Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Auxiliary compositions for cleaning – or processes of preparing – Textile softening or antistatic composition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-04-17
Hardee, John (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
06218354
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a dye containing softening composition having effective freeze-thaw recovery properties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fabric softening products are known in the art to provide effective softness to the treated fabrics. However, a problem encountered upon storage at low temperature, i.e. at sub 0° C. temperature, is the freezing of the product which, when placed at higher temperatures results in a product which does not recover to a uniform dispersion with acceptable flow characteristics.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a fabric softening product which has effective freeze-thaw recovery.
One solution to fulfill such need is described in GB-1,098,793 with the use of sulphate salts of fatty amines in fabric softening compositions.
Still another solution is described in EP-A-0,507,478 which provides the mixing and melting of the cationic fabric softener with a nonionic stabilising agent before dispersing it in water. However, a problem encountered with such a process is that processing equipment such as high shear mixers are needed so that the resulting cost of the formulation is increased.
Accordingly, it is also an object of the invention to provide a fabric softening product which only necessitates minimal processing equipment.
It has been observed that without high shear during the processing of a fabric softening product, the formation of dye speckles arises, whilst with high shear the formation of undispersed dye particles in the fabric softening product is avoided.
Accordingly, the formulator of a softening composition is faced with the dual challenge of formulating a softening composition which has good dye homogeneity, without the need for a high shear mixing equipment.
The Applicant has now found that the addition of the dye component together with a nonionic alkoxylated surfactant to the finished cold softening product fulfills such needs.
Indeed, application of the dye and nonionic alkoxylated surfactant to the cold finished product is made by simple mixing. The composition obtained results in an homogenous dispersion.
An advantage of the invention is that for resulting fabric softening products in diluted form made by the invention process, less mechanical shear is required compared to products made by mixing the fabric softener and nonionic before dispersion in water. Not to be bound by theory, it is believed that the nonionic surfactant micellizes the dye and subsequently forms mixed vesicles with the softener active. In this manner the dye is efficiently dispersed and the product acquires good freeze thaw recovery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for making a liquid fabric softening composition which comprises the steps of:
a)-mixing and heating the fabric softener active and optional additives to form a melt;
b)-dispersing the melt in water;
c)-cooling the resulting dispersion to below the Krafft temperature of the softener active before adding a dye and a nonionic alkoxylated stabilising agent.
In another aspect, the present invention encompasses the use of a nonionic alkoxylated stabilising agent in liquid fabric softening compositions as a freeze-thaw recovery agent.
Still in another aspect, the present invention encompasses the use of a nonionic alkoxylated stabilising agent to homogenise the dye in liquid fabric softening compositions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Nonionic alkoxylated surfactant
A nonionic alkoxylated stabilising surfactant is an essential component of the process invention. Suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein include addition products of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty amines, etc. Optionally, addition products of propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty amines may be used.
Suitable compounds are surfactants of the general formula:
R
2
—Y—(C
2
H
4
O)
z
—C
2
H
4
OH
wherein R
2
is selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl and/or acyl hydrocarbyl groups; primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups; and primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl- and alkenyl-substituted phenolic hydrocarbyl groups; said hydrocarbyl groups preferably having a hydrocarbyl chain length of from 8 to 20, preferably from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. More preferably the hydrocarbyl chain length is from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. In the general formula for the ethoxylated nonionic surfactants herein, Y is —O—, —C(O)O—, —C(O)N(R)—, or —C(O)N(R)R—, in which R, when present, is R
2
or hydrogen, and z is at least 5, preferably at least 8.
The nonionic surfactants herein are characterised by an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of from 7 to 20, preferably from 8 to 15. Of course, by defining R
2
and the number of ethoxylate groups, the HLB of the surfactant is, in general, determined. However, it is to be noted that the nonionic ethoxylated surfactants useful herein contain relatively long chain R
2
groups and are relatively highly ethoxylated. While shorter alkyl chain surfactants having short ethoxylated groups may possess the requisite HLB, they are not as effective herein.
Examples of nonionic surfactants follow. The nonionic surfactants of this invention are not limited to these examples. In the examples, the integer defines the number of ethoxyl (EO) groups in the molecule.
a. Straight-Chain, Primary Alcohol Alkoxylates
The tri-, penta-, hepta-ethoxylates of dodecanol, and tetradecanol are useful surfactants in the context of this invention. The ethoxylates of mixed natural or synthetic alcohols in the “coco” chain length range are also useful herein. Commercially available straight-chain, primary alcohol alkoxylates for use herein are available under the tradename Marlipal® 24/70, Marlipal 24/100, Marlipal 24/150 from Huls, and Genapol® C-050 from Hoechst.
b. Straight-Chain, Secondary Alcohol Alkoxylates
The tri-, penta-, hepta-ethoxylates of 3-hexadecanol, 2-octadecanol, 4-eicosanol, and 5-eicosanol are useful surfactants in the context of this invention. A commercially available straight-chain secondary alcohol ethoxylate for use herein is the material marketed under the tradename Tergitol 15-S-7 from Union Carbide, which comprises a mixture of secondary alcohols having an average hydrocarbyl chain length of 11 to 15 carbon atoms condensed with an average 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole equivalent of alcohol.
c. Alkyl Phenol Alkoxylates
Suitable alkyl phenol alkoxylates are the polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, e.g., the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in a primary, secondary or branched chain configuration, preferably from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene oxide being preferably present in amounts equal to 3 to less than 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds may be derived from polymerized propylene, diisobutylene, octane, and nonane.
Examples of this type of nonionic surfactants include Triton N-57® a nonyl phenol ethoxylate (5EO) from Rohm & Haas, Dowfax® 9N5 from Dow and Lutensol® AP6 from BASF.
d. Olefinic Alkoxylates
The alkenyl alcohols, both primary and secondary, and alkenyl phenols corresponding to those disclosed immediately hereinabove can be ethoxylated and used as surfactants.
Commercially available olefinic alkoxylates for use herein are available under the tradename Genapol O-050 from Hoechst.
e. Branched Chain Alkoxylates
Branched chain primary and secondary alcohols which may be available from the well-known “OXO” process or modification thereof can be ethoxylated. Particularly preferred among these ethoxylates of the primary OXO alcohols are the surfactants marketed under the name Lutensol by BASF or Dobanol by the Shell Chemicals, U.K., LTD. The preferred Dobanols are primary alcohols with hydrocarbyl groups of 9 to 15 carbon atoms, with the majority having a hydrocarbyl group of 13 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are
De Poortere Johan
Demeyere Hugo Jean Marie
Hardee John
Reed T. David
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Turner Frank C.
Zerby Kim W.
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