Process for increasing liquid extraction from fabrics

• US 20040255395A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Santamarina, Vicente, Zhang, Shulin Larry, Heatherly, Joseph Dean
• Granted Patent: US 7,954,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/513 with at least one carbon-silicon bond
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/643 containing silicon in the main chain
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/647 containing polyether sequences
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/00 Treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, characterised by the process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process of increasing liquid extraction from fabrics having a first liquid content through the use of a mechanical extraction means and a liquid extraction agent.

Claims

1. A process of increasing liquid extraction from fabrics having a first liquid content comprising the steps of:

a) Contacting the fabric having a first liquid content with an effective amount of at least one liquid extraction agent;

b) Subjecting the fabric to mechanical extraction to reduce the liquid content of the fabric to a second liquid content;

wherein the liquid extraction agent is capable of reducing the surface tension of the liquid content to 40 mN/m or less.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid extraction agent has a critical micelle concentration of from about 10 ppm to about 1500 ppm.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid extraction agent is contacted with the fabric immediately prior to mechanical extraction.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is conducted in a washing machine.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the liquid extraction agent is contacted with the fabric during the rinsing cycle.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid extraction agent is added in a single dose.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein the liquid extraction agent has concentration of liquid extraction agent of from about 10 ppm to about 3000 ppm.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the process further comprises the step of c) subjecting the fabric to mechanical drying, air drying, and combinations thereof.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid extract agent further comprises additional agents selected from the group comprising:

perfumes, softening agents, anti-wrinkle agents, buffers, enzymes, dispersants, suds suppressors, builders, dyes, brighteners, bleaches and any mixture thereof.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the use of liquid extraction agent is used in combination with suds suppressors to prevent excessive sudsing.

11. A process of increasing liquid extraction from fabric having a first liquid content comprising the steps of:

a) Contacting the fabric with an effective amount of a liquid extraction agent;

b) Subjecting the fabric to mechanical extraction to reduce the liquid content of the fabric to a second liquid content;

wherein the liquid extraction agent has a critical micelle concentration of from about 1500 ppm to about 10 ppm at a liquid extraction agent concentration of from about 10 ppm to about 3000 ppm.