Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-07-03
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...
C510S292000, C510S327000, C510S332000, C510S336000, C510S337000, C510S338000, C510S394000, C510S396000, C510S397000, C510S499000, C510S501000, C510S466000, C510S521000, C510S522000, C510S527000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06255271
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to fabric care compositions. In particular the invention relates to compositions applied to fabric, during the laundry process and which have a number of added benefits over and above the usual benefits from the laundry process. A method of treatment of fabric with the composition of the invention is provided and so is the use of the compositions to provide various benefits from treatment of the fabric.
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.
Laundry detergent compositions containing polyamines, optionally alkoxylated are described in WO 97/42287. The detergent compositions may contain, as suds suppressors, polyorganosiloxane oils. However, there is no mention of the polyorganosiloxane oils having any function other than acting as suds suppressors. Laundry compositions containing polyamide-polyamine fabric treatment agents are described in WO 98/29530 and the detergent compositions are said to impart improved overall appearance to fabrics laundered using the compositions.
WO 96/15309 and WO 96/15310 describe sprayable anti-wrinkle compositions which contain a silicone and a film-forming polymer. The compositions are dispensed from a sprayer and are used as a spray treatment or as an ironing aid. However, an inherent problem with spray dispensed treatments is that they can result in localisation of the compositions in concentrated regions (so-called “spotting”).
A process for treating fabric on an industrial scale is disclosed in EP-A-0372782. The process involves the use of an amino functional polymer and a silicone capable of reacting with reactive groupings on the amino functional polymer, the silicone generally being present in greater amounts than the amino functional polymer. The process is carried out either continuously or as a batch process and is said to impart a softer handle to the fabric.
U.S. Pat. No. 3949014 relates to a binder for fibres which contains a polyamine-epichlorohydrin resin and an amphoteric high molecular weight compound having at least 2 cationic groups and at least 2 anionic groups per molecule. The treatment described in this document 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 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 carried out at about 150° C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4371517 discloses compositions for treating fibrous materials which contain cationic and anionic polymers. The document does not deal with domestic treatments and does not relate to fabric treatment compositions containing silicones.
Co-emulsifiers, based on cationic quaternary amine polymers, are taught in DD 221922 for use in fabric softener and other compositions.
The present invention is directed towards alleviating one or more of the problems referred to hereinabove.
The principal advantage of the present invention relates to reduced creasing of the fabric (compared to fabrics treated with conventional compositions) as a result of treatment with the compositions of the present invention. It will be understood that the creasing of the fabric which is reduced in the present invention is the generally undesirable creasing of the fabric which occurs in use or during the washing and/or drying of the fabric, and is usually removed by ironing or otherwise pressing the fabric, during a domestic laundering process.
The invention has the further advantage of increasing the dimensional stability of the fabric. The term “dimensional stability”, and related terms, used herein covers not only shrinkage of fabrics but also shape retention and bagginess reduction in fabrics.
Definition of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions for use in the treatment and care of fabric.
Thus according to one aspect of the invention there is provided a fabric care composition comprising an amine or amide-epichlorohydrin resin or derivative thereof, a silicone component and, optionally, a textile compatible carrier, wherein the textile compatible carrier facilitates contact between the resin and a fabric, the composition being adapted for use in the rinse cycle of a laundering process.
A second aspect of the invention relates to the use of the compositions of the invention to reduce creasing of the fabric.
The invention further provides a method of treating fabric in which a composition of the invention is applied to the fabric as part of a laundering process. The laundering processes of the invention include the large scale and small scale (eg domestic) cleaning of fabrics.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The compositions of the present invention comprise, as the first component, at least one amine or amide epichlorohydrin resin or derivatives 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-epichlorohydrin resins for use in the invention are those having an epoxide functional group of derivative thereof e.g. chlorohydrin.
The resin is preferably present in the product in a sufficient quantity to give an amount of 0.0005% to 5% by weight on the fabric based on the weight of the fabric, more preferably 0.001% to 2% by weight on fabric. The amoun
Carswell Robert John
Jarvis Anthony Nicholas
Killey Adelle Louise
Mooney William
Parker Andrew Philip
Delcotto Gregory
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco
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