Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2002-10-08
Hess, Bruce H. (Department: 1774)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
C510S230000, C510S299000, C510S318000, C510S361000, C510S398000, C510S400000, C510S434000, C510S476000, C510S533000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06462013
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an isotropic liquid detergent composition comprising a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid detergents are generally classified as isotropic liquids or structured liquids. In an isotropic liquid, the components of the liquid system are dissolved into a single phase. In contrast, a structured liquid contains sufficient surfactant and/or electrolyte to form a lamellar droplet comprising “onion” type layers dispersed in an electrolyte medium which is capable of suspending undissolved particles in the liquid. The U.S. detergent market overwhelmingly prefers isotropic liquid detergents which are clear and appear “clean” as opposed to structured liquid detergents which are opague.
European Patent Application 0 786 516 A2 describes isotropic liquid detergent compositions containing a polymer having a hydrophilic backbone and monomer with hydrophobic side chains. The European patent application states the hydrophobic modification allows formation of more stable solutions than otherwise possible. U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,434 describes an isotropic liquid detergent composition containing a polymer having a hydrophilic backbone and monomer with hydrophobic side chains. The U.S. patent determined that the stability of the isotropic detergent increased when the molar ratio of the number of hydrophilic groups to the number of hydrophobic groups on the polymer is below certain critical levels. Thus, the prior art clearly teaches that stable isotropic liquid detergent compositions require a polymer having a hydrophilic backbone and hydrophobic side chains.
In contrast, conventional hydrophilic polymers such as polyacrylates are commonly used in powder detergent compositions wherein they function as cobuilders, antiredeposition agents, and processing agents. However, these hydrophilic polymers have not been incorporated in isotropic liquid detergent compositions because the hydrophilic polymers are not compatible with the organic phase of these formulations. Thus, these polymers cause phase separation in the isotropic liquid detergent formulations which is undesirable. Hence, there is a need for a hydrophilic polymer that is compatible in isotropic liquid detergent compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an isotropic liquid detergent composition comprising at least one surfactant and from about 0.1 to about 75 weight percent, based on the total weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent, wherein the polymer is the polymerization product of a ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and a C
1
to C
24
chain transfer agent.
According to another aspect the invention provides an isotropic liquid detergent composition comprising at least one surfactant and from about 0.1 to about 75 weight percent, based on the total weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent, wherein the polymer is the polymerization product of from about 50 to about 99.9 weight percent, based on the total weight of monomers, of a ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer, from about 0.1 to about 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of monomers, of a ethylenically unsaturated comonomer, and a C
1
to C
24
chain transfer agent.
According to an additional aspect the invention provides a method of cleaning textiles which involves preparing an isotropic liquid detergent composition comprising the water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer, contacting the isotropic liquid detergent composition with one or more textiles, wherein at least one of the textiles contains soil, and removing at least a portion of the soil from the fabric containing soil.
The present inventors have unexpectedly discovered that the water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a C
1
to C
24
chain transfer agent are compatible in isotropic liquid detergent formulations. When these polymers are used in a laundering process, they remove soil from textiles, inhibit soil redeposition onto textiles, and function as cobuilders by complexing metal ions present in hard water such as calcium and magnesium which otherwise may complex with the surfactants of a liquid detergent rendering the surfactants water-insoluble. Thus, the polymers exhibit a synergistic effect with surfactants of a liquid detergent to solubilize soil stains and suspend dirt particles in a laundering process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an isotropic liquid detergent composition. The liquid detergent composition contains at least one surfactant and from about 0. 1 to about 75 weight percent, based on the total weight of the liquid detergent composition, of a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent. Preferably, the liquid detergent composition contains from about 0.5 to about 25 weight percent, more preferably from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of the water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer.
The water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent is the polymerization product of a ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and a C
1
to C
24
chain transfer agent. Alternatively, the polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent is the polymerization product of from about 50 to about 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of monomers, of a ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer, from about 0.1 to about 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of monomers, of a ethylenically unsaturated comonomer, and a C
1
to C
24
chain transfer agent. Preferably, the polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent is the polymerization product of from about 60 to about 90 weight percent of the ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and from about 10 to about 40 weight percent of the ethylenically unsaturated comonomer. More preferably, the polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent is the polymerization product of from about 70 to about 80 weight percent of the ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer and from about 20 to about 30 weight percent of the ethylenically unsaturated comonomer.
The polymer having pendant acid functionality and a terminal fragment of a chain transfer agent comprises a hydrophilic “backbone” component which is prepared from at least one monomer as discussed above and a “terminal” portion which is a fragment of a chain transfer agent. The hydrophilic backbone generally is a linear or branched molecular composition preferably containing one type of relatively hydrophilic monomer unit wherein the monomer is preferably sufficiently soluble to form at least a 1% by weight solution when dissolved in water. The only limitation to the structure of the hydrophilic backbone is that a polymer corresponding to the hydrophilic backbone made from the backbone monomeric constituents is relatively water soluble (solubility in water at ambient temperature and at pH of 3.0 to 12.5 is preferably more than 1 g/l). The hydrophilic backbone is also preferably predominantly linear, e.g., the main chain of backbone constitutes at least 50% by weight, preferably more than 75%, most preferably more than 90% by weight. The terminal portion of the polymer is a linear or branched hydrophobe.
The ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer is selected from unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, unsaturated carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, and phosphonic acids. Combinations of ethylenically unsaturated acid monomers can also be used. Suitable ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer
Cooke, Jr. Winborn C.
Rodrigues Klein A.
Garrett Dawn L.
Hess Bruce H.
National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
Roland, Esq. Thomas F.
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