Colgate Palmolive Company

Eduardo E Puentes-Bravo

Jean-Paul M Grandmaire

Viviane E Tack

Marcel J Gillis

Pierre M Lambert

Anita Hermosilla

Paul A Heckles

Jan R Doms

Harold E Wixon

Alain M Gourgue

Genevieve P Bonnechere

Andreas J Somers

Anita M Hertmosilla

Anita Hermosilla M

A fabric softening product is a composition or article that is effective for its fabric softening purpose but preferably excludes ecotoxic quaternary ammonia salt, includes, as a fabric softening component, a PEC, which is an ester of pentaerythritol, an ester of an oligomer of pentaerythritol, an ester of a lower alkoxylated pentaerythritol or an ester of a lower alkoxylated pentaerythritol oligomer, with bentonite, which increases its fabric softening effect remarkably. The PEC is preferably a partial higher fatty acid ester of pentaerythritol or a partial higher fatty acid ester of a pentaerythritol oligomer, the bentonite is preferably sodium bentonite or swellable calcium bentonite, the fabric softening composition is a softergent or a non-detersive composition, both of which may be in solid (preferably particulate solid) or liquid state or form (preferably in aqueous suspension or gel), and the fabric softening article is an absorbent material with bentonite and PEC deposited on it or absorbed by it. Also within the invention are processes for softening fibrous materials of laundry contacting them with such compositions and/or articles during washing, rinsing and/or drying operations.

Fabric softening products based on a combination of pentaerythritol

A particulate fabric softening composition and a particulate fabric softening detergent composition are described, both of which include bentonite powder agglomerated into larger particulate bead or granule form with a normally solid co-melt of a pentaerythritol compound (PEC), such as pentaerythritol ditallowate (PEDT), and a nonionic surfactant, such as a condensation product of a mole of a C.sub.12-15 fatty alcohol with seven moles of ethylene oxide. The fabric softening composition described may be added to wash (or rinse water) but preferably is incorporated in a particulate built synthetic organic anionic and/or nonionic detergent composition to produce a fabric softening detergent composition. The invented detergent compositions are especially suitable for washing laundry in 'cold' water, such as water at 40.degree. C. or thereabout, in which the nonionic surfactant increases the dispersibility of the PEC, improves fabric softening activity thereof, in conjunction with the bentonite, and also prevents excessive whitening or chalking of dark colored laundry by the particulate fabric softening composition. These improved results have been attributed to the nonionic surfactant lowering the co-melt's melting point to about 40.degree. C. or lower, at which temperature the softening composition disperses satisfactorily in the wash water. Additional advantages of the invention are a bonus effect of the nonionic surfactant in increasing detergency of the detergent composition and wash water, and in allowing a decrease in PEC content of the softening and detergent compositions without loss of softening effect.

Particulate fabric softening and detergent compositions

A fabric softening composition or article that is effective for its fabric softening purpose but does not include ecotoxic quaternary ammonium salt, includes, as a fabric softening component, an ester of pentaerythritol, an ester of an oligomer of pentaerythritol, an ester of a lower alkoxylated pentaerythritol or an ester of a lower alkoxylated pentaerythritol oligomer. The fabric softening component is preferably a partial higher fatty acid ester of pentaerythritol or a partial higher fatty acid ester of a pentaerythritol oligomer, the fabric softening composition is an aqueous emulsion or a particulate or powder composition (preferably with the carrier of the powder composition being a fabric softening bentonite) and the fabric softening article is an absorbent material with fabric softening component deposited on it or absorbed by it. Also within the invention are processes for softening fibrous materials, in washed laundry, by employing such compositions and articles, and processes for manufacturing the compositions.

Biodegradable fabric softening compositions based on pentaerythritol

An antistatic particulate laundry detergent composition comprises synthetic organic detergent, preferably sodium linear dodecylbenzene or sodium linear tridecylbenzene sulfonate, inorganic and/or organic builder for the detergent, preferably sodium tripolyphosphate and/or zeolite builder, and higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl or alkylbenzene of 8 to 24 carbon atoms preferably stearyl, which detergent composition is of improved detergency due to the presence therein of the higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline antistat. In preferred detergent compositions of this type bentonite is desirably present for its fabric softening activity, and such activity is improved by the presence of the higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline, which also possesses fabric softening properties. When low phosphorus contents of detergent compositions are not required by law or regulation, contents of zeolites and other non-phosphate builders may be omitted and increased proportions of tripolyphosphate may be employed, instead. The mentioned detergent compositions are useful to wash soiled laundry and to make it softer and static-free, whether such washing is with American or European washing machines and in accordance with such practices. Unexpected improvements in soil removal, as measured visually and by reflectometer, are noted after the washing of laundry that had been stained with oily soils, and the washed laundry is softer. Also described in a process for manufacturing detergent compositions comprising synthetic anionic organic detergent, zeolite, tripolyphosphate and the mentioned imidazoline, in which an aqueous crutcher mix is made, to which the zeolite is added before the tripolyphosphate, and the imidazoline is added immediately after the tripolyphosphate, thereby avoiding undesirable reaction of the imidazoline with the zeolite, which reaction has a negative effect on antistatic and fabric softening properties of the resulting product. The product is obtained in particulate solid form by spray drying of the crutcher mix in conventional manner. Various other active and adjuvant components of the detergent composition may be post-added with the spray dried beads or may be incorporated in the crutcher mix.

Antistatic laundry detergent composition and processes therefor

A water-soluble diammonium compound, such as N-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-tallowalkyl-N'-methyl-N'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) -propylene-diammonium methosulfate, is homogeneously and finely dispersed in a spray-dried detergent bead or granule. The spray-dried bead is blended with a clay mineral fabric softener. The final composition exhibits antistatic action even at low levels (e.g. less than 2%) of the antistat without adversely effecting softening, cleaning or whitening. In a typical formulation, the spray-dried beads include linear alkyl benzene sulfonate or other anionic surfactant, an inorganic polyphosphate and/or other inorganic and/or organic detergent builder salt, diammonium compound antistatic agent, and other heat stable and pH insensitive detergent additives and fillers. In addition to a smectite clay fabric softener, other post-added ingredients typically include a nonionic surfactant, enzyme, perfume, bleach, and other detergent additives which may be pH sensitive, heat sensitive, water-insoluble, or reactive with one or more of the components of the spray-dried beads.

Diammonium compound containing fabric softening and antistatic detergent

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Alleur, Belgium

Eduardo E Puentes-Bravo