Textile laundering composition comprising a self-crosslinking cationic polymer

• US 7,091,172 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henkel IP & Holding GmbH (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care Usa Division Of Conopco, Inc.
• Inventors: Oakes, John, Sugdon, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): BOYER, CHARLES I
• Application Number:
  US10/450,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 510/276, 510/521, 510/515, 510/504
• US Class Current: 510/521
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/001 Softening compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3719 Polyamides or polyimides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3723 Polyamines or polyalkyleneimines
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3746 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds

Abstract

A process for the treatment of non-keratinaceous textiles, preferably cellulosic fibers, which comprises the step of treating the textiles with a composition which comprises: a self-crosslinking polymer and a nucleophilic species (preferably a polymer comprising at least one protected thiol group), and a textile compatible carrier. Under domestic washing conditions the polymer forms reactive thiol groups which are capable of causing covalent cross-linking with the polymer. Preferably, the thiol group is protected as an isothiouronium group.

Claims

1. A process for the laundering of non-keratinaceous textiles, which comprises the step of laundering the textiles with a composition comprising:

a) a self-crosslinking cationic polymer;

b) a nucleophilic species capable of reacting with polymer;

c) a textile compatible carrier;

d) wherein the nucleophilic species comprises a protecting group which is sufficiently labile that it leaves when the polymer and the laundered textiles are exposed to a pH of above 8 at a temperature of below 50 Celsius; and

e) wherein the composition comprises a detergent active compound in the concentration of 5 to 50 wt. %.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the textile comprises cotton or regenerated cellulose.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a textile softening and/or conditioning compound.

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the nucleophile is a polymer comprising at least one protected thiol group, wherein the protecting group is labile under domestic washing conditions.

5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the protected thiol comprises a terminal or mid chain isothiouronium group.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the nucleophile is present in the composition in an amount such that from 0.0005% to 5% by weight on weight of textile is provided.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the self-crosslinking cationic polymer comprises a polymer having azetidinium groups and/or one or more functional groups capable of forming azetidinium groups.

8. A process according to claim 7 wherein the composition comprises an amine or amide-epichlorohydrin resin having one or more azetidinium functional groups.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition is applied to the textile during the rinse cycle of the laundering process.

10. A detergent composition for use in the process of claim 1 characterized in that the composition comprises:

a) a self-crosslinking cationic polymer;

b) a nucleophilic species capable of reacting with polymer (a);

c) a textile compatible carrier;

d) wherein the nucleophilic species comprises a protecting group which is sufficiently labile that it leaves when the polymer and the laundered textiles are exposed to a pH of above 8 at a temperature of below 50 Celsius; and

e) wherein the composition comprises a detergent active compound in the concentration range of 5 to 50 wt. %.