Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Auxiliary compositions for cleaning – or processes of preparing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2002-12-31
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1714)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Auxiliary compositions for cleaning, or processes of preparing
C510S515000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06500796
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fabric care composition comprising a polyamino-functional polymer, whereby effective stabilisation of the composition is obtained.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The appearance of colored fabrics, e.g., clothing, bedding, household fabrics such table linens is one of the areas of concern for consumers. Indeed, upon typical consumer's uses of the fabrics such as wearing, washing, rinsing and/or tumble-drying of fabrics, a loss in the fabric appearance; which is at least partly due to loss of color fidelity and color definition, can take place. Such a problem of color loss is even more acute after multiwash cycles.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a composition which provides improved color care to the laundered fabrics, especially after multiwash cycles.
Recently, a new class of materials, namely, the amino-functional polymers, have found increasing use in the treatment of fabrics in order to provide care to the color of fabrics.
However, it has now been found that compositions comprising these amino-functional polymers tend to lead to storage stability problem. This problem can be characterised by a yellowing of the composition as well as resulting malodours on the treated fabrics. This problem is even more acute when the product is formulated as a stand-alone product. Indeed, when fully-formulated such as in a softening composition, the perfume present within provides a certain malodour coverage thus rendering the resulting malodour more acceptable. In constrast, for stand alone product, perfume, unless present at very high level, do not sufficiently cover the malodour. High levels of perfume, however, increases the formulation cost. Furthermore, high levels of perfume to cover the malodour still does not provide a long-lasting malodour coverage. Indeed, the perfume will provide instant malodour coverage but upon storage the perfume which contain volatile top-notes will evaporate thus lessening the malodour coverage benefit.
Accordingly, the formulator of a fabric care composition is faced with the dual problem of formulating a composition which provides care to the fabrics without being detrimental to the stability of the composition.
The Applicant has now surprisingly found that the provision of a crystal growth inhibitor to compositions comprising modified amino-functional polymer overcomes the problem.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Amino-functional Polymer
An essential component of the invention is an amino-functional polymer. The amino-functional polymer advantageously provides care to the colors of fabrics.
The amino-functional polymers of the present invention are water-soluble or dispersible, polyamines. Typically, the amino-functional polymers for use herein have a molecular weight between 200 and 10
6
, preferably between 600 and 20,000, most preferably between 1000 and 10,000. These polyamines comprise backbones that can be either linear or cyclic. The polyamine backbones can also comprise polyamine branching chains to a greater or lesser degree. Preferably, the polyamine backbones described herein are modified in such a manner that at least one, preferably each nitrogen of the polyamine chain is thereafter described in terms of a unit that is substituted, quaternized, oxidized, or combinations thereof.
For the purposes of the present invention the term “modification” as it relates to the chemical structure of the polyamines is defined as replacing a backbone —NH hydrogen atom by an R′ unit (substitution), quaternizing a backbone nitrogen (quaternized) or oxidizing a backbone nitrogen to the N-oxide (oxidized). The terms “modification” and “substitution” are used interchangeably when referring to the process of replacing a hydrogen atom attached to a backbone nitrogen with an R′ unit. Quaternization or oxidation may take place in some circumstances without substitution, but substitution is preferably accompanied by oxidation or quaternization of at least one backbone nitrogen.
The linear or non-cyclic polyamine backbones that comprise the amino-functional polymer have the general formula:
The cyclic polyamine backbones that comprise the amino-functional polymer have the general formula:
The above backbones prior to optional but preferred subsequent modification, comprise primary, secondary and tertiary amine nitrogens connected by R “linking” units.
For the purpose of the present invention, primary amine nitrogens comprising the backbone or branching chain once modified are defined as V or Z “terminal” units. For example, when a primary amine moiety, located at the end of the main polyamine backbone or branching chain having the structure:
H
2
N—[R]—
is modified according to the present invention, it is thereafter defined as a V “terminal” unit, or simply a V unit. However, for the purposes of the present invention, some or all of the primary amine moieties can remain unmodified subject to the restrictions further described herein below. These unmodified primary amine moieties by virtue of their position in the backbone chain remain “terminal” units. Likewise, when a primary amine moiety, located at the end of the main polyamine backbone having the structure:
—NH
2
is modified according to the present invention, it is thereafter defined as a Z “terminal” unit, or simply a Z unit. This unit can remain unmodified subject to the restrictions further described herein below.
In a similar manner, secondary amine nitrogens comprising the backbone or branching chain once modified are defined as W “backbone” units. For example, when a secondary amine moiety, the major constituent of the backbones and branching chains of the present invention, having the structure:
is modified according to the present invention, it is thereafter defined as a W “backbone” unit, or simply a W unit. However, for the purposes of the present invention, some or all of the secondary amine moieties can remain unmodified. These unmodified secondary amine moieties by virtue of their position in the backbone chain remain “backbone” units.
In a further similar manner, tertiary amine nitrogens comprising the backbone or branching chain once modified are further referred to as Y “branching” units. For example, when a tertiary amine moiety, which is a chain branch point of either the polyamine backbone or other branching chains or rings, having the structure:
is modified according to the present invention, it is thereafter defined as a Y “branching” unit, or simply a Y unit. However, for the purposes of the present invention, some or all or the tertiary amine moieties can remain unmodified. These unmodified tertiary amine moieties by virtue of their position in the backbone chain remain “branching” units. The R units associated with the V, W and Y unit nitrogens which serve to connect the polyamine nitrogens, are described herein below.
The final modified structure of the polyamines of the present invention can be therefore represented by the general formula:
V
(n+1)
W
m
Y
n
Z
for linear amino-functional polymer and by the general formula:
V
(n−k+1)
W
m
Y
n
Y′
k
Z
for cyclic aminofunctional polymer. For the case of polyamines comprising rings, a Y′ unit of the formula:
serves as a branch point for a backbone or branch ring. For every Y′ unit there is a Y unit having the formula:
that will form the connection point of the ring to the main polymer chain or branch. In the unique case where the backbone is a complete ring, the polyamine backbone has the formula:
therefore comprising no Z terminal unit and having the formula:
V
n−k
W
m
Y
n
Y′
k
wherein k is the number of ring forming branching units. Preferably the polyamine backbones of the present invention comprise no rings.
In the case of non-cyclic polyamines, the ratio of the index n to the index m relates to the relative degree of branching. A fully non-branched linear modified polyamine according to the present invention has the formula:
VW
m
Z
that is, n is equal to 0. The greater the value
Ceulemans Raphael Angeline Alfons
Jacques Kamiel Thoen Christiaan Arthur
Masschelein Axel
Camp Jason J.
Gupta Yogendra N.
Miller Steven W.
Petruncio John M
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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