Colgate Palmolive Company

Martin D Reinish

Pallassana N Ramachandran

Charles J Schramm, Jr

Seymour Grey

Richard S Parr

H Peter Lazecky

A fabric softening particulate synthetic organic detergent composition is made by mixing together a minor proportion of a finely divided bentonite powder and a major proportion of larger sized built synthetic organic detergent composition particles, spraying onto the surfaces of the moving mixture a dilute sodium silicate solution so that a small proportion of sodium silicate and a larger proportion of moisture are deposited on the mixing materials, and continuing mixing of the materials after cessation of the spraying of the silicate solution onto them.

Process for manufacturing bentonite-containing particulate fabric

Agglomerated particles of finely divided fabric softening bentonite and sodium sulfate particles have been found to possess improved fabric softening properties, compared to agglomerated bentonite, especially when employed in the hand washing of laundry which is subsequently line dried. Such agglomerates are also of excellent particle strength and are readily dispersible in water. The described product may be made by agglomerating finely divided bentonite and sodium sulfate powders with the aid of excess moisture, after which the agglomerated particles resulting are dried and those of desired size, preferably in the No's. 30 to 100 sieve size range (U.S.), are obtained. The fabric softening agglomerate made may be mixed with spray dried synthetic organic anionic detergent composition beads of about the same or lower bulk density, preferably in the 0.3 to 0.5 g./cc. range, with about 5 to 30% of the agglomerate particles being present, to make a non-segregating fabric softening particulate detergent composition of improved softening properties. Detergency, soil anti-redeposition properties, bead physical characteristics and processing are improved by the presence in the detergent composition of a minor proportion of a water soluble copolymer of maleic and acrylic acids which, unlike other polymers which can impart such properties to detergent compositions, does not adversely affect the softening of hand washed laundry by the present agglomerate. Soda ash may be used in place of some or all of the sodium sulfate of the agglomerate and a good softening additive will also be obtained.

Bentonite-sulfate fabric softening particulate agglomerate, processes

Agglomerated particles of finely divided fabric softening bentonite and sodium sulfate particles have been found to possess improved fabric softening properties, compared to agglomerated bentonite, especially when employed in the hand washing of laundry which is subsequently line dried. Such agglomerates are also of excellent particle strength and are readily dispersible in water. The described product may be made by agglomerating finely divided bentonite and sodium sulfate powders with the aid of excess moisture, after which the agglomerated particles resulting are dried and those of desired size, preferably in the No's. 30 to 100 sieve size range (U.S.), are obtained. The fabric softening agglomerate made may be mixed with spray dried synthetic organic anionic detergent composition beads of about the same or higher bulk density, preferably in the 0.3 to 0.5 g./cc. range, with about 5 to 30% of the agglomerate particles being present, to make a non-segregating fabric softening particulate detergent composition of improved softening properties.

Growing community of inventors

Emerson, NJ, United States of America

Martin D Reinish