Clear softening agent formulations

Details Clear softening agent formulations Clear softening agent formulations

2001-05-23

2003-11-25

Hardee, John (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Auxiliary compositions for cleaning, or processes of preparing

Textile softening or antistatic composition

C510S522000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06653275

ABSTRACT:

The invention relates to fabric softener formulations based on one or more cationic surfactants and at least one further component, which give the overall formulation a transparent and clear appearance.
Over the course of time, the laundry detergent industry has developed fabric softener formulations with improved rewetting capacity, high stability and a good soft handle. The great majority of these formulations enter the market as aqueous dispersions. Examples of the formulation of dispersions are described, inter alia, in DE 37 20 331, DE 42 03 489, and EP 0 413 249.
The formulations prepared in accordance with the specifications given therein, however, require large amounts of energy for their preparation and tend toward severe fluctuations in viscosity, especially at high storage temperatures. Furthermore, it is known that agglomerates in fabric softener dispersions lead to spotting on the treated textiles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,340 describes homogeneous fabric softener formulations which comprise mixtures of a solid quaternary ammonium compound in a dispersing aid and of a liquid quaternary ammonium compound in a dispersing aid, and also a liquid carrier material, and in which fatty acids having a defined cis/trans ratio to the iodine number are used to prepare the quaternary ammonium compound. These fabric softener formulations, however, do not form clear solutions.
Against the background of heightened esthetic awareness, a prejudice has become established against the disperse fabric softener formulations. Among consumers, an increasing requirement is noted for formulations with a naturally clear appearance.
Flowable, highly concentrated and clear fabric softener formulations have already been described, as for example in DE 33 14 677, DE 36 08 093.
The highly concentrated products described therein, containing generally >35% of quaternary fabric softener base materials, have the disadvantage, however, that these formulations are difficult to dilute with water and/or that, during the rinsing of this highly concentrated formulation in the dispenser drawer of the washing machine, gels of poor solubility in water are formed, and uniform treatment of the textile is not ensured. Furthermore, with these highly concentrated fabric softeners, instances of overdosing are frequent, leading to spotting on the fabrics thus treated.
It was an object of the present invention, therefore, to avoid these disadvantages of the prior art and to provide fabric softener formulations whose activity spectrum is at least equal to that of the comparable prior art products but which additionally possess a clear and transparent appearance, whose preparation can be carried out at reduced energy consumption, and whose handling ensures a trouble-free application among the end users.
It has now been found that fabric softener formulations consisting predominantly of cationic surfactants and 5-30% by weight, based on overall formulation, of a further compound meet these requirements.
The invention accordingly provides clear and transparent fabric softener formulations comprising
A) 15-35% by weight of at least one quaternary ammonium compound of the general formula (I)
 and
B) 5-30% by weight of at least one of the compounds of the general formula (II)
R
6
—(CH
2
)
a
—O(—CH
2
—CH
2
(R
4
)—O—)
n
H
 where
R=—CH
3
, —CH
2
—CH(R
4
)—OR
1
,—CH
2
—CH(R
5
)—OR
2
, in which R
4
, R
5
may be identical or different and are H or —CH
3
,
R
1
and R
2
=H, —C(O)—R
3
in which R
3
is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon radical having 13-19 carbon atoms and containing at least one double bond, with the proviso that when R≠CH
3
R
1
and R
2
=H at least 1 to 1.4 times, and when R=CH
3
R
1
and R
2
=H at most 0.4 times
R
6
=a phenyl radical optionally containing C
1-4
alkyl groups, or a branched alkyl radical having 3 to 6 carbon atoms
n=0 to8,
a=0 or 1
A can be=anion of a quaternizing agent, in particular of dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, methyl chloride, and
C) 0.5-18% by weight of customary auxiliaries and additives, and
D) ad 100% by weight of water.
Also provided are clear fabric softener formulations as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the compounds of the general formula (I) are prepared by esterifying at least one of the alkanolamine compounds from the group methyldiethanolamine, methylethanolisopropanolamine, methyldiisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, triethanolamine and fatty acids, followed by quaternization.
Also provided are clear fabric softener formulations as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the compounds of the general formula (I) are prepared by esterifying alkanolamines and fatty acids in the molar ratio from 1:1.6 to 1:2, followed by quaternization.
Further subject-matter of the invention is defined by the claims.
The quaternary compounds of the general formula (I) that are used in accordance with the invention are prepared in accordance with the processes which are common knowledge in this field, by esterification of alkanolamines such as triethanolamine (TEA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), methyldiisopropanolamine (MDIA), methylethanolisopropanolamine (MEIPA), triisopropanolamine (TIPA) with fatty acid, followed by quaternization.
Particularly widespread are ester compounds based on triethanolamine, such as N-methyl, N,N-bis(beta-C
14-18
acyloxyethyl), N-beta-hydroxyethylammonium methosulfate), which are sold under trade names such as TETRANYL® AT 75 (trademark of KAO Corp.), STEPANTEX® VRH 90 (trademark of Stepan Corp.) or REWOQUAT® WE 18 (trademark of Witco Surfactants GmbH).
Fatty acids used for the esterification or transesterification are the monobasic fatty acids that are customary and known in this field, based on natural vegetable or animal oils with 6-22 carbon atoms, especially with 14-18 carbon atoms, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and especially rapeseed oil fatty acid, soybean oil fatty acid, sunflower oil fatty acid, tall oil fatty acid, which may be used alone or in a mixture in the form of their glycerides, methyl or ethyl esters, or as the free acids. In principle, all fatty acids with similar chain distribution are suitable.
The proportion of unsaturated fractions in these fatty acids and fatty acid esters is adjusted—where necessary—to a desired iodine number by means of the known catalytic hydrogenation processes, or is obtained by blending fully hydrogenated with unhydrogenated fatty components.
The iodine number, as a measure of the average degree of saturation of a fatty acid, is the amount of iodine absorbed by 100 g of the compound in order to saturate the double bonds.
Preference is given in accordance with the invention to fatty acids having iodine numbers in the range from approximately 40 to 160, but especially rapeseed oil fatty acids, sunflower oil fatty acids, soybean oil fatty acids, and tall oil fatty acids having iodine numbers in the range from approximately 80 to 150. They are commercially customary products and are sold by different companies under their respective trade names.
The esterification or transesterification is conducted in accordance with known processes. In these processes, the alkanolamine is reacted with the amount of fatty acid or fatty acid ester corresponding to the desired degree of esterification, in the presence if desired of a catalyst, e.g. methanesulfonic acid, under nitrogen at 160-240° C., and the water of reaction which forms, or the alcohol, is distilled off continuously, it being possible if desired to reduce the pressure in order to complete the reaction.
For the preparation of the esters, in a first stage the fatty acids and the alkanolamine are reacted in a ratio such as to result, with a view to the desired performance properties of the end products, in a degree of esterification of from 1.6 to 2.0; in accordance with the invention, particular preference is given to a degree of esterification of from 1.8 to 2.0. The compounds prepared in this way are technical reaction mixtures, present predominantly a

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