Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Z~1~3
-- 1 --
FABRIC SOFTENING COMPOSITION
_
FIELD OF THE INVE~ION
,.. . .
The present invention relates to a fabric softening
composition. In particular, but not exclusively, it
5 relates to an aqueous based concentrated fabric softening
composition.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known to treat fabrics, particularly after
washing, with fabric softening agents in order to improve
the feel of the fabrics and, in the case of clothes, to
improve the comfort in wear. Traditionally, fabric
softening agents are applied from an aqueous liquor which
15 is made up by adding a relatively small volume of a fabric
soEtening composition to a large volume of water, for
example during the rinse cycle in an automatic washing
machine. The fabric softening composition is usually an
aqueous liquid product containing less than ahout 8~ of a
20 cationic fabric softening agent. For a number of reasons,
including or example the cost of packaging, it would be
preferred if the product were to contain more than 8% of
the active ingredient but due to difficulties in
3~
manufacture, storage and ease of use of the products, it
has only been possible to do this in the past with some
difficulty.
Further, there may be a desire to partially replace
the cationic fabric softening agent with a material which
is less costly, easier to handle or less prone to causing
skin reaction w~-ile at the same time maintaining or
substantially maintaining the performance of the productO
As set out in more detail below, the present
invention seeks to overcome one or more of the objectives
referred to above by the combined use of a cationic fabric
softening agent and lanolin or a lanolin-like material.
SUMM~RY OF TH~ INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a fabric
softening composition comprising an aqueous base and at
least 0.5~ by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent,
characterised in that it further comprises from 0.25% up to
10% by weight of lanolin or a lanolin-like material.
An essential component of the present invention is
lanolin or a lanolin-like material. Lanolin is wool wax
which has been purified by various purification steps
including washing, neutralisation, filtration, bleaching and
deodorisation. Lanolin is composed primarily of esters
which constitute the active constituents in the present
invention and which yield on hydrolysis a mixture of
complex alcohols and fatty acids. The alcohols which form
about half of the ester component by weight, include
sterols and terpene alcohols. The sterols amount to about
30% and include cholesterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol and
cerebosterol and dihydrocholesterol (cholestanol). The
terpene alcohols include lanesterol (C30H50O),
dih~drlaneSterl (C30H52)' agnosterol (C30H48o)~
dihydroagnosterol (C30H500).
Lanolin is available commercially in a number of
forms. Lanolin as such contains the active constituents
primarily in their ester form. It is also available in
two hydrolysed forms where the active constituents are
primarily in their alcoholic or carboxylic acid form.
Further, lanolin may be hydrogenated to form a product
where the active constituents are present primarily only in
their alcoholic form. Lanolin is also commercially
available in propo~ylated and acetylated forms. As used
herein the term "lanolin" is intended to refer to any such
material derived from wool wax whether the active
constituents are in the alco~olic, ester, alkoxylated,
hydrogenated or other chemical form.
Suitable commercial forms of lanolin include Corona
(lanolin BP~, ~artolan, Polychol and Coronet (Trade Marks
of Croda Chemicals Ltd), Solulan, Acetulan and Modulan
(Trade Marks of American Cholesterol Products Inc) and
Lanocerina ~Trade Mark - Esperis SpA Milan). Commercial
lanolin is also available from Westbrook Lanolin Co.,
Bradford, England.
Many of the active constituents of lanolin can be
prepared synthetically, from sources other than wool WAX
or can be ~xtracted from wool wax and other naturally
occurring material~. While for cost reasons the
commercially available forms of lanolin are preferred for
the present invention, it is also possible to use any one
or more of the active constituents referred to above
however derived, and also materials of similar structure.
Thu , in place of lanolin one may use a "lanolin-like
material" which term as used herein includes
~2~
ta) any Ol~ or more of the active lanolin constituents
ref~ .o above, and the carboxylic acid or
alcohol, derivatives thereof;
5 (b) the corresponding carboxylic acids or alcohols and
ester derivatives of the material~ listed in (a), in
particular the esters thereof with fatty acids or
alcohols containing at least 12 carbon atoms.
10 ~c) iso- and anteiso- alcohols and acids and derivatives
thereof having the general formula
CH3
CH- Rl -X
R2
where Rl is a divalent straight or branched chain,
saturated or unsaturated, substituted or
unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group having at least 7,
preferably at least 15 carbon atoms, R2 is a methyl
or ethyl group and X is OH, -COOH, -O -C -R or
~COOR ~here R is a hydrocarhyl group, in
particular a fatty acid alkyl group containing of at
least 12 carbon atoms. Examples of materials in
this group include 16-methyl heptadecanol, 24-methyl
hexacosanol, 8-methyl nonanoic acid: and 2-hydroxy-
16-methyl heptadecanoic acid.
The level of lanolin or lanolin-like material in the
fabric softening compositions is from 0.25% up to 10% by
weight, such as between 0.5% and 5% by weight of the
35 composition.
3~ a3
Any well-known cationic fabric softening agent can be
used in the present invention, as well as mixtures of two
or more of such agents.
Suitable e~amples of cat.ionic fabric-softening agents
are quaternary ammonium compounds containing two long alkyl
or alkenyl chains with 12-22 carbon atoms such as
di(hardened or unhardened tallow) dimethyl ammonium-
chloride~ 2-heptadecyl-2methylstearoyl amido ethyl
imida~oline methosulphate, di-(coco)dimethyl ammoni.um-
chloride, etc. These cationic fabric-softening agents are
well-known in the art and furthex suitable examples can be
found in Schwartz-Perry. "Surface-actiYe Agents and
Detergents" Yol II, 1958.
~5
Relatively water-soluble cationic softening agents,
such as the monoalkyl quaternary ammonium compounds s~ch as
stearyltrimethylammoniumchloride, may also be used, but, as
they are often less effective softeners, they are
preferably used in conjunction with other, more effective
cationic fabric softening agents or witi, llu,~ Lionic
softening agents such as fatty acid esters of polyols such
as sorbitantristearate, glycerolmonostearate, and so on, or
with anîonic detergents with which they are capable of
forming softening compl.exes, such as fatty acid soaps.
They may also be made more hydrophobic by treatment with
suitable hydrophobising agents such as long chain alcohols
and fatty acids. The present invention is however of
particular benefit if the more effective, less water-
soluble cationic softening agents having two long alkylchains are used.
The level of cationic fabric softening agent in the
aqueous fabric softening compositions is at least O.S% but
preferably no more than 30~ by weight, such as between
1.0~ and 15~ by weight of the composition.
~$~
-- 6
The ratio by weight of the cationic fabric softening
agent to the lanolin or lanolin-like material may lie
between 0.05:l and 20:l, more preferably between O.l:l and
lO.l, especially between l:l and 4:l.
In use, the fabric softening composition of the
invention is added to a large volume of water to form a
liquor with which the fabrics to be treated are contacted~
Generally, ~he total concentra~ion of the cationic fabric
softening agent and the lanolin or lanolin-like materials
in this liquor will be between about 50 ppm and about 500
ppm.
The pH o~ the aqueous composition used for forming
the liquor may be varied within a range, for example
between about 3 and about 8, preferably from about 4 to
about 6. To achieve the desired pH in the composition and
in the treatment liquor, the composition may contain
buffering agents as required such as benzoic acid, ci~ric
acid and phosphoric acids and~or their alkali metal salts.
In use, the fabrics to be treated are contacted with
an aqueous liqucr to which the fabric softening composition
is added, the ratio by weight of the fabrics to the liquor
being preferably less than about 25:l, most preferably
between about lO:l and about 4:l.
The aqueous liquor in contact with the fabrics may be
at any convenient temperature. Successful. results can be
3 obtained when the liquor has a temperature between about
O~C and about 60C, preferably between about 10C and about
40C
The liquor and fabrics in contact therewith are
preferably agltated during treatment.
-- 7
The amount of cationic softening agent and lanolin or
lanolin~lîke material deposited on the fabric depends on,
nter alia, the concentration of these components in
the treatment liquor, the treatment temperature, the degree
of agitation, the treatment time and the nature of the
fabric. Generally, a level of less than about 0.5~, such
as between about 0.0l% and about 0.4% by weight in total of
these components ~ill be deposited, based on the weight of
the dry fabric.
The balance of the composition comprises the aqueous
medium, as the case may be with the other ingredients as
set out below. The aqueous medium comprises at least 25%,
preferably at least 30%, and especially at ~east 40% of the
composition.
The compositions of the invention may further
comprise additional beneficial ingredients, cornmonly used
or proposed for inclusion in liquid fabric-softening
compGsition~. Such ingredients, either a oi.c Ol-
incorporated in suitable carriers, include additional
viscosity modifiers, germicides, fluorescers, perfumes
including deodorising perEumes, organic or inorganic acids,
antistatic agents such as water-soluble cationic
surfactants, ethoxylated quaternary polyamine compounds (eg
Ethoduameen T i3~ and aluminium salts, soil-release agents,
colourants, antioxidants, bleaches, bleach precursors,
anti-yellowing agents, ironing aids etc, all in the
conventional minor amounts. Enzymes such as cellulases
30 may also be included.
The compositions may also contain, in addition to the
cationic abric-softening agents, other non-cationic
fabric-softening agents such as nonionic fabric-softerling
35 agents.
-- 8
In particular, the fabric softening compositions may
include a ~iscosity modifier selected from polymers as
described below, C12-C40 hydrocarbon5, Cg-C24 fatty
acids, fatty acid esters having a total of 10 40 carbon
atorns, C10-Cl8 fatty alcohols, water-miscible solvents,
and elec-trolytes
The polymer when included in the composition of the
invention may be present therein in an amount of from 0.5
tc 40%, preferably from l to 30%, and particularly
preferably 4-25~. The polymer, suitable for inclusion, is
defined in the foLlowing way:
The polymer shGuld be water-soluble under user's
conditions, and a 20% aqueous solution of the polymer
should have a viscosity (~ ~ of ~50, preferably ~30 and
especially preferably < 15 cP, as measured at 25C and 110
sec in a ElaaXe Viscometer. Said 20% aqueous solution
should also show a vapour pressure equal to or lower than
the vapour pressure of a 2~ aqueous solution of poly-
ethyleneglycol with a molecular weight of 6,000, preferably
equal to or lower than that of a 10~ aqueous solution of
said polyethyleneglycol, and particulary preferably equal
to or lower than that of an 18~ aqueous solution of said
polyethyleneglycol. The said aqueous polymer solution can
be of water and polymer only, or can include solvent-
containing media normally derived from the raw materials or
additives, or include additives specifically designed to
improve the vapour pressure lowering capacity of the
polymer, or, in the case of ionic polymers, include
adjustments to pH in order to optimise ionisation. Such
vapour pressure measurements can be obtained using an
Hewlett Packard vapour pressure osmometer, using an
operating temperature of 34.5C or using any other sultable
vapour measuring device.
- g - C.1325
The polymer should furthermore have a molecular
weight of at least 400, preferably at least 4,000 and
particularly preferably at least 6,000.
It is desirable, furthermore, that the polymer does
not negatively interact with any of the other ingredients
of the composition.
Suitable examples of the polymer can be thus obtained
10 from the polyalkyleneglycols, the polyalkylene imines,
de~tran, gelatin and other natural or synthetic
(co)polymers, as lon~ as they meet the above criteria.
Mix~ures of two or more polymers of the same type or
15 of diffexent type may also be used.
A preferred class of polymers comprises polyethylene-
glycols ~ith an average molecular weight of about l,000
to about 6,000. These polymers, and especially those
20 with an average molecular weight of 4,000 or 6,000, are
particularly suitable for compositions of the invention
with a high level of relatively water~insoluble cationic
fabric-softening agent.
Other typical examples of suitable polymers are
dextran with a molecular weight of lO,000 and polyethylene
imine with a molecular weight of 45-750.
When the composition contains a C12-C~O hydro-
30 carbon as a viscosity control agent, this is advantageously
at a level of from 0.25% to 50~ by weight, preferably from
0.5% to 25%. Preferred materials have from 12 to 24
carbon a~oms and especially preferred are liquid mixtures
of paraffins having from 14 to 18 carbon atoms.
-- 10
Norn~ , suitable hydrocarbons are found in the
paraffin ~s~ fin series, but other materials, such as
alkynes and cyclic hydrocarbons are not excluded.
Materials known generally as paraffin oil, and petroleum
5 are suitable. Examples of specific materials are
hexadecane, octadecane, eicosane tetradecane and
octadecane. Preferred co~nercially-available paraffin
mixtures include spindle oil and light oil and technical
grade mixtures of Cl4 Cl8 n-paraffins Haloparaffins
10 such as myristyl chloride and stearyl bromide are not
excluded.
When the composition contains a Cg-C~4 fatty
acid, this i8 advantageously at a level of from 0.5 to 15%.
Highly preferred materials of this class are the
Clo-C20 saturated fatty acids, especially lauric acid,
myristic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid.
When the composition contains a fatty acid ester
having a total of lO to 40 carbon atoms this is at a
preferred level of from 0.25 to 15% by weight,
advantageously 0.5 to 4%. The ester is preferably
empirically derived fro~ a atty acid having 8 to 23 carbon
25 atoms and an alkanol or hydroxy alkanol having 1-8,
especially 1-4 carbon atoms. Specific examples include
esters derived from Cl-C3 alcohols and lauric,
myristic, palmitic or stearic acid, such as methyl laurate,
ethyl myristate, iso-propyl stearate, ethylene glycol
30 monostearate, ethyl stearate, methyl palmitate, and other
esters such as iso-butyl stearate and 2-ethylhexyllaurate,
iso-octyl myristate.
When the composition contains a fatty alcohol having
35 from lO to l8 carbon atoms, this is preferably at a level
of from 0.25 to 15~ by weight.
Specific examples of this class are decanol,
dodecanol, tetradecanG1, pentadecanol, hexadecanol and
octadecanol. The most preferred materials are lauryl and
palmityl alcohols.
When the composition contains as viscosity control
agent a solvent this may be a lower alkanol, a glycol, a
glycolether and the like. The solvent may be present at
a level of up to 20% by weight, such as from 5% to
10 15% by weight. ~hen the cationic fabric-softening agent
is supplied in the form ~f an aqueous-alcoholic solution,
that alcohol content is included in the above
amounts ! and if necessary only a small amount of extra
alcohol is to be added. A suitable solvent is
15 isopropanol.
The visc05ity oE the fabric softening composition may
be controlled by the presence of an electrolyte.
Preferably the electrolyte is a water-soluble non~surface
20 active salt such as sodium chloride, sodiu."."~.i.osulphate,
sodium benzoate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride or
aluminium chlorhydrate. The level of electrolyte will
determine or be determined by the desired viscosity of the
composition and the nature and concentration oE other
25 components in the composition. Typical level~ are from
about 100 to about 1000 parts per million, most preferably
between about 200 and about 500 parts per million.
The fabric ~oftening compo~itions optionally contain
30 one or more nonionic emulsifying agents, such as the
polymerised monoglycerides of long chain f~ ids having
from 14 to 24 carbon atoms in the straight or branched
saturated or unsaturated carbon chain, suc~ ~5 ~oly-
monolauryl glyceride, poly-monostearyl glyceride, poly-
~5 monopalm.ityl glyceride or poly-monooleyl glyceride.
- 12
Another suitable nonîonic ernulsifying agent is sorbitan
monostearate.
These nonionic emulsifying agents are available
5 commercially by the Trade Marks WITCONOL (Witco Chemicals
Ltd) and SPAN (Atlas Chemical). The nonionic emulsifying
agent may be present at a level from 0.5~ to 9.5% by
weight, such as from 2.4% to 6%.
In addition to the above-discussed components,
compositions according to the invention can also include a
water-soluble cationic or non-ionic surfactant.
By water-soluble, it is meant that the surfactant has
15a solubility in water of pH 2.5 and 20~C of greater than
10 g/l. Normally such materials are alkyl subs~ituted
ammonium salts having one C12-C2~ alkyl chain,
optionally substituted or interrupted by functional groups
such as -O , -COO -, -CONH -, -O - etc. Suitable
~water~soluble nonionic surfactants are the ethoxylates,
sorbitan esters available as TWEENS (Atlas Chemical).
It is particularly beneficial to include a water-
soluble cationic or nonionic emulsifying agent in the
25composition if it contains as a viscosity modifier a
hydrocarbon, fatty acid, fatty alcohol or fatty acid ester
of the types referred to above. The level of the
water-soluble s~lrfactant is preferably 0.01% to l~o
Preferably, the compositions contain substantially no
anionic ma-terial 9uch as anionic surfactants. However
some anionic material may be tolerated in practice. In
preferred compositions the weight ratio of anu anionic
material to the cationic fabric so~tening agent is less
35than 0.4:1, most preferably less than 0.2:1.
~t~
- 13
The viscosity of the fabric softening compositions i5
preferably less than about 150 cP, most preferably les~
than about 120 cP. This viscosity is measured at 25C and
llO sec in a Haake Viscometer.
The compositions of the invention can normally be
prepared by mixing the ingredients together in water,
heating to a temperature of about 60C and agitating for
5-30 minutes.
The invention will now be illustrated by the
following non-limiting examples.
EXAMPLES 1 T0 13
Fabric conditioning compositions were made up
according to the formulations given in the following Tables
I and II by mixing the ingredients together in water at
about 60C and agitating.
The cationic fabric softening a9~11L~ u~d were:
CFS 1 - Arosurf TA 100 (approx 700~ active)
CFS 2 - Arquad 2HT (82.35% active)
CFS 3 - VarisoEt 475~75~ active)
CFS 4 - Di(soft tallow3 imidazoline methosulphate
The lanolin used in each case was pure lanolin BP
(ex BDM).
r) ~ S ~ ~1 r /~s
- 14
The viscosity modifying agents used were:
VMA 1 - n Cl~-C17 paraffin (ex BP~
V~A 2 - .sodium chloride
VMA 3 - polyethylene glycol (MW 1.5K)
VMA 4 - polyethylene glycol (MW 4K)
VMA 5 - isopropanol
VMA 6 - propylene glycol
The water-soluble emulsifying agent used was
Arquad 18 (50% active).
Each Table also gives the viscosity of the
composition as measure in a Haake viscometer at 110 sec
15 and at 25C.
TABLE I
EXAMPLE N0 1 2 3 4 5 6
20 I~GREDIENTS (%)
....
CF5 1 2.0 4.0 2.5
CFS2 7~3 7~312.7
Lanolin 8.0 6.0 4.0 9.5905 9.5
25 Arquad l8
VMA 1 1 3 . 0
VM~ ~ 0 045
Water ~ -balance to lO0----~
Viscosity cP 24 29 187118 63 68
3~
-- 15
TABI.E I I
EXP.MPLE NO 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
INGREDIENTS ( ~6 )
CFS 3 8.0 8.015.56.7
CFS 4 35.0 18.75 18.75
\ Lanolin ~ 4.0 9.09.59.0 5.0 6.25 6.25
Arquad 18 0.5
10 VMA 1 1~.0
VMA ~ 0.015 0.1 0.32 0.25
~MA 3 12.0
VMA ~ 10.0 12.0
~MA 5 8.4 4.5 4.5
15 VMA 6 1.0 1.0
Perfume 1.5
Water ~ balance to 100-~
Viscosity cP 92 115125 183 180 71 151
Similar results can be achieved when Arquad 2T ~ex
Armak) is used as the cationic fabric softener. Similar
results can also b~ achieved when lanolin BP is replaced
with Coronet grade lanolin ~e~ Croda) or Lanolin P95 (ex
Westbrook Lanolin Co). Still further similar results can
25 be achieved by using calcium chloride, magnesium chloride
or aluminium chlorhydrate.
EXAMPLES 14 AND 15
Fabric conditioning compositions were made up
according to the formulations given in the following Table
III by mixing the ingredients together in water at about
60C and agitatlng. Product ~iscositie~ were measured as
in Examples 1 to 13.
'~/C~ 5 ,~ /e /~
- 16
TABLE III
EXA ~LE N0: 14 15
INGREDIENTS %
-
Arosurf TA 100 ~100~ active) 10.5
Varisoft 475 (75~ active) I.505
L,anolin 9 5 9 5
Aluminium chlorhydrate (as a 50~ solution) 1.0~ 0.3
10 Water balance to 100
Viscosity cP 196 ~2
*Percentage o solid.
EXAMPLES 15 T0 18
~he following dilute fabric softening compositions
were prepared:
20 EXAMPLE N0:
INGREDIENTS (%) 16 17 18
_
Arquad 2HT 4.0 8.0 8.0
Coronet grade lanolin (ex Croda) 1.0
25 Lanolin P95 (ex Westbrook) - 1.0 1.0
Calcium chloride - 0.1 0.1
Water, perfume, dye --balance to 100~-
Viscosity (110 sec ~ 3 23 24
¢~
~1-
EXA ~LES l9 AND 20
The following fabric softening compositions were
prepared using lanolin-like materials in place of lanolin
per se:
EXAMPLE N0: l9 ~0
INGREDIENTS (~)
-
10 Arquad 2HT 8.0 l2.25
Super Hartolan 3.0
Iso-stearic acid 2.75
Calcium chloride O.l 0.2
Water --balance to lO0~-
~5
Viscosity at llO sec '(Cp) 13 126
Notes: l - Distilled lanolin alcohols (ex Croda Chemicals)
2 - Iso-stearic acid (e~ Emery)
E~AMPLE 2l
_
Two fabric softening compositions were prepared
according to the following7 Table.
EXAMPLE: A B
NGREDENT (%)
3o
Arquad 2HT 8.G 8.0
Coronet lanolin l.0 ~.^
Water balance to lO0
35 Cationic/lanolin ratio 8 l 2A
~$.~
- 18
Pieces of cotton terry cloth were treated with
liquors made up from these compositlons. The treated
cloths were assessed by a panel of people who found
that composition B gave more preferred results than
composition A.
Except as indicated otherwise, all percentages
referred to herein are by weight, based on the weight of
the composition.
