Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – With oxygen – halogen – sulfur – or nitrogen containing or...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-12
2003-05-27
Hardee, John (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
With oxygen, halogen, sulfur, or nitrogen containing or...
C510S475000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06569823
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a fabric care composition, to the use of the composition during a laundering process and to a method of treating a fabric using the composition.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Fabric softening and/or conditioning compositions are known to impart benefits to fabric. Such compositions are generally applied to the fabric during the rinse cycle of a domestic laundering process. Fabrics treated with the compositions generally have a softer feel and improved handle compared to untreated fabric.
A number of compounds are known to act as fabric softening and/or conditioning agents. Generally, these are delivered to the fabric during the rinse cycle of a laundering process. These known compounds include quaternary ammonium compounds such as so-called Hamburg quaternary ester (HEQ) ie, 1,2-bis[hardened tallowoyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium-propane chloride.
The known fabric softening and/or conditioning compounds can provide a degree of resistance to creasing in the fabric. However, there remains a need for fabric softening and/or conditioning compounds which can impart a greater crease resistance.
The present invention relates to fabric softening and/or conditioning compositions which can impart improved crease resistance to fabrics relative to conventional compositions. The compositions of the invention also exhibit other advantages; fabrics treated with the compositions can have greater bulk, better in-wear fabric flow, improved drape and creasing properties and reduced folding and storage creasing.
Certain cationic compositions obtained by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with compounds having amino and amide functional groups, the compounds being formed by the acylation with long chain acyl groups of tetraethylene pentamine, have been used in the treatment of textiles. However, these treatments are applied industrially and do not form part of a fabric laundering process. The treatments have been applied as part of the cycle for dyeing acrylic fibers and as a finish in industrial processes.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a fabric care composition comprising a perfume and a compound which is obtainable by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with an amine, wherein the amine is a derivative of a polyamine in which some but not all of the amino groups bear long chain acyl groups.
The invention also provides the use of a composition of the invention or of a compound used in the compositions of the invention to soften and/or condition fabric during a laundering process.
Further provided by the invention is a method of treating a fabric which comprises applying to the fabric a composition of the invention or a compound used in the compositions of the invention as part of a laundering process.
DERAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves fabric care compositions which comprise a perfume and a compound which is obtainable by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with an amine.
The perfume will generally be present in the composition in a relatively minor amount compared to the amount of the compound. Preferably, the perfume is present in an amount of up to about 5% by weight of the composition, more preferably up to 1% by weight, most preferably 0.001% to 1% by weight. The perfume may be a single compound or a mixture of different compounds. Any of the perfumes which are known for use in fabric care compositions, such as domestic detergent or fabric conditioning compositions, may be used in the compositions of the invention, although other perfumes may be employed in addition or instead. Examples of perfumes which may be used in the compositions of the invention are those described in, for instance, EP-A-0545556, EP-A-0332259, EP-A-0430315, EP-A-0404470, U.S. Pat. No. 5652206 and WO 97/31094.
The compound which is used in the compositions of the invention is obtainable by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with an amine. It will be appreciated that the reaction product formed by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with the amine may be a mixture of different compounds. The compound used in the composition of the invention is preferably in the form of this mixture. Alternatively, the compound may be a partly or substantially completely purified product obtainable from the reaction product.
The amine which is reacted with epichlorohydrin to form the compound is a derivative of a polyamine. The polyamine is preferably a linear polymer. The polyamine preferably has at least 3 nitrogen atoms in the polymer chain, including any nitrogen atoms in the end groups of the polymer chain. More preferably, the polyamine has from 3 to 10 nitrogen atoms in the polymer chain (including its end groups), most preferably 3 to 7 nitrogen atoms, such as 5 nitrogen atoms (eg, the polyamine may have a backbone based on tetraethylene pentamine). Preferably, the nitrogen atoms form part of primary or secondary amino groups in the underivatised polyamine. The nitrogen atoms within and at the end of the chain are linked by any suitable linker groups. Linker groups include alkylene groups, such as C
1
to C
8
alkylene (eg, ethylene or propylene), optionally containing other atoms or groups in or on the alkylene groups eg, amide groups in the alkylene chain or alkyl or hydroxyl groups on the alkylene chain.
The polyamines are modified, to form derivatives, such that at least one but not all of the nitrogen atoms bear long chain acyl groups. The amines therefore contain at least one amino group (ie, an amino group in the polyamine which is not acylated) and at least one amido group (ie, an amino group in the polyamine which has been acylated). The amines may contain only one amino group. The long chain acyl groups include —C(O)R groups, where R is C
10
to C
30
alkyl. The alkyl groups may be branched or unbranched, cyclic or linear. Preferably, the alkyl groups are unbranched and are linear. Advantageously, the alkyl groups are saturated and/or unsubstituted. However, the long chain in the acyl groups may contain double bonds and may be substituted in or on the chain. Preferably, the acyl groups include one or more n-C
22
H
46
—C(O)— groups. The polyamine may be acylated with one type of acyl group or with a mixture of different acyl groups, such as, for example, a mixture of acyl groups of different chain lengths.
The amines may be produced by acylation of the polyamine with a long chain acylating agent. Suitable acylating agents include fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid chlorides and fatty acid anhydrides. Preferably, the polyamine is acylated using a fatty acid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reaction of the polyamine with the acylating agent can be represented by the following schematic reaction:
wherein:
A is an alkylene chain (eg, C
1
to C
6
);
R is a long chain alkyl group (eg, C
10
to C
30
);
X is a leaving group such as OH or Cl;
n is an integer from 1 to 8;
each R′ is, independently, H or COR; and
B contains at least one (A—NH) group and at least one (A—N(COR)) group, the total number of both groups being equal to n.
Preferably, B contains more (A—N(COR)) groups than (A—NH) groups and, desirably, there are n+1 COR groups in the compound of formula R′HN—B—NHR′.
The compound of formula R′HN—B—NHR′, which may be in the form of a mixture of different compounds, is reacted with epichlorohydrin to form the compound which may be used in the fabric care compositions of the invention. The epichlorohydrin is preferably reacted with the amine in an amount of from 0.25 to 0.75 molar equivalents. Conditions for the acylation reaction are well-known in the art. Preferably, from n to n+1.5 molar equivalents of acylating agent are reacted with the compound of formula H
2
N—(A—NH)
n
—A—NH
2
eg, from 3 to 4.5 molar equivalents of acylating agent may be reacted with a pentamine (for example, tetraethylene pentamine). The reaction is preferably carried out in the absence or substantial absence of air (eg, in the presence of an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon).
When a fatty ac
Bornstein Alan A.
Hardee John
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA Division of Conopco, Inc.
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