Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Heterogeneous arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-22
2002-10-08
Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Heterogeneous arrangement
C510S220000, C510S221000, C510S224000, C510S349000, C510S361000, C510S445000, C510S446000, C204S164000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06462012
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to detergent compositions, and more particularly, to detergent compositions which have a plasma-induced, water-soluble coating. The detergent compositions may be used in laundry, dishwashing, carwashing, hard surface cleaning or other similar applications. The plasma-induced, water-soluble coating controls the solubility, dispersion, flowability and chemical stability of the detergent composition. The invention also provides a process for making such detergent compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, detergent formulators are faced with numerous problems which impede delivering the active ingredients to the fabric or dishware to be cleaned. By way of example, recent low dosage or “compact” detergent products experience dissolution problems, especially in cold temperature laundering solutions (i.e., less than about 30° C.). More specifically, poor dissolution results in the formation of “clumps” which appear as solid white masses remaining in the washing machine or on the laundered clothes after conventional washing cycles. These “clumps” are especially prevalent under cold temperature washing conditions and/or when the order of addition to the washing machine is laundry detergent first, clothes second and water last (commonly known as the “Reverse Order Of Addition” or “ROOA”). Similarly, this clumping phenomenon can contribute to the incomplete dispensing of detergent in washing machines equipped with dispenser drawers or in other dispensing devices, such as a granulette. In this case, the undesired result is undissolved detergent residue in the dispensing device.
Another similar problem with detergent compositions, especially granular laundry and dishwashing detergents, is the degradation of physical properties over extended storage periods. More particularly, spray dried granules and other particulate detergent ingredients have a tendency to “cake” while stored in the detergent box, especially under highly humid conditions. Such “caking” is very unacceptable to consumers and can lead to difficulties in “scooping” or otherwise removing the detergent from the box in which it is contained. This problem can also result in improper dosing of the laundering solution resulting in decreased cleaning performance. Other problems include chemical instability of the detergent composition and difficulty in dispersing polymers into wash solutions. Heretofore, detergent formulators have unsuccessfully attempted to resolve or minimize all of the aforementioned problems, and they continue to search for convenient solutions which do not affect other properties of the detergent composition.
Accordingly, despite the above disclosures in the art, there is a need for detergent compositions which have improved physical properties, solubility and/or chemical stability. There is also a need for a process for producing such detergent compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention meets the above-identified needs by providing a detergent composition having a plasma-induced, water-soluble coating for controlling solubility, chemical stability and physical properties. The invention also provides a process for making such a detergent composition involving subjecting a detergent material to a plasma glow zone in which an organic hydrophilic monomer is introduced such that it ultimately deposits on the detergent material to form a water soluble coating. The detergent compositions are particulate or non-particulate (e.g., tablet) and can be used for laundry, dishwashing or other similar application.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a detergent composition is provided. The detergent composition comprises particulate material containing a detergent ingredient selected from the group consisting of detersive surfactants, builders and mixtures thereof; wherein at least a portion of the particulate material has a plasma-induced, water-soluble coating. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the detergent composition comprises a non-particulate material containing a detergent ingredient selected from the group consisting of detersive surfactants, builders and mixtures thereof; wherein at least a portion of the non-particulate material has a plasma-induced, water-soluble coating.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a process for producing a detergent composition is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (a) providing a detergent material containing a detergent ingredient selected from the group consisting of detersive surfactants, builders and mixtures thereof; (b) subjecting the detergent material to plasma glow zone in which a gas is ionized and an organic hydrophilic monomer is introduced such that the organic hydrophilic monomer deposits on the detergent material to form a water-soluble coating. As used herein, the “plasma glow zone” is the space or region where plasma is generated using electricity, such as the space between two electrodes in a plasma vacuum chamber.
All percentages, ratios and proportions used herein are by weight, unless otherwise indicated. All documents including patents and publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference.
Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention to provide a detergent composition which has improved physical properties, solubility and/or chemical stability. It is also an advantage of the invention to provide a process for producing such detergent compositions in an convenient manner. These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In essence, the invention is directed to particulate and non-particulate detergent compositions having a plasma-induced, water-soluble coating. In preferred modes of the invention, the particulate material is selected from spray dried granules, agglomerates and mixtures thereof, and is applied in the laundry, dishwashing or similar context. The non-particulate detergent compositions herein may also be applied to laundry or dishwashing, for example, as a laundry or dishwashing tablet, block, cylinder, cube, sheet or other non-particulate configuration.
Preferably, the water-soluble coating is formed from an organic hydrophilic monomer, which is even more preferably selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, maleates, fumarates, vinyl ethers and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the organic monomer is selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof. Most preferably, the organic monomer is acrylic acid.
The water-soluble coating is on at least a portion of the detergent compositions described herein. By “at least a portion”, it is meant that at least 1%, preferably 90% to 100% of the particulate or non-particulate detergent composition has a water-soluble coating on it. It should be understood that not all of the detergent composition needs to be coated to be within the scope of the invention. To that end, a plasma coating process is used to place the water-soluble coating on the detergent composition. As detailed hereinafter, this is accomplished by ionizing a gas, such as argon, using high frequency electricity in a plasma vacuum chamber. Suitable gases may be selected from the group consisting of argon, helium, oxygen, nitrogen and mixtures thereof
Typical plasma chambers will have a “plasma glow zone” which can be the region between the two electrodes used to generate the high frequency electricity, and thus the plasma therebetween. The plasma chamber can be embodied in a fluidized bed dryer or cooler, tumbling drum, vibrating conveyor belt or other similar apparatus used in the commercial scale production of particulate detergent compositions. The pressure inside the plasma chamber is typically maintained at a pressure of fro
Datta Saswati
France Paul Amaat
Radomyselskiy Arseniy V.
Wevers Jean
Delcotto Gregory
Glazer Julia A.
Miller Steven W.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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