Fabric softeners with improved color-retaining action

Details Fabric softeners with improved color-retaining action Fabric softeners with improved color-retaining action

1999-08-19

2001-01-30

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

C510S504000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06180593

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fabric softener formulations based on one or more cationic surfactants and at least one other component which impart to the overall formulation improved color-retaining action on textiles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over time, the detergent industry has developed textile detergents having continuously improved detergency. Although this is positive and desirable for hygienic reasons, the adverse effect, particularly after a number of wash cycles, cannot be overlooked; colored textiles or textiles imprinted with color undergo fading to a greater or lesser extent.
Color leaching is even more undesirable if the dyes released into the wash liquor are transferred onto other textiles.
Attempts have therefore been made in the past to solve the problem in various ways, such as, for example, by treating the textiles with “dye scavengers” during the washing operation.
The use of color fixatives, which are intended to improve adhesion of the dyes to the fiber, and which are added to the detergent or to the rinse, has also been proposed on several occasions (EP-A-0 704 523, EP-A-0 341 205, EP-A-0 462 806, WO 94/11482, EP-A-0 811 679).
Some progress has been made, but primarily only as a result of high fixative concentrations of about 5-8%, by weight. There is thus a continued need for laundry fabric softeners which have reduced concentrations of fixatives coupled with a high color-retaining action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been found that a fabric softener formulation consisting primarily of cationic surfactants and at least 0.02 to about 4%, by weight, based on the overall formulation, of another compound satisfies these requirements, i.e. the colors are fixed on the fabric by the fabric-softening operation so that during the next washing operation bleeding is greatly reduced.
Specifically, the present invention provides fabric softeners with color-retaining action comprising:
3-25%, by weight, of component (A) which consists of:
Aa) 75-97%, by weight, of quaternary ammonium compounds of the general formula (I)
and 3-25%, by weight, of at least one of the compounds
where
R=—CH
3
, —CH
2
—CH(R
4
)—OR
1
, —CH
2
—CH(R
5
)—OR
2
, wherein R
4
and R
5
may be identical or different and can be H or —CH
3
,
R
1
,R
2
=H,—C(O)—R
3
, wherein R
3
is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon radical which may or may not contain double bonds and has 13-19 carbon atoms, with the proviso that at least 1-1.5 of R
1
and R
2
=H,
R
6
=an optionally substituted hydrocarbon which may or may not contain multiple bonds and which has 8-20 carbon atoms,
a,b=1-8, where the sum a+b is 2-10, in particular 3-8,
R
7
=an optionally substituted hydrocarbon radical having 7-19 carbon atoms,
R
8-11
=—(CH
2
—CH
2
—O)
n
H, wherein n is =1-10 and the sum of all n is =8-20, in particular 11-15,
A
−
=is an anion of a quaternizing agent, in particular of dimethylsulfate, diethylsulfate, or methylchloride;
(B)0.5-6%, by weight, of customary auxiliaries and additives; and
(C) ad 100%, by weight, of water.
The invention further provides aqueous fabric softeners in which the alkanolamines are methyldiethanolamine or triethanolamine.
The invention further provides aqueous fabric softeners based on esters of fatty acids and alkanolamines which are reacted in a molar ratio from 1:1.75 to 1:2. Other subject-matters provided by the invention are defined by the claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3974076 (1976-08-01), Wiersma et al.
patent: 5242607 (1993-09-01), Yamamura et al.
patent: 5500138 (1996-03-01), Bacon et al.
patent: 0 341 205 A2 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 374609 A2 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 0 462 806 B1 (1991-12-01), None
patent: 510879 A2 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 0 704 523 A1 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 0 811 679 A1 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 4-100974 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 7-70927 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 9-255988 (1997-09-01), None
patent: WO 94/11482 (1994-05-01), None

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