Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06L—DRY-CLEANING, WASHING OR BLEACHING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR MADE-UP FIBROUS GOODS; BLEACHING LEATHER OR FURS
  • D06L1/00—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods
  • D06L1/02—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents
  • D06L1/04—Dry-cleaning or washing fibres, filaments, threads, yarns, fabrics, feathers or made-up fibrous goods using organic solvents combined with specific additives
• • 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
  • C11D3/22—Carbohydrates or derivatives thereof
  • C11D3/222—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
  • C11D3/226—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin esterified
• • 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
  • C11D7/00—Compositions of detergents based essentially on non-surface-active compounds
  • C11D7/50—Solvents
  • C11D7/5004—Organic solvents
• • 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
  • C11D7/00—Compositions of detergents based essentially on non-surface-active compounds
  • C11D7/50—Solvents
  • C11D7/5004—Organic solvents
  • C11D7/5009—Organic solvents containing phosphorus, sulfur or silicon, e.g. dimethylsulfoxide

Definitions

• the present invention relates to compositions and methods to treat fabrics with a lipophilic fluid and a rebuild agent.
• Dry cleaning typically involves the use of non-aqueous, lipophilic fluids as the solvent or solution for cleaning. While the absence of water permits the cleaning of fabrics without the potential disastrous side effects water may present, these lipophilic fluids do not perform well on hydrophilic and/or combination soils.
• lipophilic fluids are typically used in "neat” form (i.e. they contain no additional additives)
• dry cleaners must often perform pre-treating and/or pre-spotting to remove tough soils from fabrics prior to the dry cleaning cycle. Further, nothing is typically added to boost "whiteness” or “brightness” in fabrics that are dry-cleaned as can be observed from “dingy” or “dull” fabrics returned from a dry cleaner. It would be desirable to add bleaching to the lipophilic fluid treatment regimen in order to increase the lipophilic fluids' brightening, whitening, and/or soil removal capability thereby reducing or eliminating the need for pre- treating and/or pre-spotting.
• the present invention is directed to a method for attaining improved fabric cleaning m a lipophilic fluid treatment regimen, wherein the method includes the steps of exposing the fabric to a lipophilic fluid and exposing the fabric to a rebuild agent.
• the present invention is also directed to a composition for attaining improved fabric cleaning in a lipophilic fluid treatment regimen, wherein the composition includes a lipophilic fluid and a rebuild agent.
• fabrics and “fabric” used herein is intended to mean any article that is customarily cleaned in a conventional laundry process or in a dry cleaning process. As such the term encompasses articles of clothing, linen, drapery, and clothing accessories. The term also encompasses other items made in whole or in part of fabric, such as tote bags, furniture covers, tarpaulins and the like.
• soil means any undesirable substance on a fabric article that is desired to be removed.
• water-based soils it is meant that the soil comprised water at the time it first came in contact with the fabric article, or the soil retains a significant portion of water on the fabric article.
• water-based soils include, but are not limited to beverages, many food soils, water soluble dyes, bodily fluids such as sweat, urine or blood, outdoor soils such as grass stams and mud.
• the lipophilic fluid herein is one having a liquid phase present under operating conditions of a fabric article treating appliance, in other words, during treatment of a fabric article in accordance with the present invention.
• a lipophilic fluid can be fully liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, can be an easily melted solid, e.g., one which becomes liquid at temperatures in the range from about 0 deg. C to about 60 deg. C, or can comprise a mixture of liquid and vapor phases at ambient temperatures and pressures, e.g., at 25 deg. C and 1 arm. pressure.
• the lipophilic fluid is not a compressible gas such as carbon dioxide.
• the lipophilic fluids herein be nonflammable or have relatively high flash points and/or low VOC (volatile organic compound) characteristics, these terms having their conventional meanings as used in the dry cleaning industry, to equal or, preferably, exceed the characteristics of known conventional dry cleaning fluids.
• lipophilic fluids herein are readily flowable and nonviscous.
• lipophilic fluids herein are required to be fluids capable of at least partially dissolving sebum or body soil as defined in the test hereinafter.
• Mixtures of lipophilic fluid are also suitable, and provided that the requirements of the Lipophilic Fluid Test, as described below, are met, the lipophilic fluid can include any fraction of dry-cleanmg solvents, especially newer types including fluorinated solvents, or perfluo ⁇ nated amines.
• Some perfluo ⁇ nated amines such as perfluorotributylammes while unsuitable for use as lipophilic fluid may be present as one of many possible adjuncts present in the lipophilic fluid-containing composition.
• suitable lipophilic fluids include, but are not limited to, diol solvent systems e.g., higher diols such as C6- or C8- or higher diols, organosihcone solvents including both cyclic and acyclic types, and the like, and mixtures thereof.
• a preferred group of nonaqueous lipophilic fluids suitable for incorporation as a major component of the compositions of the present invention include low-volatility nonfluo ⁇ nated orga cs, sihcones, especially those other than ammo functional sihcones, and mixtures thereof.
• Nonaqueous lipophilic fluids suitable for incorporation as a major component of the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, glycol ethers, for example propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol t-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol t- butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl
• any nonaqueous fluid that is both capable of meeting known requirements for a dry- cleaning fluid (e.g, flash point etc.) and is capable of at least partially dissolving sebum, as indicated by the test method described below, is suitable as a lipophilic fluid herein.
• perfluorobutylamine Fluorinert FC-43®
• cyclopentasiloxanes have suitable sebum-dissolving properties and dissolves sebum.
• the following is the method for investigating and qualifying other materials, e.g., other low-viscosity, free-flowing sihcones, for use as the lipophilic fluid.
• the method uses commercially available Crisco ® canola oil, oleic acid (95% pure, available from Sigma Aldrich Co.) and squalene (99% pure, available from J.T. Baker) as model soils for sebum.
• the test materials should be substantially anhydrous and free from any added adjuncts, or other materials during evaluation.
• each vial will contain one type of lipophilic soil.
• To each vial add 1 g of the fluid to be tested for lipophilicity. Separately mix at room temperature and pressure each vial containing the lipophilic soil and the fluid to be tested for 20 seconds on a standard vortex mixer at maximum setting. Place vials on the bench and allow to settle for 15 minutes at room temperature and pressure.
• the nonaqueous fluid qualifies as suitable for use as a "lipophilic fluid" in accordance with the present invention.
• the amount of nonaqueous fluid dissolved in the oil phase will need to be further determined before rejecting or accepting the nonaqueous fluid as qualified.
• test fluid is also qualified for use as a lipophilic fluid.
• a suitable GC is a Hewlett Packard Gas Chromatograph HP5890 Series II equipped with a split/splitless injector and FID.
• a suitable column used in determining the amount of lipophilic fluid present is a J&W Scientific capillary column DB-1HT, 30 meter, 0.25mm id, O.lum film thickness cat# 1221131. The GC is suitably operated under the following conditions: Carrier Gas: Hydrogen Column Head Pressure: 9 psi
• Preferred lipophilic fluids suitable for use herein can further be qualified for use on the basis of having an excellent garment care profile.
• Garment care profile testing is well known in the art and involves testing a fluid to be qualified using a wide range of garment or fabric article components, including fabrics, threads and elastics used in seams, etc., and a range of buttons.
• Preferred lipophilic fluids for use herein have an excellent garment care profile, for example they have a good shrinkage and/or fabric puckering profile and do not appreciably damage plastic buttons.
• lipophilic fluids for example ethyl lactate
• ethyl lactate can be quite objectionable in their tendency to dissolve buttons, and if such a material is to be used in the compositions of the present invention, it will be formulated with water and/or other solvents such that the overall mix is not substantially damaging to buttons.
• Some suitable lipophilic fluids may be found in granted U.S. Patent Nos. 5,865,852; 5,942,007; 6,042,617; 6,042,618; 6,056,789; 6,059,845; and 6,063,135, which are incorporated herein by reference.
• Lipophilic fluids can include linear and cyclic polysiloxanes, hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons, with the exception of PERC and DF2000 which are explicitly not covered by the lipophilic fluid definition as used herein. More preferred are the linear and cyclic polysiloxanes and hydrocarbons of the glycol ether, acetate ester, lactate ester families. Preferred lipophilic fluids include cyclic siloxanes having a boiling point at 760 mm Hg. of below about 250°C. Specifically preferred cyclic siloxanes for use in this invention are octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane.
• the cyclic siloxane comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5, pentamer) and is substantially free of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (tetramer) and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (hexamer).
• D5 decamethylcyclopentasiloxane
• octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane tetramer
• dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane hexamer
• useful cyclic siloxane mixtures might contain, in addition to the preferred cyclic siloxanes, minor amounts of other cyclic siloxanes including octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane or higher cyclics such as tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane.
• the amount of these other cyclic siloxanes in useful cyclic siloxane mixtures will be less than about 10 percent based on the total weight of the mixture.
• the industry standard for cyclic siloxane mixtures is that such mixtures comprise less than about 1% by weight of the mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.
• the rebuild agent used in the present invention is water-soluble or water-dispersible in nature and in a preferred form comprises a polymeric backbone having one or more pendant groups which undergo the chemical change to cause an increase in affinity for fabric.
• the weight average molecular weight (Mschreib) of the rebuild agent(as determined by GPC) may typically be in the range of from about 500 to about 2,000,000 for example 1,000 to 1,500,000. Preferably though, it is from 1,000 to 100,000, more preferably from5,000 to 50,000, especially from 10,000 to 15,000.
• water-soluble as used herein, what is meant is that the material forms an isotropic solution on addition to water or another aqueous solution.
• water-dispersible as used herein, what is meant is that the material forms a finely divided suspension on addition to water or another aqueous solution.
• water-dispersible means that the material, in water at pH 7 and at 250C, produces a solution or a dispersion having long-term stability.
• an increase in the affinity of the material for the fabric upon a chemical change is that at sometime during the laundry treatment process, the amount of material that has been deposited is greater when the chemical change is occurring or has occurred, compared to when the chemical change has not occurred and is not occurring, or is occurring more slowly, the comparison being made with all conditions being equal except for that change in the conditions which is necessary to affect the rate of chemical change.
• Deposition includes adsorption, cocrystallisation, entrapment and/or adhesion.
• the polymeric backbone of the rebuild agent may be of a similar chemical structure to that of at least some of the fibers of the fabric onto which it is to be deposited.
• the polymeric backbone preferably comprises cellulose and/or a cellulose derivative or another 1 ,4-lmked polysaccha ⁇ de having an affinity for cellulose, such as mannan and/or glucomannan.
• the polysaccha ⁇ de may include substitutions.
• the average degree of substitution on the polysaccha ⁇ de of any pendant groups which are capable of undergoing a chemical change (plus any non-functional pendant groups which may be present) is preferably from 0.3 to 3, more preferably from 0.4 to 1 Still more preferred is a degree of substitution of from 0.5 to 0.75.
• the polysaccha ⁇ de may be straight or branched. Many naturally occurring polysaccha ⁇ des have at least some degree of branching, or at any rate, at least some saccha ⁇ de rings are in the form of pendant side groups (and therefore are not in themselves counted in the degree of substitution) on a mam polysaccha ⁇ de backbone.
• a polysaccha ⁇ de comprises a plurality of saccha ⁇ de rings, which have pendant hydroxyl groups.
• the pendant groups can be bonded chemically or by other bonding mechanism, to these hydroxyl groups by any means described herein below.
• the "average degree of substitution" means the average number of pendant groups per saccha ⁇ de ring for the totality of polysaccha ⁇ de molecules in the sample and is determined for all saccha ⁇ de rings whether they form part of a linear backbone or are themselves, pendant side groups in the polysaccha ⁇ de.
• polymeric backbones suitable for polymeric material for use in the present invention include those described in Hydrocolloid Applications, A. Nussinswitch, Blackie 1997.
• Pendant groups which are capable of undergoing a chemical change, which causes the increased fabric affinity as exhibited by the pendant group will usually undergo hydrolysis and/or perhydrolysis and/or bond-cleavage, which may be catalyzed by an enzyme or another catalyst. Hydrolysis of ester-linked groups is most typical. However, preferably this change is not merely protonation or deprotonation, i.e. a pH induced effect.
• the chemical change may occur in or to a group covalently bonded to a polymeric backbone, especially, the loss of one or more such groups. These group(s) is/are pendant on the backbone.
• ester-linked groups based on monocarboxyhc acids.
• the second aspect of the invention is not limited to (but may include) use of rebuild agents incorporating ester linkages based on monocarboxyhc acids.
• Mono-, di- and polycarboxyhc ester- or semi-ester- linkages, ester and semi-ester linkages derived from non- carboxyhc acids, as well as carbamate, urea or silyl linked groups, as well as others, are also possible Particularly preferred are cellulose monoacetate, cellulose hemisuccmate, and cellulose
• cellulose monoacetate is used herein to denote those acetates with the degree of substitution of 1 or less.
• the degrees of substitution for the totality of all pendant substituents m the following order of increasing preference: from 0.3 to 3, from 0.4 to 1, from 0.5 to 0.75, from 0.6 to 0
• pendant groups of other types may optionally be present, i.e groups which do not undergo a chemical change to enhance fabric affinity.
• sub-class of groups for enhancing the solubility of the rebuild agent e.g.
• solubility enhancing substituents include carboxyl, sulfonyl, hydroxyl, (poly)ethyleneoxy-and/or(poly)propyleneoxy- contammg groups, as well as amine groups.
• the other pendant groups may constitute from 0% to 65%, more preferably from 0% to
• the minimum number of other pendant groups may, for example be 0.1% or 1% of the total
• the water-solubihzmg groups could comprise from 0%to 100% of those other groups but preferably from 0% to 20%, more preferably from 0% to 10%, still more preferably from 0% to 5% of the total number of other pendant groups.
• Those rebuild agents used in the present invention which are not commercially available may be prepared by a number of different synthetic routes, for example:-(l) polymerization of suitable monomers, for example, enzymatic polymerization of saccha ⁇ des, e g per S. Shoda, & S. Kobayashi, Makromol. Symp. 1995, 99, 179-184 or oligosaccha ⁇ de synthesis by orthogonal glycosylation e.g. per H. Paulsen, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.
• the degree and pattern of substitution from routes (1) or (2) may be subsequently altered by partial removal of functional groups by hydrolysis or solvolysis or other cleavage. Relative amounts of reactants and reaction time scan also be used to control the degree of substitution.
• the degree of polymerization of the backbone may be reduced before, during, or after the de ⁇ vatization with functional groups.
• the degree of polymerization of the backbone may be increased by further polymerization or by cross linking agents before, during, or after the de ⁇ vatization step.
• Cellulose esters of hydroxyacids can be obtained using the acid anhydride, typically in acetic acid solution. When the product has dissolved the liquid is poured into water. Glycolhc and lactic esters can be made in this way.
• Cellulose glycollate may also be obtained from cellulosechloracetate (B P. 320,842) by treating 100 parts with 32parts of NaOH in alcohol added in small portions.
• An alternative method of preparing cellulose esters consists in the partial displacement of the acid radical in a cellulose ester by treatment with another acid of higher lomzation constant.
• the ester is heated at about 1000 with the acid which, preferably, should be a solvent for the ester.
• the acid which, preferably, should be a solvent for the ester.
• cellulose acetate-oxalate, tartrate, maleate, pyruvate, sahcylate and phenylglycollate have been obtained, and from cellulose tribenzoate a cellulose benzoate- pyruvate.
• a cellulose acetate-lactate or acetate-glycollate could be made in this way also.
• cellulose acetate (10 g) in d ⁇ oxan(75 ml) containing oxalic acid (10 g) is heated at 1000 for2 hours under reflux.
• esters are prepared by variations of this process.
• a simple ester of cellulose e.g. the acetate
• a mixture of two (or three) organic acids each of which has an lomzation constant greater than that of acetic ac ⁇ d(1.82 x 10-5) .
• suitable solvents such as propiomc acid, dioxan and ethylene dichlo ⁇ de are used. If a mixed cellulose ester is treated with an acid this should- 19have an lomzation constant greater than that of either of the acids already in combination
• a cellulose acetate-lactate-pyruvate is prepared from cellulose acetate, 40 per cent, acetyl
• the products are isolated by filtration of the resulting slurry.
• the reactive solvent, as well as by-products such as methyl acetate, can be recovered from the filtrate by distillation.
• the product is cellulose monoacetate and the yield is 66%.
• Example lb 30.0 g of cellulose diacetate (DS 2.45) (the starting cellulose ester), 0.05 g of molybdenum (VI) oxide and 237.3 g of methanol (reactive solvent) are loaded into a 1-liter, steel Parr reactor equipped with a magnetically coupled agitator. The reactor is sealed, then heated to 1550C. The heat-up time is typically 1 to 2 hours. The initial pressure in the reactor is typically 200 500 psi (1379 3447 kPa) nitrogen. The reaction mixture is stirred at 155° C. for 3 hours. Then the reaction mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature, which typically takes 2 to 3 hours. The products are isolated by filtration of the resulting slurry.
• the reactive solvent, as well as certain by-products such as methyl acetate can be recovered from the filtrate by distillation.
• the product is cellulose monoacetate and the yield is 87%.
• Cellulose hemisuccinate was prepared following B. P. 410,125. A mixture of cellulose (Whatman cellulose powder CF11 which is cotton, 5 g), succinic anhydride (25 g), and pyridine (75 ml) was kept at 65° C for a week. On pouring into methanol the pyridinium salt of cellulose hemisuccinate was obtained. The crude cellulose hemisuccinate, pyridinium salt, was washed repeatedly with methanol to remove pyridine and unused reactants. The pyridinium salt of cellulose hemisuccinate was converted to the free acid form by driving off the pyridine under vacuum at ⁇ 95° C.
• the infrared spectrum of the product in its neutralised, sodium salt form has two distinct bands attributable to the stretching of C-O.
• the band at 1574 cm-1 is attributable to carboxylate anion, a band for which is expected at 1550-1610 cm-1. It is therefore reasonable to attribute the other band at 1727 cm-1 to ester, a band for which is expected at 1735-1750 cm-1.
• the infrared spectrum is therefore consistent with a hemiester salt.
• Cellulose Hemisuccinate (Route 2) Cellulose hemisuccinate was prepared following GB-A-410, 125. A mixture of cellulose (Avicel PH105, 5 g), succinic anhydride (25 g), and pyridine (75 ml) was kept at 65° C. for a week. On pouring into methanol the pyridinium salt of cellulose hemisuccinate was obtained. The crude cellulose hemisuccinate, pyridinium salt, was washed repeatedly with methanol to remove pyridine and unused reactants.
• the degree of substitution of cellulose hemisuccinate prepared from by this route was determined by a one-step neutralisation of the carboxylic acid groups and hydrolysis of the ester groups, using an excess of sodium hydroxide, followed by titration of the excess sodium hydroxide with a standard solution of hydrochloric acid, using phenolphthalein as an indicator.
• the figure thus obtained was 2.0.
• the cellulose 2-(2-hydroxy-l-oxopropoxy)propanoate was dried in a vacuum oven at room temperature.
• the dry cellulose 2-(2-hydroxy-l-oxopropoxy)propanoate was partially soluble.
• the average molecular weight of the rebuild agent (as determined by GPC) is in the range 12,000 to 20,000, preferably 15,000 to 20,000.
• the rebuild agents may be incorporated into compositions containing only a diluent and/or also comprising another active ingredient.
• the compound is typically included in said compositions at levels of from 0.005% to 25% by weight; preferably 0.01% to 10%; most preferably 0.025% to 2.5%
• adjunct materials can vary widely and can be used at widely ranging levels.
• detersive enzymes such as proteases, amylases, cellulases, hpases and the like as well as bleach catalysts including the macrocychc types having manganese or similar transition metals all useful in laundry and cleaning products can be used herein at very low, or less commonly, higher levels.
• Adjunct materials that are catalytic, for example enzymes can be used in "forward" or “reverse” modes, a discovery independently useful from the specific appliances of the present invention.
• a hpolase or other hydrolase may be used, optionally in the presence of alcohols as adjuncts, to convert fatty acids to esters, thereby increasing their solubility in the lipophilic fluid.
• any adjunct ingredient must be suitable for use in combination with the lipophilic fluid.
• compositions may comprise emulsifiers.
• Emulsifiers are well known m the chemical art. Essentially, an emulsifier acts to bring two or more insoluble or semi-soluble phases together to create a stable or semi-stable emulsion. It is preferred m the claimed invention that the emulsifier serves a dual purpose wherein it is capable of acting not only as an emulsifier but also as a treatment performance booster. For example, the emulsifier may also act as a surfactant thereby boosting cleaning performance. Both ordinary emulsifiers and emulsifier/surfactants are commercially available.
• cleaning additives include, but are not limited to, builders, surfactants, enzymes, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, bleach boosters, bleaches, alkalinity sources, antibacterial agents, colorants, perfumes, pro-perfumes, finishing aids, lime soap dispersants, composition malodor control agents, odor neutrahzers, polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, photobleaches, chelants, anti-tarmshmg agents, antimicrobial agents, anti-oxidants, anti-redeposition agents, soil release polymers, electrolytes, pH modifiers, thickeners, abrasives, divalent or trivalent ions, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, diammes or polyamines and/or their alkoxylates, suds stabilizing polymers, solvents, process aids, fabric softening agents, optical b ⁇ ghteners, hydrotropes, suds or foam suppressors, suds or foam boosters,
• surfactant conventionally refers to materials that are surface-active either in the water, the lipophilic fluid, or the mixture of the two.
• polyoxyethylene lauryl ether with 4 or 23 oxyethylene groups
• polyoxyethylene cetyl ether with 2, 10 or 20 oxyethylene groups
• polyoxyethylene stearyl ether with 2, 10, 20, 21 or 100 oxyethylene groups
• polyoxyethylene (2), (10) oleyl ether with 2 or 10 oxyethylene groups.
• Commercially available examples include, but are not limited to: ALFONIC, BRIJ, GENAPOL, NEODOL, SURFONIC, TRYCOL. See also US
• Suitable catiomc surfactants include, but are not limited to dialkyldimethylammonium salts having the formula:
• Examples include: didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), dihexadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dihexadecyldimethyl ammonium bromide, dioctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dieicosyldimethyl ammonium chlo ⁇ de, didocosyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dicoconutdimethyl ammonium chloride, ditallowdimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB).
• DDAB didodecyldimethylammonium bromide
• ARQUAD ARQUAD
• TOMAH TOMAH
• VARIQUAT See also US 6013683 Hill et al , .
• Suitable sihcone surfactants include, but are not limited to the polyalkyleneoxide polysiloxanes having a dimethyl polysiloxane hydrophobic moiety and one or more hydrophilic polyalkylene side chains and have the general formula:
• R 1 (CH 3 ) 2 S ⁇ O— [(CH 3 ) 2 S ⁇ O] a — [(CH 3 )(R 1 )S ⁇ O] b — S ⁇ (CH 3 )2— R 1 wherein a + b are from about 1 to about 50, preferably from about 3 to about 30 , more preferably from about 10 to about 25, and each R 1 is the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of methyl and a poly(ethyleneox ⁇ de/propyleneox ⁇ de) copolymer group having the general formula:
• R 1 being a poly(ethyleneox ⁇ de/propyleneox ⁇ de) copolymer group, and wherein n is 3 or 4, preferably 3; total c (for all polyalkyleneoxy side groups) has a value of from 1 to about 100, preferably from about 6 to about 100; total d is from 0 to about 14, preferably from 0 to about 3; and more preferably d is 0, total c+d has a value of from about 5 to about 150, preferably from about 9 to about 100 and each R ⁇ IS the same or different and is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an acetyl group, preferably hydrogen and methyl group. Examples of these surfactants may be found in US 5705562 Hill and US 5707613 Hill, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• Silwet® surfactants which are available CK Witco, OSi Division, Danbury, Connecticut.
• Representative Silwet surfactants are as follows.
• the molecular weight of the polyalkyleneoxy group (R ) is less than or equal to about
• the molecular weight of the polyalkyleneoxy group is less than or equal to about 8,000, and most preferably ranges from about 300 to about 5,000.
• the values of c and d can be those numbers which provide molecular weights within these ranges
• the number of ethyleneoxy units (-C2H4O) in the polyether chain (R*) must be sufficient to render the polyalkyleneoxide polysiloxane water dispersible or water soluble.
• propyleneoxy groups are present in the polyalkylenoxy chain, they can be distributed randomly in the chain or exist as blocks.
• Preferred Silwet surfactants are L-7600, L-7602, L-7604, L-7605, L-7657, and mixtures thereof.
• polyalkyleneoxide polysiloxane surfactants can also provide other benefits, such as antistatic benefits, and softness to fabrics.
• polyalkyleneoxide polysiloxanes of the present invention can be prepared according to the procedure set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,299,112, incorporated herein by reference.
• Another suitable sihcone surfactant is SF-1488, which is available from GE sihcone fluids.
• surfactants suitable for use in combination with the lipophilic fluid as adjuncts are well known in the art, being described in more detail in Kirk Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed., Vol. 22, pp. 360-379, "Surfactants and Detersive Systems", incorporated by reference herein. Further suitable nomonic detergent surfactants are generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, Laughhn et al., issued December 30, 1975, at column 13, line 14 through column 16, line 6, incorporated herein by reference.
• the adjunct may also be an antistatic agent.
• Any suitable well-known antistatic agents used in laundering and dry cleaning art are suitable for use in the methods and compositions of the present invention.
• Especially suitable as antistatic agents are the subset of fabric softeners which are known to provide antistatic benefits.
• antistatic agent is not to be limited to just this subset of fabric softeners and includes all antistatic agents.
• the method of the present invention is directed to attaining improved fabric cleaning in a lipophilic fluid treatment regimen, and includes the steps of exposing the fabric to a lipophilic fluid and exposing the fabric to a rebuild agent. Optionally but preferably, it may include the step of exposing the fabric to a polar phase.
• the polar phase may include water, alcohol, or mixtures thereof. If the polar phase does include water, it preferably comprises at least about 0.5% water by weight of fabric and at most about 10% water by weight of fabric.
• the lipophilic fluid may comprise a linear siloxane, a cyclic siloxane, or mixtures thereof.
• the lipophilic fluid is selected from the group consisting essentially of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, and mixtures thereof. Even more preferably, the lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane.
• the lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and is substantially free of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane. Due to the flash points of the aforementioned siloxanes, the method preferably occurs at less than about 80° C.
• the fabrics may also be exposed to an emulsifier an/or a surfactant either separately or as a result of being contained withm the polar phase, the lipophilic fluid, and/or the bleach system.
• the fab ⁇ cs may also be exposed to adjunct ingredients selected from the group consisting essentially of enzymes, bleaches, surfactants, fabric softeners, perfumes, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, b ⁇ ghteners, dye fixatives, dye abrasion inhibitors, anti-crock g agents, wrinkle reduction agents, wrinkle resistance agents, soil release polymers, sunscreen agents, anti-fade agents, builders, chelants, suds g agents, composition malodor control agents, composition coloring agents, pH buffers, waterproofing agents, soil repellency agents, and mixtures thereof
• adjuncts can also be applied either separately or as a result of being contained within the polar phase, the lipophilic fluid, and or the rebuild agent.
• composition of the present invention is directed to attaining improved fab ⁇ c cleaning in a lipophilic fluid treatment regimen, wherein the composition comprises a lipophilic fluid and a rebuild agent.
• the composition can further comprise a polar phase.
• the polar phase may include water, alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
• the polar phase preferably comprises at least about 0.1% water by weight of composition and at most about 5% water by weight of composition.
• the polar phase may comprise a buffer to maintain pH.
• the composition may contain non-rebuild agents also to stabilize the product during storage prior to delivery in the lipophilic system.
• non-rebuild agents may comprise, but are not limited to, ethylenediammedisuccunate (EDDS), ethylene diamine terra acetic acid (EDTA), quaternary ammonia compounds, or l-Hydroxyethane-l,l-d ⁇ phosphon ⁇ c acid (HEDP).
• the lipophilic fluid may comprise a linear siloxane, a cyclic siloxane, or mixtures thereof.
• the lipophilic fluid comprises a lipophilic fluid selected from the group consisting essentially of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. Most preferably, the lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and is substantially free of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.
• the bleach system may include oxygen-based bleach, bleach activator and a peroxide source, pre-formed peracid, oxidative bleach enzyme, photo bleach, bleach boosting compounds, metal bleach catalysts, ozone, chlorine dioxide or mixtures of multiple bleach systems.
• the polar phase preferably comprises at least about 1% water by weight of fabric.
• the bleach system has at least about 2 ppm AvO, more preferably at least about 25 ppm AvO, even more preferably at least about 50 ppm AvO, even more preferably at least about 100 ppm AvO.
• the bleach system has at most about 10000 ppm AvO. Most preferably, the bleach system has at least about 100 ppm AvO and at most about 5000 ppm AvO.
• the bleach system may be withm the polar phase and/or within the lipophilic fluid as opposed to being a stand-alone component
• the fabrics may also be exposed to an emulsifier an/or a surfactant either separately or as a result of being contained within the polar phase, the lipophilic fluid, and/or the bleach system.
• the fabrics may also be exposed to adjunct ingredients selected from the group consisting essentially of enzymes, bleaches, emulsifiers, surfactants, fabric softeners, perfumes, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, b ⁇ ghteners, dye fixatives, dye abrasion inhibitors, anti-crockmg agents, wrinkle reduction agents, wrinkle resistance agents, soil release polymers, sunscreen agents, anti-fade agents, builders, chelants, sudsmg agents, composition malodor control agents, composition coloring agents, pH buffers, waterproofing agents, soil repellency agents, and mixtures thereof.
• adjuncts can also be applied either separately or as a result of being contained withm the polar phase, the lipophilic fluid, and or the bleach system.
• the methods and or compositions of the present invention may be combined with other fabric treatments.
• the fabric articles prior to the application of the lipophilic fluid the fabric articles may be subjected to the parti culate removal method described in co- pending application Serial No. 60/191,965, to Noyes et al., filed March 24, 2000, the relevant parts of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• the present invention may be used in a service, such as a dry cleaning service, diaper service, uniform cleaning service, or commercial business, such as a Laundromat, dry cleaner, linen service which is part of a hotel, restaurant, convention center, airport, cruise ship, port facility, casino, or may be used in the home.
• a service such as a dry cleaning service, diaper service, uniform cleaning service, or commercial business, such as a Laundromat, dry cleaner, linen service which is part of a hotel, restaurant, convention center, airport, cruise ship, port facility, casino, or may be used in the home.
• the methods and/or compositions of the present invention may be performed in an apparatus that is a modified existing apparatus and is retrofitted in such a manner as to conduct the process of the present invention in addition to related processes.
• the methods and/or compositions of the present invention may also be performed in an apparatus, which is not a modified existing apparatus but is one specifically built in such a manner so as to conduct the process of the present invention or may be added to another apparatus as part of a lipophilic fluid processing system. This would include all the associated plumbing, such as connection to a chemical and water supply, and sewerage for waste wash fluids.
• the methods of the present invention may be performed in an apparatus, which is not a modified existing apparatus but is one specifically built in such a manner so as to conduct the process of the present invention and related processes.
• An apparatus used to carry out the present invention will typically contain some type of control system. These include electrical systems, such as, the so-called smart control systems, as well as more traditional electro-mechanical systems.
• the control systems would enable the user to select the size of the fabric load to be cleaned, the type of soiling, the extent of the soiling, the time for the cleaning cycle. Alternatively, the user could use pre-set cleaning and/or refreshing cycles, or the apparatus could control the length of the cycle, based on any number of ascertainable parameters. This would be especially true for electrical control systems. For example, when the collection rate of lipophilic fluid reaches a steady rate the apparatus could turn its self off after a fixed period of time, or initiate another process for the lipophilic fluid.
• control device In the case of electrical control systems, one option is to make the control device a so-called “smart device”. This could mean including, but not limited to, self diagnostic system, load type and cycle selection, linking the machine to the Internet and allowing for the consumer to start the apparatus remotely, be informed when the apparatus has cleaned a fabric article, or for the supplier to remotely diagnose problems if the apparatus should break down. Furthermore, if the apparatus of the present invention is only a part of a cleaning system, the so called “smart system” could be communicating with the other cleaning devices which would be used to complete the remainder of the cleaning process, such as a washing machine, and a dryer.

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• 2002
  • 2002-12-19 WO PCT/US2002/040648 patent/WO2003054279A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2002-12-19 GB GB0414677A patent/GB2400615B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-12-19 JP JP2003554972A patent/JP2005513292A/ja active Pending
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