Aqueous, gel laundry detergent composition

Details Aqueous, gel laundry detergent composition Aqueous, gel laundry detergent composition

2000-01-19

2003-01-14

Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...

C510S341000, C510S350000, C510S351000, C510S357000, C510S481000, C510S488000, C510S499000, C510S501000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06506716

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to stable, aqueous heavy duty gel laundry detergent compositions comprising anionic surfactants, fatty acids, and specially selected agents to provide exceptional cleaning benefits. The anionic surfactant component comprises alkyl sulfates and alkyl ethoxylated sulfates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art is replete with examples of laundry detergent compositions which have good cleaning properties. Although many of these are liquids, the formulation of gel detergent compositions present numerous problems to the formulator, including high viscosity at pouring shear rate, instability during storage, unacceptable grease cleaning, and undesirable appearance.
Attempts to formulate gel laundry detergent compositions in the past have included the use of clays or polymers which act to form a shear thinning composition. While these compositions are gels, many have been found to have poor physical product characteristics, including phase split.
It has now been found that aqueous, heavy duty gel detergent compositions containing certain anionic surfactants and fatty acid surfactants provide excellent cleaning performance and attractive product characteristics, i.e., are structured, phase stable, and have a rheology which allows for easy pouring from the product container.
Without being limited by theory, it is believed that these novel compositions have an internal structure which comprises a planar lamellar phase. The presence of such a phase in detergent compositions may be determined by optical or electron microscopy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention herein to provide an aqueous heavy duty gel laundry detergent composition which provides excellent cleaning and a desirable rheology.
The present invention encompasses a heavy duty gel laundry detergent compositions comprising, by weight of the composition:
a) from about 15% to about 40% of an anionic surfactant component which comprises, by weight of the composition:
(i) from about 5% to about 25% of alkyl polyethoxylate sulfates wherein the alkyl group contains from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms and the polyethoxylate chain contains from 0.5 to about 15, preferably from 0.5 to about 5, more preferably from 0.5 to about 4, ethylene oxide moieties; and
(ii) from about 5% to about 20% of fatty acids; and
b) and one or more of the following ingredients: detersive amine, modified polyamine, polyamide-polyamine, polyethoxylated-polyamine polymers, quaternary ammonium surfactants, suitable electrolyte or acid equivalents thereof, and mixtures thereof.
The compositions herein may further contain one or more additional detersive additives selected from the group consisting of non-citrate builders, optical brighteners, soil release polymers, dye transfer inhibitors, polymeric dispersing agents, enzymes, suds suppressers, dyes, perfumes, colorants, filler salts, hydrotropes, antiredeposition agents, antifading agent, dye fixative agents, prill/fuzzing reducing agents, and mixtures thereof.
The compositions herein have a viscosity at 20 s
−1
shear rate of from about 100 cp to about 4,000 cp, preferably from about 300 cp to about 3,000 cp, more preferably from about 500 cp to about 2,000 cp and are stable upon storage.
All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius (°C.) unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, it has now been found that a stable, aqueous heavy duty gel detergent composition is surprisingly formed when certain anionic surfactants and fatty acid surfactants are combined in relative proportions specified hereinafter.
The compositions herein are structured and have a specific rheology. The rheology can be modeled by the following formula:
&eegr;=&eegr;
O
+K&ggr;
(n−1)
where &eegr; is the viscosity of the liquid at a given shear rate, &eegr;
O
is the viscosity at infinite shear rate, &ggr;is the shear rate, n is the shear rate index, and K is the consistency index. As used herein, the term “structured” indicates a heavy duty liquid composition having a liquid crystalline lamellar phase and an infinite shear viscosity (&eegr;O) value between 0 and about 3,000 cp (centipoise), a shear index (n) value of less than about 0.6, a consistency index value, K, of above about 1,000, and a viscosity (&eegr;) measured at 20 s
−1
of less than about 10,000 cp, preferably less than about 5,000 cp. Under low stress levels, a “zero shear” viscosity is above about 100,000 cp wherein “zero shear” is meant a shear rate of 0.001 s
−1
or less. The yield value of the compositions herein, obtained by plotting viscosity versus stress, is larger than 0.2 Pa. These rheology parameters can be measured with any commercially available rheometer, such as the Carrimed CSL 100 model.
The compositions herein are clear or translucent, i.e. not opaque.
Electrolytes
Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the presence of electrolytes acts to control the viscosity of the gel compositions. Thus, the gel nature of the compositions herein are affected by the choice of surfactants and by the amount of electrolytes present. In preferred embodiments herein, the compositions will further comprise from 0% to about 10%, more preferably from about 1% to about 8%, even more preferably from about 2% to about 6%, of a suitable electrolyte or acid equivalent thereof. Sodium citrate is a highly preferred electrolyte for use herein.
The compositions herein may optionally contain from about 0% to about 10%, by weight, of solvents and hydrotropes. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the presence of solvents and hydrotropes can affect the structured versus isotropic nature of the compositions; By “solvent” is meant the commonly used solvents in the detergent industry, including alkyl monoalcohol, di-, and tri-alcohols, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, propanediol, ethanediol, glycerine, etc. By “hydrotrope” is meant the commonly used hydrotropes in the detergent industry, including short chain surfactants that help solubilize other surfactants. Other examples of hydrotropes include cumene, xylene, or toluene sulfonate, urea, C
8
or shorter chain alkyl carboxylates, and C
8
or shorter chain alkyl sulfate and ethoxylated sulfates.
Modified Polyamine
The compositions herein may comprise at least about 0.05%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 3%, by weight, of a water-soluble or dispersible, modified polyamine agent, said agent comprising a polyamine backbone corresponding to the formula:
wherein each R
1
is independently C
2
-C
5
alkylene, alkenylene or arylene; each R
2
is independently H, or a moiety of formula OH[(CH
2
)
x
O]
n
, wherein x is from about 1 to about 8 and n is from about 10 to about 50; w is 0 or 1; x+y+z is from about 5 to about 30; and B represents a continuation of this structure by branching; and wherein said polyamine before alkylation has an average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 1,200.
In preferred embodiments, R
1
is C
2
-C
4
alkylene, more preferably ethylene; R
2
is OH[CH
2
CH
2
O]
n
, wherein n is from about 15 to about 30, more preferably n is about 20. The average Molecular Weight of the polyamine before alkylation is from about 300 to about 1200, more preferably from about 500 to about 900, still more preferably from about 600 to about 700, even more preferably from about 600 to about 650.
In another preferred embodiment, R
1
is C
2
-C
4
alkylene, more preferably ethylene; R
2
is OH[CH
2
CH
2
O]
n
, wherein n is from about 10 to about 20, more preferably n is about 15. The average Molecular Weight of the polyamine before alkylation is from about 100 to about 300, more preferably from about 150 to about 250, even more preferably from about 180 to about 200.
Polyamide-Polyamines
The polyamide-polyamines useful herein will generall

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Aqueous, gel laundry detergent composition does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Aqueous, gel laundry detergent composition, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Aqueous, gel laundry detergent composition will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3026922