Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
LOl,V PHOSPHATE LAUNDRY DETERGENT Ct)MPOSlTlONS
Thomas E. Cook
Ernest W. Dolle
Technical Field
This invention relates to laundry detergent compositions
which exhibit surprisingly effective detergency as well as fabric
softening and static control, even in the total absence of
detergency builder materials. Specifically, complet~ly unbuilt
compositions of the pr~sent invention have demonstrated the
lQ ability to provide good ~etergency, fabric softenin~ and static
control. Other detergent compositions whlch utilize mixtures of
selected nonionic surfactants and cationic sus factants are defined
in U.S. Pa~ent 4,259,~17 of A.P. ~phy, issued March 31, 1981, and in
U.S. Patent 4,222,905 of J.B~ Cockrell, 3r., issued Sept~er 16, 1980.
The compositions of the presant invention have excell~nt
cleaning capabilities and are relatively insensitive to water
hardness conditions, perforrning well in both hard and soft water
conditions. Finally, in addition to this cleaning performance, the
present invention provides, in a single detergent product, fabric
softening and static control to the laundered fabrics.
Summary of The Invention
The present invention relates to low- or no-phosphate
laundry detergent compositions, especially beneficial for good
cleaning and the effective provision of softening and antistatic
benefits, having a pH in the laundry sotution of greater than
about 7, and, preferably, containing no more than about 15%
phosphate, and no more th3n about 109~ silicaee materials,
which comprise from about S96 to about 100%, Iby weight, of a
surfactant mixture ccnsisting essentially of:
3~ ~a) a nonionic surfactant, preferably one having the
formula RlOC2H4)nOH, wherein R is a primary alkyl
chain containing an average of from about 10 to about
18 carbon atoms and n is an average of from about 2 to
about 9, said nonionic surfactant having an HLB of
from 5 to about 14, or a mixture of such surfactants;
1 b) an alkylpolysaccharide detergent surfactant of the
formula RO(R'O)y~Z),~ where R is an alkyl, hydroxy-
alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, alkylbenzyl, or
~'
9~05
mixtures thereof, said alkyl ~roups containing from
about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; where each R' con-
tains frorn 2 to about 4 carbon atoms and y is from 0 to
about 12; and where each Z is a moiety derived from a
reducing saecharide containing 5 or 6 çarbon atoms,
and x is a number from about 1~ to about 10; and
(c) a quaternary ammonium cationic sur~ctant having 2
chains which contain an average of from about 16 to
about 22 carbon atoms, or a mixture of such
1 û su rfactants;
the ratio of (a~ to ~b) being from about 7 :1 ~o about 0 :1,
preferably from about 3:1 to about 1:3, and the ratio of ~a)
(b) to (c~ being in the range of from about 2:1 to about 12:1,
preferably from about 3:1 to about 9:1.
Disclosure of the Invention
The compositions of the present invention compris2, by
weigh~, from about 5 to about 100%, preferably from about 15 to
about 90%, alnd most preferably from about 20 to about 80~, of a
mixture of particularly defined nonionic, alkylpolysaccharide and
2 0 cationic sur fact~nts in the ratios stated herein . Preferred
compositions contain at leas~ about t 5% of the nonlonic/alkyl-
polysaccharide/cationic surfactant mixture and at least about 1~ % of
the cationic component, itself, in order to assure the presen~e of
a sufficient amount of both the cationic surfactant and the
mixture t~ provide the desired cleaning and fabric conditioning
benefits .
The compositions of the present invention contain the
nonionic, alkylpolysaccharide and cationic sur~actants, defined
hereinafter, within ratios of nonionic and alkylpolysaccharide to
cationic surfactant of from about 2 :1 to about 12 :1, preferably
from about 3:1 to about 9:1 for cleaning; and most preferably
from abou~ 4:1 to about 9:17 in order to ahieve the best soil
removal performance.
In addition, using the mixtures of conventional nonionic
cletergent surfactants and polysaccharide detergent surfactants
permits the use of considerably lower levels of the cationic
` ~
~z~ s
-- 3 --
surfactant to achieve a level of softening or antistatic effect that
is achieved with a higher level of cationic surfactant when only
the conventionai nonionic detergent surfactant is used. In
addition, there is no loss of cleaning when the polysaccharide
detergent surfactant is used.
The compositions of the present invention are formulated so
as to have a pH of at least about 1 in the laundry solution, at
conventional usage concentrations, in order to optimize their
overall cleaning performance, to aid in their manufacturing and
processing, and to minimize the possibility of vvashing machine
corrosion. Alkalinity sources, such as potassium hydroxide,
potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide,
sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, may be included in the
compositions for this purpose. Some of the cationic/nonionic
lS systems of the present invention may attain optimum removal of
greasy/oiiy soils at higher pH's, whiie attaining optimum
particulate soil removai at relatively lower pH's. In these
systems, overall performance may be enhanced by varying the pH
of the wash solution during the laundering process. Particularly
preferred compositions have a pH of at least about 8 in the
laundry solution, in order to optimize the removal of greasyloily
and body soils. In addition to the higher pH in the laundry
solution, these preferred compositions should also have the ability
to maintain a pH in the laundry solution of from about 8 to 11
throughout the washing operation ~ reserve alkalinity) . Such a
reserve alkalinity may be obtained by incorporating compounds
which buffer at pH's of from about 8 to 11, such as monoethanol-
amine, diethanolamine or triethanolamine.
Preferred compositions of the present invention are also
essentially free of oily hydrocarbon materials and solver;ts, such
as mineral oil, paraffin oil and kerosene, since these materials,
which are themselves oily by nature, load the washing liquor with
excessive oily material, thereby diminishing the cleaning
effectiveness of the composi tions .
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
-
The Alkylpolysaccharide Surfactant
~o~
-- 4 --
It has surprisingly been found that the nonionic cosurfactant
interacts with the alkylpolysaccharide surfactant of this invention
to provide good laundry detergency for a wide range of fabrics.
The alkylpolysaccharides are those having a hydrophobic group
containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atomsr preferably from
about 10 to about 16 carbon atorns and a polysaccharide, e.g., a
polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 1~ to
about 10, preferably from about 1~ to about 3, rnost preferably
from about 1.6 to about 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducing
saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g.
glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can substitute for the
glucosyl moieties. ~Optionally the hydrophobic group is attached
at the 2, 3, 4 etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as
opposed to a glucoside or galactoside. ) The intersaccharide
bonds can be~ e.g., between ~he one position of the additional
saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, andlor 6 posîtions on the
preceding saccharid~ units.
Optionally, and less desirably, there can be a polyalkoxide
chain joining the hydrophobic moiety and the polysaccharide
moiety. The preferred alkoxide is ethylene oxide. Typical
hydrophobic groups include alkyl groups, either saturated or
unsaturated, branched or unbranched containlng from about 8 to
about 18, preferably from about t 0 to about 16 carbon a~oms.
Preferably, the alkyl group is a straight chain saturated alkyl
group. The alkyl group can contain up to 3 hydroxy groups
andlor the polyalkoxide chain can contain up to about 10,
preferably less than 5, most preferably 0, alkoxide moieties.
Suitable alkyl polysaccharides are octyl, nonyl, decyl,
undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl,
heptadecyl, and octadecyl, di-, tri-, tetra-~ penta-, and
hexaglucosides, galactosides, lactosides, glucoses, fructosides,
fructoses, and/or galactoses. Suitable mixtures include coconut
alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucosides and tallow alkyl
tetra-, pen~a-, and hexagiucosides.
~Z~9Q~
-- 5 --
The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula
R O(CnH2nO)tl9lycosyl)x
wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl,
alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures
thereof in which said alkyl groups contain from about lQ to about
18, preferably from about t2 to a~out 14 carbon atoms; n is 2 or
3, preferably 2; t is from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and x is
from 1~ to about 10, preferably from about 1~ to about 3, most
preferably from about 1~6 to about 2.7. The glycosyl is
1() preferably derived from glucose. To prepare compounds the
alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is ~ormed first and then reacted
with glucose, or a source of glucose, ~o form the glucoside
lattachment at the 1-position). The additional glycosyl units are
attached between their l-position and the precedin~ glycosyl units
lS 2-, 3-, 4- andfor 6 position, preferably predominately the
2-position .
Preferably the content of alkylmonoglycoside is iow,
preferably less than about 609~, more preferably less than about
50%.
Nonionic Deterç1ent Surfactant
Nonionic: surfactants, including those having an HLB of from
about 5 to about 17, are well known in the detersency art. They
are included in the compositions of the present invention together
with the, e.g., alkylpolyglycoside surfactants defined hereinbe
fore. They may be used singly or in combinativn with one or
more of the preferred alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactants,
described below, to form nonionic surfactant mixtures useful in
combination with the alkylpolyglycosides. Examples of such
surfactants are listed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,630, Booth, issued
Feb. 20, 1973, and UOS. Pat. No. 3,332,880, Kessler et al, issued
July 25, 1967,
Nonlimiting examples of suitable nonionic surfactants which may be
used in the present invention are as follows:
(I) The polyethylene oxide condensates of atkyi phenols.
3s These compounds include the condensation products of aikyl
phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to 12
6 --
carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain con-
figuration with ethylene oxide, said ethylene oxide being present
in an amount equ31 to 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of
alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds can be
derived, ~or example, from polymerized propylene, diist)butylene,
and the like. Examples of compounds of this type include nonyl
phenol condensed with about g.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole
of nonyl phenol; doclecylphenol condensed with about 12 moles of
ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonyl phenol condensed with
about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; and diiso-
octyl phenol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per
mole of phenol. C:ommercially available nonionic surfactants of
this type include Igepal C0-630 ,1 marketed by the C;AF Corpora-
tion, and Triton X-45, X-114, X~100, and X-102, all marketed by
the Rohm ~ Haas Company.
~2) The condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with
from about I to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain
of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, pri-
mary or secondary, and generaliy oontains from about 8 to about
22 carbon atoms. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include
the condensation product of myristyl alcohoi condensed with about
10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; and the conden-
sation product of about 9 moles of ethylene oxide with coconut
alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols ~Nith alkyl chains varying in
length from 10 to 14 carbon atoms). Examples of commercially
available nonionic surfactants in this type include Tergitol 15-5-9,3
marketed by Union Carbide Corporation, Neodol 45-9,4 Neodol
23-6.5'5Neodol 45-7 '6and Neodol 1~5-4,7marketed by Shell Chem;cal
Company, and ' Kyro E0~3 8marketed by The Procter & Camble
0 Company .
(3) The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a
hydrophobic base forrned by the condensation of propylene oxide
with propyiene glycol. The hydrophobic portion of these com-
pounds has a molecular weight of from about 1500 to 1800 ancl
exhibiss water insolubility. The addition of polyoxyethylene
rnoieties to Shis hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water
1 - ~ inclusive. Ihe ternlS bearing these su~erscri~t numerals
are trademarks.
~ . . - ,;
solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liyuid character of
the product is retained up to the point where the polyoxyethylene
content is about 50% of the total weight of ~he condensation
product, which corresponds to condensation with up ~o about 40
moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of compounds of this type
include certain of the commercially available Pluronic surfactants,
marketecl by Wyandotte Chemical Corporation.
t4) The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the
product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethyl-
enediamine. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists
of the reaction produc:t of ethylenediamine and excess propylene
oxide, said moiety having a molecular weight of from about 25û0
to about 3000. This hydrophobic moiety is condensed with ethyl-
ene oxide to the extent that the condensation product contains
.5 from about l~û96 to about ~09~ by weight of polyoxyathylene and has
a molecular wcight of from about S,000 to about 11,000. Examples
of this 'typ2 of nonionic sur~actant include certain of the commer-
cially available Tetronic compounds, marketed by Wyandotte
Chemical Corporation.
The conventional nonionic detergent surfactants wh;ch are
preferred for use in the compositions of the present invention are
biodegradabl~s and have the formula R~OC2H4)nOH, wherein R is a
primary alkyl chain containing an average of from about 10 to
about 18, prefer3bly from about 10 to abou~ 16, carbon atoms,
and n is an average of from about 2 to about 9, preferably from
aboult 2 to about 7. These nonionic surfactants have an 51LB
thydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of from about 5 to about 14,
preferably from about 6 to about 13. HLB, an indicator of a
surfactant's hydrophilic or lipophilic nature, is defined in detail
in Nonionic Surfactants, by M. J. Schick, Marcel Dekicer, Inc.,
1966, pages 607-613,
Preferred nonionic surfactants for use in the present
invention include the cvndensatlon product of coconut alcohol with
5 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of coconu
alcohol with 6 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product
of C12 15 alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation
* ~aderrE rk
** l~ad~Dark
,,
:
. . .
; ~ ~ i I ,
9~
-- 8 --
product of Cl 2 15 alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; the
condensation product of C14 15 aicohol with 2.25 moles of ethylene
oxide; the condensation product of Cl 4-15 alcohol with 7 moles of
ethylene oxide; the condensation product of Cg 11 alcohol with 8
moles of ethylene oxide, which is stripped so as to remove
unethoxylated and lower ethoxylate fractions; the condensation
product of C12 13 alcohol with 6~5 moles of ethylene oxide, and
this same alcohol ethoxylate which is stripped so as to remove
unethoxylated and lower ethoxylate fractions. A preferred class
of such surfactants utilize alcohols which contain about 209~
2-methyl branched isomers, and are commercially available, under
the trad~nark 'Neodol', from Shell Chemical Company. The
condensation product of tallow alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene
oxide is also a preferred nonionic surfactant for use ~erein.
Particularly preferred nonionic surfactants for use in the
compositions of the present invention include the condensation
product of coconut alcohol with 5 moles of ethylene oxide, the
condensation product of Cl~ 13 alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene
oxide, the sondensation product of S::1 2-15 alcohol with
ethylene oxide, the condensation product of C1 4 15 alcohol with 7
moles of ethylene oxid~, and mixtures of those surfactants.
Other nonionic surfactants well known in the detergency art
may be used, in eombination with one or more of the required
nonionic surfactants, to form useful nonionic surfactant mixtures.
2S Examples of such surfactants are listed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,717,630, Booth, issued Feb. 20, 1973, and U.S. Pat. No.
3,332,û8û, Kessler et al, issued July 25, 1967,
Nonlimiting examples of
suitable nonionic surfactants which may be u~ed in conjunction
with the required nonionic surfactants, defined above, are:
polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl pherlols, such as ehe
' Igepal'*surfactan~s, marlceted by the GAF Corporation, and the
' Triton' sur~actants, marketed by the Rohm ~ Haas Company;
condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 10 to
about 25 moles of e~hylene oxide, where those alcohols are of a
primary, branched or secondary alkyl chain structure;
* r ~ademark
** l~ad~rark
s
.
-- 3 --
condensation prvducts of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base
formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene
glycol, such as Pluronic surfac~ants, marketed by Wyandotte
Chemical Corporation; and condensation products of ethylene
ox;de with the product resulting from the reaction ~h propylene
oxide and ethylene diam;ne, such as the Tetronic surfactants,
marketed by Wyandotte Chemical Corporation.
Preferred compositions of the present invention are
substantially free of fatty acid poiyglycol ether di-ester
compounds, such as polyethylene glycol-600-dioleate or
polyethylene glycol-800-distearate. Such additives offer no
advantage, and possibly even result in a disadvantag~, in terms
of achieving the particulate soil removal and fabric conclitioning
benefits providecl by the present invention.
Cationic Component
The cationic surfactants used in the compositions of the
present invention are of the di-long chain guaternary ammonium
type, having two chains which contain an average of from about
16 to about 22, pre~erably from about 16 to about 18, carbon
atoms. The remaining groups, if any, attached to the quaternary
nitrogerl at~m, are preferably Cl to C4 aikyl or hydroxyalkyl
groups. Although it is preferred that the long chains be alkyl
groups, these ohains can oontain hydroxy groups or can contain
heteroatoms or other linkages, such as double or triple
carbon-carbon bonds, and ester, amide, or ether linkages, as
long as each chain falls within the carbon atoms ranges required
given above. Preferred cationic surfactants are those having the
formulae
R4 - N+ _ R2 X~ ~ + X
R , N - CH2
R2 ~R3
wherein the R and R2 groups contain an average of from about
16 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably 35 alkyl groups, and
35 most preferably contain an average nf from about 16 to about 18
carbon atoms, R3 and R are C1 to C4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl
~g~
- 1o -
groups, and X is any compatible anion, particularly one selected
from the group consisting of a halide ~e.g., chloride~,
hydroxide, methylsulfate, or acetate anions.
Mixtures of the above surfactants are also useful in the
present invention. These cationic surfactants can also be mixed
with other types of cationic surfactants, such as sulfonium,
phosphonium, and mnno- or tri-long chain quaternary ammonium
materials, as long as the amount of required cationic surfactant
contained in the composition, falls with the nonionic:cationic ratio
requirernents specified herein.
Examples of cationic surfactants which can be usad together
with those require~ herein, include those described in U.S. Pat.
4,259,217, Murphy, U.S. Pat. 4,222,905, Cockrell, U.S. Pat.
4,260,529, Letton, and U.S. Pat. 4,228,042, Letton~
Pre~erred cationic sur~actants include ditallowalkyldimethyl
(or diethyl or dihydroxyethyl) ammonium chloride, ditallowalkyl-
dimethylammonium methyl sulfate, dihexadecylalkyl ~C16) dimethyl
lor diethyl, or dihydroxyethyl) ammonium chloride, dioctadecyl-
alkyl [C18~-dimethylammonium chioride, dieicosylalkyl-(C20)
dimethylammonium chloride, methyl (I) tallowalkyl amido ethyl ~2)
tallowalkyl imida~olinium methyl sulfate (com;rercially available as
Varisoft 475 from Ashland Chemical Company), or mixtures of
those surfactants. Particularly preferred cationlc sur~actants are
ditallowalkyklimethylammonium methyl sulfate, methyl (I) tallow-
alkyl amido ethyl [2) tallowalkyl imidazolinium methyl sulfate, and
mixtures of those surfactants, with ditallowalkyldimethylammonium
chloride being especially preferred.
The compositions of the present invention can be ~ormulated
so as to be substantially free of ethoxylated cationic surfactants
which contain more than an average of about 10, and preferably
free of those which contain more than an average of about 7,
moles of ethylene oxicle per mole of surfactant. It is to be noted
that polyethoxylated cationic surfactants having relatively low
levels of ethoxylation, i . e., those with less than 10, and
particulariy less than 7, ethylene oxide groups exhibit better
biodegradability characteristics.
* l~adf~nark
.
~.
~2~
11 -
In one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent
compositions additionaily contain from about 2 ~o about 25~6,
preferably from about 2 to about t 6S~, and most preferably from
about 2 to about 1096 of a fatty amide surfactant, such as ammonia
amides ~e.g., coconut ammonia amides), diethanol arnides, and
ethoxyla~ed amides. In relation to the nonionic/cationic sur~actant
system, the ratio of the cationic/nonionic mix~ure to the amide
component in the composition is in the range of from about 5:1 to
about 50:1, preferably from about 8:1 to about 25:1. The use of
amide in prior art composi~ions is deseribed in greater detail in
U.S. Pat. 4,228,044, Cambre, issued October 14, 1980.
These amide compon~nts may also be added in small
amounts, i . e., from about 2% to about 596, to act as suds
modifiers. Specifically, it is believed ~hat they tend to b~ost the
sudsing in an active system which exhibits relatively low sudsing,
and depress the sudsing in an active system which exhibits
relatively high sudsing.
The compositions of ~he present invention may also contain
additional ingredients generally found in laundry detergent
compositions, at their convent;onal art-established levels, as long
as these ingredients are cornpatible with the nonionic and cationic
components required herein. For example, the compositions can
contain up to about 15%, preferably up to about 5D~, and most
preferably ~rom about 0 . 001 to about 2~, of a suds suppressor
component. Typical suds suppressors useful in the compositions
of the present invention include, but are not limite~ to,
silicone-type suds suppressing additives which are described in
U.S. Pat. 3,933~672, issued Jan. 20, 1976, Bartolotta et al,
and the self-emulsifying silicone
suds suppressors, described in U.S. Pat. 4,075,118, Gault et al,
An example of such a
compound is DB-544,* commercially available from Dow Ccrning,
which contains a siloxane/glycol copolymer together with solid
silica and a siloxan2 resin.
Microcrystalline waxes having a melting point in lthe range
from 35C-115C and a saponification value of less than 100
* l~ademark
,, _ 7.
~g~S
-- 12 --
represent additional exarnples of a preferred suds regulating
component for use in the subject cornpositions, and are described
in detail in U.S. Pat. 4,056,481, Tate, issued Nov. 1, 1977,
Alkyl phosphate esters represent an -additional preferred
suds suppressant for use herein. These pre~erred phosphate
esters are predominantly monostearyl phosphate which, in addition
thereto, can contain di- and tristearyl phosphates and monooleyl
phosphates, which can contain di- and trioleyl phosphates.
Other adjunct components which can be included in the
compositions of the present invention, in their conventional
art-established levels for use (i.e., from about O to abut 40%),
include semi-polar nonionic tsuch as trialkyl amine oxides~,
zwitterionic and ampholytic detergency cosurfactants; deter~ency
builders; bleaching agents; bleach activatorsO soil release agents;
soil suspending agents; corrosion inhibitors; dyes; fillers; optical
brighteners; germicides; pH adjusting agents; alkalinity sources;
hydrotropes; enzymes; enzyme-stabilizing a~sents; perfumes;
soivents; carriers; suds modifiers; opaci~lers; and the like.
2 0 However, because of the numerous and diverse perfonnance
advantages of the present inven~ion, certain conventional
componentsl such as detergent cosurfactants and detergency
builders, as well as fabric softening and static control agents,
will noe generally be necessary in a particular formulation, giving
the compositions of the present invention a potential cost
advantage over conventional detergent/softener compositions. For
environmental reasons the compositions of the present invention
can contain less than about 15~ phosphate materials. Preferred
compositions conta;n less than 7% phosphate, and can even be
substantially, or totally free of such phosphate materials, without
excessively decreasing the performance of the compositions. The
compositions of the present invention preferably contain less than
10%, and are preferably substantially free of, silicate materials.
Preferred compositions of the present inveneion are also
substantially free of carboxymethylcellulose. Finally, while the
compositions of the presen~ invention can contain very small
amounts of anionic materials, such as hydrotropes le.g., alkali
~9~
metal toluene sulfonates), it is preferred that particular anionic
materials be contained in amounts sufficiently small such that not
more than about 10%, preferably not more than about 1%, of ~he
cationic surfactant, contained in the laundry solution, is com-
plexed by the anionic material. Such a complexing of the anionic
material with the cationic surfactant, decreases the o~erall clean-
ing and fabric conditioning performance of the oomposition.
Suitable anionic materials can be selected based on their strength
of complexation with the cationic material included in the compo-
sition [as indicated by their dissociation constant). Thus, when
an anionic ma~erial has a dissociation constant of at least about 1
x 1~ 3 (such as sodium toluene sul~onate)~ it can be contained in
an amount up to about 40%, by weight, of the cationic surfactant;
and where the anionic ma~erial has a dissociation constant of at
least about 1 x 10 5, but less than about 1 x 10 3, it can be
contained in an amount up to about 1596, by weight~ of the cat-
ionic surfactant. Preferred compositions are substantially or
completely flee of such anionic mat~rials.
Examples of cosurfactants and detergency builders which can
be used in l:he compositions of the present invention are found in
U.S. Pat~ 3,,717,630, Booth, issued Feb. 20, 1973, and lJ.S. Pat.
4,X59,217, Murphy, i~sued March 31, 1981.
However, these components, particularly the anionic
surfactants, should be checked with the particular nonionicl~
cationic surfactant system chosen, and used in an amount, so as
to be certain that they will be compatible with the nonionicl-
cationic surfactant system.
The compositions of the present invention can be produced
in a variety of forms, including liquid, solid, granular, paste,
powder or substrate compositions. In a particularly preferred
embodiment, the compositions of the p~esent invention are formu-
lated as liquids and contain up to about 209~ of a lower alkyl ~ Cl
to C4) alcohol, particularly ethanol. Liquid compositions con-
~aining lower levels of such alcohols (i.e., about 7 to 129~ tend
~Z~I90~
- 14 -
to exhibit less phase separation than compositions containing
higher alcohol levels.
The compositions of the present invention are used in the
laundering process by forming an aqueous solution containing
from about 0.01 ~100 parts per million) to about 0.3~ (3,000 parts
per million), preferably from about 0.02 to about U.2~, and most
preferably from about 0 . 03 to about 0 .15%, of the nonionicl-
cationic detergent mixture, and agitating the soiled fabrics in that
solution. The fabrics are then rinsed and dried. When used in
this manner, the compositions of the present invention yield
exceptionally good particulate soil removal, and also provide
fabric softening, static control, color fidelity, and dye transfer
inhibition to the laundered fabrics, without requiring the use of
any of the other conventionally-used fabric softening and/or
static control laundry additives.
All percentages, parts, and ratios used herein are by weight
unless otherwise specified.
The following nonlimiting examples illustrate the compositions
and the method of the present invention.
;~o EXAMPLE A
The following composi~ions illustrate the advantage in
softening and antistatic performance for the invention as compared
to conventional compositions containing only conventional nonionic
detergent surfactants.
o~ l
~5 -
% by weight
on~ Base A 6 C D E F G H
Ditallow di-
methyl
ammonium
chloride 3.6 3.6 3.6 1.8 2.7 ~.7 2.7 2.7 1.8
Coconut
aikyl di-
methyl amine
oxide 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 2.0 2.0 200 2.0 4.0
12-1 3 alkyl
polyglyco-
sidel~2)* - 9.0 18.0 9.0 20.0 14.0 10.0 6.0 9.0
5 alkyl
polyethoxyl-
ate(7)** 18.0 9.0 - 9.0 - 6.0 10.0 19.0 9.0 1.
Ethanol 7.5 7.S 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 it
H;~ O and
mi r~rs - -~ - ~a i~F~e - ---~ -
* The giycoside units are derived from glucose. l i~
** The alcohoi and monoethoxylated alcohol have ~een removed.
The static control readinys were obtained as follows:
A load of c lothing was washed in a full size washing
machine, using the composition given above at a usage
concentration of about 1750 parts per miliion in 17~ gallons of
95F (35C) wa~er, having a hardness of about 7 grains per
gallon. The composition had a pH of about 8 in the laundry
solution. The load consisted of about 33 pieces of clol'.hing and r
contained cotton, polyester/cotton, nylon and polyester materi31s, ¦
and acrylic. The washed load was subsequently placed in an
automatic dryer, the drum of which had been cleaned with an
alcohol-soaked cloth, and dried for a period of 60 minutes. The
fabric load was then removed from the dryer and placed in a
yrounded Faraday Cage. The overall charge readiny of the
35 materials in the Faraday Cage was read and recorded as
- 16 -
inclividual items were rernoved from the (:age. When all the
~abrics had been removed, the total voitage charge for the fabric
load could be determin~d.
Softening is determined by grading with expert graders who
used a grading scale of 0 to 4 in whioh 0 is equal; 1 is "I think
this one is better. "; 2 is " I know this one is a little better. "; 3
is "This one is a lot better."; and 4 is "This one is a whole lot
bettar.l' A difference of about 3/4 is significant.
Cleaning was determined by grading standardly soiled
and laundered swatches with expert graders using the standard
grading scale previously described. A difference of about 3/4 is
signiflcant as an average for all of the stained swatches.
The softening grades for A and B as compared to the base
were 1.6 to 1.9 which are significant. C was compared to the
base and was essentially equal in cleaning and static control, but
was superior in softening. The grades were softening = 1;
cleaning (average) = .1; and static con~rol (total volts/clings) =
52/2 for base and 42/0 for C:. D, E, F, and G were tested
against the base for softness and cleaning a~ the ~ cup level.
2C The softening results vs. base were D - -.2, E = -.2, F: = -.2,
and G = 0 which are all nonsignificantO The cleaning averages
were D = .7, E = .1, ~ = 0, and G - 1.0 of which only the last
result is significant. The invention provides equal or better
cleaning. With respect to static only, H is equivalent to the base
with only one half of the antistatic agent.
Similar results are obtained when the cationic surfactant in
Compositi~n A is replaced, in whole or in part, by ditallowalkyl-
dimethylammonium methyl sulfate, ditallowalkyldimethylammonium
iodide, dihexadecylalkyldimethylammonium chloride, dihexadecyl-
aikyldihydroxylethylammonium methyl sutfate, dioctadecylalkyl-
dimethylammonium chloride, dieicosylaikyl methyl ethyl ammonium
chloride, dieicosylalkyl dimethylammonium bronhide, methyl (1~
tallowalkyl amido ethyl t2) tallowalkyl imidazolinium methyl sulfate,
or mixtures of ~hese surfactants.
Substantially similar results are also obtained where the
nonionic surfactant in Composition A is replaced, in whole or in
12CD90~35
17 --
part, by the condensation product of Cl 4 15 alcohol with 2 25
moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C1 4 15
alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product
of Cl 2-15 alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation
product of C12 13 alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide~ which
is stripped so as to remove lower ethoxylate and nonethoxylated
fractions; the condensation product of coconu~ alcohol with 5
moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of coconut
alcohol with 6 moles of e~hylene oxide; the condensation product
of C12 15 alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation
product of tallow alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; a 1:1 by
weight mixture of the condensation product of C12 15 alcohol with
7 moles of ethylene oxide and the condensation product of Cl 4 15
alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide; and other mixtures of
those surfactants.
Excellent results are also obtained where the ratio of
nonionic surfactant to cationic surfactant used in Composition A is
about 2:1, 3:1, 3.5:1, 4.5:1, 5:1, 6:1 or 8:1.
Excellent cleaning results are also obtained where the above
composition additionally contains monoethanolamine, diethanolamine
or triethanolamine, as an alkalinity source.
Similar performance is also obtained where the compositions
contain a silicone suds suppressor selected from the group con-
sisting of trimethyl-, diethyl-, dipropyl-, dibutyl-, methylethyl-,
phenylmethyl polysiloxane, and mixtures thereof; a petrolatum or
oxidized petrolatum wax a Fischer-Tropsch or oxidized
Fischer-Tropsch wax; ozokerite; ceresin; montan wax; beeswax;
candelilla; or carnauba wax.
