Non-silicone polymers for lipophilic fluid systems

Abstract

A composition containing a polyoxyalkylene polymer for cleaning fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery, with lipophilic fluid provides improved cleaning of soils while providing excellent garment care, especially for articles sensitive to water.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions for cleaning fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery, wherein the compositions provide improved cleaning of soils while providing excellent garment care for articles sensitive to water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For the cleaning of fabric articles consumers currently have the choice of conventional laundry cleaning or dry cleaning.

Conventional laundry cleaning is carried out with relatively large amounts of water, typically in a washing machine at the consumer's home, or in a dedicated place such as a coin laundry. Although washing machines and laundry detergents have become quite sophisticated, the conventional laundry process still exposes the fabric articles to a risk of dye transfer and shrinkage. Significant portions of fabric articles used by consumers are not suitable for cleaning in a conventional laundry process. Even fabric articles that are considered “washing machine safe” frequently come out of the laundry process badly wrinkled and require ironing.

Dry cleaning processes rely on non-aqueous solvents for cleaning. By avoiding water these processes minimize the risk of shrinkage and wrinkling, however, cleaning of soils, particularly water-based and alcohol-based soils is very limited with these processes. Typically, the dry-cleaner removes such soils by hand prior to the dry-cleaning process. These methods are complex, requiring a wide range of compositions to address the variety of stains encountered, very labor intensive and often result in some localized damage to the treated article.

Accordingly there is an unmet need, in commercial laundry, in dry-cleaning and in the home, for cleaning compositions, which simultaneously provide acceptable cleaning of across a variety of soils while remaining safe for a wide range of fabric articles.

Polymeric substituted oxiranes such as Polybutylene oxide polymers (BO) and polymers of higher molecular weight polyalkylene oxides, with or without hydrophilic substitution(s), aid soil removal for washing processes using lipophilic fluids, especially decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (known as “D 5 ”), and formulation of products for use therein. Polyalkylene oxides have better cleaning and formulatability than conventional polyethylene oxide (POE) or polypropylene oxide (PPO)-based additives, which are not able to suspend or solubilize similar hydrophilic groups in lipophilic fluids. The polymers of this invention are in many cases potentially lower in cost than silicone-derived surfactants with similar solubility properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compositions which exhibit improved cleaning of soils from fabric articles, while maintaining excellent fabric care properties. The cleaning compositions comprise polyoxyalkylene polymers [polybutylene oxide or poly(methyl glycidyl ether)or polymers of higher molecular weight polyalkylene oxides or polymers of higher molecular weight glycidyl ethers], either unfunctionalized or functionalized with hydrogen bond donating or accepting substituent groups or other hydrophilic groups selected from the group consisting of alcohols, polyols, amines, polyamines, alkanolamines, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amines, amides, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amides, polyamides, urethanes and polyurethanes, oxyethylene, polyoxyethylenes, oxypropylene, polyoxypropylenes, carboxylic acids and salts, aminocarboxylates, amidocarboxylates, mono and diphosphate esters, phosphonates, aminophosphonates, monosulfates, sulfonates, amine oxides, quaternized amines, phosphine oxides, phenols, polyfunctional chelant groups,and combinations thereof.

The features and advantages of such cleaning compositions will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims. All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius (° C.) unless otherwise specified. All measurements are in SI units unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions:

“Polyoxyalkylene polymer”, as used herein, means an ether-containing polymer comprising C4 or higher molecular weight alkyleneoxide monomeric units (such as butylene oxide) and/or C1 or higher molecular weight glycidyl ethers (such as methyl glycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, and hexyl glycidyl ether) and having a solubility at room temperature of at least ½% by weight in the lipophilic fluid the polymer is to be used with. Preferred polymers have a solubility at room temperature of at least ½% in D5 lipophilic fluid. Preferred polymers are also capable of being functionalized with hydrophilic substituent groups such as alcohols, polyols, amines, polyamines, alkanolamines, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amines, amides, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amides, polyamides, urethanes and polyurethanes, oxyethylene, polyoxyethylenes, oxypropylene, polyoxypropylenes, carboxylic acids and salts, aminocarboxylates, mono and diphosphate esters, phosphonates, aminophosphonates, monosulfates, sulfonates, amine oxides, quaternized amines, phosphine oxides, phenols, polyfunctional chelant groups,and combinations thereof. Included among the polar, H-bond donating or accepting functionalities of the invention are the polar groups known as hydrophilic groups for aqueous-based surfactant systems such as are described in The Aqueous Phase Behavior of Surfactants , Robert G. Laughlin, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif., 1994, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. These polymers include copolymers of functionalized monomeric units with non-functionalized monomeric units (i.e., not all the monomeric units are funtionalized). Block, random, star, graft and other types of copolymers are also included. Crosslinking is also included, but only to levels that allow for polymers that are soluble in the lipophilic solvents of the invention.

“Functionalized”, as used herein, means the indicated substituent groups are chemically bonded to the polyoxyalkylene polymer, optionally through a linking group.

A “functional unit”, as used herein, means one substituent group used to functionalize the polyoxyalkylene polymer. The polyoxyalkylene polymers useful for the present invention typically contain at least one, but may contain many functional units per polymer.

“Alcohol substituent”, as used herein, means a functional unit containing one hydroxyl group per functional unit; polyol substituents contain more than one hydroxyl group per functional unit.

“Amine substituent”, as used herein, means a functional unit containing one amino group per functional unit; polyamine substituents contain more than one amino group per functional unit. Amino groups useful herein include unsubstituted amino groups as well as mono and di-substituted amino groups (typically the mono and di-substitution is with a C1-C22 alkyl, branched alkyl, or unsaturated alkyl moiety).

“Alkanolamine substituent”, as used herein, means a functional unit containing at least one hydroxyl group and at least one amino group per functional unit.

“Amide substitutuent”, as used herein, means a functional unit containing the grouping —C(O)NR1R2 or —NR3C(O)NR1R2 where R1, R2, and R3 are selected from the group of H, lower alkyl and hydroxyalkyl.

“Polyamide substituents”, as used herein, means functional units containing more than one amide group and includes polyamides with the amide function directly in the chain as well as those with the amide function in a pendant position

“Combinations thereof” with respect to the functional units, as used herein, means the polyoxyalkylene polymer is functionalized with more than one kind of functionality selected from the group consisting of alcohols, polyols, amines, polyamines, alkanolamines, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amines, amides, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amides, polyamides, urethanes, polyurethanes, oxyethylene, polyoxyethylenes, oxypropylene, polyoxypropylenes, carboxylic acids and salts, aminocarboxylates, mono and diphosphate esters, phosphonates, aminophosphonates, monosulfates, sulfonates, amine oxides, quaternized amines, phosphine oxides, phenols,and polyfunctional chelant groups.

The term “fabric article” used herein is intended to mean any article that is customarily cleaned in a conventional laundry process or in a dry cleaning process. As such the term encompasses articles of clothing, linen, drapery, and clothing accessories. The term also encompasses other items made in whole or in part of fabric, such as tote bags, furniture covers, tarpaulins and the like.

The term “lipophilic fluid” used herein is intended to mean any nonaqueous fluid capable of removing sebum, as described in more detail herein below.

The term “cleaning composition” and/or “treating composition” used herein is intended to mean any lipophilic fluid-containing composition that comes into direct contact with fabric articles to be cleaned. It should be understood that the term encompasses uses other than cleaning, such as conditioning and sizing. Furthermore, optional cleaning adjuncts such as surfactants, bleaches, and the like may be added to the “cleaning composition”. That is, cleaning adjuncts in addition to the polyoxyalkylene polymers may be optionally combined with the lipophilic fluid. These optional cleaning adjuncts are described in more detail herein below. Such cleaning adjuncts may be present in the cleaning compositions of the present invention at a level of from 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the cleaning composition.

The term “soil” means any undesirable substance on a fabric article that is desired to be removed. By the terms “water-based” or “hydrophilic” soils, it is meant that the soil comprised water at the time it first came in contact with the fabric article, that the soil has high water solubility or affinity, or that the soil retains a significant portion of water on the fabric article. Examples of water-based soils include, but are not limited to beverages, many food soils, water soluble dyes, bodily fluids such as sweat, urine or blood, outdoor soils such as grass stains and mud.

The term “capable of suspending water in a lipophilic fluid” means that a material is able to suspend, solvate or emulsify water, which is immiscible with the lipophilic fluid, in a way that the water remains visibly suspended, solvated or emulsified when left undisturbed for a period of at least five minutes after initial mixing of the components. In some examples of compositions in accordance with the present invention, the compositions may be colloidal in nature and/or appear milky. In other examples of compositions in accordance with the present invention, the compositions may be transparent.

The term “insoluble in a lipohilic fluid” means that when added to a lipophilic fluid, a material physically separates from the lipophilic fluid (i.e. settle-out, flocculate, float) within 5 minutes after addition, whereas a material that is “soluble in a lipophilic fluid” does not physically separate from the lipophilic fluid within 5 minutes after addition.

The term “consumable detergent composition” means any composition, that when combined with a lipophilic fluid, results in a cleaning composition according to the present invention.

The term “processing aid” refers to any material that renders the consumable detergent composition more suitable for formulation, stability, and/or dilution with a lipophilic fluid to form a cleaning composition in accordance with the present invention.

The term “mixing” as used herein means combining two or more materials (i.e., fluids, more specifically a lipophilic fluid and a consumable detergent composition) in such a way that a homogeneous mixture is formed. Suitable mixing processes are known in the art. Nonlimiting examples of suitable mixing processes include vortex mixing processes and static mixing processes.

Compositions of the Present Invention

The present invention provides compositions which exhibit improved cleaning of soils (i.e., removal and/or reduction of soils) from fabric articles, while maintaining excellent fabric care properties.

Polyoxyalkylene Polymers:

Ethoxylated amine and poly alcohol structures and many other polar functionalities have the ability to penetrate and/or dissolve water-soluble soils. However, these functionalities are typically not soluble in lipohilic fluids such as D 5 . For improved hydrophilic cleaning, the present invention compositions utilize polyoxyalkylene polymers containing monomeric units of butylene oxide or higher molecular weight alkylene oxides at levels in the polymer high enough to provide a polymer which is soluble in the lipophilic fluid to be used. These polymers provide a cleaning additive for cleaning (including dry-cleaning) in lipophilic fluids that has the appropriate chemical forces for penetrating water-soluble soils and is highly soluble so that the soil can be suspended in the lipophilic fluid.

Polyoxyalkylene polymers useful herein include polymers with the structure

where R 1 is hydrogen atom, or alkyl group with from 1 to 22 carbons provided that high crystallinity is avoided by branching and/or unsaturation as needed, R 2 is selected from the group consisting of C2 to C20 linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups, C2-C23 ether-containing, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups, C6-C12 aryl groups, C7-C12 ether-containing aralkyl groups and combinations thereof, providing that the selection is made such that the polyoxyalkylene segment is non-crystalline or only weakly crystalline and is soluble in the lipophilic solvent of the invention. More specifically, R 2 is selected from the group: a.) —(CH 2 ) x CH 3 where x is from 1 to 19, preferably from 1 to 12, and even more preferably from 1 to 10; b.) —CH2O(CH2)xCH3 where x is defined as above; c.) substituted or unsubsituted phenyl, preferably phenyl; d.) —CH2OW, where W is selected from substituted or unsubsituted phenyl, preferably phenyl or C3-C22 unsaturated or branched alkyl, preferably C3-C18 unsaturated or branched alkyl; and e.) combinations thereof. R 3 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl, aryl or hydrophilic group, provided that at least one R1 or R3 group is H or a hydrophilic group, and n is 2-100, preferably 3-50.

Polyoxyalkylene polymers useful herein also include polymers with the structure:

where R7 is a moiety of any polarity such as derived from a polyamine or polyol with up to p alkoxylatable sites, p is 2-50, u is 0-20 and m is 0-50. R is selected from R1 and R3. R4 is selected from H and CH3. R2, R3 and n are as defined above.

The polyoxyalkylene polymers may comprise C4 or higher molecular weight alkylene oxide monomeric units, C1 or higher molecular weight glycidyl ether monomeric units, or combinations thereof selected from the following structure:

wherein R3 is independently hydrogen, an alkyl, an aryl or a hydrophilic group; R5 is independently a C1-C12 alkylene or a C8-C12 alkarylene; R6 is independently, an alkyl or an aryl; R13 is selected from R6, —R5—O—B, —R5—N—(B)2. and —R5—R3 and mixtures thereof;

R14 is independently selected from H and/or R2 as defined above; and R15 is independently selected from H and/or R2 as defined above, provided that at least one of R14 and R15 are other than H; v is 1-100; w is 2-100; x is 0-100; y is 0-100; z is 0-100; and provided that the sum of x and z is >0.

Other polyoxyalkylene polymers useful according to the present invention comprise alkoxylated polymers with the following stucuture:

where R8 is derived from an intermediate having two alkoxylatable sites selected from the group consisting of amines, diamines, and diols having a substituent R3 where R3 is as defined above. R9 is a linking unit, preferably the unit —C(O)R 11 C(O)— or —C(O)NHR 11 NHC(O)— where R 11 is C1-C12 alkylene or C6-C16 arylene or alkarylene. R2, R4, n, m, and p are as defined above and s is 2-50.

Other polyoxyalkylene polymers useful according to this invention comprise alkoxylated polymers with the following structures:

where R1, R2, R3, R4, n, m, and p are as defined above and t is 1-50.

Still other polyoxyalkylene polymers useful according to this invention comprise alkoxylated polymers with the following structures:

where R12 is a substituted coupling group linked to the polymer backbone by ester, urethane, or ether functional groups and having an R3 group as a substituent. R2, R4, R3, n, m, and p are as defined above and h is 2-50.

The polyoxyalkylene polymers can be made by a variety of methods known in the art. For example, an alcohol or amine function of a polar molecule can be alkoxylated to a desired degree as in the following three examples I, II, and III. Similarly, an alcohol or amine function of a polar molecule can be alkoxylated with a glycidyl ether as depicted in example IV:

where B represents one oxybutylene unit, —CH2CH(CH2CH3)O—

The poyoxyalkylene backbone may contain any hydrophobic group that has HSP (Hansen Solubility Parameters) that position the material's solubility window over the lipophilic fluid's HSP, preferably that of D5. Butylene oxide oligomers and polymers provide this desired set of solubility parameters. Polymers and oligomers of higher alkylene oxide can be even more effective in providing for solubility in D5. For example, at equal mass, a polyoxyhexylene moiety is more effective than a polyoxybutylene moiety at conferring solubility to the polymer in D5. By contrast, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide homopolymers have very limited solubility in D5 and become even less soluble when polar substituents are attached.

As noted above, a variety of polar groups can be used such as amino, hydroxyl, and ether groups, singly or in multiples and combinations. It is desirable that the balance between polar and hydrophobic groups be such that the composite structure remains soluble in the lipophilic fluid. Other polar groups include polyols, polyamines, alkanolamines, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amines, amides, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amides, polyamides, urethanes and polyurethanes, oxyethylene, polyoxyethylenes, oxypropylene, polyoxypropylenes, carboxylic acids and salts, aminocarboxylates, mono and diphosphate esters, phosphonates, aminophosphonates, monosulfates, sulfonates, amine oxides, quaternized amines, phosphine oxides, phenols, polyfunctional chelant groups as long as the polymers remain soluble in the lipophilic fluid.

There may be one or more hydrophobic polyoxyalkylene moiety and one or more polar moiety per molecule and they may be arranged as block AB polymers, ABA polymers, A(BA)x polymers, graft polymers, star polymers, hydrophobic polyoxyalkylene backbones functionalized with polar substitutents, and as hydrophilic backbones functionalized with hydrophobic polyoxyalkylene groups.

Polyoxyalkylene polymers derived from higher molecular weight epoxides such as epoxyoctane, epoxydecane, epoxydodecane, 2-ethylhexyl glcycidyl ether, hexylglycidyl ether, octyl glycidyl ether and the like are also effective hydrophobic groups for conferring lipophilic fluid solubility on derivatives. Oligomers and polymers derived from unsaturated, branched, cyclic, and aromatic epoxides are included within the present invention, such as oligomers/polymers comprising phenyl glycidyl ether, styrene oxide, butadiene monoepoxide, 1,2-epoxy-5-hexene, and the like. Preferred materials are those which do not exhibit high crystallinity and preferred monomers are selected accordingly to provide low crystallinity and useful solubility of the final polymers/oligomers in the desired lipophilic solvent. Polymers/oligomers of mixtures of these types of monomers are especially useful in cases where homopolymers are be too crystalline to dissolve in the lipophilic solvent. Mixtures may also be very useful in allowing lower epoxides such as propylene oxide to be used in conjunction with a much more hydrophobic epoxide as described herein above to give a composite moiety in the desired Teas diagram window.

In the polymers of this invention, multiple hydrophobic polyoxyalkylene segments may be connected to each other by coupling with non-polyoxyalkylene links or segments. For example, such links may comprise ester or urethane linkages as in the following example:

wherein n is from 2 to 100 and m is from 2 to 50.

Experimental Examples of Functionalized Polyoxyalkylene-Based Polymers

A. Butoxylation of 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)oxazolidine

To a 50 ml, single neck, round bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar and argon inlet is added 4.00 grams (0.0276 moles) of 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)oxazolidine and 0.032 grams (0.00138 moles) of sodium metal. Mixing under argon is continued until all sodium is reacted. 0.310 grams (0.00214 moles) of the above oxazolidine sodium alkoxide mixture is added to a 7.5 ml, stainless steel, high pressure reactor equipped with a magnetic stir bar and internal thermocouple along with 3.71 grams (0.0514 moles) of 1,2-Epoxybutane (Aldrich product code: 10997-5). The reactor is sealed and with mixing, heated at 130° C. for 16 hours. A clear, pale yellow, viscous liquid is obtained. By proton NMR (CDCl 3 ), only a few mole % of unreacted 1,2-epoxybutane remains. Resonances at 3.2-3.5 ppm representing —(C H 2 C H (CH 2 CH 3 )O) x —, 1.4 ppm representing —(CH 2 CH(C H 2 CH 3 )O) x — and 0.85 ppm representing —(CH 2 CH(CH 2 C H 3 )O) x — indicate the formation of poly(butylene glycol). The sample is placed on a Kugelrohr distillation apparatus at 50-70° C. at 1 mm Hg pressure to remove the unreacted 1,2-epoxybutane. Sample may be used as is or hydrolyzed to open oxazolidine ring.

B. Hydrolysis of Butoxylated 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)oxazolidine

To a 50 ml, single neck, round bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar and water cooled condenser with argon inlet is added 3 grams of the Butoxylated 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)oxazolidine obtained in example above along with 1 gram of deionized water and 10 grams of absolute ethanol. With mixing under argon, solution is heated to reflux for 5 hours then concentrated by evaporating off ethanol and water using rotary evaporator to obtain a clear, pale yellow liquid. Proton NMR (CDCl 3 ) shows the disappearance of a singlet resonance at 1.1 ppm representing the dimethyl groups indicating the ring has been hydrolytically opened and acetone released.

The polyoxyalkylene polymers are present in the cleaning compositions of the present invention at levels levels from about 0.001% to about 2%, more preferably from about 0.01% to about 1.0%, even more preferably from about 0.02% to about 0.5% by weight of the cleaning composition.

The polyoxyalkylene polymers are present in the consumable detergent compositions of the present invention at levels from about 0.01% to about 50%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 20%, even more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the consumable detergent composition.

Lipophilic Fluid

The lipophilic fluid herein is one having a liquid phase present under operating conditions of a fabric/leather article treating appliance, in other words, during treatment of a fabric article in accordance with the present invention. In general such a lipophilic fluid can be fully liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, can be an easily melted solid, e.g., one which becomes liquid at temperatures in the range from about 0 deg. C. to about 60 deg. C., or can comprise a mixture of liquid and vapor phases at ambient temperatures and pressures, e.g., at 25 deg. C. and 1 atm. pressure. Thus, the lipophilic fluid is not a compressible gas such as carbon dioxide.

It is preferred that the lipophilic fluids herein be nonflammable or have relatively high flash points and/or low VOC (volatile organic compound) characteristics, these terms having their conventional meanings as used in the dry cleaning industry, to equal or, preferably, exceed the characteristics of known conventional dry cleaning fluids.

Moreover, suitable lipophilic fluids herein are readily flowable and nonviscous.

In general, lipophilic fluids herein are required to be fluids capable of at least partially dissolving sebum or body soil as defined in the test hereinafter. Mixtures of lipophilic fluid are also suitable, and provided that the requirements of the Lipophilic Fluid Test, as described below, are met, the lipophilic fluid can include any fraction of dry-cleaning solvents, especially newer types including fluorinated solvents, or perfluorinated amines. Some perfluorinated amines such as perfluorotributylamines while unsuitable for use as lipophilic fluid may be present as one of many possible adjuncts present in the lipophilic fluid-containing composition.

Other suitable lipophilic fluids include, but are not limited to, diol solvent systems e.g., higher diols such as C6- or C8- or higher diols, organosilicone solvents including both cyclic and acyclic types, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

A preferred group of nonaqueous lipophilic fluids suitable for incorporation as a major component of the compositions of the present invention include low-volatility nonfluorinated organics, silicones, especially those other than amino functional silicones, and mixtures thereof. Low volatility nonfluorinated organics include for example OLEAN® and other polyol esters, or certain relatively nonvolatile biodegradable mid-chain branched petroleum fractions.

Another preferred group of nonaqueous lipophilic fluids suitable for incorporation as a major component of the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, glycol ethers, for example propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol t-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol t-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether. Suitable silicones for use as a major component, e.g., more than 50%, of the composition include cyclopentasiloxanes, sometimes termed “D5”, and/or linear analogs having approximately similar volatility, optionally complemented by other compatible silicones. Suitable silicones are well known in the literature, see, for example, Kirk Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, and are available from a number of commercial sources, including General Electric, Toshiba Silicone, Bayer, and Dow Corning. Other suitable lipophilic fluids are commercially available from Procter & Gamble or from Dow Chemical and other suppliers.

Qualification of Lipophilic Fluid and Lipophilic Fluid Test (LF Test)

Any nonaqueous fluid that is both capable of meeting known requirements for a dry-cleaning fluid (e.g, flash point etc.) and is capable of at least partially dissolving sebum, as indicated by the test method described below, is suitable as a lipophilic fluid herein. As a general guideline, perfluorobutylamine (Fluorinert FC-43®) on its own (with or without adjuncts) is a reference material which by definition is unsuitable as a lipophilic fluid for use herein (it is essentially a nonsolvent) while cyclopentasiloxanes have suitable sebum-dissolving properties and dissolves sebum.

The following is the method for investigating and qualifying other materials, e.g., other low-viscosity, free-flowing silicones, for use as the lipophilic fluid. The method uses commercially available Crisco® canola oil, oleic acid (95% pure, available from Sigma Aldrich Co.) and squalene (99% pure, available from J. T. Baker) as model soils for sebum. The test materials should be substantially anhydrous and free from any added adjuncts, or other materials during evaluation.

Prepare three vials, each vial will contain one type of lipophilic soil. Place 1.0 g of canola oil in the first; in a second vial place 1.0 g of the oleic acid (95%), and in a third and final vial place 1.0 g of the squalene (99.9%). To each vial add 1 g of the fluid to be tested for lipophilicity. Separately mix at room temperature and pressure each vial containing the lipophilic soil and the fluid to be tested for 20 seconds on a standard vortex mixer at maximum setting. Place vials on the bench and allow to settle for 15 minutes at room temperature and pressure. If, upon standing, a clear single phase is formed in any of the vials containing lipophilic soils, then the nonaqueous fluid qualifies as suitable for use as a “lipophilic fluid” in accordance with the present invention. However, if two or more separate layers are formed in all three vials, then the amount of nonaqueous fluid dissolved in the oil phase will need to be further determined before rejecting or accepting the nonaqueous fluid as qualified.

In such a case, with a syringe, carefully extract a 200-microliter sample from each layer in each vial. The syringe-extracted layer samples are placed in GC auto sampler vials and subjected to conventional GC analysis after determining the retention time of calibration samples of each of the three models soils and the fluid being tested. If more than 1% of the test fluid by GC, preferably greater, is found to be present in any one of the layers which consists of the oleic acid, canola oil or squalene layer, then the test fluid is also qualified for use as a lipophilic fluid. If needed, the method can be further calibrated using heptacosafluorotributylamine, i.e., Fluorinert FC-43 (fail) and cyclopentasiloxane (pass). A suitable GC is a Hewlett Packard Gas Chromatograph HP5890 Series II equipped with a split/splitless injector and FID. A suitable column used in determining the amount of lipophilic fluid present is a J & W Scientific capillary column DB-1HT, 30 meter, 0.25 mm id, 0.1 um film thickness cat#1221131. The GC is suitably operated under the following conditions:

Carrier Gas: Hydrogen

Column Head Pressure: 9 psi

Flows: Column Flow @ ˜1.5 ml/min.

Split Vent @ ˜250-500 ml/min.

Septum Purge @ 1 ml/min.

Injection: HP 7673 Autosampler, 10 ul syringe, 1 ul injection

Injector Temperature: 350° C.

Detector Temperature: 380° C.

Oven Temperature Program: initial 60° C. hold 1 min.

rate 25° C./min.

final 380° C. hold 30 min.

Preferred lipophilic fluids suitable for use herein can further be qualified for use on the basis of having an excellent garment care profile. Garment care profile testing is well known in the art and involves testing a fluid to be qualified using a wide range of garment or fabric article components, including fabrics, threads and elastics used in seams, etc., and a range of buttons. Preferred lipophilic fluids for use herein have an excellent garment care profile, for example they have a good shrinkage and/or fabric puckering profile and do not appreciably damage plastic buttons. Certain materials which in sebum removal qualify for use as lipophilic fluids, for example ethyl lactate, can be quite objectionable in their tendency to dissolve buttons, and if such a material is to be used in the compositions of the present invention, it will be formulated with water and/or other solvents such that the overall mix is not substantially damaging to buttons. Other lipophilic fluids, D5, for example, meet the garment care requirements quite admirably. Some suitable lipophilic fluids may be found in granted U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,865,852; 5,942,007; 6,042,617; 6,042,618; 6,056,789; 6,059,845; and 6,063,135, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Lipophilic fluids can include linear and cyclic polysiloxanes, hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons, with the exception of PERC and DF2000 which are explicitly not covered by the lipophilic fluid definition as used herein. More preferred are the linear and cyclic polysiloxanes and hydrocarbons of the glycol ether, acetate ester, lactate ester families. Preferred lipophilic fluids include cyclic siloxanes having a boiling point at 760 mm Hg. of below about 250° C. Specifically preferred cyclic siloxanes for use in this invention are octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane. Preferably, the cyclic siloxane comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5, pentamer) and is substantially free of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (tetramer) and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (hexamer).

However, it should be understood that useful cyclic siloxane mixtures might contain, in addition to the preferred cyclic siloxanes, minor amounts of other cyclic siloxanes including octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane or higher cyclics such as tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane. Generally the amount of these other cyclic siloxanes in useful cyclic siloxane mixtures will be less than about 10 percent based on the total weight of the mixture. The industry standard for cyclic siloxane mixtures is that such mixtures comprise less than about 1% by weight of the mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.

Accordingly, the lipophilic fluid of the present invention preferably comprises more than about 50%, more preferably more than about 75%, even more preferably at least about 90%, most preferably at least about 95% by weight of the lipophilic fluid of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. Alternatively, the lipophilic fluid may comprise siloxanes which are a mixture of cyclic siloxanes having more than about 50%, preferably more than about 75%, more preferably at least about 90%, most preferably at least about 95% up to about 100% by weight of the mixture of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and less than about 10%, preferably less than about 5%, more preferably less than about 2%, even more preferably less than about 1%, most preferably less than about 0.5% to about 0% by weight of the mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane and/or dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane.

The level of lipophilic fluid, when present in the treating compositions according to the present invention, is preferably from about 70% to about 99.99%, more preferably from about 90% to about 99.9%, and even more preferably from about 95% to about 99.8% by weight of the treating composition.

The level of lipophilic fluid, when present in the consumable fabric article treating/cleaning compositions according to the present invention, is preferably from about 0.1% to about 90%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 75%, and even more preferably from about 1% to about 50% by weight of the consumable fabric article treating/cleaning composition.

Surfactant Component

An optional but highly preferred ingredient in the cleaning compositions and consumable detergent compositions according to the present invention is a surfactant. The surfactant component useful for the present invention is a material that is capable of suspending water in a lipophilic fluid and enhancing soil removal benefits of a lipophilic fluid. The materials may be soluble in the lipophilic fluid.

One class of materials can include siloxane-based surfactants (siloxane-based materials). The siloxane-based surfactants in this application may be siloxane polymers for other applications. The siloxane-based surfactants typically have a weight average molecular weight from 500 to 20,000. Such materials, derived from poly(dimethylsiloxane), are well known in the art. In the present invention, not all such siloxane-based surfactants are suitable, because they do not provide improved cleaning of soils compared to the level of cleaning provided by the lipophilic fluid itself.

Suitable siloxane-based surfactants comprise a polyether siloxane having the formula:

M a D b D′ c D″ d M′ 2−a

wherein a is 0-2; b is 0-1000; c is 0-50; d is 0-50, provided that a+c+d is at least 1;

M is R 1 3−e X e SiO 1/2 wherein R 1 is independently H, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, X is hydroxyl group, and e is 0 or 1;

M′ is R 2 3 SiO 1/2 wherein R 2 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or (CH 2 ) f —(C6H4) g O—(C 2 H 4 O) h —(C 3 H 6 O) i —(C k H 2k O) j —R 3 , provided that at least one R 2 is (CH 2 ) f —(C6H4) g O—(C 2 H 4 O) h —(C 3 H 6 O) i —(C k H 2k O) j —R 3 , wherein R 3 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or an alkoxy group, f is 1-10, g is 0 or 1, h is 1-50, i is 0-50, j is 0-50, k is 4-8;

D is R 4 2 SiO 2/2 wherein R 4 is independently H or a monovalent hydrocarbon group;

D′ is R 5 2 SiO 2/2 wherein R 5 is independently R 2 provided that at least one R 5 is (CH 2 ) f —(C6H4) g O—(C 2 H 4 O) h —(C 3 H 6 O) i —(C k H 2k O) j —R 3 , wherein R 3 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or an alkoxy group, f is 1-10, g is 0 or 1, h is 1-50, i is 0-50, j is 0-50, k is 4-8; and

D″ is R 6 2 SiO 2/2 wherein R 6 is independently H, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or (CH 2 ) l (C 6 H 4 ) m (A) n -[(L) o -(A′) p -] q -(L′) r Z(G) s , wherein 1 is 1-10; m is 0 or 1; n is 0-5; o is 0-3; p is 0 or 1; q is 0-10; r is 0-3; s is 0-3; C 6 H 4 is unsubstituted or substituted with a C 1-10 alkyl or alkenyl; A and A′ are each independently a linking moiety representing an ester, a keto, an ether, a thio, an amido, an amino, a C 1-4 fluoroalkyl, a C 1-4 fluoroalkenyl, a branched or straight chained polyalkylene oxide, a phosphate, a sulfonyl, a sulfate, an ammonium, and mixtures thereof; L and L′ are each independently a C 1-30 straight chained or branched alkyl or alkenyl or an aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted; Z is a hydrogen, carboxylic acid, a hydroxy, a phosphato, a phosphate ester, a sulfonyl, a sulfonate, a sulfate, a branched or straight-chained polyalkylene oxide, a nitryl, a glyceryl, an aryl unsubstituted or substituted with a C 1-30 alkyl or alkenyl, a carbohydrate unsubstituted or substituted with a C 1-10 alkyl or alkenyl or an ammonium; G is an anion or cation such as H + , Na + , Li + , K + , NH 4 + , Ca +2 , Mg +2 , Cl − , Br − , I − , mesylate or tosylate.

Examples of the types of siloxane-based surfactants described herein above may be found in EP-1,043,443A1, EP-1,041,189 and WO-01/34,706 (all to GE Silicones) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,705, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,977, U.S. Pat No. 5,683,473, and EP-1,092,803A1 (all to Lever Brothers).

Nonlimiting commercially available examples of suitable siloxane-based surfactants are TSF 4446 (ex. General Electric Silicones), XS69-B5476 (ex. General Electric Silicones); Jenamine HSX (ex. DelCon) and Y12147 (ex. OSi Specialties).

A second preferred class of materials suitable for the surfactant component is organic in nature. Preferred materials are organosulfosuccinate surfactants, with carbon chains of from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. Most preferred are organosulfosuccinates containing dialkly chains, each with carbon chains of from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. Also preferred are chains containing aryl or alkyl aryl, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated groups.

Nonlimiting commercially available examples of suitable organosulfosuccinate surfactants are available under the trade names of Aerosol OT and Aerosol TR-70 (ex. Cytec). Another preferred class of surfactants is nonionic surfactants, especially those having low HLB values. Preferred nonionic surfactants have HLB values of less than about 10, more preferably less than about 7.5, and most preferably less than about 5. Preferred nonionic surfactants also have from about 6-20 carbons in the surfactant chain and from about 1-15 ethylene oxide (EO) and/or propylene oxide (PO) units in the hydrophilic portion of the surfactant (i.e., C6-20 EO/PO 1-15), and preferably nonionic surfactants selected from those within C7-11 EO/PO 1-5 (e.g., C7-11 EO 2.5).

The surfactant component, when present in the fabric article treating compositions of the present invention, preferably comprises from about 0.01% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.02% to about 5%, even more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2% by weight of the fabric article treating composition.

The surfactant component, when present in the consumable detergent compositions of the present invention, preferably comprises from about 1% to about 99%, more preferably 2% to about 75%, even more preferably from about 5% to about 60% by weight of the consumable detergent composition.

Non-Silicone Additive

The non-silicone additive (i.e., materials do not contain an Si atom), when present, which preferably comprises a strongly polar and/or hydrogen-bonding head group, further enhances soil removal by the compositions of the present invention. Examples of the strongly polar and/or hydrogen-bonding head group-containing materials include, but are not limited to alcohols, cationic materials such as cationic surfactants, quaternary surfactants, quaternary ammonium salts such as ammonium chlorides (nonlimiting examples of ammonium chlorides are Arquad materials commercially available from Akzo Nobel) and cationic fabric softening actives, nonionic materials such as nonionic surfactants (i.e., alcohol ethoxylates, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides), gemini surfactants, anionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, carboxylic acids, sulfates, sulphonates, phosphates, phosphonates, and nitrogen containing materials. In one embodiment, non-silicone additives comprise nitrogen containing materials selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, diamines, triamines, ethoxylated amines, amine oxides, amides and betaines, a nonlimiting example of a betaines is Schercotaine materials commercially available from Scher Chemicals and mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment embodiment, alkyl chain contains branching that may help lower the melting point.

In yet another embodiment, primary alkylamines comprising from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms are used. Particularly preferred primary alkylamines are oleylamine (commercially available from Akzo under the trade name Armeen OLD), dodecylamine (commercially available from Akzo under the trade name Armeen 12D), branched C 16 -C 22 alkylamine (commercially available from Rohm & Haas under the trade name Primene JM-T) and mixtures thereof.

Suitable cationic materials may include quaternary surfactants, which maybe quaternary ammonium compounds. Commercially available agents include Varisoft materials from Goldschmidt.

Additional suitable cationic materials may include conventional fabric softening actives.

Suitable cationic surfactants include, but are not limited to dialkyldimethylammonium salts having the formula:

R′R″N + (CH 3 ) 2 X −

wherein each R′ and R″ is independently selected from the group consisting of 12-30 C atoms or derived from tallow, coconut oil or soy, X═Cl or Br, Nonlimiting examples include: didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), dihexadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dihexadecyldimethyl ammonium bromide, dioctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dieicosyldimethyl ammonium chloride, didocosyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dicoconutdimethyl ammonium chloride, ditallowdimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). Commercially available examples include, but are not limited to: ADOGEN, ARQUAD, TOMAH, VARIQUAT.

In one embodiment, the cationic surfactants comprise the water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds useful in the present composition having the formula:

R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + X −

wherein R 1 is C 8 -C 16 alkyl, each of R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 hydroxy alkyl, benzyl, and —(C 2 H 40 ) x H where x has a value from 2 to 5, and X is an anion. Not more than one of R 2 , R 3 or R 4 should be benzyl.

The typical cationic fabric softening compounds include the water-insoluble quaternary-ammonium fabric softening actives, the most commonly used having been di(long alkylchain)dimethylammonium (C1-C4 alkyl)sulfate or chloride, preferably the methyl sulfate, compounds including the following:

1) di(tallowalkyl)dimethylammonium methyl sulfate (DTDMAMS);

2) di(hydrogenated tallowalkyl)dimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

3) di(hydrogenated tallowalkyl)dimethylammonium chloride (DTDMAC);

4) distearyldimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

5) dioleyldimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

6) dipalmitylhydroxyethylmethylammonium methyl sulfate;

7) stearylbenzyldimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

8) tallowalkyltrimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

9) (hydrogenated tallowalkyl)trimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

10) (C 12-14 alkyl)hydroxyethyldimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

11) (C 12-18 alkyl)di(hydroxyethyl)methylammonium methyl sulfate;

12) di(stearoyloxyethyl)dimethylammonium chloride;

13) di(tallowoyloxyethyl)dimethylammonium methyl sulfate;

14) ditallowalkylimidazolinium methyl sulfate;

15) 1-(2-tallowylamidoethyl)-2-tallowylimidazolinium methyl sulfate; and

16) mixtures thereof.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include, but are not limited to:

a) Polyethylene oxide condensates of nonyl phenol and myristyl alcohol, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,930 Kasprzak; and

b) fatty alcohol ethoxylates, R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) a OH a=1 to 100, typically 12-40, R=hydrocarbon residue 8 to 20 C atoms, typically linear alkyl. Examples polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, with 4 or 23 oxyethylene groups; polyoxyethylene cetyl ether with 2, 10 or 20 oxyethylene groups; polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, with 2, 10, 20, 21 or 100 oxyethylene groups; polyoxyethylene (2), (10) oleyl ether, with 2 or 10 oxyethylene groups. Commercially available examples include, but are not limited to: ALFONIC, BRIJ, GENAPOL, NEODOL, SURFONIC, TRYCOL.

Nonlimiting examples of ethoxylated materials, such as ethoxylated surfactants include compounds having the general formula:

R 8 -Z-(CH 2 CH 2 O) S B

wherein R 8 is an alkyl group or an alkyl aryl group, selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl hydrocarbyl groups, primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups, and/or primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl- and alkenyl-substituted phenolic hydrocarbyl groups having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably from about 8 to about 18, more preferably from about 10 to about 15 carbon atoms; s is an integer from about 2 to about 45, preferably from about 2 to about 20, more preferably from about 2 to about 15; B is a hydrogen, a carboxylate group, or a sulfate group; and linking group Z is —O—, —C(O)O—, —C(O)N(R)—, or —C(O)N(R)—, and mixtures thereof, in which R, when present, is R 8 or hydrogen.

The nonionic surfactants herein are characterized by an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of from 5 to 20, preferably from 6 to 15.

Nonlimiting examples of preferred ethoxylated surfactant are:

straight-chain, primary alcohol ethoxylates, with R 8 being C 8 -C 18 alkyl and/or alkenyl group, more preferably C 10 -C 14 , and s being from about 2 to about 8, preferably from about 2 to about 6;

straight-chain, secondary alcohol ethoxylates, with R 8 being C 8 -C 18 alkyl and/or alkenyl, e.g., 3-hexadecyl, 2-octadecyl, 4-eicosanyl, and 5-eicosanyl, and s being from about 2 to about 10;

alkyl phenol ethoxylates wherein the alkyl phenols having an alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 3 to 20 carbon atoms in a primary, secondary or branched chain configuration, preferably from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and s is from about 2 to about 12, preferably from about 2 to about 8;

branched chain alcohol ethoxylates, wherein branched chain primary and secondary alcohols (or Guerbet alcohols) which are available, e.g., from the well-known “OXO” process or modification thereof are ethoxylated.

Especially preferred are alkyl ethoxylate surfactants with each R 8 being C 8 -C 16 straight chain and/or branch chain alkyl and the number of ethyleneoxy groups s being from about 2 to about 6, preferably from about 2 to about 4, more preferably with R 8 being C 8 -C 15 alkyl and s being from about 2.25 to about 3.5. These nonionic surfactants are characterized by an HLB of from 6 to about 11, preferably from about 6.5 to about 9.5, and more preferably from about 7 to about 9. Nonlimiting examples of commercially available preferred surfactants are Neodol 91-2.5 (C 9 -C 10 , s=2.7, HLB=8.5), Neodol 23-3 (C 12 -C 13 , s=2.9, HLB=7.9) and Neodol 25-3 (C 12 -C 15 , s=2.8, HLB=7.5

Further nonlimiting examples include nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of fatty acid (C 12-18 ) esters of ethoxylated (EO 5-100 ) sorbitans. More preferably said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of mixtures of laurate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides; mixtures of stearate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides; and mixtures of oleate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides. Even more preferably said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Polysorbate 20, which is a mixture of laurate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides consisting predominantly of the monoester, condensed with about 20 moles of ethylene oxide; Polysorbate 60 which is a mixture of stearate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydride, consisting predominantly of the monoester, condensed with about 20 moles of ethylene oxide; Polysorbate 80 which is a mixture of oleate esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides, consisting predominantly of the monoester, condensed with about 20 moles of ethylene oxide; and mixtures thereof. Most preferably, said surfactant is Polysorbate 60.

Other examples of ethoxylated surfactant include carboxylated alcohol ethoxylate, also known as ether carboxylate, with R 8 having from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms and s being from about 5 to about 13; ethoxylated quaternary ammonium surfactants, such as PEG-5 cocomonium methosulfate, PEG-15 cocomonium chloride, PEG-15 oleammonium chloride and bis(polyethoxyethanol)tallow ammonium chloride.

Other suitable nonionic ethoxylated surfactants are ethoxylated alkyl amines derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with hydrophobic alkyl amines, with R 8 having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and s being from about 3 to about 30.

Also suitable nonionic ethoxylated surfactants for use herein are alkylpolysaccharides which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647, Llenado, issued Jan. 21, 1986, having a hydrophobic group containing from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties. The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6-positions on the preceding saccharide units. The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula

R 2 O(C n H 2n O)t(glycosyl) x

wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from 10 to 18, preferably from 12 to 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7. The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose.

In one embodiment, the nonionic surfactants comprise polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants of the formula:

R 2 —C(O)—N(R 1 )-Z,

wherein R 1 is H, or R 1 is C 1-4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof, R 2 is C 5-31 hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof. Preferably, R 1 is methyl, R 2 is a straight C 11-15 alkyl or C 16-18 alkyl or alkenyl chain such as coconut alkyl or mixtures thereof, and Z is derived from a reducing sugar such as glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, in a reductive amination reaction.

In one embodiment, the anionic surfactants include alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants hereof are water soluble salts or acids of the formula RO(A) m SO3M wherein R is an unsubstituted C 10 -C 24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C 10 -C 24 alkyl component, preferably a C 12 -C 20 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C 12 -C 18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, more preferably between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation. Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein.

These and other surfactants suitable for use in combination with the lipophilic fluid as adjuncts are well known in the art, being described in more detail in Kirk Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed., Vol. 22, pp. 360-379, “Surfactants and Detersive Systems”, incorporated by reference herein. Further suitable nonionic detergent surfactants are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued Dec. 30, 1975, at column 13, line 14 through column 16, line 6, incorporated herein by reference.

The non-silicone additive, when present in the fabric article treating compositions of the present invention, preferably comprises from about 0.001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.02% to about 5%, even more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2% by weight of the fabric article treating composition.

The non-silicone additive, when present in the consumable detergent compositions of the present invention, preferably comprises from about 1% to about 90%, more preferably from about 2% to about 75%, even more preferably from about 5% to about 60% by weight of the consumable detergent composition.

Polar Solvent

Compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a polar solvent. Non-limiting examples of polar solvents include: water, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, ethers, carbonates, dibasic esters, ketones, other oxygenated solvents, and mixutures thereof. Further examples of alcohols include: C1-C126 alcohols, such as propanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, etc . . . , benzyl alcohol, and diols such as 1,2-hexanediol. The Dowanol series by Dow Chemical are examples of glycols and polyglycols useful in the present invention, such as Dowanol TPM, TPnP, DPnB, DPnP, TPnB, PPh, DPM, DPMA, DB, and others. Further examples include propylene glycol, butylene glycol, polybutylene glycol and more hydrophobic glycols. Examples of carbonate solvents are ethylene, propylene and butylene carbonantes such as those available under the Jeffsol tradename. Polar solvents for the present invention can be further identified through their dispersive (□ D ), polar (□ P ) and hydrogen bonding (□ H ) Hansen solubility parameters. Preferred polar solvents or polar solvent mixtures have fractional polar (f P ) and fractional hydrogen bonding (f H ) values of f p >0.02 and f H >0.10, where f P =□ P /(□ D +□ P +□ H ) and f H =□ H /(□ D +□ P +□ H ), more preferably f p >0.05 and f H >0.20, and most preferably f P >0.07 and f H >0.30.

In the detergent composition of the present invention, the levels of polar solvent can be from about 0 to about 70%, preferably 1 to 50%, even more preferably 1 to 30% by weight of the detergent composition.

Water, when present in the wash fluid fabric article treating compositions of the present invention, the wash fluid composition may comprise from about 0.001% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.005% to about 5%, even more preferably from about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of the wash fluid fabric article treating composition.

Water, when present in the detergent compositions of the present invention, preferably comprises from about 1% to about 90%, more preferably from about 2% to about 75%, even more preferably from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the consumable detergent composition.

Processing Aids

Optionally, the compositions of the present invention may further comprise processing aids. Processing aids facilitate the formation of the fabric article treating compositions of the present invention, by maintaining the fluidity and/or homogeneity of the consumable detergent composition, and/or aiding in the dilution process. Processing aids suitable for the present invention are solvents, preferably solvents other than those described above, hydrotropes, and/or surfactants, preferably surfactants other than those described above with respect to the surfactant component. Particularly preferred processing aids are protic solvents such as aliphatic alcohols, diols, triols, etc. and nonionic surfactants such as ethoxylated fatty alcohols.

Processing aids, when present in the fabric article treating compositions of the present invention, preferably comprise from about 0.02% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 10%, even more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the fabric article treating composition.

Processing aids, when present in the consumable detergent compositions of the present invention, preferably comprise from about 1% to about 75%, more preferably from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the consumable detergent composition.

Cleaning Adjuncts

The compositions of the present invention may optionally further comprise one or more other cleaning adjuncts. The optional cleaning adjuncts can vary widely and can be used at widely ranging levels.

Some suitable cleaning adjuncts include, but are not limited to, builders, surfactants, other than those described above with respect to the surfactant component, enzymes, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, bleach boosters, bleaches, alkalinity sources, antibacterial agents, colorants, perfumes, pro-perfumes, finishing aids, lime soap dispersants, odor control agents, odor neutralizers, polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, photobleaches, heavy metal ion sequestrants, anti-tarnishing agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-oxidants, anti-redeposition agents, soil release polymers, electrolytes, pH modifiers, thickeners, abrasives, divalent or trivalent ions, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, diamines or polyamines and/or their alkoxylates, suds stabilizing polymers, solvents, process aids, fabric softening agents, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, suds or foam suppressors, suds or foam boosters and mixtures thereof.

Suitable odor control agents, which may optionally be used as finishing agents, include agents include, cyclodextrins, odor neutralizers, odor blockers and mixtures thereof. Suitable odor neutralizers include aldehydes, flavanoids, metallic salts, water-soluble polymers, zeolites, activated carbon and mixtures thereof.

Perfumes and perfumery ingredients useful in the compositions of the present invention comprise a wide variety of natural and synthetic chemical ingredients, including, but not limited to, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and the like. Also included are various natural extracts and essences which can comprise complex mixtures of ingredients, such as orange oil, lemon oil, rose extract, lavender, musk, patchouli, balsamic essence, sandalwood oil, pine oil, cedar, and the like. Finished perfumes may comprise extremely complex mixtures of such ingredients. Pro-perfumes are also useful in the present invention. Such materials are those precursors or mixtures thereof capable of chemically reacting, e.g., by hydrolysis, to release a perfume, and are described in patents and/or published patent applications to Procter and Gamble, Firmenich, Givaudan and others.

Bleaches, especially oxygen bleaches, are another type of cleaning adjunct suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention. This is especially the case for the activated and catalyzed forms with such bleach activators as nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate and/or any of its linear or branched higher or lower homologs, and/or tetraacetylethylenediamine and/or any of its derivatives or derivatives of phthaloylimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP; available from Ausimont SpA under trademane Euroco) or other imido- or amido-substituted bleach activators including the lactam types, or more generally any mixture of hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic bleach activators (especially acyl derivatives including those of the C 6 -C 16 substituted oxybenzenesulfonates).

Also suitable are organic or inorganic peracids both including PAP and other than PAP. Suitable organic or inorganic peracids for use herein include, but are not limited to: percarboxylic acids and salts; percarbonic acids and salts; perimidic acids and salts; peroxymonosulfuric acids and salts; persulphates such as monopersulfate; peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA); magnesium peroxyphthalic acid; perlauric acid; perbenzoic and alkylperbenzoic acids; and mixtures thereof.

Detersive enzymes such as proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases and the like as well as bleach catalysts including the macrocyclic types having manganese or similar transition metals all useful in laundry and cleaning products can be used herein at very low, or less commonly, higher levels. Laundry Additives that are catalytic, for example enzymes, can be used in “forward” or “reverse” modes. For example, a lipolase or other hydrolase may be used, optionally in the presence of alcohols as laundry additives, to convert fatty acids to esters, thereby increasing their solubility in the lipohilic fluid.

Nonlimiting examples of finishing polymers that are commercially available are: polyvinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, such as Copolymer 958®, molecular weight of about 100,000 and Copolymer 937, molecular weight of about 1,000,000, available from GAF Chemicals Corporation; adipic acid/dimethylaminohydroxypropyl diethylenetriamine copolymer, such as Cartaretin F-4® and F-23, available from Sandoz Chemicals Corporation; methacryloyl ethyl betaine/methacrylates copolymer, such as Diaformer Z-SM®, available from Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation; polyvinyl alcohol copolymer resin, such as Vinex 2019®, available from Air Products and Chemicals or Moweol®, available from Clariant; adipic acid/epoxypropyl diethylenetriamine copolymer, such as Delsette 101®, available from Hercules Incorporated; polyamine resins, such as Cypro 515®, available from Cytec Industries; polyquaternary amine resins, such as Kymene 557H®, available from Hercules Incorporated; and polyvinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid, such as Sokalan EG 310®, available from BASF.

The cleaning adjunct may also be an antistatic agent. Any suitable well-known antistatic agents used in conventional laundering and dry cleaning are suitable for use in the compositions and methods of the present invention. Especially suitable as antistatic agents are the subset of fabric softeners which are known to provide antistatic benefits. For example those fabric softeners that have a fatty acyl group which has an iodine value of above 20, such as N,N-di(tallowoyl-oxy-ethyl)-N,N-dimethyl ammonium methylsulfate. However, it is to be understood that the term antistatic agent is not to be limited to just this subset of fabric softeners and includes all antistatic agents.

Preferred insect and moth repellent cleaning adjuncts useful in the compositions of the present invention are perfume ingredients, such as citronellol, citronellal, citral, linalool, cedar extract, geranium oil, sandalwood oil, 2-(diethylphenoxy)ethanol, 1-dodecene, etc. Other examples of insect and/or moth repellents useful in the compositions of the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,449,987; 4,693,890; 4,696,676; 4,933,371; 5,030,660; 5,196,200; and in “Semio Activity of Flavor and Fragrance Molecules on Various Insect Species”, B. D. Mookherjee et al., published in Bioactive Volatile Compounds from Plants , ACS Symposium Series 525, R. Teranishi, R. G. Buttery, and H. Sugisawa, 1993, pp. 35-48, all of said patents and publications being incorporated herein by reference.

Methods of the Present Invention

The methods of the present invention comprises contacting a fabric article in need of cleaning with a polyoxyalkylene polymer. Such methods include processes such as pretreating the fabric article with a consumable detergent composition containing polyoxyalkylene polymer prior to contacting the fabric article with a lipophilic fluid. Another method of the present invention involves contacting fabric articles in need of cleaning with a cleaning composition comprising lipophilic fluid and polyoxyalkylene polymer, preferably in an automatic washing machine.

Claims

1. A cleaning composition comprising lipophilic fluid comprising cyclic decamethylpentasiloxane, and non-silicone polyoxyalkylene polymers comprising C4 or higher molecular weight alkoxide monomeric units and having a solubility at room temperature of at least ½% by weight of the lipophilic fluid.

2. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the polyoxyalkylene polymer is functionalized with polar, hydrophilic or both polar and hydrophilic substituents selected from the group consisting of alcohols, polyols, amines, polyamines, alkanolamines, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amines, amides, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated amides, polyamides, urethanes and polyurethanes, oxyethylene, polyoxyethylenes, oxypropylene, polyoxypropylenes, carboxylic acids and salts, aminocarboxylates, amidocarboxylates, mono and diphosphate esters, phosphonates, aminophosphonates, monosulfates, sulfonates, amine oxides, quaternized amines, phosphine oxides, phenols, polyfunctional chelant groups,and combinations thereof.

3. The cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein said polyoxyalkylene polymer comprises butylene oxide monomer units.

4. A method for cleaning fabric articles, said method comprising contacting a fabric article in need of cleaning with a composition according to claim 1.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the fabric article in need of cleaning is contacted with said cleaning composition in an automatic washing machine.