Fabric softener compositions

Details Fabric softener compositions Fabric softener compositions

2002-07-08

2004-11-30

Hardee, John (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Auxiliary compositions for cleaning, or processes of preparing

Textile softening or antistatic composition

Reexamination Certificate

active

06825163

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the use of fabric softener compositions comprising selected polyorganosiloxanes, or mixtures thereof, together with selected additives for the wrinkle recovery or reduction of wet soiling in domestic applications. In particular it relates to textile softening compositions for use in a textile laundering operation to impart excellent wrinkle recovery and wet soiling benefits on the textile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wrinkles in fabrics are caused by the bending and creasing of the textile material which places an external portion of a filament in a yarn under tension while the internal portion of that filament in the yarn is placed under compression. Particularly with cotton fabrics, the hydrogen bonding that occurs between the cellulose molecules contributes to keeping wrinkles in place. The wrinkling of fabric, in particular clothing, is therefore subject to the inherent tensional elastic deformation and recovery properties of the fibres which constitute the yarn and fabrics.
There is a demand for a quick fix which will help to diminish the labour involved in home laundering and/or the cost and time involved in dry cleaning or commercial laundering. This has brought additional pressure to bear on textile technologists to produce a product that will sufficiently reduce wrinkles in fabrics, especially clothing, and to produce a good appearance through a simple, convenient application of a product.
The present invention helps remove wrinkles from fabrics, including clothing, dry cleanable fabrics and draperies, without the need for ironing. The present invention can be used on washed clothing, which is damp or dry, to relax wrinkles and give clothes a ready to wear look that is demanded by today's consumer. The present invention also essentially eliminates the need for touch up ironing usually associated with closet, drawer, and suitcase storage of garments.
When ironing is desired however, the present invention can also act as an excellent ironing aid. The present invention makes the task of ironing easier and faster by creating less iron drag. When used as an ironing aid, the composition of the present invention produces a crisp, smooth appearance similar to that of spray starch ironing aids without the dry residue or flaking that occurs with typical spray starch ironing aids. It appears that recognition of improved “ease of ironing” can arise from a combination of at least three factors, namely fewer wrinkles to be removed, wrinkles more easily removed (e.g. with less weight upon the iron), or more completely removed, and less effort required to slide the iron along the fabric.
An additional benefit of the composition of the present invention is an in-wear wrinkle control benefit. The composition of the present invention can help to prevent future wrinkles from forming in the fabric even after the fabric has been through a wash cycle, or a tumble drying process.
Another property which it would be desirable to impart is the reduction of wet soiling. Some wrinkle recovery treatments have the disadvantage that wet soiling is adversely effected. Hence, It is often also necessary to treat the textile material further to improve its wet soiling characteristics. It would therefore be desirable to find a process according to which wrinkle recovery as well as wet soiling is improved.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the use of selected polyorganosiloxanes, or mixtures thereof, together with selected additives in fabric softener compositions provide excellent wrinkle recovery and ironing improvement effects as well as a reduction of wet soiling when applied to fabrics during a textile laundry operation.
As given above one component of the compositions of the present invention are polyorganosiloxanes. Such compounds are known to be used on an industrial scale to finish fabrics by providing them with a permanent or semi-permanent finish aimed at improving their general appearance. Significant for these industrial fabric finishing processes is a co-called curing step generally involving temperatures in excess of 150° C. often for periods of one hour or more. The object here is to form a chemical finish which resists destruction during subsequent cleaning/laundering of fabrics. This process of finishing is not carried out in domestic applications and accordingly one would not expect benefits of a comparable nature or magnitude from polyorganosiloxanes included as adjuncts in domestic softeners.
Indeed, it is noteworthy that it the compounds of the current invention achieved a permanence associated with industrial textile finishing, problems associated with a cumulative build through the wash cycles could occur such as fabric discoloration and even in extremes an unpleasant feel to the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of use of a fabric softener composition for the wrinkle recovery treatment or the reduction of wet soiling of textile fibre materials in domestic applications, which softener composition comprises:
A) a fabric softener;
B) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of
a) a polyethylene, or a mixture thereof,
b) a fatty acid alkanolamide, or a mixture thereof,
c) a polysilicic acid, or a mixture thereof, and
d) a polyurethane, or a mixture thereof; and
C) a dispersed polyorganosiloxane of formula (1)
wherein
R
1
is OH, OR
2
or CH
3
R
2
is CH
3
or CH
2
CH
3
R
3
is C
1
-C
20
alkoxy, CH
3
, CH
2
CHR
4
CH
2
NHR
5
, or CH
2
CHR
4
CH
2
N(COCH
3
)R
5
R
4
is H or CH
3
R
5
is H, CH
2
CH
2
NHR
6
, C(═O)—R
7
or (CH
2
)
2
—H
3
z is 0 to 7
R
6
is H or C(═O)—R
7
R
7
is CH
3
, CH
2
CH
3
or CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
OH
R
8
is H or CH
3
the sum of X and Y is 40 to 4000;
or a dispersed polyorganosiloxane which comprises at least one unit of the formula (5)
(R
9
)
v
(R
10
)
w
Si—A—B  (5)
wherein
R
9
is CH
3
, CH
3
CH
2
or Phenyl
R
10
is —O—Si or —O—R
9
the sum of v and w equals 3, and v does not equal 3
A=—CH
2
CH(R
11
)(CH
2
)
K
B=—NR
12
((CH
2
)—NH)
m
R
12
, or
n is 0 or 1
when n is 0, U
1
is N, when n is 1, U
1
is CH
l is 2 to 8
k is 0 to 6
m is 0 to 3
R
11
is H or CH
3
R
12
is H, C(═O)—R
16
, CH
2
(CH
2
)
p
CH
3
or
p is 0 to 6
R
13
is NH, O, OCH
2
CH(OH)CH
2
N(Butyl), OOCN(Butyl)
R
14
is H, linear or branched C
1
-C
4
alkyl, Phenyl or CH
2
CH(OH)CH
3
R
15
is H or linear or branched C
1
-C
4
alkyl
R
16
is CH
3
, CH
2
CH
3
or (CH
2
)
q
OH
q is 1 to 6
U
2
is N or CH;
or a dispersed polyorganosiloxane of the formula (8)
wherein
R
3
is as previously defined
R
17
is OH, OR
18
or CH
3
R
18
is CH
3
or CH
2
CH
3
R
19
is R
20
—(EO)
m
—(PO)
n
—R
21
m is 3 to 25
n is 0 to 10
R
20
is the direct bond or CH
2
CH(R
22
)(CH
2
)
p
R
23
p is 1 to 4
R
21
is H, R
24
, CH
2
CH(R
22
)NH
2
or CH(R
22
)CH
2
NH
2
R
22
is H or CH
3
R
23
is O or NH
R
24
is linear or branched C
1
-C
8
alkyl or Si(R
25
)
3
R
25
is R
24
, OCH
3
or OCH
2
CH
3
EO is —CH
2
CH
2
O—
PO is —CH(CH
3
)CH
2
O— or —CH
2
CH(CH
3
)O—
the sum of X
1
, Y
1
and S is 20 to 1500;
or a dispersed polyorganosiloxane of the formula (9)
wherein
R
26
is linear or branched C
1
-C
20
alkoxy, CH
2
CH(R
4
)R
29
R
4
is as previously defined
R
29
is linear or branched C
1
-C
20
alkyl
R
27
is aryl, aryl substituted by linear or branched C
1
-C
10
alkyl, linear or branched C
1
-C
20
alkyl substituted by aryl or aryl substituted by linear or branched C
1
-C
10
alkyl
R
28
is
the sum of X
2
, X
3
, X
4
and Y
2
is 20 to 1500, wherein X
3
, X
4
and Y
2
may be independently of each other 0;
or a mixture thereof.
The composition is preferably used as a component in a liquid rinse conditioner composition. The textile fibre materials are preferably treated for wrinkle recovery.
In tumble dryer applications the compositions are usually incorporated into impregnates on non-woven sheets. However, other application forms are known to those skilled in the art.
The fabric softener composition will be used after the textile fibre materials have been washed with

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