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AssigneeColgate-Palmolive Company
InventorsJan R. P. Doms, Marcel J. E. G. Gillis, Pierre M. Lambert, Paul A. Heckles, Eduardo E. Puentes-Bravo, Anita Hermosilla M, Jean-Paul M. H. F. Grandmaire, Viviane E. A. Tack
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A particulate fabric softening composition and a particulate fabric softening detergent composition are described, both of which include bentonite powder agglomerated into larger particulate bead or granule form with a normally solid co-melt of a pentaerythritol compound (PEC), such as pentaerythritol ditallowate (PEDT), and a nonionic surfactant, such as a condensation product of a mole of a C.sub.12-15 fatty alcohol with seven moles of ethylene oxide. The fabric softening composition described may be added to wash (or rinse water) but preferably is incorporated in a particulate built synthetic organic anionic and/or nonionic detergent composition to produce a fabric softening detergent composition. The invented detergent compositions are especially suitable for washing laundry in "cold" water, such as water at 40.degree. C. or thereabout, in which the nonionic surfactant increases the dispersibility of the PEC, improves fabric softening activity thereof, in conjunction with the bentonite, and also prevents excessive whitening or chalking of dark colored laundry by the particulate fabric softening composition. These improved results have been attributed to the nonionic surfactant lowering the co-melt's melting point to about 40.degree. C. or lower, at which temperature the softening composition disperses satisfactorily in the wash water. Additional advantages of the invention are a bonus effect of the nonionic surfactant in increasing detergency of the detergent composition and wash water, and in allowing a decrease in PEC content of the softening and detergent compositions without loss of softening effect.
A particulate agglomerated fabric softening composition of improved fabric softening action and reduced tendency to objectionably discolor dark colored laundry washed in cold wash water in which the fabric softening composition is present, which comprises 50 to 90% by weight of a fabric softening clay powder agglomerated into particles with a normally solid co-melt of a mixture of a pentaerythritol ester of a higher fatty acid of 12 to 18 carbon atoms and nonionic surfactant, with the melting point of said mixture being in the range of 30.degree. to 45.degree. C. and the proportions being such that said fabric softening composition comprises 5 to 30% of said pentaerythritol ester of higher fatty acid and 5 to 45% of said nonionic surfactant.
A process for manufacturing a particulate agglomerated fabric softening composition which comprises melting together a pentaerythritol ester of a higher fatty acid of 12 to 18 carbon atoms and a nonionic surfactant, the mixture of which ester and surfactant has a melting point in the range of 30.degree. to 45.degree. C., and mixing said melt with a fabric softening clay powder so that the powder is agglomerated into larger particles or a mass, cooling said agglomerated particles or mass to room temperature and size reducing said mass or size reducing or removing particles of said agglomerate, which final agglomerate comprises 50 to 90% by weight of the fabric softening clay powder, 5 to 30% by weight of said pentaerythritol ester of fatty acid of 12 to 18 carbon atoms and 5 to 45% by weight of said nonionic surfactant.
A process according to claim 13 wherein the bentonite is selected from the group consisting of sodium bentonite, calcium bentonite and mixtures thereof, the pentaerythritol ester is selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol monoesters of C.sub.12-18 fatty acids, pentaerythritol diesters of C.sub.12-18 fatty acids and mixtures thereof, the nonionic surfactant is a condensation product of a C.sub.11-18 fatty alcohol with ethylene oxide, the mixture of pentaerythritol ester and nonionic surfactant is at a temperature in the range of 55.degree. to 65.degree. C. when it is deposited on the bentonite, and the agglomerated particles are of particle sizes in the range of 150 microns to 2 millimeters in diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.