CN1227594A - fabric softening composition - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to liquid fabric softening compositions which reduce the amount of dyes released from coloured fabrics during domestic wet treatment, for example in laundry operations. The composition contains a cationic fabric softener having at least two long chains and 0.1-10% by weight of a cationic dye fixing agent, and is free of detergent materials.

Description

fabric softening composition

field of invention

This invention relates to fabric softening compositions and, more particularly, to compositions which reduce the amount of dye released from colored fabrics during wet processing, such as in laundering operations.

Background of the invention

Home treatment of colored fabrics is a well known problem to formulators of laundry compositions in the art. More specifically, the problem of formulating laundry compositions that reduce the amount of dye released from colored fabrics during wet processing is a particular challenge faced by formulators. This problem is now even more pressing as consumers trend towards brighter clothing.

A number of methods have been suggested in the prior art to solve this problem, such as treating fabrics with dye scavengers during the wash as described in EP0341205, EP0033815, and using polyvinyl substances as described in WO94/11482 or as described in EP0462806 Use a dye fixative in the rinse cycle as described in . However, one problem encountered with these solutions is that the dye fixing agent can be destroyed or damaged by contact during storage and/or during washing when used in the wash cycle, while when used in the rinse cycle, detergent is required. Active substance and high content of dye fixing agent to provide effective dye fixing performance. Furthermore, a problem associated with the use of dye fixing agents in softening compositions is its weight efficiency. Thus, while levels of dye fixing agent in excess of 10% by weight will provide effective dye fixing, such amounts will increase formulation costs. Another problem associated with the use of high levels of dye fixing agents in softening compositions is the resulting product exhibiting phase instability. Additionally, reducing the level of dye fixing agent will not provide effective dye fixing performance, and will require detergent substances.

Thus, despite advances in the art, there remains a need for fabric softening compositions that effectively reduce the amount of dye released from colored fabrics during wet processing.

Applicants have now found that this need is met using a liquid composition comprising a cationic fabric softener having at least two long chains and 0.1% to 10% by weight of a cationic dye fixing agent, said composition being free of detergent substances.

It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide liquid fabric softening compositions which are effective in reducing the amount of dye released from colored fabrics during domestic wet processing.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide liquid fabric softening compositions having effective softening properties.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide liquid fabric softening compositions having effective storage stability.

The term "detergent material" as used herein includes detersive surfactants selected from soap, non-soap anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric synthetic and natural detersive surfactants which are not softeners. Fatty acids which are fabric softening as opposed to said soap components which do not have fabric softening properties are not included in this definition.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a liquid fabric softening composition comprising a cationic fabric softener having at least two long chains and 0.1% to 10% by weight of a cationic dye fixing agent, said composition being free of detergent substances.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating fabrics. The method comprises contacting fabric with an aqueous medium comprising at least 50 ppm of the fabric softening composition of the present invention during the rinse cycle of a consumer laundry process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Cationic fabric softener

An essential component of the present invention is a cationic fabric softener component having at least two long chains. A component having at least two long chains refers to a component having at least two alkyl or alkenyl groups each containing 10 to 25 carbon atoms. The fabric softener provides an effective fabric softening effect on treated fabrics.

Typical levels of said fabric softener component in liquid softener compositions are from 1% to 80% by weight of the composition. Depending on the use of the composition, it may be in diluted form at a preferred level of 1% to 5% of the fabric softening component or at a preferred level of 5% to 80% of the fabric softening component, more preferably 10% to 50%, most preferably Concentrated forms of 15% to 35% by weight are preferred.

Typical cationic fabric softening ingredients containing at least two long chains include water insoluble quaternary ammonium fabric softening actives, most commonly dilong alkyl chain ammonium chloride.

Wherein preferred cationic softener includes as follows:

1) ditallow (tallow) dimethyl ammonium chloride (DTDMAC);

2) dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride;

3) Dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate;

4) distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride;

5) dioleyl dimethyl ammonium chloride;

6) dipalmityl hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium chloride;

7) stearyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride;

8) tallow trimethyl ammonium chloride;

9) Hydrogenated tallow trimethylammonium chloride;

10) C _12-14 alkyl hydroxyethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride;

11) C _12-18 alkyl dihydroxyethyl methyl ammonium chloride;

12) Ditallow imidazolium methyl sulfate;

13) 1-(2-Tallowylamidoethyl)-2-tallowyl imidazolium methylsulfate.

However, in recent years there has been a growing need for more environmentally friendly substances and rapidly biodegradable quaternary ammonium compounds to replace the traditionally used di-long-chain ammonium chloride. The quaternary ammonium compounds contain long chain alk(en)yl groups interrupted by functional groups such as carboxyl groups, said materials and fabric softening compositions containing them are described in a number of publications such as EP-A-0040562 and EP-A-0239910 public.

或 The quaternary ammonium compounds and amine precursors of the present invention have the following formulas (I) and (II):

or

Wherein Q is selected from -OC(O)-, -C(O)-O-, -OC(O)-O-, NR ⁴ -C(O)-, -C(O)-NR ⁴ -;

R ¹ is (CH ₂ ) _n -QT ² or T ³ ;

R ² is (CH ₂ ) _m -QT ⁴ or T ⁵ or R ³ ;

R ³ is C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or C ₁ -C ₄ hydroxyalkyl or H;

R ⁴ is H or C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or C ₁ -C ₄ hydroxyalkyl;

T ¹ , T ² , T ³ , T ⁴ and T ⁵ are independently C ₁₁ -C ₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl;

n and m are integers from 1 to 4; and

X ^- is a softener compatible anion.

Non-limiting examples of softener compatible anions include chloride or methylsulfate.

The alkyl or alkenyl chains T ¹ , T ² , T ³ , T ⁴ and T ⁵ must contain at least 11 carbon atoms, preferably at least 16 carbon atoms. The chain can be straight or branched.

Tallow is a convenient and inexpensive source of long chain alkyl and alkenyl species. Compounds in which T ¹ , T ² , T ³ , T ⁴ and T ⁵ represent a mixture of long chain species, usually tallow, are especially preferred.

Specific examples of quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use in the aqueous fabric softening compositions of the present invention include:

1) N,N-bis(tallowoyl (tallowoyl)oxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride;

2) N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)N-methyl, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride;

3) N,N-di(2-tallowyloxy-2-oxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride;

4) N,N-bis(2-tallowyloxy-ethylcarbonyloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride;

5) N-(2-tallowyloxy-2-ethyl)-N-(2-tallowyloxy-2-oxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride;

6) N,N,N-tris(tallow-oxy-ethyl)-N-methylammonium chloride;

7) N-(2-tallowyl-oxy-2-oxyethyl)-N-(tallowyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride); and

8) N-methyl-N-(3-tallowamidopropyl), N-(2-tallowyloxyethyl) ammonium chloride;

9) 1,2-Ditallowyloxy-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride;

and mixtures of any of the above substances.

Among them, compounds 1-8 are examples of compounds of formula (I), and compound 9 is an example of compounds of formula (II). Especially preferred is N,N-bis(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride in which the tallow chains are at least partially unsaturated. The degree of unsaturation of the tallow chains can be measured by the iodine value (IV) of the corresponding fatty acid, which in the present case is preferably between 5 and 100, being two different compounds lower or higher than 25. In fact, for compounds of formula (I) prepared from tallow fatty acids with an IV of 5-25, preferably 15-20, we have found that the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than 30/70, preferably greater than 50/50 and more preferably greater than 70/30 provides the best concentrating power. For compounds of formula (I) prepared from tallow fatty acids with IV greater than 25, we have found that the ratio of cis to trans isomers is less critical unless very high concentrations are required.

Further examples of suitable quaternary ammoniums of formula (I) and (II) are obtained, for example, by:

- replacing "tallow" in the above compounds with e.g. coconut oil, palm oil, lauryl, oleyl, castor oil, stearyl, palmityl, etc., said fatty acyl groups being fully saturated or preferably at least partially unsaturated ;

- replace "methyl" in the above compounds with ethyl, ethoxy, propyl, propoxy, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl or tert-butyl;

- Replace "chlorination" in the above compounds with bromide, methylsulfuric acid, formic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc.

In fact, anions are only present as counterions to positively charged quaternary ammonium compounds. The nature of the counterion is not critical to the practice of all of the invention, and the scope of the invention is not considered limited to any particular anion.

"Amine precursor thereof" means a secondary or tertiary amine corresponding to the above quaternary ammonium compound which is substantially protonated in the composition of the invention due to the pH required for the composition of the invention.

For the aforementioned biodegradable fabric softeners, the pH of the composition is an important parameter of the present invention. In fact, it affects the stability of quaternary ammonium or amine precursor compounds, especially under long storage conditions. The pH defined herein is measured at 20°C with neat compositions. For optimum hydrolytic stability of these compositions, the pure pH must be between 2.0 and 4.5, measured under the conditions described above. When the liquid fabric softening compositions of the present invention are in diluted form, the pH of the neat composition is from 2.0 to 3.0. The pH of these compositions can be adjusted by adding protic acids. Examples of suitable acids are mineral acids, carboxylic acids, especially low molecular weight (C ₁ -C ₅ ) carboxylic acids and alkylsulfonic acids. Suitable inorganic acids include hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric and phosphoric acids. Suitable organic acids include formic, acetic, citric, methanesulfonic and ethanesulfonic acids. Preferred acids are citric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, methanesulfonic acid and benzoic acid. cationic dye fixative

The other essential component of the present invention is a cationic dye fixing agent. Cationic dye fixatives or "fixatives" are known, commercially available materials which improve the appearance of dyed fabrics by reducing the loss of fabric dyes due to laundering. Cationic dye fixatives are based on various quaternized or other cationic charged organic nitrogen compounds. Cationic fixatives are available from various suppliers under different trade names. Representative examples include: CROSCOLOR PMF (July 1981, No. 7894) and CROSCOLOR NOFF (January 1988, No. 8544) obtained by Crosfield; INDOSOL E-50 (February 27, 1984) obtained by Sandoz , reference number 6008.35.84; based on polyethyleneamine); SANDOFIX TPS, also available from Sandoz, which is the preferred polycationic fixative for the present invention and SANDOFIX SWE (cationic resin compound) from CHT-Beitlich GMBH , REWIN SRF, REWIN SRF-O and REWIN DWR.

Other cationic dye fixing agents are described in Christopher C. Cook (REV. PROG. COLORATION, Vol. 12, 1982) "Post-treatment to improve dye fastness on fabric fibers". Dye fixing agents suitable for use in the present invention are ammonium compounds such as fatty acid-diamine condensates such as oleyl diethylaminoethylamide hydrochloride, acetate, methylsulfate and benzyl hydrochloride, Oleylmethyl-diethylenediamine methylsulfate, monostearyl-ethylenediaminotrimethylammonium methylsulfate and oxidation products of tertiary amines; derivatives of polymeric alkyldiamines, polyamine- Cyanuric chloride condensates and aminated dichloroglycerin.

The cationic dye fixing agent is generally used in the composition of the present invention in an amount of 0.1%-10% by weight of the composition, preferably 0.5%-8% by weight, more preferably 0.8%-5.5% by weight of the composition.

In order to obtain the best dye fixing effect and softening effect, the weight ratio of fabric softener to dye fixing agent is 60:1-1.5:1, more preferably 20:1-3.5:1, most preferably 10:1-3.5:1 . detergent substance

The term "detergent material" as used herein includes detersive surfactants selected from soap, non-soap anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and amphoteric synthetic and natural detersive surfactants which are not softeners. Fatty acids which are fabric softening as opposed to said soap components which do not have fabric softening properties are not included in this definition.

Soap and non-soap anionic substances are linear and branched primary alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethoxy sulfates, fatty oil based glycerol sulfates, alkylphenol oxirane ether sulfates, C5-C17 acyl-N -(C1-C4 alkyl) and -N-(C1-C2 hydroxyalkyl)glucosamine sulfates and alkylpolysaccharide sulfates; anionic sulfonate surfactants such as C5-C20 linear alkylbenzenesulfonates acid salt, alkyl ester sulfonate, C6-C22 primary or secondary alkane sulfonate, C6-C24 olefin sulfonate, sulfonated polycarboxylic acid, alkyl glycerol sulfonate, fatty acyl or oleyl glycerol sulfonic acid salts, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates and alkali metal sarcosinates.

Nonionic detergent materials are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkylphenols, alkylene oxides of aliphatic alcohols with about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide Ethoxylate condensation products, ethoxylated C ₆ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohols and C ₆ -C ₁₈ mixed ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols, alkyl polysaccharides and fatty acid amides.

Zwitterions and amphoteric substances are amine oxides, alkylamphocarboxylic acids, betaines such as cocoamidopropyl dimethyl betaine and cetyl dimethyl betaine. Additional components

The composition may also optionally contain additional components such as additional fabric softener materials, electrolyte concentration aids, stabilizers such as known antioxidants and reducing agents, soil release polymers, biocides, colorants, fragrances , preservatives, optical brighteners, anti-ionization agents, defoamers and chelating agents. Additional fabric softener substances

In addition to the di-long chain cationic fabric softeners, additional fabric softener materials can be used. When used, such additional fabric softener materials are generally present in an amount of 0-15% by weight of the composition. The material is a mono long chain alkyl cationic softener and/or fatty acid. Mono long chain alkyl cationic softener

This single long-chain alkyl cationic quaternary ammonium compound used in the present invention is preferably a quaternary ammonium salt of the following general formula:

[R ² N ⁺ R ³ ]X ^-

wherein ^R is a C ₁₀ -C ₂₂ hydrocarbyl, preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl, interrupted by the corresponding ester bond, with a short alkylene (C ₁ -C ₄ ) group present between the ester bond and N, and the like Hydrocarbyl, eg 0.1-20% by weight of softener active fatty acid ester of choline, preferably _C12 - _C14 (coconut) choline ester and/or _C16 - _C18 tallow choline ester. Each R ³ is C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or substituted (eg hydroxy) alkyl, or hydrogen, preferably methyl and the counterion X ^- is a softener compatible anion such as chloride, bromide, methyl Sulfate, etc.

Other cationic species having a ring structure, such as alkyl imidazoline, imidazolinium, pyridine and pyridinium salts containing a single C ₁₂ -C ₃₀ alkyl chain may also be used. Very low pH is required to stabilize eg imidazoline ring structures.

其中Y²是-C(0)-O-、-O-(O)-C-、-C(O)-N(R⁵)，或-N(R⁵)-C(O)-，其中R⁵是氢或C₁-C₄烷基，R⁶是C₁-C₄烷基或H(对于咪唑啉前体)；R⁷和R⁸彼此独立地选自如上定义于只有一个是R²的单长链阳离子表面活性剂的R³和R²。Certain alkylimidazolium salts and their imidazoline precursors useful in the present invention have the general formula:

Wherein Y ² is -C(0)-O-, -O-(O)-C-, -C(O)-N(R ⁵ ), or -N(R ⁵ )-C(O)-, wherein R ⁵ is hydrogen or C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, R ⁶ is C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or H (for imidazoline precursors); R ⁷ and R ⁸ are independently selected from each other as defined above and only one is R ² R ³ and R ² of the single long chain cationic surfactant.

Certain alkylpyridinium salts useful in the present invention have the general formula:

wherein ^R2 and X- are as defined above. A typical substance of this type is cetylpyridinium chloride. fatty acid

Suitable fatty acids include those containing 10-25, preferably 12-25 total carbon atoms, wherein the fatty portion contains 10-22, preferably 16-22 carbon atoms. The shorter part contains 1-4, preferably 1-2 carbon atoms. The degree of unsaturation of tallow chains can be measured by the iodine value (IV) of the corresponding fatty acid, which should preferably be 5-100, more preferably 0-25 in the present invention.

Specific examples of fatty acids suitable for use in the liquid fabric softening compositions of the present invention include those selected from the group consisting of lauric acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, oleic acid, coconut fatty acid, tallow fatty acid, partially hydrogenated Compounds of tallow fatty acids and mixtures thereof. The most preferred fatty acid compound is tallow fatty acid with an iodine value (IV) of 18.

When the above fatty acids are used, the fatty acid will be in a weight ratio of said cationic fabric softener with two long chains to said fatty acid compound of 25:1 to 6.5:1, more preferably 20:1 to 10:1 and most preferably 20:1-15:1 exists. In fact, if used outside of this ratio range, the resulting product will tend to exhibit phase instability and/or viscosity problems. Electrolyte Concentration Aids

Inorganic viscosity control agents which may also function or augment the effect of the surfactant concentration aids include water-soluble, ionizable salts which may also optionally be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. The addition of these components to the composition must be done at very low rates.

Various ionizable salts can be used, examples of suitable salts are metal halides of Groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements, such as calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium bromide and lithium chloride. Ionizable salts are especially useful during mixing of the components to produce the compositions of the present invention to obtain the desired viscosity. The amount of ionizable salt used will vary according to the amount of active ingredient used in the composition and can be adjusted according to the needs of the formulator. Salts used to control the viscosity of the compositions are typically present at levels of from 20 to 20,000 ppm, preferably from about 20 to about 11,000 ppm by weight of the composition.

In addition to or in place of the above water-soluble ionizable salts, alkylene polyammonium salts may be added to the composition to achieve viscosity control. In addition, these agents act as scavengers that form ion-pairs with anionic detergents on fabrics in the rinse cycle carried over from the main wash process to improve softening properties. These agents stabilize viscosity over a wider temperature range, especially at low temperatures, compared to inorganic electrolytes. Specific examples of the alkylene polyammonium salt include 1-lysine monohydrochloride and 1,5-diammonium 2-methylpentane dihydrochloride.

The other component is a liquid carrier. Suitable liquid carriers are selected from water, organic solvents and mixtures thereof. The liquid carrier for use in the compositions of the present invention is preferably at least primarily water due to its low cost, relative availability, safety and environmental compatibility. The amount of water in the liquid carrier is preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 60%, by weight of the carrier. Mixtures of water and low molecular weight, eg <200, organic solvents, eg low molecular weight alcohols eg ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol are useful liquid carriers. Low molecular weight alcohols include monohydric, dihydric (glycol, etc.), triol (glycerol, etc.) and higher polyhydric (polyol) alcohols. form of composition

Fabric softening compositions can take a variety of physical forms, including liquids, such as aqueous or non-aqueous compositions. The composition can be used as a rinse added product, or as a spray or foam product. The compositions of the present invention are preferably in rinse-in form.

The compositions of the present invention may be added directly to the rinse bath to provide a sufficient use level, for example at least 50 ppm, more preferably 100 to 10,000 ppm of the liquid rinse added fabric softener composition of the present invention.

Furthermore, there is provided a method of treating fabrics comprising contacting said fabrics with an aqueous medium comprising at least 50 ppm, preferably 100-10000 ppm, of a liquid fabric softener composition according to the invention during a rinse cycle. method

The fabric softening compositions are conveniently prepared by methods known to the skilled person. An exemplary description is given in EP-A-0668902.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples, in which all percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

In the examples, the abbreviated component descriptions have the following meanings:

DEQA : Bis(tallowyloxyethyl)dimethylammonium chloride

Fatty acid : stearic acid, IV=18

Electrolyte : Calcium Chloride

PEG: Polyethylene glycol, MW4000 Example 1

Fabric softening compositions of the present invention were prepared as follows: components A DEQA 19.0 hydrochloric acid 0.02 soil release polymer 0.2 PEG 0.6 spices 1.0 electrolyte 1200ppm dye 50ppm Saneofix TPS 5.0 Water and minor components, balanced to 100% Example 2

Fabric softening compositions of the present invention were prepared as follows: components B C D. DEQA 2.6 2.9 18.0 fatty acid 0.3 - 1.0 hydrochloric acid 0.02 0.02 0.02 soil release polymer - - 0.2 PEG - - 0.6 spices 1.0 0.5 1.0 electrolyte - - 600ppm dye 10ppm 10ppm 50ppm Sandofix TPS 1.6 1.6 5.0 Water and minor components, balanced to 100%

Claims (7)

1. liquid fabric softening composition, it contains cationic fabric softener with at least two long-chains and 0.1-10% cationic dyestuff fixing agent by weight, and described composition does not have the washing composition material.

2. the liquid fabric softening composition of claim 1, wherein said cationic dyestuff fixing agent is the polycation dye-fixing agent.

3. claim 1 or one of 2 liquid fabric softening composition, the content of wherein said cationic dyestuff fixing agent be for press composition weight meter 0.5%-8%, preferably 0.8%-5.5%.

4. one of any liquid fabric softening composition among the claim 1-3, wherein said fabric softener is biodegradable fabric sofetening material.

5. the liquid fabric softening composition of claim 4, wherein said biodegradable fabric softener is selected from quaternary ammonium compound and the amine precursor with following formula I or (II): Or

Wherein Q be selected from-O-C (O)-,-C (O)-O-,-O-C (O)-O-,-NR ⁴-C (O)-,-C (O)-NR ⁴-;

R ¹Be (CH ₂) _n-Q-T ²Or T ³

R ²Be (CH ₂) _m-Q-T ⁴Or T ⁵Or R ³

R ³Be C ₁-C ₄Alkyl or C ₁-C ₄Hydroxyalkyl or H;

R ⁴Be H or C ₁-C ₄Alkyl or C ₁-C ₄Hydroxyalkyl;

T ¹, T ², T ³, T ⁴And T ⁵Be C independently ₁₁-C ₂₂Alkyl or alkenyl;

N and m are the integers of 1-4; With

X ^-It is the compatible negatively charged ion of softening agent.

6. one of any liquid fabric softening composition among the claim 1-5, wherein said fabric softener exists with the content of 1%-80% by weight.

7. method of handling fabric, its water-bearing media that is included in the rinse cycle liquid fabric softener composition that described fabric and the claim 1-6 that contains 50ppm at least is one of any contacts.