SK280339B6 - Liquid fabric care compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to liquid fabric care compositions comprising a silicone and a fabric softener, said fabric softener is present at a level of from about 2 to 35% by weight of the total composition, wherein said fabric softener is selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty amine fabric softening compounds, fatty amide compounds, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and the mixtures thereof. The microemulsified amine functional silicone has an average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000; and the weight ratio of microemulsified amine functional silicone to fabric softener is from about 17 : 1 to about 1 : 350. A particle size of said silicon is less than 0.14 micrometers.

Description

The present invention relates to fabric care compositions intended to provide improvements in the various properties of the fabric to be treated, in particular to reduce friction between fibers and yarns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of silicones to soften fabrics, i. j. it has been quite well known for some time to provide fabric softening action between fibers and threads so that they move more easily one after another. In addition, the use of organomodifunctional silicones for textile processing has also been well documented in the literature (see U.S. Pat.

No. 620,878, issued November 4, 1986, U.S. Pat.

No. 705,704, issued November 10, 1989, U.S. Pat.

No. 800,026, issued January 24, 1989, U.S. Pat.

No. 824,877, issued April 25, 1989, of which British Patent Application 87-29,489, published December 18, 1987) is also of interest. All of these files are incorporated herein by reference. Silicones of this kind are typically supplied to fabrics in the form of an aqueous emulsion.

Recently, much work has been focused on supplying these systems by microemulsion in an aqueous environment. In the known state of the art, microemulsions have two advantages over conventional "macro" emulsions, that they are more stable and require less mechanical energy to produce.

Although manual evaluation of softness textiles is still widely conducted, about 20 years ago, Dr. Sueo Kawabata et al. evaluate textiles by mechanical means. They designed tools for measuring low deformation forces, typical for manual analysis, on textiles. Although these tools (commonly known as the Kawabata Evaluation System or KES) have been designed as quality control tools for textile acceptability, these tools have also been used to study the effect on textile processing. Two such studies have been published by Union Carbide Co. .: Sabia, A.J. and Pagluighi, A.M., Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 19, No.3, March 1987, p. 5, and Banidt H.J., Sabia, A.J. and Pagluighi, A.M., Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 21, No.12, December 1989, p. 16. It is believed that the shear measurement, particularly the shear hysteresis measurement, is representative of the ease with which the fibers and / or threads move relative to each other. The lower the shear hysteresis value, the better the fabric softener (lubricant).

The term "reduced friction between fibers and reduced friction between threads", or also "reduced friction fiber-thread / thread-thread" (reduced friction between individual fibers within the thread as well as between threads of thread) as used means that the fabric has a lower shear hysteresis value as measured by the KES shear tool. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that reducing the fiber-thread / thread-thread friction provides for better removal of folds, feel and crease during drum drying and ironing processes due to the fibers moving more easily over each other.

Many patents in the field of silicone microemulsions have been published over the past five years (U.S. Patent Nos. 4,620,878, 4,705,704, 4,824,877, 4,824,890, and British Patent 87-29,489, referred to as part of the description). Silicone microemulsions are described in this literature as translucent silicone emulsions with an average particle size of less than 0.14 microns. Microemulsions have been reported to have advantages over conventional "macro" emulsions, both because they are more stable and that they require less mechanical energy to produce. Nor is there any mention that microemulsions may reduce friction between fibers and / or friction between threads compared to macroemulsions when used with a fabric softener. Since microemulsions have inferior properties compared to macroemulsions when used alone, any investigation that starts logically with individual dispersions would discourage further investigation in this direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a liquid fabric care composition comprising silicone, a fabric softener in an amount of from 2 to 35 wt. % Of the total weight of the composition, wherein the plasticizer is selected zkvartémych ammonium compounds, fatty amines, fatty amides, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof, and a carrier selected from water and C _r C ₄ alcohols or a mixture thereof, which is characterized in that the silicone is microemulsified aminofunctional silicone having a particle size of less than 0.14 microns having an average molecular weight of from 1000 to 100,000, and wherein the weight ratio of microemulsified amino-functional silicone to fabric softener is from 17: 1 to 1: 350.

Preferably, the liquid composition comprises from 0.05 wt. % to 25 wt. %, preferably from about 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. % and most preferably from 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. % microemulsified aminofunctional silicone.

The weight ratio of said microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to fabric softener is from 1: 1 to 1: 100, preferably from 1: 1 to 1: 10, and most preferably from 1: 5 to 1: 10.

The microemulsified aminofunctional silicone (MAFS) incorporated into the liquid fabric softener has surprisingly synergistic behavior compared to the corresponding "macro" emulsified material. In other words, the effectiveness of MAFS to reduce friction between fibers and / or yarns is not as good as in a macro-emulsified system when used alone, but in a liquid fabric softener composition, the MAFS composition provides a greater reduction in shear hysteresis values than a corresponding macroemulsion in an analogous fabric softening composition.

The invention therefore makes it possible to achieve a reduction in the friction between fibers and / or threads in fabrics during processing, wherein said fabrics are contacted with an effective amount of said composition diluted with water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First, some characteristics and explanations regarding silicone microemulsions will be presented.

Aminofunctional silicones according to the invention have an average relative molecular weight of from about 1000 to about 100,000, preferably from about 1000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 1500 to about 20,000, and can be prepared by emulsion polymerization of low molecular weight polymers and / or monomers. by weight, more preferably low molecular weight polymers. Emulsion polymerization can provide a high concentration of microemulsified silicone.

SK 280339-6

A preferred composition of the invention is an aqueous dispersion comprising a microemulsified aminofunctional silicone, wherein the weight ratio of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to fabric softener is from about 17: 1 to about 1: 100. Even more preferably, the weight ratios of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to fabric softener 1 to about These compositions are added to the rinse water to reduce friction between fibers and / or between yarns and to soften the fabric.

Suitable fabric softener (s) are selected from the group consisting of:

- quaternary ammonium compounds,

- fatty ammonium compounds,

- fatty amide compounds,

- fatty acids,

fatty alcohols, and

- mixtures thereof.

In certain rinse liquid compositions of the invention, the amount of fabric softener may range from about 2 wt. % to about 35 wt. %, preferably from about 4 wt. % to about 27 wt. % of the total weight of the composition. The lower limits are the amounts necessary to contribute to the fabric softening effect when added to the rinse baths in the manner customary in normal household washing practice. Higher limits are suitable for more concentrated liquid products that utilize either smaller volume use or dilution prior to use.

Preferred levels of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone in such a composition may range from about 0.05 wt. % to about 40 wt. %, preferably from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % and most preferably from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % by weight of the concentrate.

Suitable fabric softening compounds include quaternary ammonium salts as well as non-quaternary amines and ammonium salts.

Compositions containing cationic nitrogen compounds in the form of quaternary ammonium salts and substituted imidazolinium salts having two long chain acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon groups provide favorable fabric softening properties when used in laundry rinsing processes (see, for example, U.S. Patent 3,644,203). 1972 and U.S. Patent 4,426,299, issued Jan. 17, 1984, as well as the article "Cationic Surfactants as Textile Softeners" by RR Egan in the Joumal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, January 1978, p. 118 -121, and "How to Choose Cationic Fabric Softeners" by JA Ackerman in the Joumal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, June 1983, pp. 1166-1169).

Other suitable fabric softening compounds are non-quaternary amides and non-quaternary amines. The commonly reported material is the reaction product of higher fatty acids with hydroxyalkyl-alkylene diamines. An example of these materials is the reaction product of higher fatty acids and hydroxyethylethylenediamine (see “Condensation products of β-hydroxyethyldiethylenediamine and fatty acids or their alkyl esters and their use as textile softeners in laundry detergents” HW Eckert in Fette-Seifen-Anstrichmittel, September 52, 1972). 533). These materials are commonly referred to with other cationic quaternary ammonium salts and imidazolinium salts as softening active ingredients in fabric softening compositions (see U.S. Patent No. 4,460,485, issued Jul. 17, 1984, U.S. Patent No. 4,421,792, issued April 17, 1984). 20. 12.

1983 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,133, issued Apr. 27, 1982).

A particularly preferred fabric softener is in the form of an aqueous dispersion containing from about 3 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of a mixture consisting of:

a) from about 10 wt.% to about 92 wt. % of a higher fatty acid reaction product with a polyamine selected from the group of hydroxyalkylalkylene diamines and dialkylene triamines and mixtures thereof; and

b) from about 8 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of cationic nitrogen salts having only one long chain acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group C ₁₅ -C ₂₂ , and optionally

c) from 0 wt. % to 80 wt. % of a cationic salt having two or more C ₁₅ -C ₂₂ long-chain acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon groups or one of said groups and an arylalkyl group having from about 15 to about 22 carbon atoms in its alkyl chain.

For a detailed description of some preferred fabric softeners, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. 4,661,269 as part of the specification.

In the terminology used, for example, a softening compound generally means such a compound, both singular and plural unless otherwise stated.

Preferred carriers are liquids selected from the group consisting of water and mixtures of water and short chain alcohols C _r C ₄ and one hydroxyl group in the molecule. The water to be used may be distilled, deionized and / or tap water. Mixtures of water with up to about 10 wt. %, preferably less than about 5 wt. %, a short-chain alcohol such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol, and mixtures thereof. Carriers that are primary water are desirable.

Some short-chain alcohols are present on the market in available products with quaternary ammonium compounds. Such products can be used in the preparation of the preferred aqueous compositions of the invention. Short chain alcohols are present in such products in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the aqueous composition.

Compatible ingredients may be added to the disclosed compounds for their known purposes. Such additives include, but are not limited to, viscosity control agents, perfumes, emulsifiers, preservatives and stabilizers, antioxidants, bactericides, opacifiers, fungicides, dyes, fluorescent dyes, melt and solidifying agents, soil release agents , shrinkage control agents and other ironing agents (e.g. starches, etc.). These additives, when used, are added in their usual contents, typically each in an amount of up to about 5% by weight. % of the preferred liquid composition.

The viscosity control agents may be organic or inorganic in nature. Examples of organic viscosity changers are fatty acids and esters, fatty alcohols and water-miscible solvents such as short-chain alcohols. Examples of inorganic viscosity control agents are water-soluble ionizable salts. A wide variety of ionizable salts can be used. Examples of suitable salts are metal halides of Group IA and HA of the Periodic Table of the Elements, for example calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium bromide and lithium chloride. Most preferred is calcium chloride. Ionizable salts are particularly useful during the mixing steps of the ingredients in order to form said liquid compositions and later to obtain the desired viscosity. The amount of ionizable salts used depends on the amount of active ingredients used in such compositions and may be established according to where they are formulated. Typical levels of salts used to control the viscosity of the composition are from about 20 to about 6000 parts per million, preferably from about 20 to about 4000 parts by weight of the composition per million.

Soil release agents, usually polymers, are desirable additives at levels of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. %. Suitable soil release agents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857, issued Oct. 27, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,730, issued Dec. 8, 1987, no. No. 4,713,194, issued Dec. 15, 1987, and mixtures thereof. These documents are referred to as part of the description. Other soil release additives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,596, issued June 7, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,213, issued Dec. 23, 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,038, issued Jan. 23, 1979, and U.S. Pat. No. 4661,267, issued Apr. 28, 1987, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

Typical levels of compatible bacteria used in the compositions of the invention are from about 1 to about 1500 parts per million by weight of the composition.

Examples of antioxidants that can be added to the compositions of the invention are propyl gallate, available from Eastman Chemical Products Inc. under the tradename Tenox PG and Tenox S-1, and butylated hydroxytoluene, available from UOP Process Division under the tradename Sustane BHT.

The compositions may comprise additional silicone fluids to provide additional beneficial effects, such as improved fabric feel. Preferred additional silicones are polydimethylsiloxanes having a viscosity of about 100 centistokes (cs) to about 100,000 cs, preferably from about 200 cs to about 60,000 cs. Supplementary silicones may be used per se or may be suitably added to the softening compositions in pre-emulsified form obtainable directly from suppliers. Examples of these pre-emulsified silicones are 60% polymethylsiloxane emulsion (350 en) sold by Dow Coming Corporation under the trade name Dow Coming 1157 Fluid and 50% emulsion polydimethylsiloxane (10,000 en) sold by General Electric Company under the trade name General Electric SM 2140 Silicones . The optional silicone component may be used in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 6% by weight of the composition.

A preferred composition comprises from about 1 to about 1000 parts per million bactericide, from about 0.2 wt. % to about 2 wt. % perfume, from about 0% to about 3 wt. % polydimethylsiloxane, from 0% to about 0.4 wt. % of calcium chloride, from about 10 parts per million to about 100 parts per million dye, and from about 0% to about 10% short chain alcohols, in proportions of the total weight of the composition.

The pH of the preferred compositions of the invention is generally adjusted to be in the range of about 2 to about 11, preferably about 2 to about 8. The pH adjustment is normally accomplished by adding a small amount of free acid or free base to the formulation. Any acidic material can be used. Its choice can be made by anyone skilled in the art of plasticizer based on cost, availability, safety, and the like. Any suitable acid may be used to adjust the pH. Hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric and formic acid are preferred. Likewise, any suitable base, such as sodium hydroxide, may also be used to adjust the pH. For the purposes of the invention, the pH is measured with a glass electrode in a full strength plasticizer composition as compared to a standard calomel reference electrode.

The compositions of the invention can be prepared in a number of ways. Some suitable and satisfactory methods are described in the following non-limiting examples.

All parts, percentages and ratios are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example I

Procedure

A liquid fabric softening composition comprising an amine curable emulsified silicone as follows. About 4.33 parts of di (tallow residue in hydrogenated formejimethylammonium chloride (DTDMAC)), about 1.00 parts of methyl-1-tallow residue of amidoethyl-2-tallow residue of imidazolinium methyl sulfate and about 0.025 parts of 1% dye are weighed into a container for pre-mixing.

The term "tallow" refers to a residue (in terms of compound group) based on higher fatty acids as a mixture of acids released by hydrolysis of beef or tallow fat, typically those in a mixture of oleic, palmitic, stitch, myrist and linoleum. As is common in the art of fatty acids, they often use a collective designation of the type of oil from which they are originally derived to designate them.

After heating to about 75 ° C and mixing, the premixed mixture is added with stirring and shaking to a mixing vessel (44 ° C) containing about 88.14 parts of distilled water and about 0.025 parts of the antioxidant solution. Then about 0.45 perfume is added to this "master" mixture. The main mixture is then cooled to about 21 ° C, to which about 7.15 parts of aminofunctional silicone microemulsion (about 14% silicone) is added with stirring.

Procedure B

This is the same as procedure A, except that the aminofunctional microemulsion is added to the main mixture before the mixture is cooled to 21 ° C.

Table 1

component A + B near, wt. % DTDMAC ¹ 4.33 Methyl 1- (tallow residue) ethyl 2- (tallow residue) imidazolinium methylsulfate 1.00 Alcohol (from active) 0.80 PERFUME 0.45 Dye solution ⁴ 0,025 Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ² 7.15 Antioxidant ³ 0,025 Distilled water 86.12

¹ di (tallowdimethyl ammonium chloride ^{) 2} special aqueous microemulsion X2-8406 manufactured by Dow Coming Company. It contains about 14% of Dow Coming Q2-8075 aminofunctional silicone and the company's emulsifying system.

³ Tenox Sl supplied by Eastman Kodak ⁴ 1% polar brilliant blue solution

Example H

The microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and fabric softener composition is prepared according to Procedure A. Approximate component levels are: 2.00 parts of Mazamide 6, 0.80 parts of MTTMAC, 4.03 parts of DTDMAC (defined),

1.00 parts of the imidazolinium salt of Example I, 0.42 parts of perfume, 1.28 parts of alcohol (from active), 10.00 parts of 14% aminofunctional silicone and the rest is distilled water (see Table 2 and Example I) for recapitulation of ingredients and method of preparation).

Example III

A composition of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and fabric softener is prepared according to Procedure A. Approximate component levels are: 17.50 parts of Mazamide 6, 6.50 parts of DTDMAC, 1.32 parts of perfume, 2.07 parts of alcohol (from active), 12.00 parts of 14% microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and the rest is distilled water (see Table 2 and Example I for recapitulation of ingredients and method of preparation).

Table 2

component Example Π approach, wt. % EXAMPLE 11 App. % Mazamid 6 ¹ 2.00 17.50 MTTMAC ² 0.80 - DTDMAC ³ 4.03 6.53 perfume 0.42 1.32 Polar brilliant blue Dye solution 0,025 0,072 Alcohol (from active) 1.28 2.07 Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ⁴ 10.00 12,00 Distilled water Rest Rest

¹ reaction product of 2 mol of hydrogenated tallow higher fatty acid with 1 mol of Ν-2-hydroxyethylenediamine ² mono (tallow residue) trimethylammonium chloride (M1'MAC) ³ di (tallow residue) dimethylammonium chloride ⁴ Dow Coming X2-8406 (described).

Example IV

The intrinsic behavior of Q2-7224 (Q2-8075 macroemulsion, 35% silicone) verse is studied. X2-8406 (Q2-8075 microemulsion, 14% silicone). 9.34 grams of Q2-7224 and 23.35 grams of X2-8406 are used as fabric softeners when added to the rinse to process synthetic and cotton fiber fabrics (65% / 35%) at a concentration of about 50 parts per million in rinse water. The fabrics are treated by one soaking (washing without detergent) (rinsing) drying. Shear hysteresis measurements are performed on four fabrics at each treatment. The results reported show that Q2-7224 is a better softening system for reducing friction between fibers and yarns.

Table A - average shear hysteresis (gf / cm) at 2-1 / 2 ° and 400 g strength

X2-8406 Q2 -7224 1.53 1.35

Values are valid at a confidence of> 95% based on a paired t-test.

Example V

Product C

A composition of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and plasticizer is prepared according to Procedure A. Approximate component levels are: 3.75 parts DTDMAC, 3.40 parts imidazoline, 0.57 parts MTTMAC, 0.60 parts perfume, 0.025 parts dye, 0.77 parts alcohol (from active), 0.4 to 0.9 parts HCl, 7.15 parts MAFS (14 wt%) and the rest is distilled water.

Comparative product

The fabric softener is prepared as in Product C, except that about 3.03 parts of the aminofunctional silicone microemulsion (33 wt% silicone) is added. This composition contains about 1 wt. % liquid aminofunctional silicone. A recapitulation of the components for products C and D is given in Tab. 3. Both products C and D contain about 1 wt. % Q2-8075 liquid aminofunctional silicone.

Products C and D are used as fabric softeners added in the rinse to process synthetic cotton fiber fabrics (65% / 35%). The fabrics are treated with one praium / rinse / drying. The detergents used are TIDE and LIQUID TIDE. Six sample sets (DOWNY, DOWNY plus X2-8406 and DOWNY plus Q2-7224) were in contact with TIDE only, 6 sample sets (DOWNY plus X2-8406 and DOWNY plus Q2-7224) were in contact with LIQUID TIDE only. While keeping the fabrics washed with LIQUID TIDE and TIDE separately, the fabrics were subjected to shear hysteresis measurements. The results reported show that the X2-8406 fabric softener composition is better at reducing shear hysteresis than the corresponding Q2-8075 composition.

Table B - average shear hysteresis (gf / cm) at 2-1 / 2 ° and 400 g strength

DOW- NY DOW- NY + Q2-7224 DOW- NY-X2-8406 Washing TIDE 0.69 0.71 0.65 (a) Washing LIQUID TIDE 0.88 0.78 0.76 b average 0.79 0.74 0.71 (c)

(a) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at a confidence of> 95% based on paired t-test comparisons. Significantly lower than DOWNY at a confidence of> 95% based on comparison of paired t-tests.

(b) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at> 70% confidence. Significantly lower than DOWNY at> 95% confidence.

(c) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at a confidence level of> 95%. Significantly lower than DOWNY at> 95% confidence.

Table 3 - Example V

component Product C near, wt. % Product D near, wt. % MTTMAC ¹ 0.57 0.57 DTDMAC ² 3.75 3.75 Imidazoline ³ 3.40 3.40 perfume 0.40 0.40 Polar brilliant blue dye solution 0,025 0,025 Alcohol (from active) 0.77 0.77 Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ⁴ (14%) 7.15 - Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ⁵ (31.5 wt%) - 3.03 HCl (31.5 wt%) 0.4 -0.9 0.4-0.9 Distilled water Rest Rest

¹ mono (tallow residue in hydrogenated formetrimethylammonium chloride ² di (tallow residue) dimethylammonium chloride ³ 1- (tallow residue in hydrogenated form) amidoethyl-2- (tallow residue in hydrogenated formejimidazoline) ⁴ Dow Coming X2-8406 (described) ⁵ Dow Coming Q2 -7224, a macroemulsion analogous to microemulsified X2-8406, also containing Dow Corning Q2-8075 silicone fluid.

The inclusion of microemulsified aminophonic silicone through the liquid fabric softener has an improved reduction in shear hysteresis on the synthetic and cotton fiber fabrics relative to traditional macroemulsion delivered through the liquid fabric softener matrix.

Claims (3)

A liquid fabric care composition comprising silicone, a fabric softener in an amount of from 2 to 35 wt. % Of the total weight of the composition, wherein the plasticizer is selected from quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty amines, fatty amides, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof, and a carrier selected from water and C _r C ₄ alcohol or mixtures thereof, characterized in that the silicone is a microemulsified aminofunctional silicone having a particle size of less than 0.14 micrometers having an average molecular weight of from 1000 to 100,000, wherein the weight ratio of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to fabric softener is from 17: 1 to 1: 350. A liquid fabric care composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises from 0.05 wt. % to 25 wt. %, preferably from 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. % and most preferably from 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. % microemulsified aminofunctional silicone. Liquid fabric care composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the weight ratio of said microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to the fabric softener is from 10: 1 to 1: 100, preferably from 1: 1 to 1: 10 and most preferably from 1: 1 to 1: 10. : 5 to 1: 10.