US3174905A - Methods and compositions for rendering textile materials soft, germ resistant and antistatic - Google Patents

Description

METHODS AND COMPOSITEONS FOR RENDERING TEXTKLE MATERHALS SOFT, GERM RESISTANT AND ANTKSTATIQ William Julius van Loo, In, Middlesex, Jerome J. Lawson, Princeton, and George Robert De Paolo, Whitehouse Station, Ni, assignors to American Cyanarnid Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Filed Mar. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 179,240

2 Claims. (Cl. 167ti4) This invention relates in general to certain compositions and methods involving their use designed to provide germicidal, antistatic, soft, durable finishes to textile fibers, yarns and fabrics. More particularly the present invention con cerns certain novel textile treating products which are capable of imparting the above properties to textile material by a simple inexpensive method of application of the treating agent to the fabric in a home or commercial laundry.

In a particular aspect, the invention points out the discovery of certain specific combinations of textile treating agents previously believed to be incompatible in application Without the addition of modifying agents.

It is a further more particular aspect of this invention to provide a novel composition for treating of textiles which can be so formulated as to selectively improve particular properties of one or several fiber types among the group of many fiber types treated simultaneously or alternatively to improve the particular properties of all fiber types so treated. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become obvious from the description set forth below.

The art of treating textile materials with such agents as brighteners, softeners, antistatic agents, germicidal agents and the like is at this point a fairly well developed and commercially important industry. In almost every instance the finishing of the textile material is accomplished upon the said material from the finishing mill prior to its formation into a garment or wearing apparel. Some of the finishes applied in the mill remain for a period of time with the fabric, but others are removed after or during the first or subsequent washes of the textile material. In the manner of finishing textile goods, fibers such as wool and cotton as well as synthetic fibers such as nylon, Dacron polyester, Orlon acrylic fiber and the like are equally in need of additional treatment to render the wearing properties of the garment acceptable to the trade. Among the desirable properties that may be provided by finishing are enhanced softness, antistatic activity, wrinkle resistance, stiffness or firmness, shape retention, rot resistance and the like. The particular end use of the fabric generally governs the nature of the property modifications provided by mill finishing. It is not generally feasible to effect all property modifications on a single fabric. Moreover, there are many fabrics that are not subjected to mill finishing at all.

Therefore, there are many fabrics and garments made therefrom in the hands of consumers that would have enhanced value with certain property modifications.

It is also well known that many of the treatments applied in mill finishing are not durably fixed to fabric. Because of this, desirable properties initially present on fabric are lost after initial or subsequent washing of the fabric or garments made therefrom. It is obvious, there fore, that the various fabrics or garments need subsequent treatment by the consumer to realize utmost utility and comfort. It is, therefore, a further object of this invenion to provide a simple, practical and economical method of such treatment employing certain non-hazardous chemicals.

Early attempts to obtain multi-cornponent systems for hire States i ate t imparting such properties to fabrics simultaneously in washing machine applications either in the wash or rinse cycle were replete with difiiculties. The specific ionic nature of the separate ingredients caused these difficulties. For example, the commercial detergents employed in the Wash cycle of a washing machine are generally anionics while the desirable germicidals are frequently cationic in nature. The ionic interaction resulting causes precipitation of the active portion of both the detergent and germicidal or softening agent so that not only are the fabrics not properly washed but neither are they rendered germ free or soft. Because of the incompatibility of desirable finishing agents with detergents, most products for laundry available on the market cannot be effectively applied to fabrics during the wash cycle of a washing machine.

In addition certain combinations of ingredients in a potential multi-component finishing system are incompatible even in the absence of added detergent thus renering them ineffective when sought to be applied to fabrics during the rinse cycle of the washing machine because of the same ionic interaction. In general it is recognized that combinations of unlike ionic species are to be avoided and that combinations of like ionic species are desirable. One recent method of achieving a composition of unlike ionic species by modification of the members is that disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,003,954. In the present instance, however, combinations of germicidal, softening and antistatic agents have been discovered which, in some cases, while of different ionic species produce mutually beneficial effects, and in other cases, while of similar ionic species produce mutually antagonistic effects. It is entirely unpredictable, therefore, that a composition as described comprising components of different ionic species should be mutually beneficial as well as entirely compatible.

There are a number of individual agents presently available to the consumer that can be employed to improve the properties of certain fabrics or garments. The method of application of these agents varies some what. In some cases, the agent is applied in the final rinsing of a washing machine cycle. In other cases, the agent is applied from an aerosol spray bomb. Generally, however, the finish applied contains only one active ingredient and/ or modifies only one specific fabric property. In most cases this modifying agent can be applied from the wash cycle of a washing machine. In addition, in no case presently known is the particular finishing treatment formulated of several components so that a number of properties of the fabrics or garments so treated are simultaneously improved. It is an additional object of our invention to disclose textile treating compositions that can be effectively applied to the wash cycle of a washing machine to provide a multi-component system which will simultaneously improve more than one property of the fabric so treated.

The formulations employed in this invention are designed to impart specific properties to the fabrics or garments treated. These properties are chiefly softness, germicidal activity, and antistatic activity. It is nonetheless entirely possible that certain other properties may result from use of the various components on fabric. For example, as a result of the hand modification an increased abrasion resistance of the fabric may result. Such an effect is certainly desirable and may be a further advantage of the invention.

The imparting of germicidal activity results in a substantially improved condition of hygenic and sanitary use for the garment. As a result of the built-in germicidal activity, the fabrics or garments remain fresh since the germicide destroys or reduces the presence of those bacteria which produce odors upon contact with body perspiration. Such property allows for a longer use period between washings than comparable untreated fabrics or garments. It is also obvious that when the germicidal agent is employed in the wash cycle of the washing machine the germicidal count may be considerably reduced. Regardless, therefore, of whether or not the fabric washed in solutions containing our novel composition are permanently germ free they will be at least initially rendered substantially germ free.

The hand modifications efiected by the compositions of our invention are those of enhanced softness, increased fullness, and generally improved body comfort. The softness reduces the inherent roughness of coarseness of certain fabric types and thus adds to comfort during wearing. The increased fullness gives the fabric an increased soft, more luxurious feel, and may reduce thermal transmission all of which add to comfort and pleasure in use.

Synthetic fabrics in general, as well as woolen fabrics have poor electric conductivity at a wide range of temperature and humidity. As a result, electrical charges are readily built up on surfaces of the fabric which have been rubbed together. The static build up of electricity can reach the point of causing considerable discomfort in the nature of electric shocks suffered by the wearer in contacting a grounding medium. The antistatic properties imparted to such fabrics by the composition of this invention increase the conductivity of treated fabrics so that the build-up of static electric charges is eliminated to greatly increase the comfort of the treated fabrics in use.

There are a number of germicidal agents known. Many of these agents are unsuitable for application to fabrics in washing machine applications because of the lack of sufficient Water solubility. Others are impractical in such applications because of a lack of substantivity to the fabrics to be treated requiring high usage concentrations which are economically prohibitive. Desirable germicidal agents are generally those of a cationic nature, since they generally possess good solubility and substantivity. Such i agents can be effectively applied to the fabric in the final rinse cycle of a washing machine. Certain problems develop, however, when attempts are made to apply such agents in a washing cycle of a washing machine. For example, neomycin, which is by far the most beneficial germicide known for textiles, is cationic in nature and being such enters into combination with anionic agents useful for imparting softness and antistatic properties. Such in situ combination negates the primary function of neomycin. In addition, neomycin in the form of its salts is susceptible to attack by chlorine type bleaching agents. In an attempt to effect a solution to the aforesaid problem, softeners and antisatic agents of a cationic type were formulated with neomycin under the belief that the two agents being of the same ionic species would be compatible. However, as indicated by the data set forth in Table I below this is not the case since such combinations result in sharp diminution of the germicidal activity of the neomycin. Specifically, neomycin has been found to be an exception to the rule and may be demonstrated to be not only compatible but beneficial when combined in the presence of other salts with a large class of anionic and nonionic treating agents to impart other qualities to the finished fabric.

It is well known that detergent compositions generally employed in the wash cycle of a washing machine consist of about percent of a detergent of the sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate type in combination with about 80 percent of other materials, mostly salts, employed both as extenders and boosters to the particular detergent employed. The detergent composition obtained thus contains an anionic agent plus numerous salts such as sodium sulfate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, etc. Since the desired germicide is cationic, it will interact with the detergent ionically and form insoluble salts which will precipitate from solution, augmented in such precipitation by the presence of the other salts. The resulting precipitation renders ineffective treatment during the washing cycle and does not allow germicidal activity to be imparted to fabric.

Neomycin, in the form of its sulfate or other simple salt, is also cationic and water-soluble. It will react with other complex anions and produce water-insoluble precipitates. Application of these water-insoluble precipitates to fabric by means of organic solvent solutions fails, however, to produce germicidal activity. For example, admixture of a solution containing neomycin sulfate and one containing a typical sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate will result in precipitation of neomycin alkyl aryl sulfonate. Depending upon concentrations of agents employed, the precipitation of neomycin as the alkyl aryl sulfonate may vary. Neomycin alkyl aryl sulfonate is soluble in ethanol and may be applied to fabric from such solutions. When thus applied, however, it was found that the treated fabric is not germicidally active. It would appear, then, that neomycin in the form of its sulfate or other simple salt, would not be suitable for application to fabric in the wash cycle of a washing machine because of the presence of the anionic detergent therein.

It has now been found, however, that in spite of the obvious incompatibility of neomycin in the form of its sulfate or other simple salt with alkyl, aryl, or alkyl aryl sulfonates, that neomycin sulfate or other simple salt thereof is incompatible in the Wash cycle of a washing machine wherein a detergent composition containing an alkyl, aryl, or alkyl aryl sulfonate is employed. In such use no precipitation of any kind is observed and fabrics washed under such conditions are found to possess germicidal activity. This result is highly unexpected and thus represents an inventive process. No reason for the phenomenon observed is known but would appear that the salts used as extenders and boosters in the detergent composition exhibit a salt-effect on the neomycin salt present and may repress formation of the insoluble and inactive neomycin alkyl aryl sulfonate or other salt depending upon the active detergent present. This same effect does not occur with other cationic agents when so employed, so that neomycin as its sulfate or other simple salt, is the only agent presently known capable of exhibiting this effect. Thus, a unique compound is discovered which can be applied to the fabric by a specific method of application heretofore impractical for compounds of its ionic species.

As a natural consequence of this discovery, additional agents capable of imparting fabric modifications other than germicidal activity by similar methods of application were sought which could be used in multi-component system also containing the germicide. Again it appears obvious that if such agents were to be employed in the wash cycle of the washing machine, they would have to be nonionic or anionic to avoid interaction with the detergent. Such was found to be the case without exception. Thus, neomycin as its sulfate, or other simple salt, may be effectively applied to fabric in the presence of detergent along with agents capable of improving fabric hand or antistatic activity provided the latter agents are of the nonionic or anionic variety. While no unexpected result other than the performance of the neomycin salt occurs when nonionic agents are so applied in combination with the neomycin salt, it is unexpected that anionic agents in addition to the detergent present can be added without adversely affecting performance of the neomycin salt in such applications. The hand modifications and antistatic activity realized through addition of such agents, in addition to the germicidal activity obtained through use of neomycin salt in a combined application in the Wash cycle of a washing machine wherein an anionic detergent is present is a wholly unexpected discovery.

in addition to the discoveries made relative to applications in the wash cycle of an automatic washing machine,

certain highly unexpected discoveries were also made relative to applications in the rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine that also constitutes a part of the present invention. The problems of incompatibility of agents as previously discussed are also pertinent in the following discussion.

As previously indicated, combinations of agents of opposing ionic charges generally result in precipitation of agent combining the opposing charges, unless some modification of compounds like that described in US. Patent No. 3,003,954 is employed. In the present case, however, no such modification is made. In spite of this, combinations of agents of opposing ionic charges have been discovered which can be employed satisfactorily together in multi-component systems. However, in certain cases where an ingredient of the system, in addition to the neomycin salt present, is of cationic nature, its presence precludes use in the Wash cycle of an automatic washer because of interaction of such agent and the detergent present and, as a result, recourse is had to employment in the rinse cycle. In such cases, the results obtained are unpredictable, unobvious, and therefore of inventive nature.

Many desirable softeners or antistatic agents are of cationic nature. These agents, however, do not possess any unique compatibility properties and therefore result in the precipitation of anionic detergent when employed in the presence of one. However, no adverse result would be expected when two cationic agents are mixed when no other nature of said agents would predict interaction. Therefore, if a mixture of two such agents imparting different separate properties to fabric were applied simultaneously to fabric, no significant effect on the properties individually imparted would be expected. However, it has now been found, quite unexpectedly, that while a slight mutually beneficial effect on individual properties results from such simultaneous application to the cellulosic fabrics, cotton and rayon, an adverse effect results upon application of said combination to synthetic fabrics. While softness is enhanced on all fabrics when the mixture contains a cationic softener and neomycin salt, germicidal activity is enhanced on cotton and rayon fabrics over that obtained with a similar application of neomycin salt alone thereto, but is adversely effected on synthetic fabrics. This is truly an unexpected result.

There are, in addition, a number of desirable softening agents which are of anionic nature. As previously discussed, because of potential ionic interactions these agents would not be expected to be compatible with a cationic germicide. Surprisingly, neomycin salts, cationic germicides, have been found to be compatible with certain of these anionic softeners. Again, because of the potential ionic interactions, it would not be expected that simultaneous applications of these two ionic species would produce the desired properties of the individual components. However, employing the bis(tallow glyceride) ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid as the anionic softener, U.S. Patent No. 2,637,663, and neomycin sulfate as the germicidal agent, it was found surprisingly, that both enhanced softness and germicidal activity were obtained on synthetic fabrics from a simultaneous application of the two ingredients. Equally as surprising was the finding that this same application resulted in enhanced softness without impaired germicidal activity on cotton and rayon fabrics.

Thus, it appears that the performance obtained from the combinations of the softeners, germicides, and antistatic agents employed in the present invention are entirely unpredictable based on the knowledge of the art. However, as a result of the discoveries constituting this invention, it can now be generally concluded that a mixture of cationic agents will give desirable and complete property modifications, based on the ingredients present, on cotton and rayon fabrics but not synthetic fabrics while mixtures of certain cationic and anionic agents will give desirable and complete property modifications on 6 synthetics but not on cotton and rayon fabrics. This strange and unpredictable behavior of the particular combinations provides a means of selectively treating specific fabrics in an automatic washing machine load of many fabric types.

To illustrate the utility of the selective treatments thus discovered, it is convenient to depict specific washer loads that might be found in a typical household. It is general practice to wash White loads and colored loads separate y. In a particular white load, for example, it is possible that cotton sheets and pillow cases might be included with outer garments constructed from synthetic fabrics. In the application of finish to these various materials, it would thus be desirable if the cotton fabrics were made soft and germicidally active and the synthetic fabrics made soft and static free. Since the synthetic fabrics involve Outer garments, their need to be germicidally active is not acute but that of the bed sheets and pillow cases is. Hence, the desired applications can be made in the rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine employing a neomycin salt, a cationic softener, and a suitable antistatic agent, which may be cationic or nonionic.

In another typical load, the fabrics involved might consist of under garments of synthetic fibers and outer garments of cotton or rayon. In this case, it would be desirable to enhance softness of all garments and additionally to provide germicidal activity and antistatic activity on the synthetic fabrics. In this case, the application could effectively be made in the Wash 0r rinse cycle of an automatic washer employing an anionic detergent where pertinent and a neomycin salt, an anionic softener, and an anioic or nonioic antistatic agent.

Still further, if it were desired that all materials constituting the washer load should be made soft, antistatic where necessary, and germicidally active, ths result can also be achieved. In such a case, the applications may be made in the wash cycle of an automatic washing machine employing an anionic detergent, a neomycin salt, a nonionic softener and a nonionic antistatic agent.

It is a distinct feature of the present invention, therefore, to disclose certain novel, compatible combinations of cationic and anionic textile treating agents which without further modification may be directly employed in the finishing of textile goods. An obvious instance of such combination is a mixture of neomycin sulphate, polyethylene emulsified with anionic and nonionic emulsifiers as described in US. Patent No. 2,592,526 and/or reaction product of 49 moles of ethylene oxide with the mono ethanolamide of a dimer acid as described in US. Patent No. 2,718,478. This composition in general understanding would be expected to be incompatible but has been applied to a number of fabrics both natural and synthetic and found, after hand washing of the same, to impart simultaneously the threefold salt properties of germicidal, antistatic, and softness features.

Accordingly, we have discovered that a textile treating composition comprising a water-soluble cationic salt of neomycin and anionic or nonionic softening agent and anionic or nonionic antistatic agent wherein one of the latter two compounds is anionic may be formulated and employed to restore to textile fabrics two or more of the aforesaid properties which may have been lost in the process of washing.

The finishing composition of the present invention may be introduced into the fabric to be treated by addition to the washer with the soap or detergent to be normally employed by addition to the washer at the start of the washing cycle. In those cases where a chlorine bleach is to be used it is preferred to add our novel composition after the washing cycle and during the rinsing cycle after a few minutes of rinsing has substantially removed the chlorine from the wash water. Certain types of washing machines presently commercially available are equip ed with attachments which will automatically add the aforesaid ingredient to the final rinsing Water. Washing mathemselves.

.ity or so-called hand of the garment.

chines so equipped will, of course, stop at the proper cycle point and our finishing composition directly introduced into the rinse water.

Where neomycin sulphate is employed as the purifying finish, a component of the finish, its concentration will vary from about 0.0001 percent to about 1.0 percent based on the weight of the washer load of fabric being washed. As to the anionic or nonionic softening agent employed, its concentration may vary from about 0.05 percent to about 2.5 percent or more also based on the washer load weight. The anionic or nonionic antistatic agent may be used in concentrations ranging from about 0.25 percent to about 2.0 percent or more also based on the weight of the fabric comprisng the weight of the washer load.

The amount of laundry wash detergent or bleaching agent employed is conventional and should be based on the manufacturers recommendation for the particular fabric being washed. As a general rule, the concentration of such other agents should be the same as that recommended when no additional finishing agent is employed. In this connection the bleaching agents preferably employed in concert with the application of our novel composition should be of the perborate and other oxygenated types which present no problem of compatibility with any of the ingredients of our novel composition. The range of concentration of the finishing composition of our invention applied to a given fabric should be based on the particular type and construction of the fabric being so treated as well as the degree of the effectiveness of the function and properties desired from the addition of the finishing agent. The premixed combination of finishes and of ancillary ingredients such as detergents, bleaches, and the like should be in ratio of their effective use concentration and at a sufficient level of strength to allow a moderate amount of a mixture of the washing liquor when properly employed. The textile finishing compositions will enhance the properties of the textile materials treated in the following ways:

(1) The neomycin sulphate or other neomycin salt will vdestroy any bacteria present in the washing liquid as well as destroy any bacteria present on the textile materials In addition, the neomycin salts will also control odor development on the treated garments or fabrics through the ability of the neomycin salt to eliminate or reduce the concentration of bacteria present on the garment. It is this bacteria, which when it acts to decompose perspiration on the garment that results in odor development unless the bacterial source is removed. The effect of treatment with germicidal agent is to allow the treated textile material to remain odor free and fresh much longer than corresponding untreated textile n1aterials.

(2) The softener, moreover, will improve the desirabil- By the use of the term hand it is intended to refer to that feel or texture imparted when the garment is seized or brought into contact with the skin. This function is not limited to the emulsified polyethylene mentioned but may be imparted by the use of other recognized softening agents of either the anionic or nonionic variety. For example, the bistallow ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid and the like may also be employed.

(3) The antistatic agent will render the garment resistant to build up of electric charge which frequently results from contact with other surfaces. This static electric charge also imparts a tendency to attract fine particles of lint. It can conveniently be removed, and further charges can be prevented by the use of one of a number of conventional anionic or nonionic antistatic agents. While the preferred antistatic agent of our invention is the reaction product of 49 moles of ethylene oxide with a monoethanolamide of a dimer acid, such as soybean acid, US. Patent No. 2,470,081, a number of such well known agents are available such as sodium dilauryl sulfosuccinate and various ethylene glycol condensates,

8 U8. Patent No. 1,970,578. In this respect it should be pointed out that in some instances the softener agent employed in our invention may serve a dual role of softener and antistatic agent. As an example of this, the compound disodium tridecylsulfosuccinate may serve as a softener and antistatic agent at the same time.

The textile materials which can be effectively treated by the finishing compositions of our invention include those of all the known materials as well as synthetic fibers and blends thereof. The fabrics may be woven, knitted, or non-woven Webbing of every recognized construction and may be in the form of wearing apparel, sheets, pillow cases, slip covers, curtains, draperies and the like manufactured from filament or spun yarns. Fibers in an unspun or unconstructed form may also be treated by this invention such as the stufiing in pillows, mattresses and the like.

In determining the value of our novel compositions, a series of experimental trials were run on the following fabrics: cotton percale (80 x 80), a blend of percent Dacron polyester fiber, 35 percent cotton, rayon challis, spun nylon, spun Dacron, spun Orlon acrylic fiber, spun Creslan acrylic fiber or wool. The hand of the treated textile materials was accomplished manually. The test for bacterial inhibition particularly for the microorganism Staphylococcus aureus may be performed by the following method.

A. BACTERIAL INHIBITION TEST Discs of the treated fabric are pressed on the agar plate, inoculated with bacteria Staphylococcus aureus which has been cultured to standard conditions with the use of any number of a commercially available nutrient composition. After several hours contact with the bacteria the discs are removed and the plate incubated overnight. The activity of the purifying agent may be measured as the diameter of the clear area in mm. found at the site of the disc. The larger the clear area in the center, the greater is the antibacterial activity of the agent. An ineffective agent will show no clear area whatsoever even in the contact area. The bacterial activity underneath the fabric disc is also noted where there is no clear zone outside the area covered by the fabric. This area under the disc of fabric is rated as follows:

C-completely clear area underneath the cloth disc, Pat least a percent clear area underneath the disc, Nless than a 75 percent clear area under the disc.

B. CIGARETTE ASH TEST FOR ANTISTATIC PROPERTIES This test is performed in a room with a constant temperature of 72 F. and a constant relative humidity of 4-0 percent. All fabric samples are conditioned for about 24 hours before testing as follows: Dry, finely divided cigarette ashes are placed on a piece of paper. The fabric to be tested is folded into four 2 x 10" folds and placed on several layers of cotton x 80) fabric which acts as a cushion. The treated fabric is then briskly stroked ten times with a glass rod to induce a static charge on the treated fabric, if possible. The layers of stroked fabric are then held over the cigarette ashes at about a 25 cm. height and slowly lowered. If a fabric is electrostatically charged the ashes will be attracted at heights varying from 10 to 15 cm. as would be the case with untreated fabrics, which normally present static problems. The fabric would then be classified as No Good (N.G.).

However, if the treated fabric can be lowered to within 1 to 2 centimeters of the ashes without attracting particles, this would classify the tested fabric as essentially static free or Good. A classification of Fair indicates only slight attraction of the ashes at intermediate levels when the fabric is being lowered.

The following examples will more particularly illus- Q trate the unexpected findings of our invention. Each example describes a preparation of a composition of our invention which has been tested. The test results for each or" the aforesaid compositions are set forth in Table I which follows the examples. In the descriptive examples the parts of each ingredient present are by weight unless otherwise noted. It is understood, however, that the concept of the invention is not to be limited to the said examples but its scope may only be properly determined by reference to the several appended claims particularly pointing out and describing our invention.

Example 1 Add 235 parts of an aqueous solution containing 0.4% solids of neomycin sulfate, 8.0% solids of polyethylene emulsified with a combination of anionic and nonionic agents and 4.0% solids of the reaction product of 49 moles of ethylene oxide with the monoethanolamide of soy bean dimer acids to 54,000 parts of Water at 140 F., in a Kenmore Automatic Washer. Enter into the washing liquor 4536 parts of fabric, comprising of various synthetic fibers, of cotton or other natural fibers along with about 80 parts of Tide (a commercial detergent consisting of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate With tallow alcohol sulfate sodium salt).

Allow the washer to run through its normal cycle of washing, rinsing, and spin drying. Then remove the fabrics, air dry at room temperature and after conditioning at 40% relative humidity and 72 F, the fabrics are evaluated for softness, germicidal activity and antistatic properties.

Fabrics treated by Example 1 are found to be much softer than the comparable untreated fabric, to be static free in instances Where static was an objectionable property in the untreated counterpart and to be germicidally active against staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus).

Example 2 Follow Example 1 except that the prepared solution is added to the Washer in the absence of detergent and 10 the machine is run through the last rinse and spin-drying steps of the washer cycle only.

Results are of the same order as Example 1.

Example 3 Example 1 is followed except that the polyethylene softener is omitted.

Results are good antistatic properties and germicidal activity with no increase in softness of the fabrics.

Example 4 Follow Example 2 except that 118 parts of the aqueous solution is employed in the Washing machine instead of 235 parts.

Equally as good softness, antistatic properties, and germicidal activity are obtained as in Example 2.

Example 5 Follow Example 1 except that 118 parts of the aqueous solution is employed instead of 235 parts.

The softness is equal to that of Example 1, but with less antistatic and germicidal activity.

Example 6 Follow Example 1 except that 4% solids of stearamidopropyldimethyl beta-hydroxyethyl ammonium nitrate (cationic antistatic agent, US. Patent No. 2,626,877) is substituted for the ethylene oxide reaction product of monoethanolamide of soy bean dimer acids.

Example 7 Table I.Antibacterial Properties ZONES 0F INHIBITION (MM) S. aureus Fabric Used Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Untreated Cotton Percale 19.0 19.8 18.5 N Dacron/35% Cotton 19.1 21.2 20.7 N, Rayon Challis 22.0 22.1 21.6 N

N. N. N.

Cotton Percale Softer. Softer... Standard. 65% Dacron/% Cotton.-. d0 .do D0. Rayon Challis do do Do. Do. Do. Do. D0. Do.

Good.

Code:

N=Negative. S=Slight. P=1 artial. G00d=No Attraction of Cigarette Ash. Fair=Slight Attraction of Cigarette Ash.

C Complete.

=N0t Run. VS=Vcry Slight.

N. G.=N0 Good. Highly Attractive of Cigarette Ash.

The following results are seen from the above table.

Example 1.-As demonstrated by the zone of bacterial inhibition shown in Table I excellent antibacterial results are obtained with the composition of Example 1, which contains the cationic purifying agent in spite of the presence of the anionic detergent and softeners.

Example 2.As shown by the table the composition of this example obtains essentially the same germicidal activity as that of the composition of Example 1, indicating that when the composition is added to the rinse water rather than to the wash Water and in the presence of the anionic detergent equivalent results are obtained.

Example 3.-As shown by the table the composition of this example which is characterized by the absence of the anionic softener agent does not significantly impair the germicidal activity or antistatic properties of the remaining components. Therefore, it is shown that the aforesaid germicidal and antistatic properties are not dependent on the particular softening agents employed.

Example 4.-This example demonstrates that a wide range of concentration of the ingredients of our novel composition is effective when introduced into the rinse cycle of the washing machine.

Example 5 .-As shown in the table, it may be seen that when the composition of our invention is added to the washing cycle in the presence of a detergent the performance becomes more sensitive to changes in concentration. The level of concentration of the total composition to be added will still depend upon the particular fabric being treated and the total quantity of such fibers making up the wash load.

Example 6.As seen in the table, Example 6 illustrates the totally unexpected feature of our invention namely that when a cationic softener is employed in concert with a cationic purifying agent very slightbacterial inhibition results on the synthetc fibers treated. However, no comparable adverse effect is seen on the cotton, rayon and blends of cotton and Dacron. In the case of Wool no activity whatsoever is found.

Example 7.As demonstrated in the table, Example 7 illustrates that the unexpected results noted in Example 6 is not limited to a particular cationic agent employed as the softening agent. Again it may be noted that the bactericidal activity of the neomycin type of cationic germicidal agent is adversely affected on synthetic fiber types but not on cotton, rayon or cotton blends by the presence of a cationic softener.

We claim:

1. In the laundering of soiled rayon-containing fabrics with an anionic laundry detergent composition potentially capable of interacting ionically with water-soluble cationic neomycin salts to form inactive unavailable insoluble precipitates, the improvement which comprises dissolving in the laundry water, in addition to an effective quantity of said detergent composition, germicidal quantities of a cationic water-soluble salt of neomycin, fabricsoftening quantities of polyethylene emulsified with a combination of anionic and nonionic agents, and antistatic quantities of a stearamidopropyl dimethyl beta-hydroxyethyl ammonium salt, and laundering said fabrics in the resulting solution and thereby rendering them (a) soil-free, (b) germicidally active against bacteria susceptible to neomycin, (c) softer and (d) static-free.

2. In the laundering of soiled rayon-containing fabrics with an anionic laundry detergent composition potentially capable of interacting ionically with water-soluble cationic neomycin salts to form inactive unavailable insoluble precipitates, the improvement which comprises dissolving in the laundry water, in addition to an effective quantity of said detergent composition, germicidal quantities of a cationic water-soluble salt of neomycin, fabricsoftening quantities of a cationic softener comprising an ethylene oxide condensation product of a mixture of octadecylamine and octadecylcarbamate together with N-octadecyl disodium sulfosuccinamate, and antistataic quantities of the reaction product of 49 moles of ethylene oxide with the monoethanolamide of soybean dimer acids, and laundering said fabrics in the resulting solution and thereby rendering them (a) soil-free, (b) germicidally active against bacteria susceptible to neomycin, (c) softer and (d) static-free.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,830,011 4/58 Parker et al. 167-84 2,950,253 8/60 Kling et al 252-152 2,951,766 9/60 White 106-15 3,003,954 10/61 BrOWn 252-88 3,044,962 7/62 Brunt et al 252-110 3,069,320 12/62 Vitalis 167-65 3,069,358 12/62 Blodinger 252-107 3,069,359 12/ 62 Blodinger 252-107 3,072,534 1/63 Roth et al. 167-84 3,101,297 8/63 Hack 167-30 FOREIGN PATENTS 761,269 11/56 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Cyanamid Aerotex Purifying Agent No. 1, Textile Finishing Bulleton No. 158, pp. 1-14, published May 1957 by Cyanamid Textile Chemicals Department, Bound Brook, New Jersey.

Dale et al.: Compatibility of Neomycin Sulfate, J. Am. Pharm. Assoc. Prac. Phy. Ed., vol. 18, No. 7, pp. 421-425, July 1957.

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner.

FRANK CACCIAPAGLIA, JR., Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE oE Ec'TN Patent No. 3,174,905 March 23, 1965.

William Julius van Loo, Jr. et al.

It is hereby certified-that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 13, for "of" read or line 53, for "antisatic" read antistatic column 4, line 29, for "incompatible" read compatible Signed and sealed this 17th day of August 1965.

(SEAL) Atlest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER, Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. IN THE LAUDNERING OF SOILED RAYON-CONTAINING FABRICS WITH AN ANIONIC LAUDRY DETERGENT COMPOSITION POTENTIALLY CAPABLE OF INTERACTING IONICALLY WITH WATER-SOLUBLE CATIONIC NEOMYCIN SALTS TO FORM INACTIVE UNAVAILABLE INSOLUBLE PRECIPITATES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES DISSOLVING IN THE LAUNDRY WATER, IN ADDITION TO AN EFFECTIVE QUANTITY OF SAID DETERGENT COMPOSITION, GERMICIDAL QUANTITIES OF A CATIONIC WATER-SOLUBLE SALT OF NEOMYCIN, FABRICSOFTENING QUANTITIES OF POLYETHYLENE EMULSIFIED WITH A COMBINATION OF ANIONIC AND NONIONIC AGENTS, AND ANTISTATIC QUANTITIES OF A STEARAMIDOPROPYL DIMETHYL BETA-HYDROXETHYL AMMONIUM SALT, AND LAUNDERING SAID FABRICS IN THE RESULTING SOLUTION AND THEREBY RENDERING THEM (AE SOIL-FREE, (B) GERMICIDALLY ACTIVE AGAINST BACTERIA SUSCEPTIBEL TO NEOMYCIN, (C) SOFTER AND (D) STATIC-FREE.