Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-08-21
Hardee, John (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
C510S519000, C510S528000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277810
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to fabric care products and compositions, to methods of treating fabric using the products and compositions in a laundering process and to the use of the products and compositions to improve the appearance and/or texture of fabrics. Improvements in appearance and/or texture include improved surface colour definition of fabrics following multiple washings and/or improved fabric dimensional stability and/or reduced fabric fibrillation.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
The laundry process generally has several benefits for fabric, the most common being to remove dirt and stains from the fabric during the wash cycle and to soften the fabric during the rinse cycle. However, there are numerous disadvantages associated with repeated use of conventional laundry treatment compositions and/or the actual laundry process; one of these being a fairly harsh treatment of fabric in the laundry process.
Fabrics can be damaged in several ways as a result of repeated laundering and/or wear. Fabric pilling and loss of fabric surface appearance e.g. fuzzing, shrinkage (or expansion), loss of colour from the fabric or running of colour on the fabric (usually termed dye transfer) are some of the common problems associated with repeated laundering. These problems may occur merely from repeated hand washing as well as the more vigorous machine washing process. Furthermore, problems relating to damage of fabric over time through normal use, such as loss of shape and increased likelihood of wrinkling are also significant.
The present invention is directed towards alleviating one or more of the problems referred to hereinabove.
Laundry detergent compositions containing polyamide-polyamine fabric treatment agents are described in WO 98/29530. The compositions are claimed to impart improved overall appearance to fabrics laundered using the detergent compositions, in terms of surface appearance properties such as pill/fuzz reduction and antifading. Laundry compositions containing polyamide-polyamine treatment agents of similar types are taught in WO 97/42287.
An industrial process for treating fibres is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,014. This document describes the use of a polyamine-epichlorohydrin resin in a binder, together with an amphoteric high molecular weight compound having at least 2 cationic groups and at least 2 anionic groups per molecule. U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,014 mentions the treatment of fabrics with the binder but it is clear that the treatment is intended to be carried out industrially as part of a fabric treatment process rather than as part of a domestic laundering process and this conclusion is supported by the fact that the fabric treated with the binder required curing at a relatively high temperature. Industrial curing of fabrics treated with this type of polymer system is normally caried out at about 150° C.
Methods for treating wool with compositions containing an amino functional polymer so as to impart shink resistance are known. However, as described in EP-A-0315477, wool requires a pretreatment before such compositions can be used. Furthermore, EP-A-0372782 explains that the chemistry of wool is quite different from that of cellulosic fibres such as cotton and the requirements for shrink resistance treatments for cotton are generally very different from those for wool.
Anti-wrinkle sprays containing a silicone and a film-forming polymer are described in WO 96/15309 and WO 96/15310. A wide range of possibilities is given for the film-forming polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,517 discloses shampoo compositions and compositions for treating fabrics containing cationic and anionic polymers. In a non-domestic treatment, the compositions increased the rigidity of cotton fabric.
DD 221922 relates to co-emulsifiers, for use in fabric softener and other compositions, which contain cationic quaternary ammonium polymers.
The present invention aims to provide novel delivery systems for certain fabric care compositions.
The principal advantage of the present invention relates to maintaining the surface integrity/appearance of the treated fabric upon repeated washings to give a fabric surface that shows improved colour definition (compared to fabrics treated with conventional compositions) as a result of treatment with the compositions of the present invention.
The compositions of the invention also provide, in addition to the aforementioned advantage, the benefit of improved dimensional stability of the fabric as a result of treatment with the compositions of the invention. The term “dimensional stability”, and related terms, used herein covers not only shrinkage of fabrics but also shape retention, bagginess reduction and additionally, although less preferred, crease/wrinkle resistance in fabrics.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a fabric care product adapted for use in a tumble dryer comprising a composition that comprises at least one amine- or amide-epichlorohydrin resin or derivative thereof.
The invention also provides a sprayable composition, adapted for application to a fabric prior to tumble drying in a laundering process and contained in a spray dispenser, comprising at least one amine- or amide-epichlorohydrin resin or derivative thereof with the proviso that the composition does not contain a silicone.
In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of treating fabric comprising applying to the fabric a composition comprising at least one amine- or amide-epichlorohydrin resin or derivative thereof by drying the fabric in the presence of a fabric care product of the invention or by spraying the fabric with a sprayable composition of the invention prior to drying the fabric, as part of a laundering process.
Further provided by the invention is the use of a fabric care product or a sprayable composition of the invention in the treatment of fabric to improve the appearance and/or texture of the fabric, such as, for example, surface color definition following multiple washings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The products and compositions of the present invention comprise at least one amine- or amide-epichlorohydrin resin or derivative thereof.
In the context of the present invention these first materials are polymeric, or at least oligomeric, in nature. Preferably, they have a weight average mean molecular weight of from 300 to 1,000,000 daltons.
The resins of the invention are sometimes referred to below as amine-epichlorohydrin resins and polyamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins (the two terms being used synonymously) although these terms encompass both the amine and amide resins of the invention. The resins may also have a mixture of amine and amide groups.
The amine or amide-epichlorohydrin resins may have one or more functional groups capable of forming azetidinium groups and/or one or more azetidinium functional groups.
Alternatively, or additionally the resins may have one or more functional groups that contain epoxide groups or derivatives thereof e.g. Kymene™ 450 (ex Hercules).
Suitable polyamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resins include those described in ‘Wet Strength Resins and Their Application’, pp 16-36, ed. L. L. Chan, Tappi Press, Atlanta, 1994. Suitable PAE resins can be identified by selecting those resins which impart increased wet strength to paper, after treatment, in a relatively simple test.
Any amine or amide-epichlorohydrin resin having an epoxide functional group or derivative thereof is suitable for use according to the invention.
A particularly preferred class of amine or amide-epichlorohydrin resins for use in the invention are secondary amine or amide-based azetidinium resins, for example, those resins derived from a polyalkylene polyamine e.g. diethylenetriamine (DETA), a polycarboxylic acid e.g. adipic acid or other dicarboxylic acids, and epichlorohydrin. Other polyamines or polyamides can also be advantageously used in the preparation of suitable PAE resins.
Another preferred class of amine or amide-epichlorohydrin resins for use in the invention are those having
Baines Fiona Louise
Cowen Jane Louise
Crawford Robert John
Parker Andrew Philip
Sams Philip John
Hardee John
Squillante Edward A.
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
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