BRPI0807730B1 - TISSUE CONDITIONING METHOD - Google Patents

Description

Patent Descriptive Report Tissue Conditioning Method

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tissue treatment composition. The invention particularly relates to fabric conditioning compositions for imparting softness and / or other conditioning benefits to a fabric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dosing compositions for the treatment of fabrics in the rinse cycle of a washing machine are well known to provide one or more benefits such as softness, anti-creasing, ironing benefit, perfume delivery and others. Conferring these benefits to a tissue is referred to herein as "conditioning." These compositions typically contain tissue softening cationic quaternary ammonium surfactants. They may also include materials such as silicone oils and perfume.

Such conventional compositions are typically viscous liquid components which are characteristically dosed directly into the washing machine or in a separate compartment, for example a portion of the dispensing drawer through which the rinse water is channeled.

On the other hand, most fabric wash compositions are dosed in solid powder form or, as has become more common lately, in tablets. Typically, the powders are dispensed into a fabric wash powder compartment in the dispenser drawer or into a ball or other similar dosing device directly into the drum. The tablets are also dosed directly into the drum, for example within a mesh or pouch provided for this purpose.

Dosage of fabric softener or the like in liquid form is somewhat problematic, and it is also inconvenient to dose the product separately from the fabric wash composition. It would be most desirable if a fabric softener or other benefit agent could be delivered as a solid composition. It would also be extremely desirable if the fabric softener or other composition could be dosed as part of or simultaneously with the fabric wash product.

Previously, it was known to use certain fabric softening clays as a solid component of a fabric wash composition. However, fabric softening clays are not as effective as fabric softening quaternary ammonium agents in their ability to impart softness. In addition, these fabric softening clays are used to exert their action as fabric softening products. That is, they are active as ingredients in fabric wash compositions and exert their softening effect during the wash cycle. They are not active during the rinse cycle and are therefore less likely to remain in the tissue after the rinse cycle has ended.

We have now found a class of fabric softening compositions that are based on solidly softening quaternary ammonium surfactants that can be dosed in the wash cycle but confer their benefit in the rinse cycle. In addition or alternatively, such compositions may also act as carriers for the delivery of other ingredients to the fabric. They can also be used as solid fabric conditioners for direct rinse dosing.

A wash cycle is a phase or cycle of a cleaning process in a washing machine in which fabrics are treated with a washing liquor to remove dirt. The wash liquor is typically water containing (i.e. dosed with) one or more materials to aid in the removal of dirt. Typically, the wash liquor contains, as a solution and / or dispersion, the ingredients of a conventional fabric wash, such as an aqueous or non-aqueous powder, tablet or liquid. These products usually contribute to the concentration of electrolytes in the washing liquor. The wash liquor is usually maintained at a temperature above ambient for at least part of the wash cycle, for example at a temperature of at least about 30 ° C, more commonly about 40 ° C, about 50 ° C. ° C or about 60 ° C. Higher temperatures, such as around 70 ° C, are also possible, but are less common due to the large energy expenditure and the potential to result in tissue damage. Many household washing machines have wash temperature settings in the range of 30 ° C to 60 ° C.

A rinse cycle typically shakes the tissues in a rinse liquor, which is water at about room temperature optionally containing a tissue conditioner in solution and / or dispersion.

The present invention is based on compositions which are solid and contain both a fabric softening quaternary ammonium material and, among others, a fatty acid and / or fatty alcohol component.

Our International Patent Application No. WO-A-06/050798 claims and describes a heat-activated tissue treatment composition comprising: a) at least 1% by weight of one or more softening quaternary ammonium materials (b) at least 1% by weight of a nonionic surfactant such that components (a) and (b) comprise at least 30% by weight of the composition, (c) at least 20% by weight of a fatty component selected from fatty acids with a melting point of at least 40 ° C, fatty alcohols with a melting point of at least 40 ° C and mixtures thereof, d) from 5 to 30% by weight of water.

This composition is designed for distribution as a liquid during the heating cycle of a roller dryer and for distribution by a dispensing device.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is based on numerous uses and applications of a solid tissue treatment composition (hereinafter called the "composition of the invention") comprising: (a) one or more ammonium materials quaternary fabric softeners; and (b) a selected fatty component of fatty acids, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof; this composition of the invention, its manufacture, use and methods of conditioning the fabrics representing the present invention in its broadest expression.

Thus, a first aspect of the present invention features a tissue conditioning method, the method comprising dosing a solid tissue treatment composition comprising a composition of the invention in a wash cycle of a washing machine, allowing the washing cycle is completed and then performing a washing cycle in the washing machine. A second aspect of the present invention presents a method of preparing a composition of the invention, the method comprising forming a molten material of the mixture of the fabric softening quaternary ammonium material (s) and fatty component, preferably at a temperature of from 50 ° C to 150 ° C, more preferably from 60 ° C to 140 ° C, even more so. preferably from 80 ° C to 130 ° C, most preferably from 85 ° C to 100 ° C of the fabric softening quaternary ammonium material (s) and any other optional material incorporated, optionally with a letting or causing the molten material to cool.

A third aspect of the present invention discloses the use of a composition of the invention in the manufacture of a dosage product in a washing cycle of a washing machine, to confer a tissue softening benefit during a subsequent rinse cycle.

A fourth aspect of the present invention features a tissue conditioning method, the method comprising dosing a composition of the invention in a washing cycle of a washing machine.

A fifth aspect of the present invention discloses the use of a composition of the invention for the manufacture of a rinse cycle dosing product for a washing machine to impart a fabric softening benefit.

Various classes of compositions of the invention incorporate particularly advantageous benefits.

Thus, for example, a sixth aspect of the present invention features a composition of the present invention comprising less than 5% by weight of water.

A seventh aspect of the present invention features a composition of the invention which also comprises at least one additional material selected from anionic surfactants, non-polymeric water-soluble builders and non-water-soluble inorganic salts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the context of a composition of the present invention, the term "solid" preferably refers to a hard or soft solid material that does not flow or visibly deform when observed after placement, such as a molten material in a 250 mL glass laboratory beaker to a level that is half the inner height of the beaker, then cooled and maintained at 25 ° C, the beaker is then set at a 45 ° inclination angle with the horizontal, the observation being made 5 minutes after the moment of the first inclination.

[8023] Compositions of the invention may be dosed in the wash cycle of an automatic washer because fabric softening quaternary ammonium materials are not released into the wash liquor due to the high electrolyte concentration of the wash liquors. Instead, the compositions tend to remain in contact with the wash load, for example by adhering to fabrics or by virtue of their density and / or size, remaining at least partially in the drum at the end of the wash cycle. At the low concentration of rinse cycle electrolytes, the compositions then degrade, releasing the quaternary ammonium component which can then confer its benefit to the tissue by virtue of being in the form of a solution or dispersion, for example in a phase. of lamellar gel.

Compositions of the invention may also be dosed directly into the rinse / rinse liquor cycle. Like solid ingredients, they are much less problematic than conventional liquid fabric conditioners.

Compositions according to the invention containing less than 5% by weight of water are advantageous in avoiding harmful interactions with components of the fabric wash composition with which they may come into contact during storage. Thus, they are particularly advantageous when the composition also contains one or more water sensitive ingredients, such as enzymes and bleaching systems or bleaching system components.

Compositions according to the invention containing at least one ingredient selected from anionic surfactants, non-polymeric water-soluble builders and non-builder water-soluble inorganic compounds may be dosed in the wash cycle and provide sufficient effective electrolytes to inhibit release. from tissue conditioning components to the rinse cycle.

Product Form The compositions of the invention may be provided in a number of different forms. They may be provided as particles or pellets of the composition. Particles of the composition of the invention may also be formed as granules also containing particles of other materials. To form such granules, the particles may be mixed, for example, with other materials to form a suspension which is spray dried. The granules may also be formed by a mechanical mixing and granulating process, for example as set forth in any of EP-A-0 367 339, EP-A-0 390 251 or EP-A-420 317. In such processes Solid particles are mixed with other components, including surfactant and a liquid component, to achieve a deformable state in which the mechanical mixing action achieves a deformation and densification of the granules, which are subsequently dried.

Particles, pellets or granules of compositions according to the present invention may also be mixed with one or more materials, for example, in powder or granular form.

Compositions of the present invention may also be provided in the form of tablets, that is, as an entire tablet or as a distinct part thereof, for example, a layer or inclusion. When present as all or part of a tablet, the compositions of the invention may be present as a unitary body or as compressed particles or granules thereof, optionally dry mixed with one or more other materials. Where a tablet comprises two or more distinct regions comprising one or other ingredients, particles or granules of compositions according to the invention may be mixed with that ingredient or ingredients, but only in one or some (but not all) distinct regions. The unitary solid may also be a body of cast material within a porous metering device or a metering device provided with one or more outlet holes.

Thus particles, pellets or granules may, inter alia, be in admixture with the components of a conventional laundry product.

Compositions of the invention may also be used to encapsulate other ingredients. In other words, one or more other ingredients are part of a core wrapping comprising or consisting of compositions according to the invention.

Thus, to summarize, compositions according to the present invention may be provided alone as particles or pellets or in any other solid form or may be employed in combination with one or more pellet and / or particulate materials or pellets. Compositions according to the invention may be dry mixed with particles or granules comprising one or more materials and / or may be present as a unitary body forming all or part of a tablet. Any of these product forms may also be located within a dosing device as described above.

Compositions according to the present invention may also contain one or more other materials intimately mixed with the fabric softening quaternary ammonium material (s) and the fatty component. Other suitable materials which may be intimately mixed in this manner are preferably one or more of those which are not incompatible with the quaternary ammonium and fatty material (s), for example silicone oil, mineral oil and perfume and your mixtures.

Compositions according to the present invention preferably contain from 15% to 70%, more preferably from 25% to 60%, most preferably from 35% to 50% by weight of the material (s). of fabric softener quaternary ammonium (s). Preferably they contain from 30% to 85%, more preferably from 45% to 80%, most preferably from 60% to 75% by weight of the fatty component. Although compositions according to the present invention may be substantially free of any other materials, they may contain, for example, from 0.001% to 60%, preferably from 5% to 30% by weight of such other materials. In this context, a composition according to the invention means a solid consisting of the fabric softening quaternary ammonium material (s), fatty component and optionally one or more materials intimately mixed with them and does not include any another material, dry mixed with them, included as a separate particle in any granule also containing a composition of the invention, or any other material present in a different part of a tablet containing the composition of the invention.

Manufacturing Processes Compositions according to the present invention are preferably prepared by forming a melt from the mixture of the fabric softener and fatty component quaternary ammonium material (s), preferably at a temperature to preferably form at a temperature of 70 ° C to 150 ° C, more preferably from 80 ° C to 130 ° C, most preferably from 85 ° C to 100 ° C a molten material of the material (s). fabric softening quaternary ammonium (s), any other optional material mixed with it, optionally by mixing, allowing the molten material to cool and, if desired, converting the molten material to particles or pellets prior to any optional subsequent process such as granulation, dry blending, compression and others. a) Quaternary Ammonium Tissue Softening Materials The composition comprises at least one tissue quaternary ammonium material. Preferably, the molar ratio of that component to the fatty component, particularly when at least 75%, preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90% by weight, and most preferably substantially all of the fatty component, consists of: one or more fatty alcohols is from 10: 1 to 1: 5, more preferably from 5: 1 to 1: 3, for example from 5: 1 to 1: 1 and most preferably from 4: 1 to 2: 1, A first group of cationic tissue softening compounds which may be used is represented by the formula (I): wherein each R is independently selected from a C5-35 alkyl or alkenyl group, R1 represents an alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl or C 1-4 hydroxyalkyl group, n is 0 or a number selected from 1 to 4, m is 1, 2 or 3 and designates the number of groups to which they refer directly from the N atom, and X- is an anionic group such as halides or alkyl sulfates, for example chloride, methyl sulfate or ethyl sulfate.

Preferred materials of this class are dialkenyl esters of triethanol ammonium methyl sulfate.

Commercial examples include Tetranyl AHT-1 (80% active triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate diuric ester), Tetranyl AT-1 (triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate diol ester, 90% active), L5 / 90 (ester 90% active triethanol ammonium methyl sulfate palm oil), all ex-Kao and Rewoquat WE15 (90% active quaternized triethanolamine dimethyl sulphate acid reaction products), ex -Witco Corporation and Stepantex VL85G, formerly Stepan.

The second group of cationic tissue machining compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (II): wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C 2-7 groups. 4 alkenyl; and wherein each R2 group is independently selected from C1-2B alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and T and X * are as defined in Formula (]) above. A third group of cationic fabric softening compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (III): ( III) wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R2 group is independently selected from C1-6 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and T and X 'are as defined in Formulas (I) or (II) above.

A fourth group of cationic fabric softening compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (IV); (IV) wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and wherein each R2 group is independently selected from Οβ, 2β alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and X- is as defined in Formulas (I) - (III) above, A fifth group of cationic fabric softening compounds for use in the invention is represented by formula (V ): (V) wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R2 group is independently selected from C1 -C6 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and X- is as defined in Formulas (I) - (IV) above.

In any composition according to the present invention, the fabric softening quaternary ammonium material may be present, for example, in an amount of from 15% to 70% by weight of the composition, preferably from 25% to 60% by weight. weight, more preferably from 35% to 50% by weight. (b) Fatty Component The compositions of the present invention comprise a fatty component selected from fatty acids and fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof. Fatty acids and fatty alcohols have a melting point of at least 40 ° C, preferably at least 50 ° C, more preferably in the range 55 to 75 ° C.

Suitable fatty acids / alcohols have a saturated and / or unsaturated carbon chain having a length of 14 to 26 carbon atoms, more preferably from 12 to 22, most preferably from 12 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 75%, particularly at least 90%, and most preferably substantially all of the fatty component is independently saturated and / or unsaturated fatty acids and / or fatty acids, in lengths of about carbon chain within one of these ranges.

The fatty component is present in an amount of at least 20%, preferably at least 25%, more preferably in the range of 30 to 40% of the total composition. It is preferable, although not essential, for fatty acid to be present, as this material can also act as an antistatic agent.

Optionally both fatty acid and fatty alcohol materials are present. Generally, the amount of fatty alcohol is greater than the amount of fatty acid.

Preferred fatty acids include hardened tallow fatty acid (available under the tradename Pristerene, ex Uniqema) and hardened palmitic acid (available under the tradename Prifrac 2960, ex Uniqema).

Preferred fatty alcohols include hardened tallow alcohol (available under the trade names Stenol and Hydrenol, formerly Cognis and Laurex CS, formerly Albright and Wilson) and beenyl alcohol, a C22 chain alcohol, available as Lanette 22 (formerly Henkel). ). (c) Other Optional Materials For Intimate Mixture with Quaternary Ammonium and Fatty Ingredients (i) Water Depending on the aspect of the invention, the compositions of the invention preferably contain less than 5% by weight of water and more preferably, they are substantially free of water. However, in some aspects of the invention they may contain, for example, an amount of from 0.001 to 50%, preferably from 0.01 to 30%, more preferably from 5 to 20% by weight of water, based on weight. of the total composition.

Small amounts of water are particularly advantageous when it is desired to avoid adverse interactions with other components that may be present in the composition.

For the avoidance of doubt, the water content of the composition should not be taken to include any water closely linked to any component of the composition, such as crystallization water. (ii) Solvent Optionally and advantageously, the compositions comprise an organic solvent. The solvent may be present to aid the dissolution of the softening quaternary ammonium materials in the rinse cycle. The solvent also optimizes the viscosity and flow temperature characteristics of the composition. In addition, the solvent may act as a humectant that retards the loss of water from the composition during storage.

Preferably the solvent is semi-polar.

Suitable solvents include anyone having a flash point above the heating temperature of a tumble dryer. Ideally, the solvent is also odorless.

Commercially available examples include polyols, such as glycol ethers. The most preferred solvent is dipropylene glycol.

Preferably the solvent is present at a level of 1 to 20 wt%, more preferably 3 to 10 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition.

It is possible to replace all or part of water with one or more solvents. In that case, a higher level of added solvent and a lower level of water than described herein may be present in the composition. (iii) Perfume It is desirable that the compositions of the present invention also comprise one or more perfumes. Suitable perfume ingredients include those set forth in Steffen Arctander's Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (Aroma Chemicals), published by the author in 1969, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. A preferred perfume is commercially available under the tradename Amazone.

Optionally, up to 40% by weight, preferably up to 30% by weight, for example up to 20% by weight of perfume (including the weight of any perfume vehicle) may be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention without destabilizing the composition. composition. These levels are significantly higher than those present in commercially available revolving dryer sheets. Therefore, better perfume substantivity and longevity can be achieved with the present compositions than with traditional revolving dryer sheets.

Thus, it is desirable for the perfume level (including vehicle) to be greater than 3 wt%, more preferably greater than 4 wt%, most preferably greater than 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition. . (iv) Oils Silicone oil, ester oil and mineral oil may be used to soften fabrics and / or increase the distribution of perfume in normal conditioners. These oils may be incorporated into the composition. Up to 30% oils have been mixed in the composition without impairing the stability of the composition. "Silicone oils" also include ester oils. (V) Other Optional Tissue Conditioning Ingredients Compositions of the invention may also contain one or more optional ingredients conventionally included in tissue conditioning compositions, such as pH buffering agents, dyes. , antifoaming agents, antifouling agents, polyelectrolytes, enzymes, optical brightening agents, anti-shrink agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-stain agents, germicides, fungicides, antibacterial agents, lubricants, solvents, anti-corrosion agents, folding agents, ironing aids (vi) Components and Electrolytes of the Washing Composition As stated above, particularly when the compositions of the invention are for wash cycle dosing, one or more additional materials are preferably employed to ensure that the electrolyte concentration in washing liquor high enough to prevent premature release of tissue conditioning components. This may be accomplished by dosing a wash composition or similarly a composition with one or more wash liquor-effective electrolyte components separate from the composition of the invention. Alternatively, the composition of the invention may contain other components that are effective electrolyte components or wash composition components. A non-exhaustive list of effective electrolytes includes anionic surfactants, non-polymeric water-soluble builders (detergency) and non-water-soluble inorganic salts.

Suitable components of the wash composition, including effective electrolytes as well as other effective electrolytes will now be described. Inclusion levels of suitable wash components or other electrolytes, when mentioned in the context of a wash composition separate from a composition of the invention, are by weight of the wash composition. When any are employed as an additional component of a composition according to the invention, the inclusion levels are percentages by weight of the total composition remaining after the weight subtraction of the softening quaternary ammonium material (s). ) of tissue and weight of the fatty component (ie, the “composition” of which the additional component is expressed as a percentage by weight shall be taken to consist of all ingredients except ammonium material (s) fabric softener (s) and the fatty component). The following section regarding suitable wash compounding components, including effective electrolytes as well as other effective electrolytes, should be taken as applicable to both of these situations.

In this particular context, when materials additional to the fabric softening quaternary ammonium material (s) and fatty component are mixed with them or granulated together with them or are in a separate zone (for example, a layer) of a unitary solid, such as a tablet, they should be treated as part of the same composition, unless language forbids it.

Preferably, the total effective electrolyte in any composition is sufficient that when the composition is metered at 0.1 g / liter in distilled water at 25 ° C, the conductivity of the resulting liquid is at least 5 mS ( milli-Siemens), preferably from 10 mS to 50 mS.

Surfactant Compounds When present, the surfactant preferably represents from 5 to 50% by weight of the composition, more preferably 8 or 9% by weight of the composition, for example up to 40% or 50% by weight. The surfactant may be anionic (soap or non-soap), cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, nonionic or a combination thereof.

The anionic surfactant may be present in an amount of from 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably from 2% or 4% to 30% or 40% by weight of the composition. Anionic surfactant represents a class of effective electrolytes to prevent premature release of fabric softening components into the wash liquor prior to the rinse cycle.

[0071] Synthetic anionic surfactants (ie, not soap) are well known to those skilled in the art. One or a mixture of any of the following may be employed. Examples include alkylbenzene sulfonates, particularly linear sodium alkylbenzene sulfonates with a C8 -C15 alkyl chain length; olefin sulfonates; alkane sulfonates; dialkyl sulfosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulfonates.

The primary alkyl sulfate of formula (VI): wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl chain of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, particularly 10 to 14 carbon atoms, and M + is a cation. solubilization is commercially significant as an anionic surfactant. The linear alkyl benzene sulfonate of formula (VII): wherein R is linear alkyl of 8 to 15 carbon atoms, and M + is a solubilization cation, particularly sodium, is also a commercially significant anionic surfactant.

Often, such linear alkyl benzene sulfonate or primary alkyl sulfate of the above formula, or a mixture thereof, is the desired anionic surfactant and may represent from 75 to 100% by weight of any anionic soap surfactant in the composition. In some forms of this invention, the amount of non-soap anionic surfactant is in the range of 5 to 20% by weight of the composition.

Soaps for use according to the invention are preferably naturally occurring fatty acid-derived sodium soaps, for example coconut oil, cam tallow, sunflower oil or hard rapeseed fatty acids. Particularly preferred soaps are selected from C10 to C20 soaps, for example, C16 to C20 or C12 soaps.

Optionally, one or more nonionic surfactant compounds present in the composition may be used. They include in particular reaction products of compounds with a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, particularly ethylene oxide.

The nonionic surfactant may be present, for example, in a relevant composition at a level of at least 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, preferably from 10 to 50% by weight, more preferably from 15%. at 45% by weight.

The combined amount of the total amount of any nonionic surfactant and fabric softening quaternary ammonium material (s) may be at least 20%, preferably from 10% to 70%, more preferably 30%. 60% by weight of the total composition. Generally, the weight ratio of fabric softening quaternary ammonium material (s) to the total weight of any nonionic surfactant is within the range 2: 1 to 1: 100, preferably 3: 2 to 1. : 75, more preferably from 1: 1 to 1:20, e.g. from 2: 3 to 1: 5.

Some preferred nonionic surfactants are solid at room temperature, so they contribute to the physical integrity of the solid composition.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide addition products with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.

For example, suitable nonionic surfactants may comprise an average degree of alkoxylation of 8 to 40 alkoxy units per molecule, more preferably from 10 to 30, even more preferably from 11 to 25, for example from 12 to 22 alkoxy units. . Some preferred nonionic surfactants have an HLB within the range of 8 to 20, more preferably from 10 to 20.

Some of these suitable nonionic surfactants are substantially water soluble surfactants of the generic formula (VIII): wherein R is selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and / or alkyl hydrocarbyl alkyl groups and / or acyl hydrocarbyl groups. branched chain; primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups; and primary, secondary and branched chain substituted alkenyl phenolic hydrocarbyl groups; hydrocarbyl groups having a chain length from 8 to about 25, preferably from 10 to 20, for example from 12 to 18 carbon atoms, with coconut and tallow or chain composition being most preferred, 10086] In the formula generic (VIII) for the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, Y is typically: wherein R has the meaning given above or may be hydrogen; and Z is preferably from 8 to 40, more preferably from 10 to 30, most preferably from 11 to 25, for example from 12 to 22.

The degree of alkoxylation, Z, means the average number of alkoxy groups per molecule. Specific nonionic surfactants are condensed from alkyl (Ce-22) ethylene oxide phenol, the condensation products of primary alcohols. or linear or branched aliphatic side by side with ethylene oxide and products prepared by condensing ethylene oxide with the propylene oxide and ethylene diamine reaction products.

Particularly preferred are primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, particularly ethoxylated C12-15 primary and secondary alcohols with an average of 5 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mol of alcohol.

In some tissue wash tablets of this invention, the amount of nonionic surfactant is in the range of 4 to 40%, or better, 4 or 5 to 30% by weight of the total tablet.

Another suitable class of nonionic surfactants may comprise a polyol based surfactant such as sucrose mono-, di- and polyesters. Examples of suitable sucrose esters include sucrose monooleages, sucrose monostearate or mixtures thereof, polyglycerols, alkyl polyglucosides such as coconut or stearyl monoglucosides and stearyl triglucoside and alkyl polyglycerols.

Determine Builder In principle, any composition can typically contain from 5 to 80%, most commonly from 15 to 60% by weight of a detergent builder. It may be supplied entirely by water-soluble materials or may be supplied in large part or even entirely by water-insoluble material with water softening properties. The water-insoluble detergent builder may be present as 5 to 80 wt%, or better, 5 to 60 wt% of the composition.

Alkali metal aluminosilicates are strongly favored as environmentally acceptable water-insoluble builders for fabric washing. Alkali metal aluminosilicates (preferably sodium) may be crystalline or amorphous or mixtures thereof having the generic formula (IX): (IX) These materials contain some bound water (indicated as XH2O) and are required to have a capacity of calcium ion exchange of at least 50 mg CaO / g. Preferred sodium aluminosilicates contain 1.5 - 3.5 S1O2 units (in the above formula). Both amorphous and crystalline materials can be readily prepared by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as widely described in the literature.

Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion exchange detergency builders are described, for example, in GB-A-1 429 143. Preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well-known commercially available zeolites A and X, the The new zeolite P is described and claimed in EP-A-384 070 and mixtures thereof.

Conceivably, a water-insoluble detergent builder could be a layered sodium silicate as described in US 4664839.

NaSKS-6 is the trademark of a crystalline layered silicate marketed by Hoechst (commonly abbreviated as “SKS-6"). NaSKS-6 is in the form of delta-Na2Si05 morphology. It can be prepared by methods such as that described in DE-A-3,417,649 and DE-A-3,742,043 In addition to these layered silicates, those with the generic formula NaMSixOax + i.yHzO where M is sodium or hydrogen may be used. x is a number from 1.9 to 4, preferably 2, and y is a number from 0 to 20, preferably 0.

Water-soluble phosphorus-containing inorganic detergency builders include alkali metal orthophosphates, metaphosphates, pyrophosphates and polyphosphates. Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates, orthophosphates and hexametaphosphates.

[0100] Water-soluble builders without phosphorus can be organic or inorganic. Inorganic builders that may be present include alkali metal carbonate (generally sodium); whereas organic builders include polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, acrylic / maleic copolymers and acrylic phosphonates, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxidisuccinates, mono-, di- and trisuccinates of carboxymethyloxysucetates, carboxymethyloxynylate dihydroxydiethoxydiethoxydiethoxydimethylate ethoxylates;

Suitable polymeric detergency builders may comprise polycarboxylate polymers, more particularly polyacrylates and acrylic / maleic copolymers, which may function as builders and also inhibit unwanted deposition on the fabric by the wash liquor.

Bleach Systems The compositions may optionally contain a bleach system. Bleaching system means one or more bleaches or any combination of interacting materials exerting their bleaching action. In a tablet, at least part of the bleach system may be in a region separate from any sensitive components. Any bleach system may comprise one or more peroxy bleach compounds, for example inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which may be employed in conjunction with activators to improve bleach action at low wash temperatures. If any peroxygen compound is present, the amount is likely to be in the range of 10 to 25% by weight of the composition.

Preferred inorganic persalts are monohydrate and tetrahydrate sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate, advantageously employed together with an activator. Bleach activators, also called bleach precursors, are widely exposed in the art. Preferred examples include peracetic acid precursors, for example tetraacetylene diamine (TAED), now in wide commercial use in conjunction with sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate, and perbenzoic acid precursors. Quaternary ammonium and bleach activating phosphoniums disclosed in ÜS 4751015 and US 4818426 (Lever Brothers Company) are also of interest. Another type of bleach activator that can be used but which is not a bleach precursor is a transition metal catalyst as set forth in EP-A-458397, EP-A-458398 and EP-A-549272. The bleach system may also include a bleach stabilizer (heavy metal scavenger) such as ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate and diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphonate.

As indicated above, if a bleach is present and is a water-soluble inorganic peroxygen bleach, the amount may be from 10% to 25% by weight of the composition.

Additionally or alternatively, the bleach system may comprise an atmospheric oxygen bleach catalyst, for example, in the form of a complex organic binder with a metal ion such as iron or manganese.

Other Ingredients of the Washing Composition The compositions may also contain (preferably in the second region) one of the detergent enzymes well known in the art for its ability to degrade and assist in the removal of various soils and stains.

Suitable enzymes include the various proteases, cellulases, lipases, amylases and mixtures thereof which are intended to remove various dirt and stains from tissues. Examples of suitable proteases are Maxatase (trademark) as supplied by Gist-Brocades N.V., Delft, The Netherlands, and Alcalase (trademark) and Savinase (trademark) as supplied by Novo Industrie A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark. Detergent enzymes are commonly employed in the form of granules or granules, optionally with a protective coating, in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of the composition, and such granules or granules do not present problems with. compression in the form of a tablet.

The compositions may also contain (preferably in the second region) a fluorescent (optical brightener), for example Tinopal (trademark) DMS or Tinopal CBS, available from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is sodium 4,4'-bis- (2-morpholin-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene disulfonate, and Tinopal CBS is 2,2'-bis- (phenyl styryl) disulfonate of dislike.

An antifoam material may be advantageously included if it is primarily intended for use in front-loading drum-type automatic washing machines. Suitable antifoam materials are usually in granular form, such as those described in EP-A-266 863. Such antifoam granules typically comprise a mixture of silicone oil, petroleum jelly, hydrophobic silica and alkyl phosphate as antifoam active material, absorbed in a porous water soluble carbonate inorganic carrier material. Antifoam granules may be present in an amount of up to 5% by weight of the composition.

It may also be desirable for the composition to include an amount of alkali metal silicate, particularly sodium ortho-, meta- or disilicate. The presence of such alkali metal silicates at levels of, for example, 0.1 to 10% by weight may be advantageous to provide corrosion protection of metal parts in washing machines, as well as to provide some reinforcement measure and processing benefits. in the case of manufacturing a material that is compressed into tablets.

[0110] A tissue wash tablet generally contains no more than 15% by weight of silicate. A dishwasher tablet often contains more than 20% by weight of silicate. Preferably, the silicate is present in the second region of the tablet.

Additional ingredients that may optionally be employed include antitransposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcelluiosis, straight chain polyvinyl pyrrolidone and cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, tissue softening agents, heavy metal scavengers such as EDTA , perfumes and dyes or small colored beads.

Water Soluble Inorganic Compounds No Additional Builders [0112] The compositions may also include one or more water soluble inorganic electrolytes, such as alkali metal salts (eg sodium or potassium) or alkaline earth metals such as sulphates, halides {e.g. chlorides), nitrates and others. These may be included, for example, at levels of from 0.001% to 15% by weight, such as from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the composition.

Examples The invention will now be illustrated by the following non-limiting examples. Further modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Example 1 Table 1 Cetyl alcohol and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide were mixed at room temperature. The mixture was then heated in a 90 ° C water bath until an isotropic solution formed. The molten material was then cooled to room temperature and the solid conditioner obtained. A crusher was used to crush the solid into a powder. The use of a CO cover? It is advisable to avoid the risk of dust explosion.

Example 2 Table 2 Cetyl alcohol, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and Arquad 2HT were mixed at room temperature. The mixture was then heated in a water bath to 90 ° C until an isotropic solution formed. The molten material was then cooled to room temperature and the solid conditioner obtained. A crusher was used to crush the solid into a powder.

Example 3 Table 3 Cetyl alcohol, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and Arquad 2HT were mixed at room temperature. The mixture was then heated in a 90 ° C water bath until an isotropic solution formed. The molten material was then cooled. Perfume, silicone oil and mineral oil were added to the melt phase with stirring at 75 ° C before the melt solidified. A solid mixture with cooling at room temperature was obtained. A crusher was used to crush the solid into a powder. It was found that cooling the solid to below freezing helped increase its hardness and therefore made the grinding process easier. Example 4 Table 4 Cetearyl alcohol and di (hydrogenated tallow) dimethylammonium chloride were mixed at room temperature. The mixture was then heated in a 90 ° C water bath until an isotropic solution formed. The molten material was then cooled. The perfume was added to the melt phase with stirring at 75 ° C before the molten material solidified. A solid tissue treatment composition was obtained with cooling at room temperature, a crusher was used to crush the composition into a powder.

The powder was then separated into three size ranges of 600 - 850 microns, 425 - 600 microns and 75 - 425 microns using appropriately sized sieves.

The powder was then mixed with Skip (Persil) Bio detergent when both constituents were in powder form to thereby form a solid fabric cleaning and treatment composition. The solid tissue cleaning and treatment composition was then dosed in a washing machine at the beginning of the wash cycle.

[0120] The softener performance of the solid tissue treatment composition was observed to improve when particle size decreased from 600 - 850 microns to 425 - 600 microns to 75 - 425 microns.

Example 5 Table 5 The solid tissue-cleaning composition and the solid tissue-cleaning and treatment composition were prepared in the same manner as described above in Example 4. The solid tissue-cleaning and treatment composition was tested in a similar manner. identical to that given in example 4, with the same results.

Claims

Claims (11)

A tissue conditioning method, wherein the method is for assaying a solid tissue treatment composition comprising (a) quaternary ammonium tissue macerating material; (b) a selected fatty component of fatty acids, fatty alcohols and mixtures thereof; and (c) less than 10% by weight of the solid tissue treatment composition, water, solvent or a mixture thereof; wherein the fatty component has a melting point of 50 ° C to 150 ° C; and wherein the sum of (a) and (b) is at least 80% by weight of the solid tissue treatment composition, characterized in that the composition is metered in the wash or rinse cycle of a washing machine, allowing the wash cycle to complete, and then performing a rinse cycle in the washing machine; wherein the solid tissue treatment composition is mixed with a solid tissue cleaning composition while both compositions are in the solid phase. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fatty component has a melting point of 55 ° C to 80 ° C. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the molar ratio of component (a) to component (b) is from 10: 1 to 1: 5. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the molar ratio is from 5: 1 to 1: 3. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the molar ratio is from 5: 1 to 1: 1, Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the molar ratio is from 4: 1 to 2: 1, A method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the fatty material consists of or comprises a fatty component selected from fatty acids and fatty alcohols and a mixture thereof, where such fatty alcohols / fatty acids have a chain. saturated or unsaturated carbons having independently 14 to 26 carbon atoms. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the carbon chain has from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the carbon chain has from 12 to 20 carbon atoms. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid tissue cleaning composition comprises at least one material selected from anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, non-polymeric water soluble builders and non-builder soluble inorganic salts. Water. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the solid tissue treatment and / or solid tissue cleaning compositions are in powder form.