Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-11
2003-03-04
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06528471
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a process of treating fabrics with liquid peroxygen bleach-containing compositions. Said compositions are suitable for use as laundry additive in addition to a conventional detergent. More particularly, the compositions herein are suitable for use on various fabrics to provide stain removal and/or bleaching performance.
BACKGROUND
Bleach-containing compositions for bleaching fabrics, are well known in the art.
Liquid peroxygen bleach-containing compositions have been extensively described in the art, especially in laundry applications as laundry detergents, laundry additives or laundry pretreaters.
Indeed, it is known to use such peroxygen bleach-containing compositions as laundry additives to boost the removal of encrusted stains/soils and “problem” stains, such as grease, coffee, tea, grass, mud/clay-containing soils, which are otherwise particularly difficult to remove by typical machine washing.
However, there are some limitations to the convenience of said peroxygen bleach-containing compositions used as laundry additives. In particular, it is well known from consumer research that the stain removal performance of said compositions may still be further improved.
It is thus an objective of the present invention to provide a process of treating fabrics with a laundry additive providing an overall improved stain removal performance on a wide range of stains whilst also delivering excellent bleaching performance.
It has now been found that this objective can be met by a process of treating fabrics with a laundry additive being a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a builder and a co-builder as described herein.
Indeed, such compositions boost the stain removal performance of various types of stains including greasy stains and/or enzymatic stains when used as a laundry additive as compared to the stain removal performance delivered by the same compositions comprising a different or no builder system.
Advantageously, the compositions as described herein also provide excellent bleaching performance.
A further advantage of the compositions according to the present invention is that they are able to perform in a variety of conditions, i.e., in hard and soft water as well as when used neat or diluted.
Yet another advantage of the, compositions of the present invention is that said compositions are suitable for bleaching any type of fabrics including natural fabrics (e.g., fabrics made of cotton, viscose, linen, silk and wool), synthetic fabrics such as those made of polymeric fibers of synthetic origin as well as those made of both natural and synthetic fibers.
BACKGROUND ART
EP-A-0 686 691 and EP-A-0 844 302 disclose compositions comprising a peroxygen bleach and a citrate or citric acid suitable for use as laundry additives or fabric pretreaters. None of the cited documents discloses a process of bleaching fabrics with a composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a builder and a modified polycarboxylate co-builder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encompasses a process of treating fabrics which comprises the steps of forming an aqueous bath comprising water, a conventional laundry detergent dissolved or dispersed therein and a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a builder and a modified polycarboxylate co-builder and subsequently contacting said fabrics with said aqueous bath.
The present invention further encompasses the use of a builder and a modified polycarboxylate co-builder in a laundry additive comprising a peroxygen bleach to treat fabrics, whereby stain removal and/or bleaching benefits are provided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Process of Treating Fabrics
The process of treating fabrics according to the present invention, comprises the steps of forming an aqueous bath comprising water, a conventional laundry detergent dissolved or dispersed therein and a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a builder and a modified polycarboxylate co-builder and subsequently contacting said fabrics with said aqueous bath.
In such a process the fabrics to be treated are contacted with a liquid composition, as defined herein. This is done in a “through the wash mode”, where a liquid composition, as defined herein, is used in addition to a wash liquor formed by dissolution or dispersion of a conventional laundry detergent in water, i.e., the liquid composition is used as a so-called “laundry additive”. The dilution level of the liquid composition in an aqueous bath is typically up to 1:85, preferably up to 1:50 and more preferably 1:25 (composition:water). The fabrics are then contacted with the aqueous bath comprising the liquid composition and the conventional laundry detergent. Preferably, the fabrics are finally rinsed.
In a preferred embodiment, the liquid composition is added to the aqueous bath in its neat form.
By “conventional laundry detergent” it is meant herein, a laundry detergent composition currently available on the market. Said laundry detergent compositions may be formulated as powders or as liquids. Suitable laundry detergent compositions are for example DASH futur®, DASH liquid® and products sold under the trade names ARIEL® or TIDE®.
In a preferred embodiment, the conventional laundry detergent as described herein comprises at least one surface active agent.
The contacting of the fabrics with the aqueous bath as described herein may be achieved by means of a washing machine or simply by hand.
By “treating” it is meant herein, cleaning, as the composition according to the present invention provides excellent stain removal performance on a broad range of stains and soils and on various surfaces due mainly to the presence of a builder and a co-builder as defined herein, as well as bleaching, as the composition according to the present invention provides excellent bleach performance due mainly to the presence of the peroxygen bleach.
By “in its neat form”, it is to be understood that the liquid compositions are added to the aqueous bath herein without undergoing any dilution, i.e., the liquid compositions herein are added as described herein.
The Liquid Composition
The compositions according to the present invention are liquid compositions as opposed to a solid or a gas. As used herein “liquid” includes compositions in gel and paste form.
Accordingly, preferred compositions of the present invention have a viscosity of 1 cps or greater, more preferably of from 10 to 5000 cps, and still more preferably of from 10 to 2500 cps at 20° C. when measured with a CSL
2
100® Rheometer at 20° C. with a 4 cm spindle (linear increment from 10 to 100 dyne/cm
2
in 2 minutes).
The liquid compositions according to the present invention preferably have a pH of up to 9, more preferably from 2 to 7, and most preferably from 2 to 6. In a preferred embodiment the compositions according to the present invention are formulated in the neutral to the acidic pH range, which contributes to the chemical stability of the compositions and to the stain removal performance of the compositions. The pH of the compositions may be adjusted by an acidifying agent known to those skilled in the art or a mixture thereof. Examples of acidifying agents are inorganic acids such as sulphuric acid.
Peroxygen Bleach
As a first essential ingredient the compositions according to the present invention comprise a peroxygen bleach or a mixture thereof. Indeed, the presence of a peroxygen bleach contributes to the excellent bleaching benefits of said compositions.
Suitable peroxygen bleaches to be used herein are selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen peroxide; water soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide; organic or inorganic peracids; hydroperoxides; diacyl peroxides; and mixtures thereof.
As used herein a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any compound that produces perhydroxyl ions on contact with water. Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include percarbonates, perborates, persilicates and mixtures thereof.
Suitable diacyl peroxides for use herein include aliphatic, aro
Del Duca Valerio
Esposito Andrea
Leone Milena
Gupta Yogendra N.
McBride James F.
Petruncio John M
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Turner Frank C.
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