Cationic charge boosting systems

Details Cationic charge boosting systems Cationic charge boosting systems

1999-07-26

2001-04-03

Hardee, John (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Auxiliary compositions for cleaning, or processes of preparing

Textile softening or antistatic composition

C510S504000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06211140

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fabric softener compositions wherein the performance of the fabric softener active is enhanced by the presence of a cationic charge booster system. The present invention also relates to methods for providing enhanced fabric conditioning benefits to fabric by contacting said fabric with a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium fabric softener active and one or more cationic charge boosting compounds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Consumers have come to expect clean, freshened, static-free, cling-free fabric after the laundry cycle. Fabric softeners, whether added at the laundry rinse stage or at the automatic dryer stage, have become a means for providing fabric, especially clothing, with direct enhancement of these properties. One important class of fabric softener actives comprises Diester and Diamide Quaternary Ammonium (DEQA) compounds which typically can comprise mono-, di-, or tri- functional amines (e.g. diethanol amine) which are converted to the corresponding esters or amides then fully or partially quaternized. Manipulation of the acyl moiety combined with the mono-, di-, or tri- functional amines have led to DEQA's which are effective fabric softener active suitable for use in dryer added or rinse added fabric softener compositions. However, some cationic fabric softening actives perform in some ways less well than others.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a cationic charge boosting system suitable for use in the wide array of fabric softener formulations and embodiments which provide an increased or “boosted” fabric softening capacity. In addition, fabric softener compositions which comprise said fabric softener actives having suitable properties other than sufficient cationic charge density, need a means to boost the overall charge density thereby providing to the consumer a better fabric care benefit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been surprisingly discovered that the addition of a cationic charge boosting system will sufficiently increase the performance of cationic fabric softener actives having diminished or insufficient charge density, to a level which allows the low charge density active to be used in fabric softening formulations. Surprisingly, the most effective charge booster systems of the present invention are systems which comprise an admixture of two or more di-amino compounds wherein at least one of said compounds is a di-quaternary ammonium compound.
It has also been surprisingly discovered that the cationic charge boosting systems which are admixtures of di-amino compounds have increased formulatability with other adjunct ingredients, thereby enabling the formulator to provide a wider array of targeted fabric enhancement benefits. In some embodiments, fabric softener actives not possessing sufficient cationic charge characteristics are now suitable for inclusion in fabric softener compositions when formulated together with a charge boosting system according to the present invention.
The cationic charge enhancing agents of the present invention have the effect of increasing the net cationic charge concentration independent of the intrinsic properties of the softener active. Therefore, the formulator may combine fabric softener actives having low cationic charge capacity, but which have other desirable properties inter alia good dispensability, low melting point, with cationic charge booster systems thereby obtaining a composition which overcomes the lack of cationic charge density of the fabric softener active.
The first aspect of the present invention relates to fabric softener compositions comprising:
a) from about 2%, preferably from about 5% to about 60%, more preferably to about 40% by weight, of a fabric softening active;
b) from about 0.2%, preferably from about 5% to about 10%, preferably to about 7% by weight, of a cationic charge boosting system; and
c) the balance carriers and other adjunct ingredients.
The charge booster systems of the present invention are admixtures of diamines, quaternary ammonium compounds, and di-quaternary ammonium compounds formed from process comprising the steps of:
i) reacting one equivalent of a diamine having the formula:
wherein R is C
2
-C
12
alkylene; each R
1
is independently hydrogen, C
1
-C
4
alkyl, a unit having the formula:
—R
2
—Z
wherein R
2
is C
2
-C
6
linear or branched alkylene, C
2
-C
6
linear or branched hydroxy substituted alkylene, C
2
-C
6
linear or branched amino substituted alkylene, and mixtures thereof; Z is hydrogen, —OH, —NH
2
, and mixtures thereof; with from about 0.1 equivalents to about 8 equivalents of an acylating agent to form an acylated di-amino admixture; and
ii) reacting said acylated di-amino admixture with from 0.1 equivalents to 2 equivalents of a quaternizing agent to form a cationic charge booster system.
The present invention further relates to methods for boosting the softening activity of fabric softening actives by admixing a fabric softener with a cationic charge boosting system according to the present invention.
These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. 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
The present invention relates to improving the softening capacity of fabric softener actives, preferably Diester and Diamide Quaternary Ammonium (DEQA) fabric softening actives. Without wishing to be limited by theory it has been surprisingly discovered that the performance of fabric softener actives can be further enhanced by combining said actives with a cationic charge booster system. The effect is to increase the overall charge density of the total softener composition.
The increased softness benefit is also augmented by the presence of other adjunct ingredients depending upon the type of embodiment, inter alia, dispersed phase fabric softeners or isotropic softener compositions. Adjunct ingredients which provided for increased performance are, inter alia, polyoxyalkylene akyl amide surface active agents, which for example, when added to clear, translucent liquids, lowers the level of principal solvent necessary to maintain an isotropic formulation.
Because of the variety of formulation types, the cationic charge booster systems of the present invention will necessarily comprise a wide range of di-amino compounds depending upon the desired properties of the final formulation. Isotropic liquids may be formulated to be colorless solutions or the formulator may tint or color the compositions to satisfy the aesthetic decor indicated by the consumer. Typically the level of principal solvent present in the compositions of the present invention is typically less than about 15%, preferably less than about 12%, more preferably less than about 9%, most preferably less than about 5% by weight. Although compositions comprising nil principal solvent are achievable by the present invention, the presence of one or more principal solvents at a level of from about 0.5% to about 10% may be desirable by the formulator. For example, in order to formulate one or more ingredients, or to provide a homogeneous admixture of ingredients (e.g., colorants), one or more principal solvents may be used as a co-solvent or carrier during processing. Therefore, the presence of a principal solvent may be due to the fact that said principal solvent was carried into the composition as part of a feedstock composition. In addition, some level of principal solvent may be necessary to maintain product clarity at low temperatures.
The most common formulation is the dispersed phase fabric softener compositions. The formulator by varying the reaction conditions which produce the herein described cationic charge booster systems may afford a wide r

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