Claims
- 1. A stable, homogeneous fabric softening composition selected from the group consisting of:
- I. a solid particulate composition comprising:
- (A) from about 50% to about 95% of biodegradable quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound; and
- (B) from about 0% to about 30% of dispersibility modifier selected from the group consisting of:
- 1. single-long-chain C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkyl, cationic surfactant;
- 2. nonionic surfactant with at least 8 ethoxy moieties;
- 3. amine oxide;
- 4. C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid; and
- 5. mixtures thereof; and
- (C) from about 0% to about 2% of a stabilizer; and
- II. a liquid composition comprising:
- (A) from about 5% to about 50% of biodegradable quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound;
- (B) from about 0% to about 5% of dispersibility modifier selected from the group consisting of:
- 1. single-long-chain C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkyl, cationic surfactant;
- 2. nonionic surfactant with at least 8 ethoxy moieties;
- 3. amine oxide;
- 4. C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid; and
- 5. mixtures thereof;
- (C) from about 0% to about 2% of a stabilizer; and
- (D) aqueous liquid carrier;
- wherein the quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound has the formula:
- (R).sub.4-m --N.sup.+ --[(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Y--R.sup.2 ].sub.m X.sup.-
- wherein
- each Y is --O--(O)C--, or --C(O)--O--;
- m is 2 or 3;
- n is 1 to 4;
- each R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, benzyl group, or mixtures thereof;
- each R.sup.2 is a C.sub.11 -C.sub.21 hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl substituent; and
- X.sup.- is any softener-compatible anion;
- wherein the compound is derived from C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 fatty acyl groups having an Iodine Value of from greater than about 5 to less than about 100, a cis/trans isomer weight ratio of greater than about 30/70 when the Iodine Value is less than about 25, the level of unsaturation of the fatty acyl groups is less than about 65% by weight, the liquid compositions being stable without nonionic viscosity modifiers when the concentration of said quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound is less than or equal to 13%; and wherein the dispersibility modifier affects the composition's viscosity, dispersibility, or both.
- 2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 10 to about 65 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 50/50 when the Iodine Value is less than about 25.
- 3. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 20 to about 60 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 70/30 when the Iodine Value is less than about 25.
- 4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein R.sup.2 is derived from a fatty acid having at least about 90% C.sub.16 -C.sub.18 chainlength.
- 5. The composition according to claim 4 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 10 to about 65 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 50/50 when the Iodine Value is less than about 25.
- 6. The composition according to claim 5 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 20 to about 60 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 70/30 when the Iodine Value is less than about 25.
- 7. A composition according to claim 1, which is a solid particulate, comprising:
- (A) from about 60% to about 90% of said quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound; and
- (B) from about 0% to about 30% of said dispersibility modifier selected from the group consisting of:
- 1. single-long-chain C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkyl, cationic surfactant;
- 2. nonionic surfactant with at least 8 ethoxy moieties;
- 3. amine oxide;
- 4. C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid; and
- 5. mixtures thereof;
- wherein the particle size is from about 50 to about 1,000 microns.
- 8. The composition according to claim 7 wherein (B) is C.sub.12 -C.sub.14 choline ester.
- 9. The composition according to claim 7 wherein (B) is C.sub.10 -C.sub.14 alcohol with poly(10-18)ethoxylate.
- 10. The composition according to claim 7 which additionally comprises at least an effective amount to provide soil release benefits, up to about 10%, of a soil release polymer wherein the soil release polymer is a copolymeric block of terephthalate and polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide.
- 11. A process for preparing liquid softener compositions comprising the steps of:
- (a) adding the composition according to claim 1, which is a solid particulate, to water; and
- (b) agitating the mixture;
- wherein the resulting liquid composition has from about 5% to about 50% of said biodegradable quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound.
- 12. A process for softening fabrics comprising adding at least an effective amount sufficient to provide softening benefits of the composition of claim 1, which is a solid particulate directly to washer rinse cycle water.
- 13. A stable, homogeneous fabric softening composition selected from the group consisting of:
- I. a solid particulate composition comprising:
- (A) from about 50% to about 95% of biodegradable quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound; and
- (B) from about 0% to about 30% of dispersibility modifier selected from the group consisting of:
- 1. single-long-chain C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkyl, cationic surfactant;
- 2. nonionic surfactant with at least 8 ethoxy moieties;
- 3. amine oxide;
- 4. C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid; and
- 5. mixtures thereof; and
- (C) from about 0% to about 2% of a stabilizer; and
- II. a liquid composition comprising:
- (A) from about 5% to about 50% of biodegradable quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound;
- (B) from about 0% to about 5% of dispersibility modifier selected from the group consisting of:
- 1. single-long-chain C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkyl, cationic surfactant;
- 2. nonionic surfactant with at least 8 ethoxy moieties;
- 3. amine oxide;
- 4. C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid; and
- 5. mixtures thereof;
- (C) from about 0% to about 2% of a stabilizer; and
- (D) liquid carrier;
- wherein the compound has the formula:
- (R).sub.4-m --N.sup.+ --[(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Y--R.sup.2 ].sub.m X.sup.-
- wherein
- each Y is --O--(O)C--, or --C(O)--O--;
- m is 2 or 3;
- n is 1 to 4;
- each R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, benzyl group, or mixtures thereof;
- each R.sup.2 is a C.sub.11 -C.sub.21 hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl substituent; and
- X.sup.- is any softener-compatible anion;
- wherein the compound is derived from C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 fatty acyl groups having an Iodine Value of from greater than about 20 to less than about 100 for optimum static control, the level of unsaturation of the fatty acyl groups is less than about 65% by weight, the liquid compositions being stable without nonionic viscosity modifiers when the concentration is less than or equal to 13%; and wherein the dispersibility modifier affects the composition's viscosity, dispersibility, or both.
- 14. The composition according to claim 13 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 20 to about 65.
- 15. The composition according to claim 14 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 40 to about 60.
- 16. The composition according to claim 15 wherein the fabric softening compound is derived from methyl diethanolamine, C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid, and methyl chloride.
- 17. The composition according to claim 13 wherein R.sup.2 is derived from fatty acid having at least 90% C.sub.16 -C.sub.18 chainlength.
- 18. The composition according to claim 17 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 20 to about 65.
- 19. The composition according to claim 18 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 40 to about 60.
- 20. The composition according to claim 19 wherein the compound is derived from methyl diethanolamine, C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid, and methyl chloride.
- 21. A composition according to claim 13, which is a liquid, comprising:
- (A) from about 15% to about 50% of said quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound;
- (B) from about 0% to about 5% of said dispersibility modifier;
- (C) from about 0% to about 1% stabilizer;
- (D) aqueous liquid carrier; and
- (E) from about 0.01% to about 2% electrolyte;
- wherein the composition is unstable without dispersibility modifier only when the wt. % of the fabric softening compound is greater than approximately 4.85+0.838X (Iodine Value)-0.00756X (Iodine Value).sup.2.
- 22. The composition according to claim 21 wherein the pH is from about 2.8 to about 3.5.
- 23. The composition according to claim 21 wherein the dispersibility modifier is selected from the group consisting of coco fatty acid, coco/tallow choline ester, and cocoamine oxide.
- 24. The composition according to claim 21 which additionally comprises monoester compound corresponding to said quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound in which m equals 2 wherein one --Y--R.sup.2 group is hydrolyzed to form the group (CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH or (CH.sub.2).sub.n --Y--OH, depending on whether Y is --O--(O)C-- or --C(O)--O--, and wherein the weight ratio of said quaternary compound to said monoester compound is from about 13:1 to about 8:1.
- 25. A stable, homogeneous fabric softening composition selected from the group consisting of:
- I. a solid particulate composition comprising:
- (A) from about 50% to about 95% of biodegradable quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound; and
- (B) from about 0% to about 30% of dispersibility modifier selected from the group consisting of:
- 1. single-long-chain C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkyl, cationic surfactant;
- 2. nonionic surfactant with at least 8 ethoxy moieties;
- 3. amine oxide;
- 4. C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid; and
- 5. mixtures thereof; and
- (C) from about 0% to about 2% of a stabilizer and
- II. a liquid composition comprising:
- (A) from about 5% to about 50% of biodegradable quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound;
- (B) from about 0% to about 5% of dispersibility modifier selected from the group consisting of:
- 1. single-long-chain C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 alkyl, cationic surfactant;
- 2. nonionic surfactant with at least 8 ethoxy moieties;
- 3. amine oxide;
- 4. C.sub.12 -C.sub.25 fatty acid; and
- 5. mixtures thereof;
- (C) from about 0% to about 2% of a stabilizer; and
- (D) aqueous liquid carrier;
- wherein the compound has the formula:
- (R).sub.4-m --N.sup.+ --[(CH.sub.2).sub.n --Y--R.sup.2 ].sub.m X.sup.-
- wherein
- each Y is --O--(O)C--, or --C(O)--O--;
- m is 2 or 3;
- n is 1 to 4;
- each R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, benzyl group, or mixtures thereof;
- each R.sup.2 is a C.sub.11 -C.sub.21 hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl substituent; and
- X.sup.- is any softener-compatible anion;
- wherein the compound is derived from C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 fatty acyl groups having an Iodine Value of from greater than about 5 to less than about 25 for optimum low temperature stability, the level of unsaturation of the fatty acyl groups is less than about 65% by weight, the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 30/70, and wherein the pH of the liquid composition is from about 2 to about 5; and wherein the dispersibility modifier affects the composition's viscosity, dispersibility, or both.
- 26. The composition according to claim 25 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 10 to about 25 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 50/50.
- 27. The composition according to claim 26 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 15 to about 20 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 70/30.
- 28. The composition according to claim 27 wherein the polyunsaturation content of the fatty acyl group is less than about 1%.
- 29. The composition according to claim 29 which additionally comprises monoester compound corresponding to said quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound in which m equals 2 wherein one --Y--R.sup.2 group is hydrolyzed to form the group (CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH or (CH.sub.2).sub.n --Y--OH, depending on whether Y is --O--(O)C-- or --C(O)--O--, and wherein the weight ratio of said quaternary compound to said monoester compound is from about 40:1 to about 8:1.
- 30. The composition according to claim 25 wherein R.sup.2 is derived from fatty acid having at least 90% C.sub.16 -C.sub.18 chainlength.
- 31. The composition according to claim 30 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 10 to about 25 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 50/50.
- 32. The composition according to claim 31 wherein the Iodine Value is from about 15 to about 20 and the cis/trans isomer weight ratio is greater than about 70/30.
- 33. The composition according to claim 32 wherein the polyunsaturation content of the fatty acyl group is less than about 1%.
- 34. The composition according to claim 22 wherein the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of: ascorbic acid, propyl gallate, ascorbic palmitate, butylated hydroxytoluene, tertiary butylhydroquinone, natural tocopherols, butylated hydroxyanisole, citric acid, C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 esters of gallic acid, Tetrakis methane; Thiodiethylene bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate; a blend of N,N'-Hexamethylene bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocin-nammamide and Tris(2,4-di-tert-butyl-phenyl)phosphite; Calcium bis[monoethyl(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)phosphonate]; 1,3,5-Tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-s-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)trione; 3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-hydrocinnamic acid triester with 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-S-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)-trione; and mixtures thereof.
- 35. The composition according to claim 34 wherein the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of 1,3,5-Tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-s-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)trione; 1,3,5-Tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-s-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)trione, and mixtures thereof.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/142,739, filed on Oct. 25, 1993, now abandoned, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of our U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/024,541, filed Mar. 1, 1993, now abandoned, having the same title.
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Continuations (1)
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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