NZ204517A

NZ204517A - Fabric softening composition

Info

Publication number: NZ204517A
Application number: NZ204517A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: A Jacques; J-P Grandmaire
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1982-06-22
Filing date: 1983-06-09
Publication date: 1986-09-10
Also published as: DK281583A; SE462050B; DK281583D0; CA1208854A; AU558320B2; GB2122662A; AU1596183A; CH655332A5; SE8303507L; NL8302227A; MX158906A; DE3225687C2; IT8348525A0; BE893887A; NO832245L; IT1172269B; FR2528864A1; ES530347A0; NO163629B; DE3225687A1

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £04517 2045 1 7 Priority Date(i(: ... -2^-. £,2 Complete Specification Filed: I Class: Publication Date: .... fl.Q.S£Pe$(j£ P O. Jo..Tn.if, \i0: ..,. / «2 M DRAMOS - ■. ' $ > Patents Form No. 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION CONCENTRATED FABRIC SOFTENING COMPOSITICNS AND METHODS FOR MAKING SAME //We COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America of 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, United States of America do hereby declare the invention for which/i/we pray that a Patent may be granted to kr/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: I 2 04., 1 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fabric softener compositions n : p. r.«? -i f o r the use in the rinse cycle of a laundering process and in particular to concentrated aqueous fabric softener compositions vh::h are stable at both low and high ambient temperatures, i.e. j;.'h .'prorations do not form a gel, and which are easily disperses : r: water when used. ^oppositions containing quaternary ammonium salts having at fist one lens chain hydrocarb.vl group are commonly used to pro-vi ie fabric softening benefits when employed in a laundry rinse operation; for example, see U.S. Patents 3,3^9,033; 3,6Uh,203; -,-^6,115; 3,997,1*53; ^,073 ,735 and 14,119,5^5. For most aqueous softener compositions containing cationic quaternary ammonium compounds as active ingredients, the concentration of such cationics has, in general, been limited to the rar.r'e of about 3 to 6% by weight (see U.S. Patent 3,90U,533 and . f . Patent 3,920,565). Such a low conc entr at i on is generally necessitated by the fact that cationics form gels in water systems at concentrations at above about 8%, and while the use of electrolytes to lower the viscosity of such compositions is known (see in particular U.S. Patent ^,199,5^5), such electrolytes are far from satisfactory. From a functional point of view, the electrolytes often do not perform as required particularly at concentrations of the cationics in the neighborhood of about 12-15/S. Further, while the performance of the electrolytes may miti^gate some of the gelling problem, their use is far from satisfactory - 2 - 2 04_ 1 7 i providing a highly concentrated aqueous system of cationics which doer, not pel or severely change in viscosity within the a I range of temperatures encountered in the handling thereof, ■cr example 0°F (about -l8°C) up to about lU0°F (about 60°C). In U . . latent, 3,68l,?!il n concentrated fabric softening emulsion is described which consists essentially of 3.5 to 6.5 parts by weight, of a compound represented for example by distearyl dimethyl ar.nor.i urn chloride ,from 3-5 to 6.5 parts by weight of an alkyl aside i rr, i d nz o 1 i n i urn a 1 ky 1 s u 1 f at e , an d from 0 to 3 parts by weight of a different but similar fatty ar.ido im i dazol i nium alkylsulfate, the latter allegedly providing low temperature stability for the composition. The total actives contemplated range from about 8 to 13?. In British application 20532li9A published February ^ , 1981, there are disclosed cationic fabric softening compositions containing 15 to 60? by weight of cationic softener, 25 to 15% by weight of an aqueous medium, and 0.5 to by weight of a specified water soluble polymer. In U.S. Patent 3,97^,076 there are disclosed quaternary ammonium-containing softening composition of conventional cationic concentrations, i.e. about 2% to about 6%. These compositions are characterized by the very small particle size of the substantially water-insoluble quaternary ammonium softening compound, i.e. 90% by weight of the quaternary ammonium compounds exist as particles which will pass through a 1.2 micron filter. The compositions are described as a combination of the cationic softener, a Cg to Cqq - 3 - ( 2 045 1 7 a"! kvl alcohol with fror. about 0.1$ to about 2.0? of a non-ionic surfactant having a HLB of frorr. about 8 to about 15, and preferably from about 10 to about lU. The preferred non-ionics have a lipophilic hydrocarbyl moiety equivalent of 9 to 15 carbon atoms with ? to 13 ethylene oxide hydrophilic moieties. This patent does not relate to the problem of stability of concentrated aqueous cationic softening compositions but rather to improving the level and uniformity of softening using conventional concen-trutio r. s . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides low and high temperature stable, concentrated, aqueous softener compositions based upon quaternary anmonium softening compounds and a minor amount of both a nonionic surfactant and an electrolyte. The present invention also provides a method by which highly concentrated fabric softening compositions are produced. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The compositions of the present invention are stable aqueous compositions which contain a high concentration of the cationic fabric softener which is a water dispersible quaternary ammonium compounds as hereinafter described, non-ionic surfactant and electrolyte. - k - The aqueous compositions of this invention contain about 12% up to about 201 by weight of a cationic softener having the general formula 1 wherein R^, 1^' R3* anc* R<j are independently selected from C j ^ aliphatic (preferably alkyl or alkenyl), aryl (e.g. phenyl, tolyl, cumyl, otc.) and aralkyl (e.g. benzyl, phenethyl etc.) radicals and substituted forms thereof containing halo, amide, hydroxyl and/or carboxy substituents (with the proviso that at least two of Rj, R2' R3 an(^ are selected from , preferably aliphatic groups), and Y~ is a water- sol ubilizing anion such as chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, (sulfate)^, mothosul Fate, nitrite, nitrate, (phosphate) and carboxylate (i.e. acetate, adipate, propionate, phthalate, benzoate, oleate, etc.). In the cationic softener of formula I above at least two of R.j , R^ t R^ and are selected from ^q' preferably C i 4 — i 8' a^^P^at:'-c (preferably alkyl) groups and the others of R^, R^, and R^ are preferably selected from lower alkyl groups, particularly alkyl and most particularly methyl and ethyl groups. Typical cationics of formula I include the following: distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride distearyl dimethyl ammonium bromide di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium bromide + Y distearyl, di(isopropy1) ammonium chloride distearyl dimethyl ammonium methosulfate 204517 The non-ionic component of the present compositions comprises from about 1 to about 5% by veight of the composition and generally may vary with the cationic softener in a weight ratio of cationic to nonionie of from about 20:1 to about 3:1 and preferably from about 10:1 to about 5:1. The non-ionic compounds are ethylene oxide condensates of C10 to C0q aliphatic alcohols and alkyl phenols characterised by an HLB (hydrophilic-1ipophilic balance) of l6.5 ± 1.0. A complete discussion of the HLB system can be found in "The HLB Hystem" (1976 Edition l6 pages) published by ICT United States, Inc. and said reference i3 hereby incorporated by reference. Generally the non-ionics as herein contemplated are hydrophilic in nature with a larne and strong hydrophilic firoup. Tn the present invention this group is an oxyethyl chain /■enerully of at leant about 15 terminal oxyethyl groups (i.e. the exyetliy 1 groups are contiguous and terminate in an hydroxyl group). Particularly suitable non-ionic surfactants include a aliphatic alcohol containing 20 moles of condensed ethylene oxide and available as Sy r» peron i c A20; an ethoxylated octyl phenol with 16 moles of ethylene oxide available as Triton X-I65 and an ethoxylated nonyl phenol with 30 moles of ethylene oxide available as Dowfax NP30. A third preferred ingredient is an electrolyte (ionic) material in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight, particularly about 0.1 to about 1.5%, and most particularly about 0.5 to about 1.5%, by weight. The use of an electrolyte acts not only to control viscosity but also assists in stabilizing the system against gelling and phase - 6 - NZ. PATENT OFFICE ""! 2 04517 i r, vers i on at hiph temperatures e.g. above about UO°C. i >t r t i r- ij i ar 1 y suitable electrolytes include sodium chloride :tr. • calcium chloride. Other useful electrolytes include sodium rr.ate, sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, sodium acetate among ther.- as well as water-soluble salts of other cations such as po t, ass ium , 1 i thium , magnesium ammonium and the like. Minor amounts of lower alkanols may be used particularly where it is desired to further modify the viscosity. In general, alcohols tend to lower the viscosity at ambient temperatures, although moderate amounts may effect a lowering of the phase inversion temperature. The preferred compositions of this invention exhibit phase inversion temperatures above about 80°C and preferably above about 90°C with amounts of alcohol in the range of about 1 to about 10? by weipht. Particularly suitable alcohols are ethyl and isopropyl alcohol. In addition to the foregoing components of the softening compositions of this invention, there may also be included numerous conventional, supplemental, and optional ingredients which do not adversely affect the stability and/or functional characteristics of the instant compositions. Thus, for example, there may be present the ubiquitous perfumes, dyes, pigments , opacifiers, germicides, optical briphteners , anti-corrosion agents (e.g. sodium silicate) water-soluble polymers, anti-static agents and the like. Where used, each may comprise from 0.015? to about 5% by weight of the composition. - 7 - 2 045 1 / It is, of course, recognized and understood that most available chemical materials and particularly those containing an hydrocarbyl moiety are generally mixtures of closely related r-oieties. Thus, the lonf chain alkyl substituents (R) in the i-n* ionics used i r. this invention may not only be a single carbon length chain but more probably a mixture. In this regard a ! .irticularly useful quaternary set wherein the alkyl groups are derived from tallow nay contain about 355» and 60% C^g and "ii'.or amounts of and even others. Similarly, the aliphate alcohol percursors for the non-ionics used herein may be of a si rjrle carbon chain length but more likely, again, it will and can fee a mixture in any proportion of the operable chain length compounds. The fabric softening compositions of this invention must have in addition to viscosity and phase stability, the requisite viscosity (i.e. for pourability) and water-dispersibi1ity in the rir.se cycle (or any other form of dilution prior to use) which the consumers have come to accept and demand from 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 ^0 cps to about 120 cps. The general procedures for preparing the compositions herein are several in number, the final produce varying somewhat in stability. The procedures differ in the order of material addition as well as processing conditions. - 8 - 2 G 4 5 '» > A preferred procedure (a) involves adding the non-ionic materials and coloring to the formula weight of water which is at about T0°C. To thi3 solution slowly add the cationic softener in . ::elted form. Usually a gel will form. The mixture is cooled to about ltO°C and then the electrolyte is added to break the gel. The composition is then cooled to room temperature with stirring. A modification of procedure (a) involves adjusting the pH to about .1 before adding the melted cationic. In this case no gel forms. After cooling to about kO°C, the pH is readjusted to 5 to 6, cooled with stirring to room temperature and then electrolyte is used to u.ijust the viscosity (Procedure B). Still another procedure (C) involves adding the non-ionics to at least 80? of warm water (not above about kO°C), then the electrolyte, and finally the melted cationic. The rest, if any, of the water is then added, and the composition is then cooled with agitation to room termpera-t ■: r e . The following examples will serve to illustrate the present invention without being deemed limitative thereof. Parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated. Example 1 Following Procedure (A) described above, 2 parts of an ethoxylated nonyl phenol (containing l6 moles of ethylene oxide) are dissolved in about 75 parts of water at a temperature of about 70°C. To this solution are slowly added 20 parts of distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (755? active and containing - 9 - about LOt isopropancl and the balance water) in melted form (Temperature = 55°C) with stirring. A gel is formed. The gel is cooled down to about <;0°C and then 0.5 parts of calcium chloride iohydrate are added. The mixture is cooled to room temperature 'about 20°C) with stirring. A stable product results with a viscosity of about 100 cps. Example 2 The procedure of Example 1 is repeated utilizing the following parts of (A) cationic (active), (B) surfactant, and [C) electrolyte (a) A = = 12; B = 1 .0 ; c = 0.5 ( b ) A = = 1 ; B = 1 •5 ; c = 0.5 ( c ) A = = 16; B = 1 • 8; c = 0 .7 ( d ) A = : 18; 3 = 2 • 5; c = 1.0 Example 3 Examples 1 and 2 are repeated utilizing in place of distearyl dir.ethyl ammonium chloride the following: (a) ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride (b) distearyl dimethyl ammonium methosulfate •(c) di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium bromide (d) di-hexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (e) distearyl diethyl ammonium chloride Example U Examples 1, 2 and 3 are repeated adding in all instances 1 part of polyethylene glycol (MWI4OO) with the non-ionic in the - 10 - I 2045 1 7 first step of the process of the preparation. Polyethylene glycol (MVAOO) is illustrative of low molecular vt?irht., water-soluble polymers which may be used if desired in the softeninr compositions of this invention. Among other useful pvlymers reference is made to British published application . 5 o A described above which is hereby incorporated herein by such reference thereto. The compositions of this invention may include any and all of such polymers and other water-soluble polymers as well. In the compositions of this invention one may use from 0.1? to 20* by weight of the total composition of these materials. Example 5 Each of the foregoing examples 1 to U is repeated using as the electrolyte the following: ( n 1 sodium chloride (b) sodium nitrate (c) sodium formate (d) ammonium bromide (e) potassium chloride (f) calcium nitrate (f ) lithium acetate (h) magnesium chloride Example 6 Each of Examples 1 to 5 is repeated, composition-wise, but following the Procedure (B) for making the compositions. In this procedure the change in the processing described in Example 1 involves adjusting the pH to 12 with sodium hydroxide after dissolution of the non-ionic (and polyethylene glycol where used), and readjusting the pH to 5-6 with hydrochloric acid after the - 11 - </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 2 045 1 7 nHit ion of the cationic. At this point no gel forms as in Procedure (A). The electrolyte is added after the mixture has been cooled to room temperature. Kxample 7 Kach of Examples 1 to 5 is repeated again, composition-wise bit following Procedure (C) to prepare the compositions. In this procedure the non-ionic (and the water soluble polyethylene glycol where used) is dissolved in 80? of the formula weight of water at a temperature of 35~^0°C. The electrolyte is then added, followed by the melted cationic. The remaining formula weight of water is then added and thereafter the mixture is cooled to room temperature with stirring. The aqueous softening compositions of this invention are generally applicable as other such compositions, particularly useful in the rinse cycle of an automatic laundry machine. In such operations as well as in any other desired method of treating c '.oth.es , the compositions are usually employed to provide generally an actives concentration of from about 0.005/f to 0.3% based on the weight of clothes treated preferably 0.007? to about 0.2% and most preferably from about O.Olf? to about 0.15?. - 12 - £04517 WHAT WE CLAIM IS :

1. A stable, aqueous, concentrated fabric softening composition comprising:

(A) 12 to 20% by weight of a cationic softener of the formula:

wherein I< ^ , R2, R ^ and R^ arc independently selected from aliphatic, aryl and aralkyl radicals and substituted forms thereof containing halo, amide, hydroxyl and/or carboxy substituents (with the proviso that at least two of R., R_, R-, and R. are selected from

12 3 4

Cj4 20 aliphatic groups), and Y is a water-solubilizing anion;

(B) 1 to 5% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of 16.5 + 1.0; and

(C) 0.1 to 5% by weight of an electrolyte.

2. A composition as defined in Claim 1 wherein A is distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

3. A composition as defined in Claim 2 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an ethoxylated nonyl phenol containing an average of about 16 moles of ethylene oxide.

4. A composition as defined in Claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is 20:1 to 3:1.

+

y

5. A composition as defined in Claim 4 wherein the amount of compound (A) is about 12% and that of (B) is about 2%.

the total softener concentration is 12 to 15% by weight.

7. A fabric softening composition substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.

8. A method for preparing a composition as defined in Claim 1 which comprises first preparing an aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant in warm water at a temperature up to 80°C thereafter adding cationic softener in melted form to form a gel, cooling said gel to substantially 40°C or below, and then adding electrolyte to break the gel.

9. A method as defined in Claim 8 wherein the warm water temperature is about 70°C, the gel is cooled to substantially 40°C and after the gel is broken the mixture is cooled to room temperature with stirring.

10. A method for preparing a composition as defined in claim 1 which comprises first preparing an aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant in warm water at a temperature of up to 80°C, adjust the pH with alkaline material to above

10. add the cationic softener in melted form, readjust the pH to below 7, cool about room temperature and then add electrolyte to adjust the viscosity.

11. A method for preparing a composition as defined in claim 1 which comprises first preparing an aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant then adding electrolyte followed by the cationic softener in melted form and cool to room temperature.

12. A method for preparing a fabric softening composition substantially as herein described with reference to the Examples.

WZrjT-V/A'- !'CR, MCCABE;

</div>