Fabric softener compositions

Details Fabric softener compositions Fabric softener compositions

2002-09-04

2004-11-09

Hardee, John R. (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

06815412

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 antipilling treatment of textile materials in domestic applications. In particular it relates to textile softening compositions for use in a textile laundering operation to impart excellent antipilling benefits on the textile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known, the pill formed on worn clothing markedly detracts from the appearance and feel of the clothing. The occurrence of pig is particularly a problem in the field of knitted materials, so that it has been greatly desired to seek measures for preventing the occurrence of pill on knitted fibre materials. Methods of improving the feel of worn clothing are known, such as rinse-added softener compositions. Typically, such compositions contain a water-insoluble quaternary-ammonium fabric softening agent. Silicones have also been used in rinse-cycle softening compositions for various reasons.
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 if 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.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the use of selected polyorganosiloxanes, or mixtures thereof, together with selected additive in fabric softener compositions provide excellent antipilling effects when applied to fabrics during a textile laundry operation.
Similar benefits are noted when compositions of the current invention are incorporated into tumble dryer additives such as impregnates on sheets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of use of a softener composition for the antipilling treatment 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 add, 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
)
z
—CH
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
)
l
—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 treated for antipilling.
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 a laundry detergent, which may be one of a broad range of detergent types. The tumble dryer sheet will be used after a laundering process. The textile fibre materials may be damp or dry.
The fabric softener composition may also be sprayed directly onto the fabrics prior to or during the ironing or drying of the treated fabrics.
The polyorganosiloxane may be anionic, nonionic or cationic, preferably nonionic or cationic.
The polyorganosiloxanes, or mixtures thereof, are usually used in a dispersed form, via the use of an emulsifier. The fabric softener composition preferably contains a water content of 25 to 90% by weight based on the total weight of the emulsion.
When the polyorganosiloxane contains a nitrogen atom, the nitrogen content of the aqueous emulsion due to the polyorganosiloxane is as a rule from 0.001 to 0.25% with respect to the silicon content. In general, a nitrogen content from 0 to 0.25% is preferred. The particles of the emulsion usually have a diameter of between 5 nm and 1000 nm.
The fabric softener composition preferably has a solids content of 5 to 70% at a temperature of 120° C.
The fabric softener composition preferably has a pH value from 2 to 9.0, especially 2 to 7.
The fabric softener composition may further comprise an additional polyorganosiloxane:
wherein g is
and G is C
1
to C
20
alkyl.
This polydimethylsiloxane is cationic, has a viscosity at 25° C. of 250 mm
2
s
−1
to 450 mm
2
s
−1
, has a specific gravity of 1.00 to 1.02 g/cm
3
and has a surface tension of 28.5 mNm
−1
to 33.5 mNm
−1
.
The fabric softener composition may further comprise an additional polyorganosiloxane, such as that known as Magnasoft HSSD, or a polyorganosiloxane of the formula:
R′ is CH
2
CH
2
CH
2
N(R′″)
2
R′″ is linear or branched C
1
-C
4
alkyl
R″ is (CH
2
)
x″
-(EO)
m
—(PO)
n
—R″″
m is 3 to 25
n is 0 to 10
X″ is 0 to 4
R″′ is H or linear or branched C
1
-C
4
alkyl
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′, Y′ and S′ is 40 to 300.
Preferably the compositions comprise dispersed polyorganosiloxanes 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
C

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