ARTICLES, ET METHODE DE TRAITEMENT DE TISSUS

ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR TREATING FABRICS

Abrégé anglais

ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR TREATING FABRICS
ABSTRACT
Dryer-added fabric conditioning articles and methods
utilizing a fabric softener agent and a polymeric soil release
agent. More specifically, damp fabrics are commingled with
softener active and polymeric soil release agent in an automatic
clothes dryer and are provided with a soft, antistatic finish and
soil release benefits concurrently with the drying operation. The
softening and antistatic soil release agents herein are preferably
employed in combination with a dispensing means adapted for use
in an automatic dryer.

Revendications

Claims; - 25 -
1. An article of manufacture adapted for providing fabric soil
release and softening benefits within an automatic clothes dryer,
said article comprising:
(a) a fabric conditioning composition having a melting point
above about 38°C and being flowable at dryer operating
temperatures, said fabric conditioning composition
comprising:
i. 1% to 70% of a polymeric soil release agent; and
ii. 30% to 99% of a fabric softening agent selected from
cationic and nonionic fabric softeners and mixtures
thereof;
(b) dispensing means which provides for release of said
conditioning composition within an automatic laundry
dryer at dryer operating temperatures.
2. An article according to Claim 1 wherein said dispensing
means comprises a flexible substrate in sheet configuration having
the fabric conditioning composition releasably affixed thereto to
provide a weight ratio of fabric conditioning composition to dry
substrate ranging from about 10:1 to about 0.5:1.
3. An article according to Claim 2 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent is present at a level of from about 10% to about 70%
by weight of the fabric conditioning composition.
4. An article according to Claim 1 wherein said fabric
softening agent comprises a mixture of from about 5% to about 80%
of a cationic fabric softener and from about 10% to about 85% of a
nonionic fabric softener by weight of said fabric conditioning
composition.
5. An article according to Claim 4 wherein said cationic fabric
softener is selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a quaternary ammonium salt; and
(b) a carboxylic acid salt of a tertiary alkylamine;
and mixtures of (a) and (b);

- 26 -
and wherein said nonionic fabric softener is selected from the
group consisting of:
(c) a fatty alkyl sorbitan ester;
(d) a fatty alcohol; and
(e) a fatty amine;
and binary and ternary mixtures of (c), (d) and (e).
6. An article according to Claim 3 wherein the soil release agent
is a polymer comprising repeating units of ethylene terephthalate
and polyoxyethylene. terephthalate at a molar ratio of ethylene
terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units of from
about 25:75 to about 35:65, said polyoxyethylene terephthalate
containing polyoxyethylene blocks having a molecular weight of
from about 300 to about 700, the molecular weight of said soil
release polymer being in the range of from about 25,000 to about
55,000 and the melting point of said polymer being below 100°C.
7. An article according to Claim 3 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent is a crystallizable polyester copolymer with repeat
units of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-50% by weight
of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90-50% by weight of
polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxy-
ethylene glycol of average molecular weight of from about 300 to
about 6,000, and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to
polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the crystallizable polymeric
compound is between 2:1 and 6:1.
8. An article according to Claim 7 wherein the polyoxyethylene
terephthalate units of said polymeric soil release agent are
derived from a polyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of
from about 1000 to about 4000.
9. An article according to Claim 7 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent has a softening phase transition temperature of at
least about 30°C, and becomes a flowable liquid below 100°C.

- 27 -
10. An article according to Claim 9 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent becomes a flowable liquid below 90°C and is present
at a level of from about 25% to about 50% by weight of the fabric
conditioning composition.
11. An article according to Claim 3 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent has the formula:
X?(OCH2CH2)n(OR3)m?(A-R1-A-R2)u(A-R3-A-R2)v?
-A-R4-A?(R5O)m(CH2CH2O)n?X
wherein the A moieties are essentially
<IMG> or <IMG>
moieties; the R1 moieties are essentially 1,4-phenylene moieties;
and R2 moieties are essentially ethylene moieties, or substituted
ethylene moieties having C1-C4 alkyl or alkoxy substituents; the
R3 moieties are substituted C2-C18 hydrocarbylene moieties having
at least one -SO3M, -COOM, -O?R5O)m(Ch2CH2O)n?X or
-A?(R2-A-R4-A)?(R5O)m(CH2CH2O)n?X substituent or at
least one moiety -A?(R2-A-R4-A)?wR2-A- crosslinked to
another R3 moiety; the R4 moieties are R1 or R3 moieties, or a
mixture thereof; each R5 is C3-C4 alkylene, or the moiety
-R2-A-R6-, wherein R6 is a C1-C12 alkylene, alkenylene, arylene
or alkarylene moiety: each M is H or a water-soluble cation; each
X is H, C1-C4 alkyl or
<IMG>
wherein R7 is C1-C4 alkyl; m and n are numbers such that the
moiety -(CH2CH2O)-comprises at least about 50% by weight of the
moiety ?R5O)m(CH2CH2O)n?, provided that when R5 is the
moiety -R2 -A-R6-, m is 1; each n is at least about 10, u and v
are numbers such that the sum of u + v is from about 3 to about
25; w is 0 or at least 1; and when w is at least 1, u, v and w
are numbers such that the sum of u + v + w is from about 3 to
about 25.

- 28 -
12. An article according to Claim 3 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent has the following formula:
<IMG>
wherein each R1 is a 1,4-phenylene moiety; the R2 consist essen-
tially of ethylene moieties, 1,2-propylene moieties or a mixture
thereof; each X is ethyl or methyl; each n is from
about 12 to about 43; u is from about 3 to about 10.
13. An article according to Claim 3 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent is a cellulosic polymer.
14, An article according to Claim 13 wherein said polymeric soil
release agent is selected from the group consisting of methyl
cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, or hydroxybutyl methyl-
cellulose, said cellulosic polymer having a viscosity in 2% aqueous
solution at 20°C of 15 to 75,000 centipoise.
15. An article according to Claim 2 wherein the said polymeric
soil release agent is a solid at room temperature, has a softening
phase transition temperature of at least about 30°C and becomes a
flowable liquid below 100°C.
16. An article according to Claim 5 wherein said fabric softening
agent comprises a mixture of from about 5% to about 25% of a
quaternary ammonium salt, from about 10% to about 50% of a
sorbitan polyester, and from about 5% to about 25% of a fatty
amine, all percentages by weight of the fabric conditioning
composition.

- 29 -
17. An article according to Claim 16 wherein (a) said quaternary
ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of dialkyldi-
methylammonium salt wherein the alkyl groups can be the same or
different and contain from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms and
wherein the counteranion is selected from the group consisting of
chloride, methylsulfate and ethylsulfate ions, (b) said fatty alkyl
sorbitan ester is selected from the group consisting of C10-C26
alkyl sorbitan monoesters, C10-C26 alkyl sorbitan diesters, and
ethoxylates of said esters wherein one or more of the unesterified
hydroxyl groups in said esters contain from 1 to about 6 oxy-
ethylene units, and mixtures thereof, and (c) said fatty amine is
selected from the group consisting of alkyldimethylamine and
dialkylmethylamine, and mixtures thereof, wherein the alkyl
groups can be the same or different and contain from about 14 to
15 about 22 carbon atoms.
18. An article according to Claim 17 wherein said fabric soft-
ening agent comprises a mixture of from about 7% to about 20% of
said quaternary ammonium methylsulfate, from about 20% to about
40% of said sorbitan polyester, and from about 7% to about 20% of
said fatty amine, all percentages by weight of the fabric con-
ditioning composition.
19. An article according to Claim 5 wherein said fabric softening
agent comprises a mixture of from about 5% to about 25% of a
quaternary ammonium salt, from about 10% to about 50% of a
carboxylic acid salt of a tertiary alkylamine, and from about 10%
to about 25% of said fatty alcohol, all percentages by weight of
the fabric conditioning composition.
20. An article according to Claim 19 wherein (a) said quaternary
ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of dialkyldi-
methylammonium salt wherein the alkyl groups can be the same or
different and contain from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms and
wherein the counteranion is selected from the group consisting of
chloride, methylsulfate and ethylsulfate ions, (b) said carboxylic

- 30 -
acid salt of a tertiary alkylamine is selected from the group con-
sisting of fatty acid salts of alkyldimethylamines wherein the alkyl
group contains from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms, and (c)
said fatty alcohol contains from about 14 to about 22 carbon
atoms.
21. An article according to Claim 20 wherein said fabric soft-
ening agent comprises a mixture of from about 7% to about 20% of
said quaternary ammonium methylsulfate, from about 15% to about
35% of said fatty acid salt of a tertiary alkylamine, and from
about 10% to about 20% of said fatty alcohol.
22. An article according to Claim 2 wherein the substrate has an
absorbent capacity of from about 4 to about 12 and the fabric
conditioning composition is impregnated into the substrate and
wherein the weight ratio of fabric conditioning composition to
substrate on a dry weight basis ranges from about 5:1 to 1:1.
23. An article according to Claim 22 wherein said substrate is a
nonwoven cloth comprising cellulosic fibers, said fibers having a
length of from 3/16 inch to 2 inches and a denier of from 1.5 to 5
and wherein said fibers are adhesively bonded together with a
binder resin.
24. An article according to Claim 23 wherein the flexible sub-
strate has openings sufficient in size and number to reduce
restriction by said article of the flow of air through an automatic
laundry dryer.
25. An article according to Claim 24 wherein the openings com-
prise a plurality of rectilinear slits extended along one dimension
of the substrate.
26. An article according to Claim 25 wherein said fabric soft-
ening agent comprises a mixture of cationic fabric softener and
nonionic fabric softener and said soil release agent is a crys-
tallizable polyester with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate

- 31 -
units containing 10-50% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units
together with 90 to 50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthal-
ate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average
molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000, and the molar
ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene tere-
phthalate units in the crystallizable polymeric compound is be-
tween 2:1 and 6:1.
27. An article according to Claim 26 wherein said fabric soft-
ening agent comprises a mixture of:
(a) from about 7% to about 20% of a dialkyldimethylammonium
methylsulfate wherein the alkyl groups can be the same
of different and contain from about 14 to about 22
carbon atoms;
(b) from about 15% to about 35% of a fatty acid salt of a
tertiary alkylamine wherein the alkyl group contains
from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms; and
(c) from about 10% to about 20% of a fatty alcohol containing
from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms;
all percentages by weight of the fabric conditioning composition.
28. An article according to Claim 27 wherein
(a) said dialkyldimethylammonium methylsulfate is ditallow-
dimethylammonium methylsulfate;
(b) said fatty acid salt of a tertiary alkylamine is stearyl-
dimethylammonium salt of tallow fatty acid;
(c) said fatty alcohol is a C16-C18 alcohol;
(d) said polymeric soil release agent has a softening phase
transition temperature of at least about 30°C, and
becomes a flowable liquid below 100°C; and
(e) said fabric conditioning composition further contains
from about 2% to about 10% of a particulate clay and
from about 0.5% to about 4% of a perfume.

- 32 -
29. A method for imparting an improved combination of soil
release, softening and antistatic effects to fabrics in an automatic
laundry dryer comprising commingling pieces of damp fabrics by
tumbling said fabrics under heat in an automatic clothes dryer
with an effective amount of a fabric conditioning composition, said
composition having a melting point greater than about 38°C and
being flowable at dryer operating temperature, said composition
comprising from about 1% to 70% of a polymeric soil release agent,
and 30% to 99% of a fabric softening agent; and wherein the fabric
conditioning composition is applied to the fabrics from a flexible
substrate.
30. A method according to Claim 29 wherein the fabric condition-
ing composition comprises:
(a) from about 7% to about 20% of ditallowdimethylammonium
methylsulfate;
(b) from about 15% to about 35% of stearyldimethylammonium
salt of tallow fatty acid;
(c) from about 10% to about 20% of C16-C18 fatty alcohol;
(d) from about 10% to about 60% of a crystallizable polyester
copolymer with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate
units containing 10-50% by weight of ethylene tere-
phthalate units together with 90-50% by weight of
polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a
polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight of
from about 300 to about 6,000, and the molar ratio of
ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene tere-
phthalate units in the crystallizable polymeric compound
is between 2:1 and 6:1, said copolymer having a soften-
ing phase transition temperature of at least about
30°C, and becomes a flowable liquid below 100°C;
(e) from about 296 to about 10% of a particulate clay; and
(f) from about 0.5% to about 4% of a perfume.

Description

12731~i6
ARTICLES AND METHODS FOR TREATING FABRICS
Mark D. Evans
Gregory B. Huntington
Robert L. Stewart
Peter H. Wolf
Roger E. Zimmerer
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention encompasses articles and methods for
providing soil release, softening, odor, and antistatic benefits to
fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Treatment in an automatic clothes dryer has been shown to
be an effectiYe means for imparting desirable tactile properties to
fabrics. For example, it is becoming common to soften fabrics in
an automatic clothes dryer rather than during the rinse cycle of a
laundering operation. (See U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,692, Gaiser,
issued May 6, 1969)
Fabric "softness" is an expression well-defined in the art
and is usually understood to be thae quality of the treated fabric
whereby its handle or texture is smooth, pliable and Fluffy to the
touch. Various chemical compounds have long been known to
possess the ability to soften fabrics when applied to them during
a laundering operation.
Fabric softness also connotes the absence of static "cling" in
the fabrics, and the commonly used cationic fabric softeners
provide both softening and antistatic benefits when applied to
fabrics. Indeed, with fabrics such as nylon and polyester, the
user is more able to perceive and appreciate an antistatic benefit
than a true softening benefit.
On the other hand, soil release treatment of fabrics in an
automatic clothes dryer is not as common as softening treatment.

~27;~5~
-- 2 --
U . S. Pat. No. 4, 238, 531, Rudy et al ., issued Dec . 9, 1980,
discloses in its Examples 8 and 9 a soil release agent adjuvant
plus a "distributing aid," polyethylene gtycol (PEG). The key
combination of fabric softening plus soil reiease treatment in one
automatic ciothes dryer product is not disclosed in Rudy et al.,
or any other known prior a rt .
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to pro-
vide fabric soi l releasing plus softening articles for use in auto-
matic dryers which are superior in soil release benefits and
softening compared to the prior art.
- This and other objects ar0 obtained herein, as will be seen
from the following disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encompasses an article of manufacture
adapted for use to provide fabric soil release benefits and to
soften fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer comprising:
(a) a fabric conditioning composition comprising a polymeric
soil release agent and a fabric softening agent, and
(b) a dispensing means which provides for release of an
effective amount of said composition to fabrics in the
dryer at automatic dryer operating temperatures, i . e.,
35C to 115C.
The invention also encompasses a method for imparting soil
releasing benefits plus a softening and antistatic effect to fabrics
in an automatic clothes dryer comprising tumbling said fabrics
under heat in a clothes dryer with an effective, i.e., softening,
amount of a composition comprising softening actlve(s) and a soil
release agent. The soil release benefits for fabrics are provided
for a wide range of soils including the oily types and, surpris-
ingly, clay soils on polyester and polyester/cotton blend fabrics.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention encompasses an article of manufacture
adapted for use to provide fabric soil release benefits and to
soften fabrics in an automatic laundry dryer comprising:
(a) a fabric conditioning composition having a melting point
above about 38C and being flowable at dryer operating

12731.56
-- 3 --
temperatures, said composit;Dn comprising:
i, 1% to 70% of a poiymeric soil release agent;
ii. 30% to 99% of a fabric softening agent;
(b) a dispensing means which provides for release of an
effective amount of said composition to fabrics in the
dryer at automatic dryer operating temperatures , i . e .,
35C to 1 1 5C.
When the dispensing means is a flexible substrate in sheet
configuration the fabric conditioning composition is releasably
affixed on the substrate ~o provide a weight ratio of conditioning
composition to dry substrate ranging from about 10 :1 to about
0.5:1 .
The invention also encompasses a method for Tmparting soil
releasing benefits plus a softenlng and antistatic effect to fabrics
in an automatic clothes dryer comprising tumbling said fabrics
under heat in a clothes dryer with an effective, i.e., softening,
amount of a composition comprising softening activets) and a soil
release agent.
The term fabric conditioning composition as used herein is
defined as a mixture of a polymeric soil release agent and a fabric
softening agent as defined herein.
Polyme~ic Soil Release Agent
The polymeric soil release agents useful in the present
invention include hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, block copoly-
mers of polyethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene tere-
phthalate, block copolymers of polyethylene phthalate and poly-
ethylene glycol, and cationic guar gums, and the like. ,The soil
release agent is present at a level of from about 19~ to about 70%,
more preferably from about 10% to about 70%, and most preferably
from about 25% to about 50%, by weight of the fabric conditioning
composition .
The cellulosic derivatives that are functional as soil release
agents may be characterized as certain hydroxyethers of cellulose~
such as Methocel HB-15000 tDow), Me~hyl Cellulose DM-140
(Buckeye), and Kluce~ (Hercules); also, certain cationic cellulose~
ether derivatives such as Polymer J R-125, J R-400, and J R-30M
(Union Carbide).
~i

i~315~;
Other effective soil release agents are cationic guar gums
such as Jaguar Plus (Stein Hall) and Gendrh~e 458 ~General
Mills) .
A preferrPd fabric conditionTng composition has a polymeric
soil releas~ agent selected from the group consisting of methyl
cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, or hydroxybutyl methyl-
cellulose, said cellulosic polymer having a viscosity in 2% aqueous
solution at 20C of 15 to 75,000 centipoise.
A more preferred soil release agent is a copolymer having
blocks of polyethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene tere-
phthalate. More specifically, these polymers are comprised of
repeating units of ethylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene
terephthalate at a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to
polyoxyethylene terephthalate units of from about 25: 75 to about
35:65, said polyoxyethylene terephthalate containing polyoxyethyl-
ene blocks having molecular weights of from about 300 to about
700. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is
in the range of from about 25,000 to about 55,000. These pre-
ferred polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,230, Hays,
issued May 25, 1976. ~o
melting polnt of the polymer is preferably below 100C.
Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a crystal-
lizable polyester copolymer with repeat units of ethylene tere-
phthalate units containing 10-50% by weight of ethylene tere-
phthalate units together with 90-50% by weight of polyoxyethylene
terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of
average molecular weight of from about 300 to about 6,000, and
the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene
terephthalate units in the crystallizable polymeric compound is
between 2:1 and 6:1. A more preferred polymer is that wherein
the polyoxyethylene terephthalate units are derived from a poly-
oxyethylene glycol with an average molecular weight of from about
1,000 to about 4,000. These polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,416,952, Mclntyre and Robertson, issued Dec. 17, 1968,
~amples of ~he~e copolyn~ers
include the commercially available material Zelcon 4780 (from
DuPont) and Milease'e T [from ICI), both have the Chemical
~1
~-4~

~2~31~6
Abstracts Service Reglstry No. 9016-8B-0. Both Zelcon~ 4780 and
Milease f~ are sold in the aqueous dispersion form containing up
to 85% water. It is preferable to use the dehydrated polymer to
prepare the fabric conditioning composition in order to avoid the
incorporation of excess moisture which is believed to make the
resulting fabric conditioning articles wet and sticky. The dehy-
drated polymer is obtained by drying the above-mentioned c~m-
mercial dispersions, or can be obtained directly in the concen-
trated form from the manufacturers. An example of the latter is
Zelcon P(i~ the concentrated form of Zelcon 4780~ and is obtained
from DuPont Co.
The most preferred polymer is a solld at room temperature,
has a softening phase transition temperature at or above 30C and
becomes a flowable liquid below 100C, preferably below 90C.
The softening phase transition temperature can be determined by
the differential scanning calorimetry method. A polymer that is a
hard solid at room temperature is desirable in order to keep the
fabric conditioning sheets from having a tacky feel, while its
softening and fluidity at higher temperatures facilitate the sub-
strate coating process and the subsequent fabric conditioning
actlve transfer from the fabric conditioning sheet to the fabrics in
the clothes dryer.
A particularly preferrecl polymeric 50il release agent is
disclosed in U.S. Patent 4, 702,857, of Eugene
P. Gosselink, i~sued October 27, 1987,
has the formula:
Xt-[OCH2CH2)n(OR )m ]~ (A-R -A-R2)U(A-R3-A-R2)
-A-R4-At( R5O)m(CH2CH20 )n~X
30 wherein the A moieties are essentially
O O
ll ll
-OC- o r -CO-
mole~ies; the R1 moietles are essentially 1,4-phenylene moieties;
35 and R moieties are essentially ethylene moieties, or substituted
ethylene moieties having C1-C4 alkyl or alkoxy substituents; the
R moieties are substituted C2-C18 hydrocarbylene moieties having
C

12~73~56
-- 6 --
at least one -SO3M, -COOM, -otR5o)m(cH2cH2o)n~x or
) ] w [ R )m(CH2CH2)n~X substituent or at
least one moiety -A~(R -A-R -A)~WR -A- crosslinked to
another R3 moiety; the R4 moieties are R1 or R3 moieties, or a
5 mixture thereof; each R5 is C3-C4 alkylene, or the moiety
-R2-A-R6-, wherein R~ is a C1-C1 2 alkylene, alkenylene, arylene
or alkarylene moiety; each M is H or a water-soluble cation; each
X is H, C1-C4 alkyl or
o
"
CR7
wherein R7 is C1-C4 alkyl; m and n are numbers such that the
moiety -(CH~CH2O)-comprises at least about 50% by weight of the
moiety ~R O)m(CH2CH2O)n~, provided that when R5 is the
15 moiety -R2 -A-R -, m is 1; each n is at least about 10; u and v
are numbers such that the sum of u + v is from about 3 to about
25; w is 0 or at least 1; and when w is at least 1, u, v and w
are numbers such that the sum of u + v + w is from about 3 to
about 25,
This latter polymer is particularly preferred when the for-
mula is:
O O
X- (OCH2CH2 ) n{~ ( -OC-R1 -CO-R2 ~ ~u
O O
,. ,.
-OC-R1 -CO- (CH2CH20)n-X
wherein each R1 iS a 1,4-phenylene moiety; the R2 consist essen-
tially of ethylene moieties, 1 ,2-propylene moieties or a mixture
thereof; each X is ethyl or preferably methyl; each n is from
about 12 to about 43; u is from about 3 to about 10.
A preferred polymeric soil release agent is POET (polyoxy-
ethylene terephthalate~, a compound with the general formula
described hereinabove. It is synthesized from the following
reactants:

1273~L56
l. Poly(ethylene gtycoi)methyl ester, M.W. 750, Ald-
rich Chemical Co., 1000g ~1.33 molesl
2. Dimethyl terephthalate, M.W. 195, Aldrich Chemical
Co., 359 . 9g ( 1 . 85 moles)
3. Ethylene glycol, M.W. 62, Aldrich Chemical Co.,
146 . 4g ( 2 . 36 moles )
4. Calcium acetate, MCB, 7.9g (catalyst)
5. Antimony trioxide, Fisher Scientific, 7.99 (catalyst)
6. Butylated hydroxytoluene, Aldrich Chemical Co.,
3.6g (antioxidant).
The reaction was carried out by adding all of the above
to a 2 liter round bottom flask equipped with mechanical
agitation. A 14 inch unpacked column was also fitted to the
flask for methanol distillation. The system was placed under
15 a nitrogen atmosphere and the temperature was gradually
raised to 200C once the reaction mixture melted. Reaction
conditions of 200C, atmospheric pressure, and constant
mechanical agitation were maintained for 20 hours. To fur-
ther drive the ester interchange reaction to completion, the
20 reactisn mixture was cooled to 1 30C, the methanol receiving
flask was emptied, and vacuum was applied while concurrently
introducing nitrogen sparge below the level of the liquid
reaction mixture. An absolute pressure of 25 mm Hg was
obtained. Over a period of 2 hours the temperature was
25 gradually raised to 190C, distilling more methanol and ethyl-
ene glycol. To complete the reaction, the temperature was
raised to 200C and the pressure was reduced to 20 mm Hg.
The nitrogen flow into the reaction mixture was discontinued.
After 3. 5 hours, the reaction was essentially complete as
30 indicated by reverse phase HPLC analysis . ( Using a column
packed with hexyl capped silica particles and an acetonitrile/-
water gradient elution). This analysis showed that a sizable
part of the polymer contained 4 or more terephthalate units
per molecule. The general ~ormula for the resulting com-
35 pound is:

~:~6
-- 8 --
O O ~ O
ll ll ll
C~30lCH2CH2) 1 6 C{~ _ CH2cH2- C~
0
ll
C - (OCH2CH2) 1 6 OCH3
wherein n = 1.75 on average.
The resulting polymer was submitted to a ehree-solven~
~short chain alcohols) extraction tlPA, EtOH, MeOH) and the
EtOH, MeOH soluble fractions are combined in the ratio of 67:33.
This extraction procedure results in a polymer sample con-
taining predominantly 3 to 5 terephthalate units per molecule as
shswn by HPLC analysis.
In general, the soil release polymer is preferably a solid at
room temperature, has a softening phase transition temperature at
or above 30C and becomes a flowable liquid below 100C, more
preferably belsw 90C.
Fabr c Softening Agent
The term fabric softening agent as used herein includes
cationic and nonionic fabric softeners used alone and aiso in
combinatlon with each other. The preferred fabric softening
agent of the present invention is a mixture of cationic and noni-
onic fabric softeners.
Examples of fabric softening agents are the compositions
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,047, Zaki et al., issued
July 25, 1978; 4,237,155, Kardouche, issued Dec. 2, 1980;
3,686,025, Morton, issued Aug. 22, 1972; 3,849,435, Diery et al.,
issued Nov. 19, 1974; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,996, Bedenk,
issued Feb. 14, 1978.
Particularly preferred cationic fabric s~fteners of
this type include quaternary ammonium salts such as dialkyl
dimethylammonium chlorides, methylsulfates and ethylsulfates
wherein the alkyl groups can be the same or different and contain
35 from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms. Examples of such pre-
ferred materials include ditallowalkyldimethylammonium methylsul-
fate, distearyldimethylammonium methylsulfate, dipalmityldimethyl-

L~
. g
ammonium methylsulfate and dibehenyldimethylammonium methylsul-
fate. Also particularly preferred is the carboxylic acid salt of a
tertiary alkylamine disclosed in said Kardouche patent. Examples
include stearyldimethylammonium stearate, distearyimethylammonium
5 myristate, stearyldimethylammonium palmitate, distearylmethylam-
monium palmita~e, and distearylmethylammonium laurate. These
carboxylic salts can be made in situ by mixing the corresponding
amine and carboxylic ~cid in the molten fabric conditioning com-
position .
Examples of nonionic fabric softeners are the sorbitan
esters, described herein and C1 2-C26 fatty alcohois and fatty
amines as described herein.
A preferred article of the present invention includes a fabric
conditioning composition which comprises 10% to 70% of polymeri
soil release agent, and 30% to 90% of a fabric softening agent,
said fabric softening agent is selected from cationic and nonionic
fabric softeners, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, said fabric
softening agent comprises a mixture of about 5% to about 80% of a
cationic fabric softener and about 1096 to about 85% of a nonionic
- 20 fabric softener by weight of said fabric conditioning composition.
The selection of the components is such that the resulting fabric
conditioning composition has a melting point above about 38C and
being flowable at dryer operating temperatures.
A preferred fabric softening agent comprises a mixture of
C1 0-C26 alkyl sorbitan esters and mîxtures thereof, a quaternary
ammonium salt and an tertiary all<ylamine. The quaternary
ammonium salt is preferably present at a level of from about 5% to
about 25%, more preferably from about 7% to about 20% of the
fabric conditioning composition. The sorbitan ester is preferably
present at a level of from about 10% to about 50%, more preferably
from about 20% to absut 40%, by weight of the total fabric
conditioning composition. The tertiary aikylamine is present at a
level of from about 5% to about 25%, more preferably from 7% to
about 20% by weight of the fabric conditioning composition. The
preferred sorbitan ester comprises a member selected from the
group consisting of C1 0-C26 alkyl sorbitan monoesters and
C10-C26 alkyl sorbitan di-esters, and ethoxylates of said esters

~73~56
-- 10 --
wherein one or more of the unesterified hydroxyl groups in said
esters contain from 1 to about 6 oxyethylene units, and mixtures
thereof. The quaternary ammonium salt is preferably in the
me~hylsulfate form. The preferred tertiary alkylamine is selected
s from the ~roup consisting of alkyldimethylamine and dialkylmethyl-
amine and mixtures thereof, wherein the alkyl groups can be the
same of different and contain from about 14 to about 22 carbon
atoms.
Another preferred fabric softening agent comprises a car-
boxylic acid salt of-a tertiary alkylamine, in combination with a
fatty alcohol and a quaternary ammonium salt. The carboxylic
acid salt of a tertiary amine is used in the fabric conditioning
composition preferably at a level of from about 59s to about 5096,
and more preferably, from about 15~ to about 35%, by weight of
the fabric conditioning composition. The quaternary ammonium
salt is used preferably at a level of frorn about 596 to about 25~,
and more preferably, from about 7% to about 20%, by weight of
the total fabric conditioning composition. The fatty alcohol can
be used preferably at a level of from about 10% to about 25%, and
more preferably from about 10% to about 20%, by weight of the
fabric conditioning composition. The preferred quaternary
ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl
dimethylammonium salt wherein the alkyl groups can be the same
or different and contain from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms
and wherein the counteranion is selected from the group consist-
ing of chloride, methylsulfate and ethylsulfate, preferably methyl-
sulfate. The preferred carboxylic acid salt of a tertiary alkyl-
amine is selected from the group consisting of fatty acid salts of
alkyldimethylamines wherein the alkyl group contains from about
14 to about 22 carbon atoms. The preferred fatty alcohol
contains from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms.
Optional Ingredients
Well known optional components included in the fabric condi-
tioning composition which are useful in the present invention are
narrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,047, Zaki et al., issued July 25,
1978, for "Fabric Treatment Compositions."

Dispensing Means
The fabric conditioning compositions can be employed by
simply adding a measured amount into the dryer, e.g., as liquid
dispersion. HoY ever, in a preferred embodiment, the fabric
5 conditioners are provided as an article of manufacture in com-
bination with a dispensing means such as a flexible substrate
which effectively releases the composition in an automatic clothes
dryer. Such dispensing means can be designed for single usage
or for multiple uses.
One such article comprises a sponge material releasably
enclosing enough fabric conditloning composition to effectively
impart fabric soil release and softness benefits during several
cycles of clothes. This multi-use article can be made by filling a
hollow sponge with about 20 grams of the fabric conditioning
composition .
Other devices and articles suitable for dispensing the fabric
conditioning composition into automatic dryers include those
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,047, Zaki et al., issued
July 25, 1978; 3,736,668, Dillarstone, issued June 5, 1973;
3,701,202, Compa et al., issued ~ct. 31, 1972; 3,634,947, Furgal,
issued Jan. 18, 1972; 3,633,538, Hoeflin, issued Jan. 11, 1972;
and 3,435,537, Rumsey, issued Apr. 1, 1969.
A highly preferred article herein comprises the fabric con-
ditioning composition releasably affixed to a flexible substrate in a
sheet configuration. Highly preferred paper, woven or nonwoven
"absorbent" substrates useful herein are fully disclosed in
Morton, U.5. Pat. No. 3,686,026, issued Aug. 22, 1987.
Ic is know~ that most substancos.
are able to absorb a liquid substance to some degree; however,
the term "absorbent" as used herein, is intended to mean a
substance with an absorbent capacity (i.e., a parameter repre-
senting a substrate's ability to take up and retain a liquid) from
4 to 12, preferably 5 to 7, times its weight of water.

~315~
- 12 -
Determination of absorbent capacity values is made by using
the capacity testing procedures described in U.S. Federal Speci-
fications UU-T-595b, modified as follows: -
1. tap water is used instead of distilled water;
2. the specimen is immersed for 30 seconds instead of 3
minutes;
3. draining time is 15 secsnds instead of 1 minute; and
4. the specimen is immediately weighed on a torsion bal-
ance having a pan with turned-up edges.
10 Absorbent capacity values are then calculated in accordance with
the formula given in said Specification. Based on this test,
one-ply, dense bleached paper (e.g., kraft or bond having a
basis weight of about 32 pounds per 3,000 square feet) has an
absorbent capacity of 3.5 to 4, commercially available household
one-ply toweling paper has a value of 5 to 6; and commercially
available two-ply household toweling paper has a value of 7 to
about 9.5.
Using a substrate with an absorbent capacity of less than 4
tends to cause too rapid release of the fabric conditioning com-
position from the substrate resulting in several disadvantages,
one of which is uneven conditioning of the fabrics. Using a
substrate with an absorbent capacity over 12 is undesirable,
inasmuch as too little of the fabric conditioning composition is
released to condition the fabrics in optimal fashion during a
normal drying cycle.
Such a substrate comprises a nonwoven cloth having an
absorbent capacity of preferably from about 5 to 7 and wherein
the weight ratio of ~abric conditioning composition to substrate on
a dry weight basis ranges from about 5:1 to 1:1.
Nonwoven cloth substrate preferably comprises cellulosic
fibers having a length of from 3~16 inch to 2 inches and a denier
of from 1, 5 to 5 and the substrate is adhesively bonded together
with a binder resin.
The flexible substrate preferably has openings sufficient in
size and number to reduce restriction by said article of the flow

~73~5~à
- 13 -
of air through an automatic laundry dryer. The better openings
comprise a plurality of rectilinear slits extended aiong one
dimension of the substrate.
Usage
The method aspect of this invention for imparting the above-
described fabric conditioning composition to provide soil release,
softening and antistatic effects to fabrics in an automatic laundry
dryer comprises: commingling pieces of damp fabrics by tumbling
said fabrics under heat in an automatic clothes dryer with an
effective amount of the fabric conditioning composition, said
composition having a melting point greater than about 38C and
being flowable at dryer operating temperature, said composition
comprising from about 196 to 7096 of a polymeric soil release agent,
and 30% to 99% of a fabric softening agent selected from the
above-defined cationic and nonionic fabric softeners and mixtures
thereof .
~he method herein is carried out in the following manner.
Damp fabrics, usually containing from about 1 to about 1.5 times
their weight of ~Nater, are placed in the drum of an automatic
clothes dryer, In practice, such damp fabrics are commonly
obtained by laundering, rinsing and spin-drying the fabrics in a
standard washing machine. The fabric conditioning composition
can simply be spread uniformly over ail fabric surfaces, for
example, by sprinkling the composition onto the fabrics from a
shaker device. Alternatively, the composition can be sprayed or
otherwise coated on the dryer drum, itself. The dryer is then
operated in standard fashion to dry the fabrics, usually at a
temperature from about 50C to about 80C for a period from
about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes, depending on the fabris
load and type. On removal from the dryer, the dried fabrics
have been treated for soil release benefits and are softened.
Moreover, the fabrics instantaneously sorb a minute quantity of
water which increases the electrical conductivity of the fabric
surfares, thereby quickly and effectively dissipating static
charge.

i~L~;6
I n a preferred mode, the present process is carried out by
fashioning an article comprising the substrate-like dispensing
means of th~ type hereinabove described in releas~ble combination
with a fabric conditioning _ompositiorl. This article is simply
5 added to a clothes dryer together with the damp ~abrics to be
treated. The heat and tumbling action of the revolving dryer
drum evenly distributes the composition over all fabric surfaces,
and dries the fabrics.
- The following are nonlimiting examples of the instant articles
10 and methods.
TABLE l-A
Exameles: 1 2 3 4 5
Fabric Conditioning
Composition ComE~onenes Wt.% Wt.% Wt.% Wt.% Wt.9
15 5il Release Agents:
Dried Zelcon'311780a 37 . 2 43 . 5 -- 44 .1 --
Dried Milease~Tb -- -- 43.5 -- --
pOETc __ __ __ __ 37 . 5
Methocel Al 5LVd -- -- -- -- --
20 Fabric Softening Agents
DTDMAMSe 14.1 12.7 12.7 12 25 11.25
DTMAf 14.1 12.7 12.7 12.25 11.25
SMS9 28 . 2 25 . 4 25 . 4 24 . 5 22 . 5
SDMAh _ __ __ __ --
Cl 6~C1 8 Fatty Acid -- __ __ __
C16-C18 Fatty Alcohol -- -_ __ __
PEG 8~0 -~ -- 12 . 5
Parva 250 -- -~
Clayj 6.4 5.7 5.7 5.6 5.0
30 Perfume -- -- -- 1 . 3 --
1 00 . 0~1 00 . 0~1 00 . 0~1 00 . 0%1 00 . 0%
Article Composition:
Substrate weight,
grams/sq.yd. 16 18 18 18 16
Coating weight,
grams/9"x11" sheet 4.1 4.6 4.6 4.6 2.6
~,'

~273i56
- 15 -
TABLE l-B
Examples: 6 7 8 9 10
Fabric Conditioning
5 Composition Components Wt.96 Wt.~ Wt.% Wt.% Wt %
Soi I Release Agents:
Dried Zelcon~94780a -- 45.4 -- -- 75
Dried Mi lease (~b __ __ __ __ __
POETC 67 . 0 -- __
Methocel ~15LVd 23.6 -- ~~ ~~ ~~
Fabric Softening Agents:
DTDMAMSe 15 11.1 -- 21.9 --
DTMAf 15 -- -- 21.9 --
SMS9 30 -- 33.0 43.8 --
SDMAh __ 13.9 -- __ __
Cl 6-C1 8 Fatty Acid -- 12.8 -- -- -~
C16-C18 Fatty Alcohoi ` -- 11.1 -- -- --
PEG 8000 -- -- -- -- 25
Parvan~95250i 7. 9 -- -- -- --
20 clayJ 6.8 4.4 -- 10.0 --
Perfume 1 . 71 . 3 -- 2. 4 --
.
100 . 0% 100 . 0~ 100 . 0% 100 . 0% 100 . 0%
Article Composition:
Substrate weight,
grams/sq.yd. 16 16 16 16 16
Coating weight,
grams/9"xl1" sheet 3.5 3.3 3.1 2.6 2.6
a Zelcon'9 4780 is an ethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene
glycol copolymer (CAS registry No. 9016-88-0) sold by E. I .
DuPont as a 15% dispersion in water. Dried Zelcon 4780 is
the dehydrated dispersion dried in a thin film at approxi-
mately 1 00C. Zelcon 4780 is also described herein in the
section entitled "Polymeric Soll Release Agent."
J

~273156
- 16 -
b Miiease ~ is also an ethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene
glycol copolymer (CAS registry No. 9016-88-0) sold by ICI
as a 15~ dispersion in water. Dried Milease T is the dehy-
drated dispersion dried in a thin film at approximately
1 00C . This polymer is further described in the section
herein entitled "Polymeric Soil Release Agent."
POET ~polyoxyethylene terephthalate) is a compound with the
general formula described hereinabove. It is synthesized
from the following reactants:
1. Poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ester, M,W, 750,
Aldrich Chemical Co., 1 000g ( 1 . 33 moles )
2, Dimethyl terephthalate, M.W. 195, Aldrich
Chemical Co., 359.9g (1.85 moles)
3. Ethylene glycol, M,W. 62, Aldrich Chemical
Co ., 1 46 . 49 ( 2 . 36 moles )
4. Calcium acetate, MCB, 7.9g (catalyst)
5 . Antimony trioxide, Fisher Scientific, 7 . 99
lcatalyst)
6. Butylated hydroxytoluene, Aldrich Chemical
Co,, 3.69 (antioxidant).
The resulting polymer is submitted to a three-solvent (short
chain alcohols) extraction (IPA, EtOH, MeOH) and the EtOH,
MeOH soluble fractions are combined in the ratio of 67:33.
d Methocel AlSLV is a methyl cellulose sold by Dow Chemical
Co.
e DTDMAMS is ditallowdimethylammonium methylsulfate.
f DTMA is ditallowmethylamine.
g SMS is sorbitanmonostearate.
h SDMA is stearyldimethylamine.
,,
.

~2~3~L~6
- 17 -
i Parvan 5250~3 is a refined petroleum wax sold by Exxon Co.
Bentolite L sold by Southern Clay Products.
Examples 1-3, 5-10
The components in Examples 1-3, and 5-10 were admixed and
liquified at 70C. Each nonwoven substrate, comprised of 70~
3-denier, l-9/16" long rayon fibers with 30% poiyvinyl acetate
binder, is cut into a 9" x 11 " sheet. Slightly more than target
coating weight is distributed on a heating plate and the nonwoven
cloth is placed over it. A small paint roller is used to impregnate
the mixture into the interstices of the substrate. The article is
removed from the hot plate and allowed to cool to room tempera-
ture whereby the mixture solidifies. Following solidification of
the fabric conditioning composition, the cloth is slit with a knife.
~Conveniently, the cloth is provided with 3 to 9 rectilinear slits
extending along one dimension of the substrate, said slits being
in substantially parallel relationship and extending to within about
1 " from at least one edge of said dimension of the substrate) .
The width of an individual slit is about 0.2",
Exam~le 4
A dryer-added fabric conditioning article cornprising a rayon
nonwoven fabric substrate (havTng a weight of 1.4 gm per 99
sq . in. ) and a fabric conditioning composition is prepared in the
following manner.
The fabric conditioning composition comprising 44.1~ dried
Zelcon~94780, 12.2% ditallowdimethylammonium methylsulfate, 12.2%
ditallowmethylamine, 24.59~ sorbitan monostearate, 5.6% clay, and
1.3% perfume is liquified by admixing the individual components at
70C. Thus the fabric conditioning composition contains 44.1%
polymeric soil release agent and 55.996 fabric softening agent.
The flexible substrate, comprised of 70% 3-denier, 1-9/16" long
rayon fibers and 3096 polyvinyl acetate binder, is impregnated by
coating one side of a continuous length of the substrate and
contacting it with a rotating cylindrical member which serves to
press the liquified mixture into the interstices of the substrate.
The substrate is passed over several chilled tensioning rolls
~hich help solidify the conditioning mixture. The substrate sheet

~273156
- 18 -
is 9" wide and is perforated in lines at 11" intervals to provide
detachable sheets. Each sheet is cut with a set of knives to
provide three evenly spaced parallel slits averaging about 4" in
length .
Fabric Softening and Soil Release Evaluations
The fabric softening and soi l release performance of the
articles is determined by means of a fabric softening evaluation
and a soil release evaluation. In such evaluations, 5-1/4 Ib.
- loads of fabric representing a range of fabric types (cotton,
polyester/cotton, polyester, acrylics, and nylon) are washed
using a leading detergent, a 14 minute wash cycle with warm
~100F~ medium hardness (8-10 grains/gallon) water, a 2 minute
rinse in cold ~60F) water, and are dried for 45 minutes in
standard household clothes dryer with the appropriate test treat-
ment (product). Included in each 5-1/4 Ib. fabric load are four
100% cotton terry cloths to be used for softness grading and four
each, selected 12" x 12" swatches of 100% polyester, or 65~/35%
polyester/cotton to be used for soil release evaluation. [All
terries and soil release swatches are prewashed in the following
manner to remove any "factory finishes": terries and swatches are
laundered using IVORY SNOWR detergent, a 14 minute wash cycle
with hot (150F) medium hardness (ô-10 grains/gallon) water, and
- a 2 minute rinse in hot (150F) water. The entire wash and
rinse cycles are then repeated in ERAR detergent. This is
followed by two 6 minute wash and 2 minute rinse cycles in hot
(150F) water. The prewashed terries and swatches are then
dried and added to the test wash load. l Following washing and
drying, the cotton terry cloths are removed from each fabric load
for subsequent softening evaluation. The 5-114 Ib. bundles
containing the swatches for soil release evaluation are then re-
washed and dried using the same procedures cited above for a
total of 3 washes and 3 dries.
Softness Evaluation
For fabric softening evaluation, the cotton terry cloths are
graded "blind" by three qualified judges to determine softness
performance of the different treatments ~products). The com-
parison between treatments is expressed in terms of grading scale

~273~56
- 19 -
units (GSU) where:
O GSU = no difference
1 GSU = a slight difference
2 GSU = a moderate difference
3 CSU = a large diMerence
4 GSU = a very large difference
All treatment comparisons (judges grades) are summarized
and subjected to a statistical one way analysis of variance. The
treatment relationships are reported in terms of grading scale
units (GSU) along with a statistical estimate of test precision.
(Least significant difference, i.e., LSD).
For softness evaluation, the example articles of the present
invention (Examples 2 and 5) and the other article (Example 9)
are evaluated in separate tests, but both types of articles are
compared to a "no softener" control.
Results of the softness grading are summarized in Table ll.
TABLE I I
Softness Data
tGrading Scale Units)
No Softener Control 0
Example 2 - 1, 21 s
Example 5 1.79s
Example 9 1.60s
Average LSD = 0.31
The Table l l data demonstrate ~hat the articles of the
instant invention ~ Examples 2 and 5 ) provide fabric softening
performance cornparable to that of similar prior art fabric
softening articles (Example 9).
Soil Release Evaluation
For soil release evaluation, the polyester and polyester/
cotton swatches are removed from the fabric loads after the third
wash and dry cycle. Stains such as dirty motor oil, spaghetti,
grass, and clay are applied to each swatch in a 2" circle using a
35 standard paint brush. Swatches are stored overnight (about
12-16 hours) at 40F to set the stains. The next day swatches

127~ 6
-- 20 --
are allowed to e~uilibrate to room temperature and are then
washed in identical 5-1/4 Ib. fabric loads and under the same
conditlons as described above. T hey are dried for 45 minutes in
standard household clothes dryers using no fabric conditioning
material.
The swatches are graded "blind" by three qualified judges t~
determine soil release performance of the different treatmenl,
(products~. The comparison between treatments is expressed in
terms of grading scale units lGSU) where:
0 GSU = no difference
1 CSU = a slight difference
2 GSU = a moderate difference
3 GSU = a large difference
4 GSU - a very large difference
All treatment comparisons (judges grades) are summarized
and subjected to typical one way analysis of variance. The
treatment relationships are reported in terms of grading scale
units (GSU) along with a statistical estimate of test precision.
~Least significant difference, i.e., LSD).
For soil release evaluation, the articles of the present in-
vention which include polymeric soii release agents and fabric
softening agents are the articles described in Examples 1 through
8. Also tested for comparison are various other articles for stain
protectTon through the dryer (Examples 9 and 10). In addition,
data from direct application l~f a soil release polymer are included.
In Example 11, ZelcoR~ 4780 (dispersion) is applied directly
(by pipette) to swatches in the amount of approximately 1.0g of
Zelcoæ polymer/lb. swatch. These swatches are air dried, then
stained, stored, and washed as descrTbed above. The results of
the soil release gradings are summarized in Tables lll A-C.
The above-described fabric treatment and soil release
evaluation procedures are illustrative of the invention herein and
are not to be construed as limiting thereof.

~2~3156
TABLE l l !-A
Soi I Release Data
Soi I
Control Soil Release
Deter-Soft- Release Agentm
gentenerk Agentl Direct
AloneAlone AloneApplication*
Detergent: TiDETIDE TIDETIDE
or ERA
Sheets per Cycle: 0 1 1 0
Dirty Motor Oil
- 100% Polyester 0 -0.83 2.67s-0.5
65t35 Poly/Cotton 0 -0.081.75s 0.7
15 SPa9hettj
100% Polyester 3 -0.83 2.17
65/35 PolylCotton 0 -1.58s1.25 1.5
G rass
1 û0% Polyester 0 0.50s 0.58s1.2
65 / 35 Poly / Cotton 0 0.58 -0.25 1.8
Clay
100% Polyester 0 1.00 -0.25 -1.4
65/35 Poly/Cotton 0 2.50s0.50 -0.3
s = Significantly different than detergent alone at 95%
confidence level.
* = Significance calculation not available. Data tabulated by
hand .
k
This is Example 9, a softener without soil release agent
- (SRA), i.e., 21.9% ditallowdimethylammonium methylsul-
fate, 21.9~6 ditallowmethylamine, 43.896 sorbitan mono-
stearate, 10% clay, 2.49~ perfume on a nonwoven rayon
substrate weighing 16g/sq.yd.

~3~
-- 22 --
This is Example 10, an SRA without fabric softener with
75~ dried Zelcon~4780, 25% PE(:; 8000 on a nonwoven
rayon substra te weig hi ng 169 / sq . yd . .
m This is Example 111 an SRA directly applied to a fabric
swatch with Zelcon~ 4780 applied by pipette directly to
the stain swatches.
TAB LE I I I-B
10 Soil Release Oata
EX. 1 EX. 2 EX. 3 EX. 4
Detergent: TIDE ERA TIDETIDE
Sheets per Cycle:
Dirty Motor Oil
100% Polyester 0.4 4.3s -0.20,5
65 / 35 Poly / Cotton 0.5 -- -- 1.1 s
Spaghetti
100% Polyester -1.1 3.1 s 3. Os 2.7s
65 / 35 Poly / Cotton 2.6s -- -- -0.2
20 Grass
100% Polyester -- -- -- 2,2s
65/35 Poly/Cotton -- -- -- 1.7s
Clay
100% Polyester 1.9s 2.9s 2. Os 1.4s
65/35 Poly/Cotton 2.4s -- -- 1.9s
~,",J j

i27~56
- 23 --
TABLE I I I-C
_
Soil Release Data
EX. S EX, 6 EX. 7EX. 8*
Detergene: TIDE TIDE TIDE TIDE
Sheets per Cycle: 2 1 1 2
Dirty Motor Oil
100% Polyester 1,67s -0.5 -- 1.5
65 / 35 Poly / Cotton 1.58s -0.1 0.4 2.1
Spaghetti
10096 Polyester 1.33s 0.1 4.7s 2.6
65 / 35 Poly/ Cotton -0.25 -0.3 -- -0.6
Grass
100% Polyester 2.25s 1.3s 3.9s 3.6
65/35 Poly/Cotton2.17s 1.8 2.6s 3.5
C lay
100% Polyester 1.08 2.1 s 2.1 s 1.4
65 / 35 Poly/ Cotton 2.08s 2.3s 3.2s 2.5
s = Significantly different than detergent alone at 95%
confidence level.
* = Significance calculation not available. Data tabulated by
hand .
It should t e noted that where 2 sheets of the article per
cycle are used the benefits are thereby increased. These data
are relative to the detergent only control. These data demon-
strate that the articles of the present invention, Examples 1-8,
provide soil release performancé on both greasy/oily and clay
stains, whereas Examples 9, 10 and 11 provided soil release
performance on only greasy/oily stains or clay stains. In fact,
Examples 11, showing soil release performance of the soil release
action directly applied, exhibited poorer clay removal than deter-
gent alone.

i6
-- 24 --
EXAMPLE 1 2
-
A dryer-added fabric conditioning article comprising a rayon
nonwoven fabric substrate (having a weTght of 1.4 gm per 99 sq.
in. ) and a fabric conditioning composition is prepared in the
5 following manner.
A fabric softening agent premixture is initially prepared by
admixing 140 parts of stearyldimethylamine with 128 parts of
C1 6-C1 8 fatty acid at 70C . The softening agent mixture is
compieted by then adding and mixing in 112 parts of C1 6-C1 8
10 fatty alcohol and 112- parts of ditallowdimethylammonium methylsul-
fate at 70C. To the softening agent mixture 420 parts of pre-
melted polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene terephthalate
copolymeric soil release agent (which is solid at room temp~rature
and is a flowable liquid at 85C) is added slowly and with high-
15 shear mixing to finely disperse the polymer. After the additionis completed and a sufficient period of mixing time has elapsed,
61 parts of Bentolite@~ L particulate clay is added slowly while
maintaining the high-shear mixing action. An amount of 27 parts
of perfume is added to complete the preparation of the fabric
20 conditioning composition. Impregnation of the flexible substrate
with the fabric conditioning composition is carried out in the same
manner as depicted in Example 4. The resulting fabric condi-
tioning sheets have a dry, nonsticky tactile feel, and deliver
good soil reiease and softening performance.