Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Auxiliary compositions for cleaning – or processes of preparing – Textile softening or antistatic composition
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-10
2004-08-31
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
06784152
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fabric softeners, and more particularly to fabric softener concentrates that are added during the rinse cycle of a laundering process. Specifically, the present invention relates to a rinse cycle fabric softener concentrate that includes at least one polyquatemary (polyquat) ammonium anionic scavenger and at least one cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener agent. The rinse cycle fabric softener concentrate of the present invention containing the polyquatemary ammonium anionic scavenger exhibits improved performance, i.e., softening, dye transfer inhibition, higher solids formulations and improved water dispersibility, as compared to prior art fabric softeners that do not contain the anionic scavenger described herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of laundering, it is well known to add a liquid fabric softener containing at least one fabric softening agent such as a cationic quaternary ammonium compound or salt thereof directly into the laundering process. The addition of the liquid fabric softener typically occurs during the rinse cycle itself. Although some improved softness may arise from the use of prior art fabric softeners, the overall softening performance of prior art fabric softeners is hindered due to high levels of residual anionics which are typically present in the washing liquor; the high level of residual anionics in the laundry liquor is the result of utilizing detergents that contain a high concentration of anionic surfactants which are not typically removed prior to the rinsing cycle. This is particularly the case in North America where high levels of anionic surfactants are employed in the detergent, and little or no additional (single rinse cycle following wash cycle) rinsing occurs prior to the addition of the fabric softener.
The hindered softening performance of prior art fabric softeners can be attributed to the high affinity that the cationic softening agents have for negatively charged species and/or surfaces. When high levels of anionics are present in the laundering liquor, the anionics compete with the negatively charged surfaces of the laundered fabric for the cationic fabric softener agent and complexation of the anionics and the cationic fabric softener agent occurs. Complexation of the anionics with the cationic fabric softener agent is undesirable since it significantly reduces the overall amount of fabric softener agent present in the rinse cycle that is needed to obtain a high degree of softening. Thus, because of the reduced levels of fabric softener agents in the laundry liquor, prior art fabric softeners can not achieve a high degree of softness.
Attempts have been made in the prior art to increase the amount of cationically charged species present in the laundry liquor. For example, it is known to add so-called “charge boosters” to fabric softeners in order to increase the amount of positively charged species present in the laundry liquor during the rinse cycle. Illustrative examples of some prior art charge boosters, which are disclosed in WO 94/20597, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,759,990, and 5,474,690, for example, include, but are not limited to:
(i) Quaternary ammonium compounds having the formula:
wherein R
1
, R
2
, R
3
and R
4
are independently C
1-22
alkyl, C
3-22
alkenyl, R
5
—Q(CH
2
)
m
—, where R
5
is a C
1-22
alkyl, and mixtures thereof; Q is a carbonyl unit; m is from 1 to 6, and X is an anion;
(ii) Polyvinyl amines having the formula
wherein y is from 3 to about 5000. Optionally, one or more of the polyvinyl amine backbone —NH
2
— unit hydrogens can be substituted with an alkyleneoxy moiety;
(iii) Polyalkylenimines having the formula
wherein each R
6
is independently a C
2-4
alkylene, C
3-8
substituted alkylene and mixtures thereof; the value of m is from 2-700 and the value of n is from 0 to 350. Optionally, one or more of the polyvinyl amine backbone —NH
2
— unit hydrogens can be substituted with an alkyleneoxy moiety;
(iv) Poly-quaternary ammonium compounds having the formula:
wherein R is substituted or unsubstituted C
2-12
alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted C
2-12
hydroxyalkylene; each R
1
is independently C
1-4
alkyl, each R
2
is independently C
1-22
alkyl, C
3-22
alkenyl, R
5
—Q—(CH
2
)
m
—, where R
5
is C
1-22
alkyl, C
3-22
alkenyl, and mixtures thereof; m is from 1 to 6; Q is a carbonyl unit; and X is an anion; and
(v) Cationic polymers such as amine salts or quaternary ammonium salts.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,899 to Baker, et al. (and the corresponding International Application WO 98/12292) provide a fabric softener composition that has enhanced softening benefits which comprises at least one fabric softener active and at least one cationic charge booster. The charge boosters disclosed in the Baker, et al. patent have structural formulas that are similar to charge boosters (i)-(iv) described above. In accordance with the disclosure of Baker, et al., the charge boosters reportedly increase the performance of cationic fabric softener actives that have diminished or insufficient charge density to a level which allows the low charge density surface active agent to be used in fabric softening formulations. Moreover, the Baker, et al. patent indicates that the cationic charge boosters have the effect of increasing the net cationic charge concentration independent of the intrinsic properties of the softening active.
Although prior art charge boosters are known, there is still a need for developing new and improved charge boosters (hereinafter referred to as “anionic scavengers”) that serve to further increase the level of cationic active agent present in the rinse cycle of a laundering process. Moreover, prior art fabric softener formulations that include the above mentioned charge boosters typically require a separate polymeric dye transfer inhibition agent that prevents dye transfer during laundering. The addition of a separate dye transfer agent increases the number of processing steps in formulating the fabric softener. The additional processing steps result in an increased cost in producing the fabric softener which is passed along to the consumer.
In view of the above mentioned drawbacks with prior art rinse cycle fabric softeners, it would be extremely beneficial if a new and improved rinse cycle fabric softener concentrate was developed that was capable of providing improved softness as well as inhibiting dye transfer, without the need of adding separate ingredients to accomplish the aforementioned properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a rinse cycle fabric softener concentrate that has improved fabric softening capabilities, while being capable of inhibiting dye transfer without the need of utilizing separate ingredients which carry out the aforesaid functions. Specifically, the rinse cycle fabric softener concentrate of the present invention is a blend of quaternary ammonium compounds that consists essentially of:
(i) from about 3 to about 40 weight % of at least one polyquat selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a quat having structural formula (I):
where R
1
is a C
10-24
alkyl, an ester having the formula R
1
C(O)OR— where R
1
is defined above and R is a substituted or unsubstituted C
1-6
alkylene, or an amide having the formula R
1
C(O)NR— where R
1
and R are as defined above; each R
2
independently is a —(AO)
1-6
H group where A is a C
2-4
straight chained or branched alkyl; each R
3
independently is a C
1-6
alkyl; Y is from 1 to 6 and A is an anion,
(b) a quat having structural formula (II):
wherein R
1
is a C
10-24
alkyl, an ester having the formula R
1
C(O)OR— where R
1
is defined above and R is a substituted or unsubstituted C
1-6
alkylene, or an amide of the formula R
1
C(O)NR— where R
1
and R are as defined above; each R
4
independently is a C
1-6
alkyl, or a —(AO)
1-6
H group where A is a C
2-4
straight chained or branched alkyl; each R
5
independently is a C
1-6
alkyl; Y is from 1 to 6; x is from 1 to 5; n is the number of moles of monovalent anion A
−
to
Goldschmidt Chemical Corporation
Hardee John R.
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
LandOfFree
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