Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Specific organic component
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-14
2004-06-01
Mruk, Brian P. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Specific organic component
C510S276000, C008S115510, C008S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06743767
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an ingredient for laundry cleaning or treatment products, for deposition onto fabric during a washing, rinsing or other treatment process. It further extends to compositions containing such an ingredient and methods of fabrics treatment using these compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The laundry process generally has several benefits for fabric, the most common being to remove dirt and stains from the fabric during the wash cycle and to soften the fabric during the rinse cycle. However, there are numerous disadvantages associated with repeated use of conventional laundry treatment compositions and/or the actual laundry process; one of these being a fairly harsh treatment of fabric in the laundry process causing fabric to lose its shape.
The present invention is directed towards maintaining the new appearance of fabric, that is to give increased stretch to the fabric and also better return (after being stretched) to the articles original shape (shape retention).
The present invention provides the further benefits of reduced creasing, softness, and also increase comfort during the wearing of an article.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fabric treatment composition comprising a textile compatible carrier and a supramolecular polymer, the supramolecular polymer comprising a building block comprising at least two moieties each moiety having at least 3 groups capable of forming cross-linking hydrogen bonds with other building blocks to form the supramolecular polymer.
A further aspect of this invention is a method of treating fabric comprising the step of applying to the fabric a composition according to the paragraph above.
Also disclosed is the use of a composition comprising a supramolecular polymer comprising a building block comprising at least two moieties each moiety having at least 3 groups capable of forming cross-linking hydrogen bonds with other building blocks to form the supramolecular polymer, to provide elasticity to fabric.
Supramolecular Polymers
The polymers used in this invention can be composed in several ways. The polymers may consist substantially of hydrogen bonding moieties (H-bridge-forming units) with low molecular weight, as a result of which an essentially linear polymer may be formed; also conceivable on the other hand are (essentially) linear polymers in which the hydrogen bonding moieties are linked to two ends of the polymers so that polymeric chains are linked to each other via the hydrogen bonding. In addition, a number of hydrogen bonding moieties can be grafted onto polymers, so that a form of cross-linking via hydrogen bonds may be obtained.
A schematic diagram of the types of hydrogen bonding interactions to form the supramolecular polymers is depicted below:
Where
represents an H-bridge
Mixtures of di-functional, tri-functional and grafted species are also possible.
The compositions of the invention comprise supramolecular polymer containing monomeric units that form H-bridges with one another, wherein the hydrogen bond forming moieties are preferably in pairs and at least 3 H-bridges are formed between the pairs, to provide elasticity to fabric.
It is preferable if within the supramolecular polymer that each moieties unit within the building block has at least 4 groups capable of forming cross-linking hydrogen bonds with other building blocks to form the supramolecular polymer.
It is especially preferable if within the supramolecular polymer if there are an even number of groups capable of forming cross-linking hydrogen bonds on the moieties units each moiety has the same structure as the corresponding moiety with which it forms hydrogen bonds. This is especially preferred if there are four or more groups capable of forming hydrogen bonds. It is especially preferred if all the hydrogen bond forming moieties within the supramolecular polymer have the same structure.
The group or groups between the hydrogen bonding moieties with the building block of the polymer may be any covalently attached group or groups. However it is preferred if the group is selected from polyethers, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinylacetate, polyvinylalcohol, polyethylene, polybutylene, polybutadiene, vinyl derived polymers or combinations thereof.
It is desirable if the supramolecular polymer is essentially linear. It is also preferable if the hydrogen bonding moiety has an essentially flat structure.
In a preferred embodiment within the supramolecular polymer the hydrogen bond forming moieties contain a structural element having the general form (1) or (2):
in which the C—X
i
and C—Y
i
linkages each represent a single or double bond, n is 4 or more and X
1
. . . X
n
, represent donors or acceptors that form hydrogen bonds with the hydrogen bond forming moieties containing a corresponding structural element 2 linked to them, with Y
i
representing an acceptor if X
i
represents a donor, and vice versa.
It is preferable if within the supramolecular polymer the hydrogen bond forming moieties contain a structural element having the general formula (3) or (4):
in which R
1
represents a co-valent linking unit within the building bridge or a side chain and R
2
represents a co-valent linking unit within the building bridge or a side chain; with the proviso that R
1
and R
2
are not both side chains.
Especially preferred are the polymers having the following structure:
wherein z is 1-16 preferably 6;
and wherein X is selected from:
a) poly(ethylene/butylene)
in which n and m are such that the molecular weight is in the range of 500 to 50000 g/mol and preferably approximately 3500 g/mol
b) poly(tetramethylene oxide)
in which n is such that the molecular weight is in the range of 500 to 50000 g/mol and preferably approximately 2000 g/mol
c) poly(ethylene oxide)
in which n is such that the molecular weight is in the range of 500 to 50000 g/mol and preferably approximately 2000 g/mol
d) poly (ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide)
in which n and m are such that the molecular weight is in the range of 500 to 50000 g/mol and preferably approximately 2000 g/mol. The weight percentage of n and m is within the range 1 to 99% and preferably m equals 65%
Polymers containing three hydrogen bonding moieties [structures (3) or (4)] per molecule can be used exclusively or in combination with polymer types (a), (b), (c) and (d) to generate polymer networks. Some examples are:
1) Poly (propylene oxide) with three hydrogen bonding moieties attached in which the molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 50000 g/mol and preferably approximately 700 g/mol.
2) Polymer with the structural formula shown below:
The level of supramolecular polymer within a composition is from 0.5 to 20 wt % of the total composition, more preferably from 1 t % to 12 wt % of the total composition.
It is preferable if the weight of supramolecular polymer per gram of 0.05 to 10%, more preferably 0.1 to 5% and most preferably 0.5 to 2%.
Compositions
The compositions of the invention may be in any physical form e.g. a solid such as a powder or granules, a tablet, a solid bar, a paste, gel or (especially aqueous) liquid. In particular the compositions may be used in laundry compositions, especially in liquid or powder laundry composition, for example for use in a wash and/or rinse and/or drying process.
The compositions of the present invention are preferably laundry compositions, especially rinse-added compositions. The compositions may also be added as main wash (fabric washing) compositions.
Compositions of the invention comprise a textile compatible carrier. In the context of the invention a textile compatible carrier can be selected from surfactants, softening compounds, terpenes, alcohols, water and mixtures thereof.
Limonene is a preferred terpene based textile compatible carrier. Aqueous alcohol solution in particular aqueous solutions of isopropyl alcohol or ethanol are preferred textile compatible carriers.
A perfume may be prese
Goldoni Francesca
Kukulj Dax
Bornstein Alan A.
Mruk Brian P.
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
LandOfFree
Laundry composition does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Laundry composition, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Laundry composition will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3330915