Solid laundry softener composition
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsDerrick Anderson, Emily Chen, Kaustav Ghosh, Kelsey West, Erik C. Olson
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Abstract
Solid laundry softening compositions and applications of use are disclosed. Solid laundry softening compositions combine quaternary ammonium compounds with an inorganic carrier to provide a flowable powder for solidification in a pressed or extruded solid composition. A high loading of quaternary ammonium compound in the inorganic carrier, including an inorganic salt, can be further combined with softening boosters, processing aids, surfactants, and/or additional functional ingredients to provide stable solid compositions.
Claims16
A solid laundry softening composition comprising:
- at least about 15 wt-% of a quaternary ammonium compound having the formula:
- wherein R1 and R2 represent the same or different hydrocarbyl groups having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 represent the same or different hydrocarbyl groups containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and X is an anion;
- from about 55 wt-% to about 70 wt-% of an inorganic salt carrier comprising magnesium sulfate;
- and
- from about 1 wt-% to about 15 wt-% of a stabilizing agent consisting of an anionic sulfate surfactant and/or an amphiphilic amine oxide surfactant, wherein the anionic sulfate surfactant comprises alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, or combinations thereof;
- wherein the solid composition is a multi-use pressed or extruded solid.
A method of forming a stable, solid laundry softening composition, the method comprising:
- (a) combining an inorganic salt carrier comprising magnesium sulfate, a stabilizing agent consisting of an anionic sulfate surfactant and/or an amphiphilic amine oxide surfactant, and a quaternary ammonium compound having the formula:
- wherein R1 and R2 represent the same or different hydrocarbyl groups having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 represent the same or different hydrocarbyl groups containing 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and X is an anion, and
- wherein the anionic sulfate surfactant comprises alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, or combinations thereof;
- (b) forming a free-flowing powder;
- and
- (c) forming a stable multi-use solid laundry softening composition by pressing the flowable powder or forming an extruded solid from the flowable powder, wherein the solid composition comprises at least about 15 wt-% of the quaternary ammonium compound, from 55 wt-% to about 70 wt-% of the inorganic salt carrier, and from about 1 wt-% to about 15 wt-% of the stabilizing agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.