl-isostearamide is important for the success of the present laundry detergent compositions, because: 1) such combination results in obtaining a larger -25-ant is tat is working then could be predicted; 2) the bento-not softens the laundry, and 3) both fabric softening and anti-static (non-stick) properties are currently demanded by picky consumers in detergent compositions.

Instead of the preferred N-coconutalkyl isostearamide, other high aliphatic isostear amides, preferably high primary aliphatic isostear amides, and especially high primary N-alkyl isostear amides, such as Nn-octyl-isostearamide, Nn-decyl-10-isostearamide, Nn-heptyl-isostearamide, Nn-dodecyl-isostearamide, Nn-tetradecyl-isostearamide and N-primary hydrogenated tallow isostearamide.

When the bentonite content of the given main formulation is changed within the 3 to 20% range, such as 15 to 101, 151 and 181, suitable softening results in anti-static detergent compositions and even when the bentonite content is reduced to 5%, remarkable tissue softening can be obtained . Also, changes in the anionic detergent content can be made within the range of 3.5 to 25%, eg 5%, 151 and 251, while the total builder salt content can vary within a range of 5 to 40%, for example up to 10.20 and 30%, whereby effective softening and anti-static detergent compositions can be obtained. In all such compositions, water constitutes the remainder, except for the possible presence of one or more auxiliary substances, the amount of which is usually limited to no more than 10%.

The bentonite used can be modified in any of the other bentonite types previously mentioned in the description, and other suitable swelling clays, such as other montmorillonites, may sometimes be used, but usually western bentonite or bentonite is preferred. Wyoming type to use. The sodium 35 linear tridecylbenzene sulfonate may be replaced, in whole or in part, by sodium linear dodecylbenzene.

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-26- sulfonate or another linear high alkylbenzene sulfonate of 10 to 15 or 18 carbon atoms, or by another anionic detergent such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium cetyl sulfate, sodium alkane sulfonate, wherein the alkane is about 5-16 carbon atoms, and / or sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfate or any of the various mixtures thereof. The ether sulfate can be replaced with another similar detergent, such as sodium dodecyl pentaethoxy sulfate, or one or more other anionic detergents previously mentioned. Other builders can be substituted for the polyphosphate and carbonate, such as those previously mentioned, thus preparing detergents that do not contain phosphate.

In the described variations, within the invention, of the preferred main formulation, the products obtained are suitable fabric softening and anti-static detergent compositions and, in terms of the properties previously described, are better than formulations from which the bentonite and isostearamide are omitted, and then formulations, in which quaternary ammonium salts are used in place of the isostearamide.

EXAMPLE II

Rather than preparing a full fabric softening and antistatic liquid detergent composition described in the formulation of Example I, as a variation of the present invention, a fabric softening and antistatic composition is prepared, which may conveniently be referred to as a "soft static agent and which includes: bentonite and N-primary-high-aliphatic isostearamide 30 (CISA), in a liquid aqueous medium. Such a liquid composition is prepared by simply mixing together: 14.1 parts of American Colloid Company AEG 325 bentonite and 5.9 parts of N-cocoalkyl isostearamide with 80 parts of deionized water (although city water may be sufficient if deionized water is not available). The proportions of bentonite: isostearamide according to Example I can also be used. Due to the thickening action of the swelling bentonite component, the powdered N-isostearamide is kept in suspension in the aqueous medium, the "soft static agent" 5 being ready for bottling, shipping, storage, sale and application without further modification of the wording.

However, a co-solvent, such as ethanol or hexylene glycol, can be included to promote dissolution of N-isostear amide (and to act as an anti-freeze), in which case a sufficient amount from .

ethanol or hexylene glycol or both is used to promote solubility and prevent freezing. Also, about 1% sodium xylene sulfonate can be included in the formulation as a hydrotrope, with or without 0.1 to 15 2L sodium polyacrylate to dose and / or suspend the bentonite in the aqueous system. Also, colorants, antioxidants, buffers, gums, anti-depositors (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), optical brighteners and fragrances can be included in the formulation in normal adjuvant amounts, most of which are less than 2I and often less are then II.

The "soft static agent" prepared can be added to another liquid detergent composition either by the manufacturer or by the consumer to improve the fabric softening, anti-static properties of such a composition. The amount of the "soft static agent" added to the liquid detergent is such that the added material exerts a fabric softening and anti-static action when the improved detergent composition is used. Because of the thinning effect of the "soft static agent", it will generally be desirable to use more of the improved detergent composition. However, the concentrations of active components in the "soft static agent" are also kept as high as reasonably possible to obtain optimal softening and anti-static effects. Also, the liquid "soft static agent" can be added directly to the washing water in the washing machine, along with the liquid detergent. By any of such methods of application, any of the various commercial builder-containing synthetic, organic, anionic, liquid detergent compositions can be improved in tissue softening and antistatic effects. Also contemplated within the present invention is the use of the present liquid "soft static agent" as an agent to impart softening and anti-static properties to laundry that has been washed with any of the various synthetic detergent compositions, both the small individual particles as the liquid, and non-ionic or amphoteric, as well as anionic compounds. In such a respect, this invention is effective with all of the best known commercial builder-containing synthetic organic detergent products and, as previously indicated, such improvement does not compromise cleaning, brightening and other desirable properties of such detergent compositions.

EXAMPLE III

An amount of the composition for washing according to the main formulation of Example I is used to wash a standard load of laundry in a conventional General Load Electric household washing machine with top loading. However, alternatively, an amount of C 120 g) of liquid detergent composition (such as the first comparison standard without bentonite and CISA) was added to the wash water, followed by separate additions of the formulation amounts of 17.6 g of bentonite and 7.4 g of N-cocoalkyl isostearamide (which can be dispersed in, dissolved in or mixed with a suitable liquid medium or a small particulate carrier and preferably contained in 125 g of a "soft static agent", 35 as described in Example II). The machine is filled with 65 liters of mixed magnesium city water, and calcium hardness of about 100 ppm, calculated as -29-calcium carbonate, the calcium hardness being the main hardness. The temperature of the washing water is 40 ° G and the load of dirty laundry supplied to the washing water is about 3.6 kg. The washed laundry is made of cotton, mixture of cotton and polyester, acetate and polyamide (nylon) and is dirty with normal soiling agents. Washing continues for a period of 10 minutes, after which the laundry is automatically rinsed and dried by centrifugation. It is then dried in an automatic laundry dryer, in which it is tumbled, while being subjected to the passage of hot drying air. After drying, the laundry is evaluated by a panel of trained evaluators and found to be satisfactorily clean, soft to the touch and free from bothersome static adhesion. When the detergent composition used as a comparison standard, which does not contain bentonite or N-substituted isostearamide in its formulation, is used similarly (but only) to wash similar laundry, its cleaning power is satisfactory, but the laundry feels remarkable hard and is subject to static adhesion, the static adhesion being particularly noteworthy for the laundry fabrics containing synthetic polymer fibers in their fabrics.

EXAMPLE IV

Rather than using the composition of Example II to improve a liquid detergent composition and instead of adding hair to the wash water, it can also be used as a softener and antistatic rinse water agent. In this embodiment of the invention, the liquid "soft anti-static agent" can be added to the rinse water after washing the laundry with a conventional detergent composition. Usually, the amount of the "soft static agent" added will be the amount sufficient to provide antistatic effects and softening perceptible to the washed laundry.

1 V

-30- tings effect and grant. For example, the amount added to the rinse water is, e.g. usually 0.05 to 0.5%, preferably 0.1 to 0.3%, e.g. 0.21. In a typical example of this embodiment of the invention, the laundry 5 is washed in the manner described in Example I with a detergent composition such as that of this example, excluding the substitutions of bentonite and CISA by water (a small amount of gum or other thickener may have been • added to the liquid if desired to adjust the viscosity, eg 0.1 to 1% CMC, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) or other gum used for this purpose is known). After washing the laundry, which can be a normal load of a mixed laundry of cotton and synthetic polymeric fabrics, the composition of the "soft static agent" according to Example II becomes 14.1 parts of bentonite and 5.9 parts of CISA in 80 parts of deionized water contains to the rinse water added at a concentration of 0.2% (130 g per 65 liters of the rinse water with a hardness of 100 ppm). The laundry is then sometimes dried after several rinses, and after machine drying has been found to have a low static charge and to be softer than the standard comparative laundry which has not been subjected to the rinse described.

Claims (20)

A fabric softening and anti-static liquid laundry detergent composition comprising: a detersive amount of a synthetic anionic organic detergent, a fabric softening amount of bentonite 5 and an anti-static amount of N-high aliphatic iso-stearamide as an antistatic agent water-containing medium. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1 which contains a detergent building amount of a detergent builder and wherein the detergent is a sulfate and / or sulfonate type detergent. Liquid detergent composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detergent builder is selected from the group consisting of polyphosphate, carbonate, hydrogen carbonate, sesquicarbonate, silicate, zeolite, citrate, nitrilotriacetate and polyacetal. carboxylate builders, and mixtures thereof. Liquid detergent composition according to any one of claims 1-3, comprising: about 3.5 to 25% sulfate and / or sulfonate detergent, about 3 to 20¾ bentonite, about 1 to 10¾ isostearamide, about 5 to 40¾ builder and about 30 to 80% water. Liquid detergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: 3 to 15¾ sodium linear high alkyl alkyl benzene sulfonate, 0.5 to 101 sodium high fatty alcohol polyethoxy ether sulfate, wherein the high -fat alcohol portion contains 8 to 18 carbon atoms and wherein the polyethoxy ether portion contains 3 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of such detergent, 3 to 20% bentonite, 1 to 10 tot N-high aliphatic isostearamide wherein the high-30 aliphatic group is a primary hydrocarbon chain of 7 to 18 carbon atoms, 5 to 25% sodium tripolyphosphate, 2 to 10¾ sodium carbonate, and 40 to 70¾ water. A liquid detergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: 5 to 13¾ sodium linear high alkyl alkyl benzene sulfonate, wherein the high alkyl group contains "* 1 * - -32" 12 to 14 carbon atoms, 1 up to 5¾ sodium higher primary alcohol polyethoxy ether sulfate, wherein the high primary alcohol portion contains 12 to 15 carbon atoms and the polyethoxy ether portion contains 6 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide 5 per mole of such detergent, 5 to 15¾ bentonite , 1 to 7% N-primary-high-alkyl-isostearamide, in which the high alkyl group has 7 to 18 carbon atoms, 8 to 14¾ sodium tripolyphosphate, 3 to 7¾ sodium carbonate, 0.1 to 1¾ sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and 45 to 65¾ water . The detergent composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: about 9¾ sodium linear high alkyl alkyl benzene sulfonate, wherein the high alkyl group contains from 12 to 13 carbon atoms, about 2¾ sodium primary alcohol polyethoxy ether sulfate, wherein the primary alcohol contains about 15 12 carbon atoms and the polyethoxy ether portion contains about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of such detergent, about 121 bentonite, about 5¾ N-coconut alkyl isostear amide, about 11¾ sodium tripolyphosphate, about 4¾ sodium -carbonate, about 20 0.2¾ sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, about 1.5¾ excipients and about 55¾ water. 8. Method for washing laundry and simultaneously softening it and decreasing its ability to develop and / or retain electrostatic charge, which method comprises: washing the laundry in an aqueous medium containing a detersive amount of a liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1, comprising rinsing the laundry and drying it in an automatic laundry dryer. The method of claim 8, wherein the detergent composition is a composition according to claim 4 and its concentration in the wash water is in the range of 0.1 to 0.4¾. A method according to claim 9, wherein the detergent -35 composition is a composition according to claim 6, the -33 temperature of the water is in the range of 10 to 90 ° G and the water has a hardness of at most 300 ppm, calculated as calcium carbonate. The method of claim 10, wherein the concentration of the liquid detergent composition in the wash water is about 0.21, the wash water has a hardness in the range of 50 to 200 ppm, calculated as calcium carbonate, and the temperature of the wash water is in the range of 30 to 50 ° C. 12. Liquid fabric softening and antistatic product for addition to detergent compositions or washing water to impart fabric softening and anti-static properties to the laundry washed therewith, which product contains: a fabric softening amount of bentonite and an anti-static amount of N-high aliphatic isostearamide as antistatic agent in a liquid medium. 13. The product of claim 12, wherein the bentonite is a swelling bentonite, the antistatic agent is an N-high alkyl isostearamide, the liquid medium is an aqueous medium, and the isostearamide: bentonite ratio is in the range of 1: 1 , 5 to 1: 5. The product of claim 13, wherein the bentonite is a Westernn bentonite or Wyoming bentonite, the isostearamide is CISA, and the total content of isostearamide and bentonite is in the range of 10 to 30¾. 15. Method of treating laundry to soften it and lowering its ability to develop and retain electrostatic charge, which method comprises treating the laundry with a composition containing: a softening amount of bentonite and an anti-static amount of N-high-aliphatic-isostearamide. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the treatment is carried out in a rinsing operation after washing the laundry and the bentonite and the N-high aliphatic isostearamide are present in a liquid composition. H I »-34- The method of claim 16, wherein the liquid composition comprises: about 1 to 10¾ N-high aliphatic isostearamide, about 3 to 20% bentonite and about 30 to 80% water, wherein the N-high aliphatic isostearamide is CISA , and the amount of the liquid composition in the rinse water is in the range of 0.05 to 0.5%. 18. Softening and anti-static liquid composition, which is suitable for addition to rinse water to soften laundry and make it anti-static, comprising composition 10: about 1 to 10 parts of N-high aliphatic iso-stearamide and about 3 to 20 parts bentonite in an aqueous medium, the ratio of bentonite to the isostearamide being in the range of 1: 1 to 20: 1. A liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous medium is water and the isostearamide is N-primary-high-alkyl-isostearamide. The liquid composition of claim 19, comprising: about 14 parts of bentonite and about 6 parts of CISA in about 80 parts of water. «S 1 2 R1 -" rH0) n - R2 CH3CH2 ° COOM HCO- H3C 3 k M00 <r och2ch3 H-, C-CO- '' -CH MOOC, CH3 5 O o "Λ" RCOH + R'NH2 - RCNHR + HjO