Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/835—Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/38—Cationic compounds
  • C11D1/42—Amino alcohols or amino ethers
  • C11D1/44—Ethers of polyoxyalkylenes with amino alcohols; Condensation products of epoxyalkanes with amines
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/38—Cationic compounds
  • C11D1/62—Quaternary ammonium compounds
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/0005—Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
  • C11D3/001—Softening compositions
  • C11D3/0015—Softening compositions liquid
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/66—Non-ionic compounds
  • C11D1/72—Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols

Definitions

• This present invention deals with concentrated aqueous dispersions or emulsions of insoluble cationic compounds, used as fabric softeners, with an improved stability with time, and in regards to temperature variations in relation to the viscosity and dispersibility in water of the said dispersons. It also deals with the adequate preparation methods for the obtention of the said dispersions.
• 13 780 and 18 039 describe the use of non-cyclic hydrocarbons, fatty acids or their esters, and fatty alcohols as additives to decrease viscosity and to enhance the stability of concentrated softening compositions, but the effectivity of these coumpounds decreases noticeably with low storage temperatures, so the solution provided by them is only a partial one.
• the addition of non-ionic alkoxylated surfactants is knows for diluted compositions, and has been applied in concentrated compositions, for instance in the German Patent No. 29 11 198, in the French Patent No. 2 482 636 and in the US-Patent No.
• the part played by the alkoxylated amines in the compositions described by the documents above cited are both of fabric softening and of enhancing the stability of the dispersion, but all of them are referred to diluted softener compositions, and, moreover, the stabilizing action of the alkoxylated amine has to be concurrent with the joint action of other additives, like urea or alcohols.
• European Patent Application No. 56 695 is introduced for the first time the concept of the action of alkoxylated amines as factors to achieve a proper viscosity, as well as a satisfactory stability, in concentrated softener compositions, provided that it is associated to the addition of low levels of electrolyte.
• the invention herein solves these problems, as in a surprising way unexpected results are achieved in good characteristics of viscosity and a good dispersibility in water of concentrated aqueous dispersions of insoluble cationic compounds, as well as an extended stabilization thereof in ranges of temperatures between 0° and 50 * C, by means of the addition of amines with a high degree of alkoxylation in union with a precise and definite system of two non-ionic components. Also, surprisingly, the dispersions described in the invention herein exhibit an excellent adaptability in the maintenance of their physical properties versus abrupt and wide changes of temperature. Also inherent difficulties to the process of Beingtion of aqueous concentrated dispersions of cationic softeners are solved.
• the fundamental object of the invention herein is to achieve concentrated aqueous dispersions of insoluble cationic softeners with adequate viscosity and dispersibility and an improved stability in storage and in abrupt temperature changes. Another aim of the invention is the achievement of more economically profitable concentrated softener compositions. Another aim of the invention herein is to develop a process to obtain the compositions hereof, easy and dependable in its results.
• the invention herein relates to fabric softener compositions which are basically constituted by the following components:
• the above mentioned compounds are dispersed or dissolved in water with a pH ranging between 3 and 5.
• an electrolyte preferably salts of strong acids and divalent metals, the effect of which is very beneficial on the viscosity parameter.
• the most adequate proportions of the said electrolyte range between 0.02% and 0.15%. Below the inferior limit, the electrolyte action is very unsubstantial, and above the upper limit, there is risk that undesirable phenomena may appear, undermining the stability of the compositions, due to problems of phase disruption.
• insoluble cationic compounds of the invention herein belong to the type usually used in aqueous dispersions with softening activities on textile fabrics, preferably those belonging to the following groups:
• alkoxylated tertiary amines with a number of mols of alkylene oxide higher than 20 per mol of amine, are highly important to achieve a viscosity between 50 and 900 centipoises with a good stability, during long storage terms.
• the said amines can be used in proportions ranging from 0.1% to 3% by weight, the preferred proportions are those from 0.5% to 1.5%, with a view to achieve a good balance between the desired effect of viscosity reduction and the incidence in the final cost of the composition.
• non-ionic surfactants herein shows itself to be effective to achieve compatibility of the alkoxylated amine with a high degree of alkoxylation with the formulation in presence of small amounts of electrolyte, and it is also basic to confer on the dispersion its qualities of elasticity versus temperature changes during storage.
• These non-ionic surfactants are selected from amongst the group of alkoxylated fatty alcohols or alkoxylated alkylphenols with a general formula: wherein R 2 represents an alk(en)ylic group between C s and C 20 or phenylalkyl from C 7 to C 10 , n is an integer from 1 to 4, and z is a number between 1 and 75.
• the proportion between A and B can have a range between 10:1 to 1:10, the preferable proportion is between a range of 3:1 to 1:3.
• the process of obtention has also a great importance to obtain good results in viscosity, dispersibility in water, and stability.
• the temperature during the said process has to be maintained with decreasing rhythm between 60°C and 30°C, but the most important factor is the order and rate of addition of the different components. So, for example, it is convenient to add to the water, in the first place, a molten mixture of the alkoxylated amine together with the system of non-ionic surfactants, and to adjust the pH by means of a strong acid between 3 and 5.
• the addition of the insoluble cationic compound is performed in a fractionated way, alternating with additions, also in a fractioned way, of the electrolyte. Small variations in the order of addition are the cause of dispersions with a very high initial viscosity or with a bad performance versus temperature variations.
• the insoluble cationic compounds are the active softening matter, and can be selected from amongst the following groups:
• the alkoxylated amines have the general formula I, wherein R 1 represents an alkyl group, saturated or non-saturated, from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, as those corresponding to coconut, oleic, tallow, hydrogenated tallow, and hydrogenated tallow is preferred; n is an integer between 1 and 4, value 2 being preferred, which corresponds to ethoxylated amines.
• the values of x and y range between 10 and 50 in such a way that the total sum thereof ranges between 20 and 100, this is to say, the number of mols of ethylene oxide per amine mol must range between 20 and 100, although the preferred values of x + y range between 20 and 50.
• Etilenox R Pulcra
• E thomeen R Akzo
• Genamin R Hoechst
• Highly preferred are the amines of hydrogenated tallow with 20 mols of ethylene oxide such as Etilenox R KM-30 of Pulcra, S.A. and Genamin R S-250 of Hoechst A.G., and with 50 mols of ethylene oxide as, for example, Ethomeen R HT60 of AKZO Chemie.
• Non-ionic surfactants have the general formula II, wherein R 2 represents an alkyl group of between 8 and 20 carbon atoms like, for example, those corresponding to fatty alcohols like lauric, miristic, palmitic or stearic alcohols, or the mixtures thereof, or an alkyl phenyl group with 7 to 10 carbons, as those corresponding to the alkyl phenols with 8 and 9 carbon atoms.
• the preferred groups are those corresponding to the lauric alcohol and nonylphenol.
• the value of n can be between 1 and 4, being the preferred value that of 2, and, therefore, the ethoxylated products. According to the invention herein, a binary system of non-ionic oxyethylenated surfactants is necessary in function of the Z value:
• compositions of the invention herein which are conventionally used in the field of fabric softeners, like dyes, perfumes, supplementary viscosity modifiers, emulgents, optical brighteners, antioxidants, germicides, fungicides, moisteners, etc...
• electrolytes as salts of divalent metals with strong acids, in weight ratios ranging between 200 and 1.500 ppm.
• electrolytes are calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate.
• auxiliary in viscosity control are lineal or ramified short chain alcohols from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
• Isopropilic alcohols, paticularly, may be had in a proportion, between a 1% and a 4%, but not in a bigger proportion that may cause lack of stability.
• Optional components indicated to improve the water absorbancy of the fabrics treated with the softeners are the emulsified silicones, such as DC-347, DC-346 and DC-HV490, marketed by Dow Corning. Small amounts, of an order of a 0.01% to a 0.3% in active matter, are employed.
• Optical brighteners can also be employed, like, for example, derivatives of estilbene and distirylbiphenyl, marketed by Ciba-Geigy as T inopal R .
• 1.5 parts of etoxylated hydrogenated tallow amine with 25 mols of ethylene oxide per mol of amine are mixed, at a temperature of 55°C, together with 1 part of etoxylated nonylphenol with 30 mols of ethylene oxide per mol of nonylphenol and 1 part of etoxylated nonylphenol with 1.5 mols of ethylene oxide per mol of nonylphenol.
• the said molten mixture is added upon 70 parts of deionized water, at a temperature of 50° to 60°C, and with strong stirring. Hydrochloric acid 1 N is added until a pH of 3 to 4 is reached.
• the sample is again placed in the refrigerator, for another four days, and then it is removed, left to stabilize for one day at room temperature, and then the viscosity is tested at 20°C.
• the values of viscosity that have been found are:
• Dispersibility in water is approximate and orientative.
• a graduate cylinder is filled with a liter of water at 20°C ⁇ 5°C of temperature, and with a hardness of 20°HF.
• 0 means total dispersion and 10 no dispersion.
• the volume of water to which the dispersion has not arrived is measured, so that the optimal volume is that of 0 ml, and the worst one is that of 1000 ml.
• a dispersion is prepared with the following ingredients:
• the dispersion exhibits the following characteristics, determined according to the criteria established in
• a dispersion is prepared with the following ingredients:
• the dispersion exhibits the following characteristics, determined according to the criteria established in
• a dispersion is prepared with the following ingredients:
• the dispersion exhibits the following characteristics, determined according to the criteria established in
• the dispersions described in the examples I to IV exhibit excellent viscosity, dispersibility and stability characteristics during storage and in extreme temperature conditions for their use as fabric concentrated softeners.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
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• Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)

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Cited By (11)

Citations (6)

• 1983
  • 1983-06-10 DE DE8383105693T patent/DE3373492D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1983-06-10 EP EP19830105693 patent/EP0128231B1/de not_active Expired
  • 1983-06-27 ES ES523600A patent/ES8500988A1/es not_active Expired

Patent Citations (6)

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