FABRIC SOFTENING COMPOSITION

COMPOSITION ADOUCISSANTE POUR TISSUS

English Abstract

A fabric softening composition which comprises a skin conditioning compound
comprising a C8-C22 .alpha.-hydroxyacid or an ester of
a .alpha.-hydroxyacid or mixtures thereof and a fabric softening compound. The
fabric conditioner when used to condition fabrics causes the
fabrics to condition skin when contacted therewith.

French Abstract

Composition adoucissante pour tissus contenant un composé de conditionnement de la peau comprenant un hydroxyacide- alpha C8- C22 ou un ester d'un hydroxyacide- alpha ou leurs mélanges, ainsi qu'un composé d'adoucissement de tissu. Quand on utilise cette composition afin de conditionner des tissus, elle provoque le conditionnement de la peau par lesdits tissus, lorsque le tissu et la peau sont en contact.

Claims

-10-
CLAIMS
1. A fabric softening composition characterised in that
it comprises:
i) a skin conditioning compound comprising a C8-C22
.alpha.-hydroxyacid, an ester of a .alpha.-hydroxyacid or
mixtures thereof and;
ii) a biodegradable, fabric softening quaternary
ammonium compound represented by the formula:
<IMG>
in which each R4 group is independently selected from
C1-4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl groups or C2-4 alkenyl groups;
wherein each R5 group is independently selected from
C8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; X- is a suitable
counterion and n is o or an integer from 1-5, or by
the formula:
<IMG>
wherein each R6 group is independently selected from
C1-4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C2-4 alkenyl groups; and
wherein each R' group is independently selected from
C8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups;
<IMG>

-11-
n and X- are as defined above.
2. ~A fabric softening composition according to claim 1,
in which the skin conditioning agent is represented
by the formula:~
R1-[O-CH(R3)-CO]m-OR2
in which R1 is H or a C10-C22 acyl group and R2 is H, a
C10-C22 alkyl group, or a compatible counterion, for
example sodium, potassium, or quaternary ammonium, R3
is hydrogen or C1-C20 alkyl group and m is equal to 1
or 10 with the proviso that if R1 and R2 are both
hydrogen R3 is C6-C20 alkyl group.
3. ~A fabric softening composition according to claim 1
or 2, in which the skin conditioning compound is an
acyl lactylate or an alkyl lactate or mixtures
thereof.
4. ~A fabric softening composition according to any one
of claims 1 to 3, in which the alkyl lactate or
acyl lactylate has the following formula:
R1-O-CH(CH3)CO.OR2
in which R1 is H or a C10-C22 acyl group and R2 is H, a
C10-C22 alkyl group, or a compatible counterion, for
example sodium, potassium, or quaternary ammonium,
with the proviso that R1 and R2 cannot both be H.

-12-
5. A fabric softening composition according to any one
of claims 1 to 4, in which the level of skin
conditioning compound is from 5 to 30 wt%.
6. A fabric softening composition according to any one
of claims 1 to 5, in which the ratio of fabric
softening compound to skin conditioning compound is
in the range from 1:1 to 1:5.
7. Use of an .alpha.-hydroxyacid or esters thereof in a
fabric softening composition as defined by any one
of claims 1 to 6, such that skin is conditioned when
fabrics treated with the composition come into
contact with the skin.
8. Use of an .alpha.-hydroxyacid ester in a fabric softening
composition according to claim 7, in which the .alpha.-
hydroxyacid ester is an alkyl lactate or an acyl
lactylate.

Description

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29171 PCT/EP97/00452
- 1 -
Fabric Softenina Composition
This invention relates to fabric softening compositions
containing a skin benefit agent such that when fabrics are
treated with the fabric softening composition when in contact
with the skin the fabrics deliver the skin benefit agent to
the skin
Rinse added fabric softener compositions are well known.
Typically such compositions contain a water insoluble amine
salt and/or a quaternary ammonium fabric softening agent
dispersed in water at a level of softening agent up to 7o by
weight in which case the compositions are considered dilute,
or at levels from 7~ to 50o in which case the compositions
are considered concentrates. Quaternary ammonium materials
with long chain substituents have been used in fabric
softening compositions for many years. Often they are used
in conjunction with co-actives such as fatty acids or other
relatively cheap materials which also provide softening
benefits.
In addition to softening, fabric softening compositions
desirably have other benefits.
GB 1 601 359 ( Procter and Gamble ) and GB 1 550 205 (Procter
and Gamble) describes the use of ester oil and silicones as
an ingredient in a fabric softening composition as fabric
lubricants suggested which may give ease of ironing benefits,
and softening.

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29171 PCT/EP97/00452
- 2 -
EP 0 436 729 (Kanebo) discloses an industrial process for
applying microcapsules to fabric, which when contacted with
the skin are physiologically active.
r
Accordingly the present invention provides a fabric
softening composition comprising a skin conditioning compound
comprising a C8-C22 a-hydroxyacid, an ester of a OG-hydroxyacid
or mixtures thereof and a fabric softening compound
comprising a quaternary ammonium softening material.
In a second aspect of the present invention there is also
provided the use of an ~G-hydroxyacid, or an ester thereof, in
a fabric treatment composition such that skin is conditioned
when fabrics treated with said composition come into contact
with the skin.
2t is preferred if the skin conditioning agent is an ~-
hydroxy carboxylic acid or ester or mixtures thereof. Zt is
further preferred if the skin conditioning agent is
represented by formula I:
R1- [ 0 -CH ( R3 ) -CO ] ,n-ORa
Formula I
In which R1 is H or a Clo-C22 acyl group and Ra is H, a Clo-C2a
alkyl group, or a compatible counterion, for example sodium, '
potassium, or quaternary ammonium, R3 is hydrogen or C1-C2o
and m is equal to 1 or 10 with the proviso that if R1 and RZ
are both hydrogen R3 is C6- C2o..

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29171 PCT/EP9?/00452
- 3 -
Preferred GG-hydroxyacids and esters for use with the
invention may be represented by formula II and include
glycollic acid esters, alkyl lactates, aryl lactylates,
citric acid esters, tartaric acid esters, Ot-hydroxycaprylic
acid esters, and long chain Ct-hydroxyacids (greater than or
equal to 8 carbon atoms?, for example a-hydroxycaprylic acid.
R1-O-CH ( CH3 ) CO . ORZ
Formula II
In which R1 is H or a Clo-C22 acyl group and RZ is H, a Clo-Caa
alkyl group, or a compatible counterion, for example sodium,
potassium, or quaternary ammonium, with the proviso that Rl
and Ra cannot both be H.
It is especially preferred if the a-hydroxyacid ester is an
alkyl lactate or aryl lactylate.
The level of acyl lactylate or alkyl lactate is preferably 5
to 30 wtg, most preferably 10 to 25wt~ of the total
composition.
Compositions according to the invention contain a quaternary
ammonium fabric softeners compound. Advantageously the
fabric softening composition comprises a water insoluble
cationic which is a compound having two C12_2s alkyl or alkenyl
r groups, if is especially preferred if these C12-za alkyl or
alkenyl groups are connected to the N atom via one or more
ester links.

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29I7I PCTIEP97/00452
- 4 -
A preferred type of ester-linked quaternary ammonium material
for use in the compositions according to the invention can be
represented by the formula:
OCORS
( R'° ) 3N~ - ( CHa } n CH X-
CHZOCOR5
In which each Rg group is independently selected from C1_g
alkyl, hydroxyalkyl groups or Ca_~ alkenyl groups; wherein
each R' group is independently selected from C8_z$ alkyl or
alkenyl groups;X- is a suitable counter ion and n is o or an
integer from 1-5.
Materials of this class and their method of preparation are
described in US 4 137 180 (Lever Brothers). Analysis of such
materials shows that they also comprise small amounts of the
corresponding dimethylamine salt, one such salt being N,N-
dimethyl-2,3-bis[hardened tallowoyloxy]-propylamine
hydrochloride. Advantageously these materials comprise small
amounts of the corresponding monoester as described in US 4
137 180, for example, 1-hardened tallowoyloxy-2-hydroxy-3-
trimethylammonium propane chloride.
A further preferred cationic softener is represented by the
formula
i

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29171 PCT/EP97/00452
_ 5 -
Rs
I
E
Rs N~ (CHZ)n-T-R' X_
I
( CH2 ) n-T-R'
wherein each Rs group is independently selected from C1_~
alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or Ca_4alkenyl groups; and wherein each
R' group is independently selected from C8_2$ alkyl or alkenyl
groups;
O O
II II
T is -O-C- or -C-O-; and
n is o or an integer from 1-5 and X_ is any suitable anion.
A further advantage of using ester linked quaternary ammonium
materials with the above formula is that when fabric
softening compositions containing them have excellent
viscosities and are stable on storage.
Preferably the level of ester linked quaternary ammonium
compounds is at least 2~ by weight of the composition, more
preferably at least 3~ by weight of the composition;
especially interesting are concentrated compositions which
comprise at least 7~ of ester-linked quaternary ammonium
compound. The level of ester-linked quaternary ammonium
compounds preferably is from 1~ to 80~ by weight, more
preferably from 4~ to 320, most preferably from 6~ to 22~.

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97!29171 PCT/EP97/00452
- 6 -
The ratio of fabric softening compound to aryl
lactylate/alkyl lactate is preferably from 0.5:1 to 1:5, more
preferably from 1:1 to 1:4.
The softening composition may also comprise a nonionic
stabilising agent selected from:
i. linear C$ to C22 alcohol alkoxylated with 10 to 20 moles
of alkylene oxide; and
ii. a C1Q to C2o alcohol or mixtures thereof.
Advantageously the nonionic stabilising agent is a linear C8
to Cz2 alcohol alkoxylated with 10 to 20 moles of aikylene
oxide. Preferably the nonionic stabiliser has an HLB value
of from 20 to 20, more preferably from 12 to 20.
Preferably, the level of nonionic stabiliser is within the
range from 0 to 10~ by weight, more preferably from 0 to 5~
by weight, most preferably from 0 to 4~ by weight. When
nonionic stabilising agent is present the mole ratio of the
quaternary ammonium compound to the nonionic stabilising
agent is within the range from 40:1 to 1:1, preferably within
the range from 18:1 to 3:1.
Preferably the compositions of the invention are liquids
comprising an aqueous base.
The composition can also contain a co-active for example
a C8 - C~4 alkyl or alkenyl monocarboxylic acid or polymer
thereof. Preferably saturated fatty acids are used, in

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29171 PCTIEP97/00452
_ 7
particular, hardened tallow (C16-C18~ fatty acids . Preferably
the fatty acid is non-saponified, for example free oleic
acid, lauric acid or tallow fatty acid. Lanolin or other
nonionic fabric softening agents may also be used as co-
actives.
The level of co-active material is preferably more than 0.1$
by weight, more preferably more than 0.2$ by weight.
Especially preferred are concentrates comprising from 0.5 to
20$ by weight of co-active, more preferably 1$ to 10$ by
weight. The weight ratio of quaternary ammonium/amine
material to co-active material is preferably from 10:1 to
1:10.
The composition can also contain one or more optional
ingredients, selected from non-aqueous solvents, pH buffering
agents, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescers, colourants,
hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, soil release agents,
enzymes, optical brightening agents, opacifiers, anti-
shrinlsing agents, anti-spotting agents, germicides,
fungicides, anti-oxidants, anti-corrosion agents, and
antistatic agents.
The invention will now be illustrated by the following non-
limiting examples. In the examples all percentages are
expressed by weight.
A fabric softening composition comprising:
4.29 wt$ quaternary ammonium cationicl
0.72 wt$ fatty acid2
15.00 wt$ lauryl lactate3
to 100 wt$ water and minors

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29171 PCT/EP97/00452
_ g _
A fabric softening composition comprising:
4.29 wt~ quaternary ammonium cationicl
0.71 wt~ fatty acid2
10.00 wt~ lauryl lactate3
to 100 wt% water and minors
.~~enaration of Examples
The fabric softening compositions of the Examples were
prepared by heating admixtures of cationic/fatty acid to
above 70°C in lauzyl lactate and slowly adding the mixture to
hot demineralised water with vigorous shear.
A comparative example containing 4.29 quaternary ammonium
cationicl and 0.71 wto fatty acids was prepared in a similar
manner.
1 is 1,2 bis[hardened tallowoyloxyl-3-trimethylammonium
propane chloride - ex Hoeschst
2 is Hardened tallow fatty acid - ex Hoeschst
3 is Crodamol LL -ex Croda
l
The Comparative Example and Example 1 were used to treat
terry towelling in 1L tergotometer pots (liquor: cloth = 40:1,
ambient temperature, 5 mins., 65 rpm). The terry towelling
was spun to remove excess liquor and then line dried. The
treated terry towelling pieces were rubbed onto the front
forearms of the panellist for one minute. Tape strips samples
of the skin surface were taken and analysed for lactate '
content using a standard method involving Sigma 735-10
lactate reagent. The results are shown in the Table below and

CA 02246060 1998-07-28
WO 97/29171 PCT/EP97/00452
_ g _
clearly illustrate the increased level of lactate found on
using the formulation of Example 1.
Example ~ Dosage (ml) Lactate (ug/cm21
1 0.67 ~ 1.11
Comparative 2 0.43
1 1.33 0.95
Comparative 4 0.33