Fabric softening composition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025034485-A1
Application number	US-202218693779-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 20, 2022
Priority date	Sep 22, 2021
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solid fabric softening composition is disclosed comprising a disintegrant system and from 5 to 65% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound having a structure represented by formula (I): (R 1 )(R 2 )—N + —[(CH 2 ) n —Z—R 3 ][(CH 2 ) m —Y—R 4 ]A − , wherein each of R 1 and R 2 is independently a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group or a C 2 to C 4 alkenyl group; each R 3 and R 4 is independently a C 7 to C 27 alkyl group or alkenyl group; each of Z and Y is independently —O—(O)C— or —C(O)—O—; m and n are each independently a number from 1 to 4; A − is an anionic counterion selected from methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, formate, carbonate, benzoate, tosylate, acetate, lactate, citrate, chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, and mixtures thereof, wherein the disintegrant system comprises a combination of salt and acid; and wherein the composition is in the form of a tablet.

First claim

1 . A solid fabric softening composition comprising:
(a) from 35 to 60% by weight of a disintegrant system; and (b) from 5 to 65% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound having a structure represented by formula (I)
(R 1 )(R 2 )—N + —[(CH 2 ) n —Z—R 3 ][(CH 2 ) m —Y—R 4 ]A −   (I)

wherein each of R 1 and R 2 is independently a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group or a C 2 to C 4 alkenyl group; each R 3 and R 4 is independently a C 7 to C 27 alkyl group or alkenyl group; each of Z and Y is independently —O—(O)C— or —C(O)—O—; m and n are each independently a number from 1 to 4; A − is an anionic counterion selected from methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, formate, carbonate, benzoate, tosylate, acetate, lactate, citrate, chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, and mixtures thereof; wherein the disintegrant system comprises a combination of salt and acid; wherein the salt comprises carbonate salts; wherein the weight ratio of the carbonate salt to the acid is from 1:10 to 10:1; and wherein the composition is in the form of a tablet.

2 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is diethylester dimethyl ammonium chloride.

3 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 2 , wherein each of R 3 and R 4 of the diethylester dimethyl ammonium chloride is independently a linear C 15 to C 19 alkyl or alkenyl group.

4 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises the quaternary ammonium compound from 10 to 60% by weight of the composition.

5 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the acid is organic acid comprising acetic acid, citric acid, aspartic acid, lactic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, saccharic acid, their salts or mixtures thereof.

6 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises carbonate salts of mono or divalent alkali metals.

7 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 6 wherein the salt comprises an additional non-carbonate salt, preferably the non-carbonate salt comprises sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate or mixtures thereof.

8 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition additionally comprises a clay, preferably the clay is a bentonite.

9 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition additionally comprises a chelating agent.

10 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition additionally comprises a perfume material.

11 . The solid fabric softening composition according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet has a weight of from 0.5 to 40 grams.

12 . A method of softening fabrics comprising the steps of:
(i) providing fabrics in a washing machine; and (ii) contacting the fabrics with the solid fabric composition according to claim 1 during a wash sub-cycle of a washing machine.

13 . The method of softening fabrics according to claim 12 wherein the solid fabric softening composition further comprises starch, citric acid, succinic acid, bentonite, fatty alcohol, perfume, chelating agent or a mixture thereof.

Assignees

• Conopco Inc Dba Unilever

Inventors

• Chao yizhou
• Chen Yanchao
• Xu Na
• Zhang Minhua

Classifications

• C11D17/0047

  Detergents in the form of bars or tablets · CPC title

• C11D3/349

  additionally containing nitrogen atoms, e.g. nitro, nitroso, amino, imino, nitrilo, nitrile groups containing compounds or their derivatives or thio urea · CPC title

• C11D3/30

  Amines; Substituted amines {; Quaternized amines} · CPC title

• C11D3/2086

  Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof · CPC title

• C11D3/2082

  Polycarboxylic acids-salts thereof · CPC title