U.S. patent number 3,928,213 [Application Number 05/375,218] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-23 for fabric softener and soil-release composition and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Vincent Paul Heuring, James Bruce Prentice, Robert Dwight Temple.
United States Patent |
3,928,213 |
Temple , et al. |
December 23, 1975 |
Fabric softener and soil-release composition and method
Abstract
Liquid fabric softener and anti-soiling composition containing a
cationic fabric softener and an hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose or
alkyl cellulose anti-soiling agent in an aqueous vehicle; and a
method of simultaneously imparting softening and anti-soiling
properties to textile materials which comprises rinsing laundered
textiles in an aqueous bath of said composition.
Inventors: |
Temple; Robert Dwight
(Cincinnati, OH), Heuring; Vincent Paul (Cincinnati, OH),
Prentice; James Bruce (Batesville, IN) |
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company (Cincinnati, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
27407616 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/375,218 |
Filed: |
June 29, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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344389 |
Mar 23, 1973 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
510/517;
106/190.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06M
13/46 (20130101); D06M 15/09 (20130101); C11D
3/0015 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C11D
3/00 (20060101); D06M 13/46 (20060101); D06M
13/00 (20060101); D06M 15/09 (20060101); D06M
15/01 (20060101); D06M 013/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;252/8.8,8.75,8.9,DIG.15,547 ;117/139.5C,139.5CQ,139.5F
;106/186 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Guynn; Herbert B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Witte; Richard C. O'Flaherty;
Thomas H. Schaeffer; Jack D.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part application of
application Ser. No. 344,389, filed Mar. 23, 1973, now abandoned
entitled "Fabric Softener and Soil-release Composition and Method",
inventors: Robert Dwight Temple; Vincent Paul Heuring; and James
Bruce Prentice.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid fabric softener composition having a viscosity of less
than about 250 centipoises and effective to provide fabrics with
softening and anti-soiling properties consisting essentially
of:
A. from about 2% to about 15% by weight of a cation-active fabric
softener compound having from one to two straight-chain organic
groups of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms;
B. from about 0.1% to about 10% of a soil release agent selected
from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl
cellulose where each alkyl has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said soil
release agent providing a viscosity of less than about 400
centipoises determined at a two percent by weight concentration in
water at 20.degree.C;
C. from 0 to about 2% of an emulsifier selected from the group
consisting of
1. the condensation product of one mole of alkylphenol wherein the
alkyl chain contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with
from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide,
2. the condensation product of one mole of an aliphatic alcohol
wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 10 to about 24 carbon
atoms with from about 1 to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide,
3. polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 1400
to about 30,000,
4. mixtures thereof; and
D. the balance water.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cation-active fabric
softener compound is a quaternary ammonium softener compound having
the formula ##EQU4## wherein R is hydrogen or an aliphatic group of
from 1 to 22 carbons; R.sub.1 is an aliphatic group having from 12
to 22 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each alkyl groups of
from one to 3 carbon atoms; and X is an anion selected from the
group consisting of halogen, acetate, phosphate, nitrate and methyl
sulfate.
3. The composition of claim 2 wherein R and R.sub.1 are each
stearyl, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each methyl and X is chloride.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the soil release agent is
hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.
5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose has a methoxyl substitution of from 27% to 30% by weight
and a propylene glycol ether substitution of from 7% to 12% by
weight.
6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose is employed in an amount of from 0.25% to 5% by weight of
the composition.
7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the emulsifier ranges from
0.25% to 1% and is a mixture of secondary C.sub.11.sub.-15 alcohol
ethoxylates.
8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cationic fabric softener
ranges from 2.5% to about 6%.
9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the soil release agent is
methyl cellulose.
10. A method of imparting softening and anti-soiling properties to
washed textiles which comprises treating previously-washed textiles
in an aqueous rinsing bath containing minor but effective amounts
of a cation-active fabric softening agent having from one to two
straight chain organic groups of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and a
soil release agent selected from the group consisting of
hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl cellulose where each alkyl
has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said soil release agent providing a
viscosity of less than about 400 centipoises determined at a two
percent by weight concentration in water at 20.degree.C.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fabric conditioning compositions and to a
method of conditioning textile materials. More particularly, it
relates to compositions adapted to the provision of fabric
softening and anti-soiling properties and useful in the repetitious
but generally discontinuous laundering process which involves
soiling, laundering, rinsing, soiling, etc.
The use of various chemical agents to provide textile materials
with a variety of fabric surface modifications has been known in
the art. A fabric modification of universal preference and of
widespread practice in home laundering operations has been the
improvement of the softness or "hand" of laundered textiles. Fabric
softening compositions useful for this purpose have for the most
part been liquid fabric softener compositions containing in a water
vehicle a quaternary ammonium salt component having an affinity for
negatively-charged fibers and having at least one long chain alkyl
moiety of from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. These compositions have been
largely adapted for use in the final rinsing bath of the home
laundering process. It has been found that the treatment of textile
materials in such manner improves the softness or feel of the
treated fabrics, prolongs the useful life of the textile materials
and reduces the tendency of the fabrics to accumulate electrical
charges.
While the inclusion of other fabric conditioning agents, such as
anti-soiling agents, into known softener compositions for the
simultaneous provision of additional fabric conditioning effects is
frequently desirable, such inclusion is often at the expense of one
or more of the desirable attributes of these softener compositions.
For example, certain polymeric materials useful in providing
treated textiles with improved anti-soiling properties are
incompatible with liquid fabric softening compositions to the
extent that their inclusion contributes to undesirable thickening
or viscosity increases. High viscosity in such compositions tends
to make the compositions difficultly pourable and decreases ready
solubility of the compositions in a fabric rinsing bath.
It is an object of this invention to provide compositions useful
for imparting softness and anti-soiling properties to treated
fabrics.
It is another object of this invention to provide fabric softener
compositions which contain an anti-soiling agent and which are
characterized by desirable viscosity.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method whereby
fabrics can be effectively softened and rendered anti-soiling by
treatment in a laundry rinsing operation.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from
the description appearing hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based in part upon the discovery that
fabrics can be improved in feel by treating the fabrics in an
aqueous rinsing bath containing a cationic fabric softening agent
and a minor amount of an hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose or alkyl
cellulose anti-soiling agent. In its composition aspect, the
present invention provides an aqueous fabric softener composition
consisting essentially of
A. from 2% to 15% of a cation-active fabric softening compound
having from one to two straight chain organic groups of from 8 to
22 carbon atoms;
B. from 0.1% to 10% of an anti-soiling agent selected from the
group consisting of hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl
cellulose where each alkyl has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said
anti-soiling agent having a viscosity of less than about 400
centipoises as determined at a 2% by weight concentration in water
and at 20.degree.C;
C. from 0 to about 2% of an emulsifier selected from the group
consisting of (1) the condensation product of one mole of
alkylphenol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 8 to about
18 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene
oxide, (2) the condensation product of one mole of an aliphatic
alcohol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 10 to about 24
carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene
oxide, (3) polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from
about 1400 to about 30,000, and (4) mixtures thereof; and
D. the balance water.
In its method aspect, the present invention provides a method of
simultaneously imparting softening and anti-soiling properties to
washed textiles which comprises treating previously-washed textiles
in an aqueous rinsing bath containing minor but effective amounts
of a cation-active fabric softening agent having from one to two
straight chain organic groups of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and an
anti-soiling agent as hereinbefore defined.
The compositions of this invention provide fabric-softening
properties to treated textiles and anti-soiling effects by the
application of anti-soiling agent, e.g., hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose, onto the treated fabrics from an aqueous rinsing bath of
a laundering process. The compositions are sufficiently fluid as to
permit ready measurement, pouring and dispersibility in water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The cation-active organic fabric-softener compounds, which are the
principal fabric-softening components of the compositions of the
invention, are known fabric-softening compounds. Generally, these
comprise cationic nitrogen-containing compounds such as quaternary
ammonium compounds and amines and have one or two straight-chain
organic groups of at least eight carbon atoms. Preferably, they
have one or two such groups of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms.
Preferred cation-active softener compounds include the quaternary
ammonium softener compounds corresponding to the formula ##EQU1##
wherein R is hydrogen or an aliphatic group of from 1 to 22
carbons; R.sub.1 is an aliphatic group having from 12 to 22 carbon
atoms; and X is an anion selected from halogen, acetate phosphate,
nitrate and methyl sulfate radicals.
Because of their excellent softening efficacy and ready
availability, preferred cationic softener compounds of the
invention are the dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides, wherein the
alkyl groups have from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and are derived from
long-chain fatty acids, such as hydrogenated tallow. As employed
herein, alkyl is intended as including unsaturated compounds such
as are present in alkyl groups derived from naturally occurring
fatty oils. The term "tallow" refers to fatty alkyl groups derived
from tallow fatty acids. Such fatty acids give rise to quaternary
softener compounds wherein R and R.sub.1 have predominantly from 16
to 18 carbon atoms. The term "coconut" refers to fatty acid groups
from coconut oil fatty acids. The coconut-alkyl R and R.sub.1
groups have from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and predominate
in C.sub.12 to C.sub.14 alkyl groups. Representative examples of
quaternary softeners of the invention include tallow trimethyl
ammonium chloride; ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride; ditallow
dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium
chloride; di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium chloride;
dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; dieicosyl dimethyl ammonium
chloride; didocosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di(hydrogenated
tallow) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl diethyl
ammonium chloride; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium acetate; ditallow
dipropyl ammonium phosphate; ditallow dimethyl ammonium nitrate;
di(coconutalkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride.
An especially preferred class of quaternary ammonium softeners of
the invention corresponds to the formula ##EQU2## wherein R and
R.sub.1 are each straight chain aliphatic groups of from 12 to 22
carbon atoms and X is halogen, e.g., chloride. Especially preferred
are ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, di(hydrogenated
tallow-alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride and di(coconut-alkyl)
dimethyl ammonium chloride, these compounds being preferred from
the standpoint of excellent softening properties and ready
availability.
Suitable cation-active amine softener compounds are the primary,
secondary and tertiary amine compounds having at least one
straight-chain organic group of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and
1,3-propylene diamine compounds having a straight-chain organic
group of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Examples of such softener
actives include primary tallow amine; primary hydrogenated-tallow
amine; tallow 1,3-propylene diamine; oleyl 1,3-propylene diamine;
coconut 1,3-propylene diamine; soya 1,3-propylene diamine and the
like.
Other suitable cation-active softener compounds herein are the
quaternary imidazolinium salts. Preferred salts are those
conforming to the formula ##EQU3## wherein R.sub.6 is an alkyl
containing from 1 to 4, preferably from 1 to 2, carbon atoms,
R.sub.5 is an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a
hydrogen radical, R.sub.7 is an alkyl containing from 8 to 22,
preferably at least 15, carbon atoms, R.sub.8 is hydrogen or an
alkyl containing from 1 to 22, preferably at least 15, carbon
atoms, and X is an anion, preferably methyl sulfate or chloride
ions. Other suitable anions include those disclosed with reference
to the cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softeners described
hereinbefore. Particularly preferred are those imidazolinium
compounds in which both R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are alkyls of from 12
to 22 carbon atoms, e.g.,
1-methyl-1-[(stearoylamide)ethyl]-2-heptadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium
methyl sulfate;
1-methyl-1-[(palmitoylamide)ethyl]-2-octadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium
chloride.
Other cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softeners, which are
useful herein include, for example, alkyl (C.sub.12 to
C.sub.22)-pyridinium chlorides, alkyl (C.sub.12 to C.sub.22)-alkyl
(C.sub.1 to C.sub.3)-morpholinium chlorides, and quaternary
derivatives of amino acids and amino esters.
The cationic fabric softeners mentioned above can be used singly or
in combination in the practice of the present invention. The
cationic fabric softener comprises from about 2% to about 15% by
weight of the total composition. If more than about 15% is used,
product stability problems may occur, e.g., thickening and the
possible formation of an undesired gel and if less than about 2% is
used, the softener will be too dilute and desired softening of the
fabrics will not be achieved when conventional amounts of the
composition are added to the wash water. Within the above range,
the actual amount of fabric softener which is contained in the
composition depends upon the desired usage concentration of the
composition in a laundering process. A desired concentration of the
fabric softener in the rinsing solution is from about 25 ppm to
about 100 ppm. To achieve the desired results of the present
invention the preferred range of cationic fabric softener in the
rinsing solution is from about 35 ppm to about 80 ppm. To achieve
the desired results of the present invention the preferred range of
cationic fabric softener is from about 2.5% to about 6% by weight
of the total composition.
The anti-soiling agents suitable for use in the compositions of the
present invention include hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl
cellulose where the alkyl in each instance has from 1 to 3 carbon
atoms. These anti-soiling agents are derived from cellulose and can
be described as cellulose having substituent groups on the
hydroxyls of the anhydroglucose units. The basic structure of
cellulose which forms the backbone of the antisoiling agents of the
invention may be depicted as follows, wherein n is a finite number:
##SPC1##
The number of substituent groups of the hydroxyls of the
anhydroglucose units of cellulose can affect a number of
properties, such as solubility and gel point. Substituent groups
can be designated by weight percent or by the number of points
where groups are attached to the hydroxyls, otherwise termed
"degree of substitution" (D.S.). If all three available positions
on each unit are substituted, the D.S. is designated as (3) three;
if an average of two on each ring are reacted, the D.S. is
designated (2) two, etc.
In the manufacture of suitable anti-soiling agents of the invention
having methoxyl substitution, cellulose fibers, from cotton linters
or wood pulp, are swelled by caustic soda solution to produce
alkali cellulose which is then treated with alkyl chloride, e.g.,
methyl chloride, yielding the alkyl ether of cellulose, e.g.,
methyl cellulose. A preferred anti-soiling agent of the invention
is an hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose which is prepared by swelling
cotton linters or wood pulp with a caustic soda solution to produce
alkali cellulose which is treated with an alkyl chloride, e.g.,
methyl chloride, and an alkylene oxide, e.g., propylene oxide which
leads to a substituent group having a secondary hydroxyl on the
number two carbon
The basic structure for a preferred anti-soiling agent of the
invention, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, may be shown according
to the following formula wherein n is a finite number: ##SPC2##
Especially suitable is such a material wherein the methoxyl
substitution corresponds to from 27% to 30% by weight and propylene
glycol ether substitution amounts to 7% to 12% by weight.
Another preferred anti-soiling agent is methyl cellulose. These
preferred materials are commercially available under the name
Methocel (The Dow Chemical Company).
The anti-soiling agents of the invention are characterized by
molecular weights which can be expressed in terms of their
viscosity grades measured with a Ubbelohde tube as a 2% by weight
aqueous solution at 20.degree.C. It will be appreciated that the
viscosity that such materials will produce in solution depends on
the length of the polymer chain. Suitable anti-soiling agents
herein are those which provide a viscosity grade as defined
hereinbefore of less than about 400 centipoises. Preferably, they
have a viscosity grade of less than about 100 centipoises.
The amount of anti-soiling agent employed to provide effective
soil- and stain-release properties will depend on such factors as
the particular softening agent employed, the nature of the
anti-soiling agent and its molecular weight or viscosity and the
desired viscosity or physical appearance of the finished
composition. As little as 0.1% of the anti-soiling agent based on
the weight of composition may be enough in some instances, whereas
up to about 10% may be required in others. Preferably, the
anti-soiling agent comprises from about 0.25% to about 5% of the
composition. In practice, an amount of a composition of the
invention is added to the rinsing cycle of a laundering operation
as to provide a concentration of the anti-soiling agent of from 2
to 100 ppm. Preferably, the concentration is from 5 to 50 ppm.
The compositions of the invention can be formulated in a convenient
manner to provide uniform and homogeneous compositions of viscosity
below about 250 centipoises. Preferably, the viscosity is in a
range of from 30 to 180 centipoises. In practice, a solution of the
anti-soiling agent is prepared by adding the agent to water at an
elevated temperature. The temperature is then lowered sufficiently
as to cause the anti-soiling agent, having inverse temperature
solubility characteristics, to go into solution. The remaining
ingredients, fabric softening agent, emulsifying agent and minor
optional ingredients are added. Alternatively, the anti-soiling
agent can be admixed with all the organic constituents of the
finished composition and the resulting mixture be added with
stirring to water to provide a finished composition.
It has been discovered that the anti-soiling agents of the
invention retain their desirable soil- and stain-release properties
at relatively low molecular weights, corresponding to viscosities
of less than 400 centipoises in a 2% aqueous solution. Accordingly,
they can be effectively employed in fabric softening compositions
where the viscosity of the finished composition is less than about
250 centipoises. While other cellulose-derived anti-soiling agents
of the prior art, e.g., hydroxypropyl cellulose, can provide
desirable anti-soiling properties in a fabric softener composition,
the molecular weight of such anti-soiling agents is frequently so
high as to provide the finished composition with an unacceptable
viscosity, i.e., above about 250 centipoises. If the molecular
weight of such polymers is reduced in an attempt to mitigate the
undesirable effect on the viscosity of the finished composition,
the reduced viscosity is obtained at the expense of anti-soiling
properties. In contrast to these prior art materials, the
anti-soiling agents of the invention, as characterized
hereinbefore, can be employed in fabric softener compositions to
provide a desirable level of anti-soiling performance without at
the same time causing the viscosity of the finished composition to
be unacceptably high.
The compositions of the invention will preferably contain an
emulsifying agent. Suitable emulsifiers which can be utilized in
the compositions of the present invention include those selected
from the group consisting of (1) the condensation product of one
mole of alkylphenol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 8
to about 18 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of
ethylene oxide. Specific examples of these nonionics are the
condensation product of one mole of nonylphenol with 9.5 moles of
ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of decylphenol
with 40 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one
mole of dodecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene oxide; the
condensation product of one mole of nonylphenol with 1.5 moles of
ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of
tetradecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene oxide; and the
condensation product of one mole of hexadecylphenol with 30 moles
of ethylene oxide; (2) the condensation product of one mole of an
aliphatic alcohol wherein the alkyl chain contains from 10 to about
24 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene
oxide. Specific examples are the condensation product of one mole
of coconut alkyl alcohol with 45 moles of ethylene oxide; the
condensation product of one mole of tallowalkyl alcohol with 30
moles of ethylene oxide; the product sold by Union Carbide under
the tradename "Tergitol 15-S-9" which is the condensation product
of one mole of secondary alkyl alcohol with alkyl chain lengths of
from 11 to 15 with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; and the product sold
by Union Carbide under the tradename "Tergitol 15-S-3" which is the
condensation product of one mole of secondary alkyl alcohol with
alkyl chain lengths of from 11 to 15 with 3 moles of ethylene
oxide; (3) polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from
about 1400 to about 30,000. For example, Dow Chemical Company
manufactures these nonionics in molecular weights of 20,000, 9,500,
7,500, 4,500, 3,400 and 1,450. All of these nonionics are wax-like
solids which melt between 100.degree.F and 200.degree.F, and (4)
mixtures thereof.
These emulsifiers function as solubilizing agents to prevent
precipitation and maintain excellent freeze-thaw characteristics of
the liquid compositions. These emulsifiers further act as
stabilizers to promote shelf stability and maintain the desired
viscosity. The emulsifiers are present in the composition of the
present invention from about 0 to about 2% by weight, preferably
from about 0.25% to about 1%. If more than about 2% by weight is
used no advantages are achieved and product stability problems can
arise. Small amounts of emulsifier are usually necessary to achieve
the desired stability and freeze-thaw characteristics while
maintaining the desired viscosity of the composition.
Miscellaneous materials such as optical brighteners such as the
anionic stilbenes, coloring agents, and other materials which are
well known as constituents in fabric softener compositions and
which are compatible in the compositions of the present invention
can also be present in minor amounts.
The following example illustrates the manner and the formulations
with which the present invention can be practiced. However, the
invention is not confined to the specific limitations set forth in
the example, but rather, to the scope of the appended claims.
TEST METHOD
EXAMPLE I
Fabric swatches were laundered in a washing machine known as a
Tergotometer. The detergent composition used contained 8% sodium
dodecyl benzene sulfonate, 9% sodium tallow alkyl sulfate, 50%
sodium tripolyphosphate, 6% sodium silicate having a SiO.sub.2
:Na.sub.2 O ratio of 1.6, 13% sodium sulfate, 0.6% of a
condensation reaction product of coconut alcohol and an average of
6 moles of ethylene oxide, and 1.5% ammonium coconut fatty acid
amide and the balance water to 100%. The detergent composition was
used at a product concentration of 0.1%, the wash water was at a
temperature of 130.degree.F and contained water hardness of 7
grains. The washing process lasted 10 minutes followed by a 5
minute rinse cycle with water at a temperature of 100.degree.F and
containing water hardness of 7 grains.
A fabric softener/soil release composition embodying the present
invention (identified below as COMPOSITION B) was tested and
results compared to those obtained with a similar composition but
one which did not contain a soil release agent as required by the
present invention (identified as COMPOSITION A, below).
COMPOSITION A and COMPOSITION B were each added to the rinse cycle
of the laundering procedures described above in order to expose the
washed fabric to the fabric softener/soil release composition on
the one hand (COMPOSITION B) and to the softening composition on
the other (COMPOSITION A). In the rinse cycle, in the case of
COMPOSITIONS A and B, the concentration of fabric softener agent
was 75 ppm. In the case of COMPOSITION B, the concentration of
anti-soiling agent in the rinse was 7.1 ppm.
TABLE I ______________________________________ FORMULATIONS
Composition Composition A B ______________________________________
Ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride 7.9% 7.9% Emulsifier (mixture
of secondary C.sub.11.sub.-15 alcohol ethoxylates) 0.50% 0.50%
Methocel 60HG15* 0.00% 0.75% Miscellaneous minors and water to 100%
to 100% ______________________________________ *Hydroxypropyl
methyl cellulose having 28-30 weight percent methoxyl substitution;
7-12 weight % propylene glycol ether substitution; viscosit of 15
cp; measured in Ubbelohde tube at 2% by weight concentration in
water at 20.degree.C.
A washing/rinsing treatment cycle was repeated three times.
Thereafter, the fabric swatches were stained with a controlled
amount of an oily soil as identified below in Table II.
Following the staining treatment, the fabric swatches were allowed
to stand overnight for a period of 18 hours to permit the oily soil
to age on the fabrics. The aged swatches were then weighed, washed,
and then dried. The fabrics were then reweighed and this permitted
calculation of the weight percentage of oily soil which was removed
during the washing step.
Using this test method, the following results were obtained.
TABLE II
__________________________________________________________________________
WEIGHT % OIL REMOVED Used Crank *OHT Case Oil Oil Mixture
Triglyceride Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. FABRIC A B A B A B
__________________________________________________________________________
Nylon 33 89 42 95 36 85 Blend Fabric Containing 65% Polyester and
35% Cotton 25 60 44 82 63 72 Polyester 3 62 12 59 3 51 Durable
Press Blend Fabric of 65% Polyester and 35% Cotton Treated with a
Permanent Press Resin 16 67 42 83 68 72
__________________________________________________________________________
*OHT oil is a blend of equal parts of oleic acid, hexadecane, and
triglyceride
In the results presented in the preceding Table, it is readily
apparent that the fabrics which have been treated by a composition
embodying the present invention (Composition B) provided very
substantially increased weight percentages of removed oily soil as
compared to Composition A which did not contain the soil releasing
agent required by the present invention. A difference of 5% is
statistically significant in this test procedure.
EXAMPLE II
A fabric softener having a viscosity of about 60 centipoises and
effective in the final rinse cycle of a home laundering operation
to provide treated fabrics with improved softness and anti-soiling
properties has the following compositions:
Component Parts by Weight ______________________________________
Distearyl dimethyl 5.2 ammonium chloride Hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose (Methocel 60 HG 15) 0.8 Emulsifier (mixture of secondary
C.sub.11.sub.-15 alcohol ethoxylates) 0.5 Isopropanol, ethanol,
optical brighteners, dye, misc. 1.6 Water Balance to 100
______________________________________
Substantially the same results in softening are obtained with the
composition of Example II when any of the following cationic fabric
softeners is substituted on an equal weight basis for the distearyl
dimethyl ammonium chloride in Example II, ("coconut" as used below
has the following chain length distribution: 2% C.sub.10, 66%
C.sub.12, 23% C.sub.14, and 9% C.sub.16):
ditallowalkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,
dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,
tallowalkyl dimethyl (3-tallowalkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl) ammonium
chloride,
2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1-[(2-stearoylamido)ethyl]imidazolinium
methyl sulfate,
eicosyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride,
eicosyl trimethyl ammonium chloride,
tetradecyl-tri(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium methyl sulfate,
octadecyl-tri(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium methyl sulfate,
di(2-benzyloctadecyl)dimethyl ammonium ethyl sulfate,
di-(3-oxa-heptadecyl)di(3-hydroxypropyl)ammonium bromide,
di(2-dodecoxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride,
di(2-stearoyloxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride,
2-stearoyloxyethyl triethyl ammonium chloride,
di(4-hydroxyoctadecyl)dimethyl ammonium ethyl sulfate,
2,4-dihydroxyoctadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride,
di(2-stearamidopropyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride,
ditallowalkyl dimethyl ammonium bromide,
ditallowalkyl dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate,
ditetradecyl diethyl ammonium chloride,
ditetradecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,
coconutalkyl triethyl ammonium chloride, and
dicoconut alkyl diethyl ammonium chloride.
EXAMPLE III
A fabric softener having a viscosity of about 60 centipoises and
effective in the final rinse cycle of a home laundering operation
to provide treated fabrics with improved softness and anti-soiling
properties has the following composition:
Component Parts by Weight ______________________________________
Distearyl dimethyl ammonium 5.5 chloride Methyl Cellulose
(viscosity of 50 cp at 2% in water and 20.degree.C Emulsifier
(mixture of nonyl- phenol ethoxylates) 0.4 Isopropanol, ethanol,
optical brighteners, dye, miscellaneous 1.6 Water Balance to 100
______________________________________
Substantially the same results in softening are obtained with the
compositions of Example III when any of the following emulsifiers
are substituted on an equal weight basis for the nonyl phenol
ethoxylate of Example III. ("Coconut" as used below has the
following chain length distribution: 2% C.sub.10, 66% C.sub.12, 23%
C.sub.14, and 9% C.sub.16).
The condensation product of one mole of decylphenol with 40 moles
of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of
dodecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation
product of one mole of tetradecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene
oxide; the condensation product of one mole of heptadecylphenol
with 30 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of
coconut-alkyl alcohol with 45 moles of ethylene oxide; the
condensation product of tallow-alkyl alcohol with 30 moles of
ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of secondary
alkyl alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide, the alkyl group
containing alkyl chain lengths from 11 to 15 (Tergitol 15-S-9); the
condensation product of one mole secondary alkyl alcohol with 3
moles of ethylene oxide, the alkyl group containing alkyl chain
lengths from 11 to 15 (Tergitol 15-S-3); polyethylene glycol having
a molecular weight of 20,000; polyethylene glycol having a
molecular weight of 9,500; polyethylene glycol having a molecular
weight of 7,500; polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of
4,500; polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 3,400;
polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 1,450; and
mixtures thereof.
In addition to the preferred embodiments described herein, other
arrangements and variations within the spirit and scope of the
present invention and the appended claims will occur to those
skilled in the art.
As used herein the terms anti-soiling and soil-release are used
interchangeably notwithstanding that there may be mechanistic
differences involved.
* * * * *