Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Auxiliary compositions for cleaning – or processes of preparing – Textile softening or antistatic composition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2003-02-18
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
06521589
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fabric softening compounds and composition thereof useful for softening fabrics. It especially relates to fabric softening compounds and/or compositions suitable for formulating textile softening compositions for use in the rinse cycle of a textile laundering operation to provide excellent fabric-softening/static-control benefits, the compositions being characterised by, e.g., reduced staining of fabric, excellent water dispersibility, rewettability, and/or storage and viscosity stability at sub-normal temperatures, i.e., temperatures below normal room temperature, e.g., 25° C. The compositions of the invention are preferably liquid softening compositions, and more preferably, translucent or clear liquid softening compositions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Clear softening compositions are known in the art. For example, EP-A-0,404,471 discloses clear softening compositions with at least 20% by weight softener and at least 5% by weight of a short chain organic acid.
Formulating softening compositions which are clear is however not the only condition required of softening compositions. Indeed, such compositions are expected to provide an effective softening performance on the treated fabric. In this respect, EP-A-0,550,361 discloses softening compounds with specific molar ratios of fatty acid fraction to tertiary amine which provide effective softening performance without being detrimental to the fluidity and stability of composition containing said compound.
It is now an object to provide a softening compound which provides effective softening performance.
Still another object of the invention, is to provide a composition containing said compound which are clear but still not detrimental to the fluidity and stability of composition.
These objects have now surprisingly been met by producing the softening compound from the condensation of fatty acids with triethanolamine, wherein the condensation occurs for a period such that the condensation product has an acid value (AV) of less than 6.5, the condensation product subsequently being quaternized.
The AV of the compound is measured on the condensation product before the quaternisation step by the test method defined hereinafter.
For optimum softness benefit, it is preferred that the reactants are present in a molar ratio of fatty acid fraction to triethanolamine of from 1:1 to 2.5:1.
The finding that a lower acid value of the invention compound leads to higher softness performance when using the invention compound is very surprising and unexpected. Indeed, as known from GB 2,039,556, the addition of fatty acid provide an increase in the softness performance of the softening composition. The Applicant, in this respect, has found that the addition of fatty acid, instead of decreasing the acid value, increased the acid value. Accordingly, it was generally believed that the softness performance in relation to the acid value followed a curve showing a maximum at an AV above 10. To the contrary, it has been found that the softness performance followed a line whereby the higher the acid value, the less softening performance is obtained.
By effective softening performance, it is meant that the compound of the present invention provides better softening performance to fabrics compared to fabrics which have been treated with a similar compound but with an AV above 6.5. In a preferred embodiment, the compound of the invention provides better softness performance on treated fabrics therewith compared to compounds having the hereinbelow described molar ratios but not the specified AV.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a biodegradable fabric softener compound comprising a quaternary ammonium salt, the quaternised ammonium salt being a quaternised product of condensation between:
a)-a fraction of saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids, or of derivatives of said acids, said fatty acids or derivatives each possessing a hydrocarbon chain in which the number of atoms is between 5 and 21, and
b)-triethanolamine, characterised in that said condensation product has an acid value, measured by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphtaleine indicator, of less than 6.5.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fatty acid fraction and the triethanolamine are present in a molar ratio of from 1:1 to 2.5:1.
The present invention also relates to a process for making a softener compound, and in particular said compound.
Also provided herein is a softening composition containing said softening compound.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
I-Softener Compound
The essential component of the invention is a biodegradable fabric softener compound comprising a quaternary ammonium salt, the quaternised ammonium salt being a quaternised product of condensation between:
a)-a fraction of saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids, or of derivatives of said acids, said fatty acids or derivatives each possessing a hydrocarbon chain in which the number of atoms is between 5 and 21, and
b)-triethanolamine,
characterised in that said condensation product has an acid value, measured by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphtaleine indicator, of less than 6.5.
The acid value is preferably less than or equal to 5, more preferably less than 3. Indeed, the lower the AV, the better softeness softness performance is obtained.
The acid value is determined by titration of the condensation product with a standard KOH solution against a phenolphtaleine indicator according to ISO#53402. The AV is expressed as mg KOH/g.
For optimum softness benefit, it is preferred that the reactants are present in a molar ratio of fatty acid fraction to triethanolamine of from 1:1 to 2.5:1.
It has also been found that the optimum softness performance is also affected by the detergent carry-over laundry conditions, and more especially by the presence of the anionic surfactant in the solution in which the softening composition is used. Indeed, the presence of anionic surfactant that is usually carried over from the wash will interact with the softener compound, thereby reducing its performance. Thus, depending on usage conditions, the mole ratio of fatty acid/ triethanolamine can be critical. Accordingly, where no rinse occurs between the wash cycle and the rinse cycle containing the softening compound, a high amount of anionic surfactant will be carried over in the rinse cycle containing the softening compound. In this instance, it has been found that a fatty acid fraction/triethanolamine mole ratio of 1.4:1 to 1.8:1 is preferred. By high amount of anionic surfactant, it is meant that the presence of anionic in the rinse cycle at a level such that the molar ratio anionic surfactant/cationic softener compound of the invention is at least 1/10.
Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of treating fabrics which comprises the step of contacting the fabrics in an aqueous medium containing the softener compound of the invention or softening composition thereof wherein the fatty acid/triethanolamine mole ratio in the softener compound is from 1.4:1 to 1.8:1, preferably 1.5:1 and the aqueous medium comprises a molar ratio of anionic surfactant to said softener compound of the invention of at least 1:10.
Where, on the other hand, an intermediate rinse cycle occurs between the wash and the later rinse cycle, less anionic surfactant, i.e. less than 1:10 of a molar ratio anionic surfactant to cationic compound of the invention, will then be carried over. Accordingly, it has been found that a fatty acid/triethanolamine mole ratio of 1.8:1 to 2.2:1 is then preferred. Accordingly, in another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of treating fabrics which comprises the step of contacting the fabrics in an aqueous medium containing the softener compound of the invention or softening composition thereof wherein the fatty acid/triethanolamine mole rati
De Poortere Johan
Demeyere Hugo Jean-Marie
Keys Robert Otis
Köhle Jans-Jürgen
Wahl Errol Hoffman
Camp Jason J.
Hardee John
Miller Steven W.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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