Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Clay or inorganic aluminosilicate salt component
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-18
2003-09-30
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Clay or inorganic aluminosilicate salt component
C510S276000, C510S329000, C510S330000, C510S334000, C510S485000, C510S515000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06627598
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to detergent compositions which comprise an organophilic smectite clay which comprises one or more long-chain organic cations which have replaced some or all of the exchangeable cations of normal smectite clay.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Various softening agent are known to have fabric conditioning or softening properties. They can be used in the form of fabric conditioners which are added during the rinse of the wash or incorporated in detergent compositions to provide softening during the wash itself.
Detergent compositions which comprise a softening agent have to provide excellent cleaning as well as softening. Detergents containing certain clays have been found to deliver good cleaning and softening. However, there is a desire to further improve the softening of such known detergent products.
Various alternatives are suggested in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,292 suggest detergents containing quaternary ammonium softeners and organophilic clay material, present in the detergent in a ratio of 1:3 to 3:1.
It has been found that when such organophilic clay and quaternary ammonium softeners are used in detergents, the cleaning performance is reduced. Also, it has been found that the organophilic clays and quaternary ammonium softeners do not always provide sufficient softening to the fabrics.
It is believed that such quaternary ammonium softeners can have an adverse interaction with specific detergent actives, such as anionic surfactant and that this results in a reduced cleaning performance, which is not acceptable for the consumers.
The inventors have now found that when a hydrophilic clay flocculating agent is incorporated in detergent compositions comprising specific organophilic smectite clay good, softening and cleaning of the fabric is achieved. It is believed that the clay flocculating agent which can interact with normal hydrophilic clays, surprisingly also interact with the specific, more hydrophobic organophilic clays comprising specific long-chain organic cations. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the flocculating agent not only aids the deposition onto the fabric of the specific organophilic clay, but it also reduces the interaction of the cations and other detergent actives, such as anionic surfactants. Thus, surprisingly improved softening is obtained, whilst a good cleaning performance of the detergent is maintained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a detergent composition comprising a flocculating agent and an organophilic smectite clay whereof at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the exchangeable cations is replaced by one or more long-chain organic cations which have at least one carbon chain of at least 10 carbon atoms.
The inventors also found that the cleaning performance and softening performance of the composition of the invention can be maximised when the ratio of flocculating agent to organophilic clay is preferably from 1:200 to 1:30 or even from 1:150 to 1:50.
Organophilic Smectite Clay
The compositions of the invention contain a smectite clay whereby at least 30% or even at least 40% or preferably at least 50% or even at least 60% of the exchangeable cations is replaced by a long-chain organic cations. Such clay will herein be referred to as organophilic or hydrophobic clay.
When used herein, a long-chain organic cation can be any compound which comprises at least one chain having at least 10 carbon atoms, preferably at least 12 carbon atoms, or in certain embodiments of the invention, at least 16 or even at least 18 carbon atoms. Preferred long-chain organic cations are described hereinafter.
For the purpose of the invention, it should be understood that the organophilic clays are formed prior to incorporation into the detergent composition. Thus, the cations, or part thereof, of the normal smectite clays are replaced by the long-chain organic cations to form the organophilic smectite clays herein, prior to further processing of the material to form the detergents of the invention.
When used herein, complexed long-chain organic cations refers to long-chain organic cations which replace the exchangeable cations the clay would normally contain.
The compositions herein may comprise additional long-chain organic cationic material or salts thereof, which are not in the form of a complex with clay. In one embodiment the detergent composition may be free of, or substantially free of, non-complexed long-chain organic cations.
Preferably, the organophilc clay is such that from 40%, or even 50% or even 60%, to 90% or even 95% or even 98% or preferably to 100% of exchangeable cations are replaced by one or more long-chain organic cations.
The organophilc smectite clay is preferably present in the detergent compositions of the invention at a level of from 0.05% to 40%, more preferably from 0.5% to 30%, most preferably from 2% to 20% by weight of the composition. For clarity, it is noted that the term clay mineral compound, as used herein, excludes sodium aluminosilicate zeolite builder compounds, which however, may be included in the compositions of the invention as optional components.
The weight ratio of organophilc clay to the flocculating polymer is preferably from 1000:1 to 1:1, more preferably from 500:1 to 1:1, most preferably from300:1 to 1:1, or even more preferably from 200:1 to 25:1, or even from 150:1 to 30:1 or in certain applications even from 80:1 to 40:1.
The term smectite clays herein includes both the clays in which aluminium oxide is present in a silicate lattice and the clays in which magnesium oxide is present in a silicate lattice. The organophilc clay herein may be an expandable clay having a layered clay structure which has the ability to be swell or expand on contact with water.
The smectite clays used to make the organophilic clays of the present invention are commercially available. Highly preferred are smectite clays, which can be used to prepare the organophilic clays herein, are for example as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,862,058 3,948,790, 3,954,632 and 4,062,647 and EP-A-299,575 and EP-A-313,146.
Specific examples of suitable smectite clays to be used to make the organophilic clays herein, include those selected from the classes of the bentonites—also known as montmorillonites, hectorites, volchonskoites, nontronites, saponites and sauconites, particularly those having an alkali or alkaline earth metal ion within the crystal lattice structure. Preferably hectorites and montmorillonites are used herein; sodium or calcium montmorillonite and hectonite are particularly preferred to make the organophilic clays herein.
It is to be recognised that such smectite clays can comprise mixtures of the various discrete mineral entities. Such mixtures of the smectite minerals are suitable from use herein.
The organophilic clay is preferably in the form of a platelet or lath-shaped particle. Preferably the ratio of the width to the length of such a platelet is at least 1:2, preferably at least 1:4 or even at least 1:6 or even at least 1:8.
The organophilic clays can be made by any suitable method. For instance they can be prepared by making a slurry or dispersion of the untreated clay in a solvent, preferably water, together with a quantity of the appropriate long-chain organic cations, intended to be reacted or complexed with the clay, that is to provide the desired degree of ion exchange. The treated clay can then be separated from the liquor by known methods such as filtration or centrifuging. Preferred can be that the organophilc clays are made by replacing the exchangeable inorganic cations of smectite clay with the organic cations in an aqueous reactor and then drying and milling the resultant organophilic clay.
The cation exchange capacity of clays and the percentage of exchange of the cations with the long-chain organic cations can be measured in several ways known in the art, as for example fully set out in Grimshaw, The Chemistry and Physics of Clays, Interscience Publishers, Inc.,pp. 264-265 (1971).
The organophilc clay ca
Hall Robin Gibson
Heinzman Stephen Wayne
Ingram Barry Thomas
Letzelter Nathalie Sophie
Boyer Charles
Corstanje Brahm J.
Glazer Julia A.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Zerby Kim W.
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