Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/0005—Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
  • C11D3/001—Softening compositions
  • C11D3/0015—Softening compositions liquid
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/38—Cationic compounds
  • C11D1/62—Quaternary ammonium compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/18—Hydrocarbons
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
  • C11D3/2093—Esters; Carbonates
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3703—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/373—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicones
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/50—Perfumes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to fabric softener compositions, in particular to fabric softener compositions comprising an aqueous phase and a hydrophobic phase.
• Fabric softeners for domestic use are primarily designed to give a pleasant feel to fabrics, to impart freshness or a pleasant smell, and to control the static electricity that impairs the comfort of handling and wearing clothes. They are generally aqueous dispersions containing a cationic softener as an active material. Fabric softener composition usually have a pH value below 4 due to the active material, i.e. the cationic softener, whereas detergents which contain mostly anionic surfactants as active ingredient have a pH value above 5, preferably above 7, more preferably about 9 to 10, depending on the application, e.g. fabric or skin.
• a known fabric softener composition is disclosed in WO 97/16516 comprising a cationic fabric softener, a fragrance, a non-ionic surfactant, a water-soluble ionisable inorganic salt and water.
• the fabric softener composition is in the form of an aqueous phase with discrete hydrophobic particles dispersed substantially uniformly throughout the aqueous phase.
• a problem with aqueous dispersions of this type is that the fragrance is mixed intimately with the other ingredients. Some of the ingredients, e.g. the cationic softener, tend to degrade fragrance over time. Also, the degradation of the fragrance is promoted by the aggressive acidic media, pH ⁇ 4, contained in such fabric softener compositions.
• a multiple-phase fabric care composition comprising visually distinct phases is disclosed in WO01/98450. Whereas fabric care agents including perfume are disclosed, the reference provides no teaching to the effect that perfume and cationic softener should be contained in separate phases.
• the invention provides in one of its aspects a fabric softener composition having an upper hydrophobic phase comprising a fragrance and a lower aqueous phase comprising a cationic softener.
• compositions according to the present invention are possessed of numerous advantages.
• the fragrance is separated from aggressive media such as the cationic softener and accordingly, from the acidic aqueous phase which at a pH value below 4, particularly between 3 and 1, more particularly between 2.5 and 1, may act to degrade the fragrance, and as such, its effect is much longer lasting compared with fragrances employed in aqueous dispersion systems.
• the user is presented with an enhanced burst of fragrance upon opening a package, e.g. a bottle, containing a composition according to the present invention compared with aqueous dispersion systems wherein the fragrance is dispersed throughout the composition in a less concentrated manner.
• composition As the composition is provided as a two-phase system, it should be shaken prior to use to ensure good mixing of all the ingredients. However, because of the problem of fragrance degradation it is desirable that after use, the composition re-establishes its two-phase form as quickly as possible, and preferably separation into the distinct phases occurs within about 10 to about 40 minutes after agitation.
• Softeners for use in a composition according to the present invention may be selected from cationic softeners, more particular from the group of cationic quaternary ammonium salts; ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds; imidazolinium salts; and amido amine salts. Particular examples of these cationic softeners are described in more details below.
• Quaternary ammonium compounds useful in the present invention may be selected from compounds of the formula:
• each of R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from a hydrocarbon residue having from 8 to 28, preferably 2 to 24 carbon atoms;
• R 3 and R 4 represent hydrocarbon residues containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• X ⁇ is an anion, which can be any suitable softener-compatible anion, for example, halide (preferably chloride or bromide), methylsulfate, ethylsulfate, formate, sulfate, nitrate, acetate and the like.
• quaternary ammonium compounds include ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, ditallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate, dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate, dihexadecyl diethyl ammonium chloride and di(coconut oil alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride.
• Suitable materials also include dialkyl ethoxyl methyl ammonium methosulphate based on soft fatty acids, dialkyl ethoxyl methyl ammonium methosulphate based on hard fatty acids, and compounds in which R 3 and R 4 represent methyl, R 2 is C 13-15 hydrocarbon group, R 3 is CH 2 CH 2 OCOR 5 where R 5 is stearyl, and X ⁇ is methylsulphate anion.
• Particular preferred cationic softener useful in the composition according to the invention can be an ester-linked quaternary ammonium compound represented by the formula:
• each R 6 group is independently selected from C 1-6 hydrocarbon residue, such as alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups; and wherein each R 7 group is independently selected from C 8-28 linear or branched hydrocarbon residue, such as alkyl or alkenyl groups;
• R 8 represents hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl
• n is an integer from 0-5 and m is an integer from 1-4;
• X ⁇ is an anion as defined as above.
• ester-linked quaternary ammonium compound is that of formula:
• each R 9 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl chain comprising at least 11 atoms such as tallow and X ⁇ is an anion as defined above and, in particular, is methylsulfate.
• a compound having R 11 is tallow and X ⁇ is methylsulphate anion is available from Witco under the trade name Rewoquat® WE 18.
• Another example of this type of material is a compound wherein R 11 is of partially hardened tallow and X ⁇ is methylsulphate anion.
• Another preferred class of cationic softener containing two ester groups is represented by the formula:
• R 10 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl residue such as tallow, or partially hardened tallow and X ⁇ is an anion as herein above defined and in particular chloride or methylsulphate.
• ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds which may be used in the compositions of the present invention, are those of the formula:
• each R 11 is independently selected from C 1-4 hydrocarbon residue, such as alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups; and each R 12 is independently selected from C 8-28 linear or branched hydrocarbon residue, such as alkyl and alkenyl groups;
• T has the meaning as described above;
• n is an integer of from 0-5 and m is an integer from 1-4;
• X ⁇ is an anion as defined above, preferably selected from halide, methylsulphate and ethylsulphate.
• the most preferred class of cationic softener is a biodegradable fatty ester quaternary ammonium compound of formula:
• each R 13 independently represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon residue having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms
• R 14 represents (CH 2 ) s R 16 where R 16 represents an alkoxy carbonyl residue containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, benzyl, phenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H
• R 15 represents (CH 2 ) t R 17 where R 17 represents benzyl, phenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H
• q,r,s and t each independently, represent a number from 1 to 3
• X ⁇ is an anion as defined above, and the symbol “a” represents the ionic valance of the anion.
• hydrocarbylimidazolinium salts having the formula:
• R 18 is a hydrocarbon residue containing from 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms
• R 21 is a hydrocarbon residue containing from 8 to 25 carbon atoms
• R 19 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon residue containing from 8 to 25 carbon atoms
• R 20 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon residue containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms
• X ⁇ is an anion as defined above, and in particular a halide, methylsulphate or ethylsulphate.
• Preferred imidazolinium salts include 1-methyl-1-(tallowylamido-) ethyl-2-tallowyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium methosulphate and 1-methyl-1-(palmitoylamido) ethyl-2-octadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium chloride.
• Other useful imidazolinium materials are 2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1-(2-stearylamido)-ethyl-imidazolinium chloride and 2-lauryl-1-hydroxyethyl-1-oleyl-imidazolinium chloride.
• R 22 and R 23 independently represent C 12 to C 30 aliphatic hydrocarbon residues;
• ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds show a reduced tendency as emulsifying agents compared with the other classes of cationic softener and thereby promote rapid separation of the composition into two distinct phases.
• Other advantages of these softeners are the good biodegradibility and their efficient softening results. Because of the aforementioned advantages, ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds are preferred.
• Most preferred cationic softeners according to the present invention include Rewoquate® WE18 and Rewoquate® WE15.
• the softener referred to hereinabove permit phase-separation within an acceptable time period, nevertheless they are surfactants and it is in the nature of surfactants to resist, to a certain extent, phase-separation and as such it is preferred to use as little cationic softener as possible.
• the cationic softener is needed to impart softness to fabrics and so one has to strike a balance between the need for rapid phase separation and the competitive need for acceptable fabric softness. It is within the realm of routine experimentation for the skilled person to find an appropriate balance having regard to these competing factors.
• it is preferred to use in the composition according to the present invention about 1% to about 18% (w/w) of a cationic softener, preferably 2% to 13%, more preferably 5% to 10% (w/w).
• Non-ionic surfactants are used in fabric softener compositions of the prior art for example, in combination with cationic softeners. However, we have found that non-ionic surfactants promote emulsification to an extent that phase separation is not quickly established using these materials. Accordingly, it is preferred to avoid the use of non-ionic surfactants in compositions of the present invention.
• compositions according to the present invention preferably comprise up to 2% (w/w), more preferably up to 1% , most preferably up to 0.5% salts.
• Preferred inorganic salts include alkali and alkaline earth halides, e.g. Mg-, Na-, Li-, Ca-, K-, and Al-halides, alkali and alkaline earth nitrates, sulphates, phosphates and silicates; including hydrates of these salts, and mixtures thereof.
• alkali and alkaline earth halides e.g. Mg-, Na-, Li-, Ca-, K-, and Al-halides, alkali and alkaline earth nitrates, sulphates, phosphates and silicates; including hydrates of these salts, and mixtures thereof.
• Preferred organic salts include alkali and alkaline earth salts of the carboxylic acids including formate, acetate, propionate, pelargonate, citrate, gluconate and lactate aromatic acids.
• excipients optionally present in the aqueous phase are anti-foaming agents, thickeners, fluorescent whitening agents, optical brightening agents, anti-wrinkling agents, anti-shrinking agents, sunscreens, colour care agents, colorants, ironing aids.
• the fabric softener composition according to the present invention comprise up to 8% (w/w) of these other excipients, preferably from 2% to 5% (w/w).
• the hydrophobic phase according to the present of the invention comprises an oil and fragrance.
• oils are preferred wherein the HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) is below 5, more preferably between 4 and 1.
• the oil may be a hydrocarbon oil, for example a mixture of hydrocarbon oils obtained from petroleum, in particular petroleum jelly or for example Isopar® produced by Exxon, in particular Isopar® L, Isopar® M or Isopar® H.
• oils such as dimethicone polysiloxane or Tegopren®; or ester oil such as isopropylmyristate, ethylhexyl laurate, isopropyl laurate, octyl adipate and ethylhexyl cocoate. Mixtures of ester oil, hydrocarbon oil and silicone oil may also be used. Because of environmental reasons biodegradable oils are preferred. Accordingly, most preferred oils are esters oils, for example isopropylmyristate, isopropylpalmitate, neopentyl glycol diethylhexanoate, glycerol trioleate or glyceryl triheptanoate. To avoid alteration of the characteristic of the fragrance by the oil, such oils are preferred, which have a low evaporation rate.
• the fabric softener composition according to the present invention comprises 1% to 50% (w/w) of the hydrophobic phase, preferably 3% to 20% (w/w), and most preferred 5% to 12% (w/w).
• the oil may also treat a fabric to impart softness thereto. Accordingly, the presence of the oil may have the beneficial effect of permitting the use of less cationic softener which is relatively expensive compared with the oil.
• the oil may coat the fragrance, such that when the composition is applied to a fabric it tends to promote prolonged release of fragrance and so increasing the substantivity of the fragrance on the fabric, for example preferred compositions according to the invention may impart fragrance to a fabric for up to 7 days after treatment. It was found that the rinse loss of the fragrance during the rinse cycle and/or the fragrance lost during the tumble drying process is much lower compared with aqueous dispersion fabric softeners. On dry fabrics a 3-5 time stronger fragrance, measured by headspace, can be achieved compared with conventional aqueous dispersion fabric softeners. The headspace analysis is described in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Vol. 19, No. 6 (1971), page 1049-1056.
• the composition according to the present invention may contain all kinds of fragrances of natural and/or synthetic origin, for example geraniol, citronellyl acetate, d-limonene, orange terpenes and vanilline.
• the composition comprises one fragrance or a mixture of fragrances.
• water soluble fragrances are preferably to be avoided.
• the aqueous solubility of a fragrance is conventionally measured using a number of different procedures such as for example the procedure disclosed in Etzweiler et al., Analytical Chemistry, Vol.
• fragrances have a aqueous solubility below 20000 ppm, preferably below 10000 ppm, more preferably below 5000 ppm, most preferably below 2000 ppm.
• fragrances such as phenylethylalcohol and diethylmalonate are preferably to be avoided.
• preferred fragrances have a clogP greater than 2, most preferred a clogP greater than 3.
• the composition according to the present invention comprises about 0.1% to about 3%(w/w) fragrance.
• fragrance compositions having at least 80% (w/w) of fragrance with a clogP greater than 2.
• the hydrophobic phase may comprise a lipophilic dye, for example Puricolor® blue FBL5, Puricolor® blue FBL5 Puricolor® blue ABL9, Puricolor® green U3 or Puricolor® yellow AYE23 from Ciba.
• a lipophilic dye for example Puricolor® blue FBL5, Puricolor® blue FBL5 Puricolor® blue ABL9, Puricolor® green U3 or Puricolor® yellow AYE23 from Ciba.
• composition according to the present invention comprises from 2% to 15% (w/w) cationic softener; from 3% to 20% (w/w) ester oil; from 0.1% to 3% (w/w) fragrance; from 57% to 92.9% (w/w) water; and from 2% to 5% (w/w) other excipients.
• compositions according to the present invention may be used as fabric softeners. They may be added to the last rinse cycle in an amount of 35 ml to 150 ml per 4 kg of fabrics in general, or garments in particular. However, the amounts used is based upon the preferences of the user.
• a fabric softening composition of the present invention (herein after named as “bi-phase fabric softener”) was formulated as follows: % w/w Part A Rewoquat ® WE 18 di-(tallow carboxyethyl) 10.00 (Goldschmidt) hydroxy-ethyl methylammonium methosulfate Deionised Water 74.45 Calcium chloride 0.50 Myacide ® BT330 2-bromo-2-nitrophropane-1,3-diol 0.05 (Boots) Part B Isopropylmyristate 11.50 Isopar ® M 2.50 (Exxon) Fragrance 1.00 100.00
• the water and the Rewoquat® WE 18 was heated separately to 50° C. While stirring the preheated water, one half of the Rewoquat® WE 18 (preheated to 50° C.) was added. Calcium chloride was added and then the remaining part of the Rewoquat® WE 18 while stirring the mixture. After cooling to room temperature under stirring, Myacide® BT330 was added. Finally, part B was added.
• the bi-phase fabric softener composition prepared according to example 1 was compared to a mono-phase fabric softener composition formulated as follows: % w/w Part A Deionised Water 81.75 MgCl 2 (saturated solution) 1.0 Part B Rewoquat ® WE 18 di-(tallow carboxyethyl) 13.0 (Goldschmidt) hydroxy-ethyl methylammonium methosulfate GenapolO100 Ethoxylated fatty alcohol 2.0 (Hoescht) C16-C18 10EO Antifoam 110A-EU silicone emulsion 1.0 (Dow Corning) Part C Dequest 2010 Hydroxyethyliden 1,1 0.2 (Monsanto) diphosphonic acid Proxel GXL Benzisothiazolinone sodium salt 0.02 (ICI) Bronidox L 5 bromo-5nitro-1,3 Dioxane 0.03 (Cognis) Fragrance 1.0 100.00
• the cotton terry towels were washed according to the washing protocol of example 2.
• the towels were line dried and placed in a glass container 1 day/5 days after drying. During 15 minutes and an extraction flow of 30 ml/minute the headspace was collected. Then the samples were analysed by GC/MS. The results are shown in Table 2.
• TABLE 2 bi-phase fabric mono-phase softener fabric softener dry towels 489 ng/L 148 ng/L after 24 hours dry towels 394 ng/L 89 ng/L after 5 days
• the bi-phase fabric softener delivered significantly more fragrance on the cotton terry towels.
• Fragrance composition Ingredients % w/w Benzyl Acetate 4.0 Bornyl Acetate 4.0 Citronellyl Acetate 0.8 Menthanyl Acetate 2.0 PT Butylcyclohexyl Acetate 3.0 2-Propenyl Phenoxyacetate 3.6 Phenyl Ethyl Acetal 1.0 Verdyle Acetate TM 10.0 Cyclamen Aldehyde Extra 2.5 Benzyl Benzoate 8.0 Citronellol 16.0 Coumarine pure Crist.

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• 2002
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