CA1321448C - Fabric softening particles - Google Patents

Abstract

C.6026 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A fabric softening particle is provided comprising a mixture of quaternary ammonium ion-exchanged clay and a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium salt in the ratio of 1:3 to 3:10 The particle softens more efficiently than either of its components. When incorporated into a detergent powder, detergency is not diminished as would occur when either of the particle components are separately incorporated.

Description

1 321 ~4~

- l - C.6026 ~ .:

BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION

The invention relates to fabric softening particle~
suitable for incorporation into detergant powders and a process for preparation of the particles~

2. The Prior Art Traditionally, fabric softeners in liquid form have separately been added to the wash load during the rinse cycle of automatic laundry washing machines. Consumers, however, desire the convenience of single step r single package productsO In response, powdered de ergents have been developed which incorpora~e fabric softening components. These formulations in addition to cleaning, soften laundry during the wash cycle.
Unfortunately organic cationic quaternary ammonium salts, the compounds normally used as sQftening agents, interact :, . ; , ~ , , . : . : ~

~ 321 4~8 - 2 - C.6026 adversely with anionic surfactants fou~d in detergent powders. The art has found various means to surmount this problemO One approach has been to substitute the cationic materials with clays capable of softening.
Alternatively, organic cationic salts may be utilised when formulated in a manner which separates them from interaction with the deactivating anionic surfactants.
A number of patents have combined both approaches.
These patents report mixtures of both clay and a protected organic cationic quaternary ammonium salt.

GB 2,141,152A ~Ramachandran) discloses a softening composition comprising discrete particles of a smectite-type clay and a detergent surface active agent in the ratio of at leask 15:1. An organic cationic salt is then deposited onto the particles and adsorbed into the particle surface. In U.S. 3,936,537 (Baskerville et al.) discrete particles of a fabric softening additive are formulated by combining cationic quaternary ammonium salts with a dispersion inhibitor in the range of 4:1 to 1:4. These particles, called prills, may then be mixed with a granular deteryent one of whose components may be a clay. Softening is further improved by the presence of the clay, especially by a mineral called bentonite.
Dispersion inhibitors include waxes, polyhydric alcohols, aliphatic carboxylic acids, ~heir esters or alcohols and alkoxylated condensates of the foregoing.

Further reinPments of the cationic/dispersion inhibitor prills are described in U.S. 4,141,841 lMcDanald)~ Therein the aforedescribed prills are agglomerated with a builder salt and an organic agglomerating agent to form large granules. Unlike the smaller prills, these particles because of their large size do not separate from the granular detergent mixture. Agglomeration is also an improvement over - 3 - C.6026 encapsulation because fabric softening effectiveness remains high while still preventing inactivation by anionic surfactant.

In U.S 3,862,058 (Nirschl et al.) ancl in U.S. 3,886,075 ~Bernardino) clay is initially admixed in a crutcher with the detergent, builder and adjunct laundering ingredients. The resulting mixture is thPn spray~dried to form granules. Quaternary ammonium salt is sprayed onto these granules from a m~lt. This method of preparation was said to avoid affixing the quat~rnary salt to the surface of the clay by an ion-exchange mechanism.

lS By contrast with disclosures found in the foregoing patents, U.S. 3,948,790 (Speakman) reports that the replacement of exchangeable metal ions of clays with certain types of alkyl-substituted ammonium ions results in a ma~erial having softening effectiveness. Good performance was found limited to alkyl-substituted ammonium ions of total car~on atom content not exceeding 8.

It has also been well know that quaternary ammonium ion-exchanged organophilic clays are useful in the processing of textiles. For instance, U.S. 2,805,993 ~Barnard et al.~ discloses the lubricating properties of Bentone 34 (Trade Mark), a bentonite whose sodium ions are replaced with dimethyl dioctadecylammonium ions, sold by N.L. Industries, Inc.
From ~he foregoing review of the art, it is clear that the manner in which one combines quaternary ammonium salts, clays and/or quaternary ammonium ion substituted cl ay~;, will have a si~nific~nt bearing upon fabric softening properties. Some bene~iciaL combina~ion~ have been uncovered. It is evident, however that the optimum -- : - , . :

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1321~48 ~ 4 - C.6026 combination of these "softener building blocks" has yet to be reportedO
An object of ~his invention is to provide a fabric softening agent more efficient than heretofore known.
A further object of this invention is to provide a fabric softening agent that ls compatible with anionic surfactants, does not yellow laundry and does not interfere with datergency or sudsing.
A final object of this invention is to provide detergent compositions incorporating the aforementioned improved fabric softening agent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A fabric softening particle is provided comprisingo (i) an impalpable, expandable layered c].ay with ion exchange capacity, in which clay from about 5 to 100 molar percent of the exchangeable cations are quaternary ammonium ions of the formula [RlR2R3R4N]+ wherein Rl, R2, R3 and R4 are organic radicals selec~ed from the group consisting of C1-C2~ alkyl, benzyl, C10-Cl6 alkyl phenyl, C2-C4 hydroxyalkyl, cyclic structures in which nitxogen forms part of a ring, and mixtures thereof; and lii) a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3R4N]~~n~ wherein Rl, R2, R3 and ~4 are organic radicals as defined above; x can be any salt orming anion; n is an integer from 1 to 3; and the ratio of (i) to (ii) is 3:1 to 1:3.

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~ ' ' ' , 5 - C.6026 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
_ _ It has been discovered that improvecl fabric softening can be achieved by particles comprising a quaternary ammonium salt and an organophilic clay that has been metal ion exchanged with quaternary ammonium ions. A critical feature is that the concentration of quaternary ammonium salt to exchanged clay be within the range of about 3:1 to 1:3. Particularly preferred are ratios of about 2:1 to 1:2, and most preferable is a ratio of about 1:1. Such compositions may be conveniently employed during home laundering as additives to the wash.

Furthermore, the present invention contemplates incorporating the above particles into a conventional laundry detergent composition to form a fully-formulated product. Besides the softening particles, the detergent product will contain an organic surfactant, a builder salt and other functional components present in conventional laundry formulations. The addition of such a fully formulated product to water produces a laundering wash liquor capable of providing the desired degree of cleaning and softening of soiled fabrics.

The clay minerals whose exchangeable cations are substituted with quaternary ammonium cations are described as impalpable, expandable, three-layer clays, e.g., aluminosilicates and magnesium silicates, having an ion exchange capacity of at least 50 meq/100 grams of raw clay. The term "impalpable" as used to describe the clays employed herein means that the individual clay particles are of a size that they cannot be perceived tactilely. Such particle sizes are, in general, below 50 microns. Preferably, the clays herein will have a particle si~e within the ranye of from about 5 microns to .. ~ .

t321448 - 6 - C.~026 25 microns. The term "expandable" as used to describe clays relates to the ability of the layered clay structure to be swollen, or expanded, on contact with water. The three~layer expanda~le clays used herein are those materials classified geologically as smectites.

There are two distinct classes of smectite clays.
In the first, aluminium oxide i5 present in the silicate crystal lattice; in the second, magnesium oxide is present in the silicate crystal lattice. The general formulae of these smectites are A12(Si2O5)2~OH~2 and Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)2 for the aluminium and magnesium oxide type clay, respectively. The three-layer, expandable aluminosilicates useful herein are further characterised by a dioctahedral crystal lattice, while the expandable three-layer magnesium silicates have trioctahedral crystal lattice.

The clays, from which the quaternary ammonium ion substituted clays are derived, can contain cationic counterions such as those of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. It is customary to distinguish between clays on the basis of one cation pxedominantly or exclusively absorbed. For example, a sodium clay is one in which the absorbed cation is predominantly sodium.

Smectite clays used in the present invention are commercially available. They include montmorillonite, hectorite, saponite which are preferred and also volchonskoite, nontronite and sauconite. Clays herein are available under co~mercial names such as Thixogel 9 Gelwhite GP and, especially, Soft Clark, from Georgia Xaolin Co., Elizabeth, New JPrsey; Volclay BO and Volclay No. 325, from American Colloid Company, Skokie, Illinois; Black Hills Bentonite BH 450, from International Minerals and Chemicals; and Veegum Pro and ~ n o~5 ~ k .
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- 7 ~ C.6026 7 Veegum F, from R.T. Vanderbilt. It is to be recognised that such smectite minerals obtained under the foregoing commercial names can comprise mixtures oE the various discrete mineral entities. Such mixtures of the smectite minerals are suitable for use herein.

Quaternary ammonium substituted clays can be made by any suitable method. For instance, they can be prepared by slurrying the untreated clay in a solution containing the quantity of the appropriate quaternary ammonium salt intended to be reacted with the clay, that is to provide the desired degree of ion exchange. The treated clay can then be separated from the liquor by known methods such as filtration or centrifuging.
For further discussion of the preparation of alkyl ammonium substituted clays generally, see U.S. Patent 2,746,887 to O'Neil patented May 22, 1956 and U.S. Patent 2,531,427 to Hauser patented November 28, 1950.
Ammonium cations exchan~eable for the metal ions of the clay to produce quaternary ammonium substituted clays may be derived from salts of the formula [R1R2R3R4~+nxn wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are organic radicals of total carbon atom content exceeding 8 and containing a group C1 C22 alkyl, C10-Cl6 alkyl phenyl~ C -C
hydroxyalkyl, cyclic structures in which nitrogen fonms part of the ring, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, R
and R2 represent an organic radical containing a group selected from a C16-C22 aliphatic radical or an alkylphenyl or alkylbenzyl radical having 10-16 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, R3 and R4 representing hydrocarbyl groups containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or C2-C4 hydroxyalkyl groups and cyclic structures in which the nitrogen atom form~ part of the ring. x is an anion whieh may be selected from the group consisting of ~ C~//J~h 0~5 ~ oe ~-k . :

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- 8 - C.60~6 hydroxide, halide, sulphate, methyl sulphate and phosphate. The charge on the anion is designated as n~, where n is 1-3. The number of cationic ammonium groups, n, will equal the charge, n, on the anion to provide electrical neutrality. Quaternary ammonium compounds wherein n is 1 are commercially available and preferred for economic reasons.

In the context of the above definition, the hydrophobic moiety ~i.e., the C16_22 aliphatic~ ClO_ alkyl phenyl or alkyl benzyl radical) in the organic radical R1 may be directly attached to the quaternary nitrogen atom or may be indirectly attached thereto through an amide, ester, alkoxy, ether, or like grouping.
The quaternary ammonium salts used in this invention can be prepared in various ways well known in the art.
Many such materials are commercially available. The quaternaries are often made rom alkyl halide mixtures corresponding to the mixed alkyl chain lengths in fatty acids. For example, the "di-tallow" quaternaries are made from alkyl halides having mixed C14-C18 chain lengths. Such mixed di-long chain quaternaries are useful herein and are preEerred from a cost standpoint.
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As noted above, essentially any anionic group can be the counter-ion in the quaternary compounds used herein. The anionic groups in the quaternary compounds can be exchanged, one for another, using standard anion exchange resins. Thus, quaternary ammonium salts having any desired anion are readily available. While the nature of such anions has no effect on the compositions of this invention, chloride ion is the preferred counter-ion from an availability standpoint.

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- 9 C.6026 Binders may be desirable or inclusion in the fabric softening particles along with the quaternary ammonium substituted clay and quaternary ammonium salts. When present, the binder concentration will range from about 0.1 to 20~ by weight of the aggregate particle, preferably from about 0.5~ to 10%, ideally from about 1% to 5%.
The binder is a water-soluble or water-dispersible material, preferahly organic, and will have a pH no higher than 10 and melting point 29C and 66C, preferably between 32C and 49C. Binders may be selected from the group consisting of organic homopolymers or heteropolymers, organic nonionic compoundsl long-chain C10-C22 fatky acids and fatty acid soaps, and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable organic homo- or hetero polymers are modified starch, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.
Suitable nonionic compounds are, or example, polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 10,000; hydrocarbon waxes; C15-C24 fatty alcohols or C8-C12 alkyl phenyls having from about 10 to 60 ethylene oxide uni~s; and the long-chain fatty acid alkylolamides, such as coconut ~atty acid monoethanolamide. A particularly preferred polyethylene glycol is Carbowax 3350 (Trade Mark), which is a homopolymer of ethylene oxide having molecular weight between 3000 and 370Q and melting point 54C-58C, sold by the Union Carbide Corporation. Another particularly preferred binder is Neodol 45-13 (Trade Mark), a C14-C15 fatty alcohol ethoxylated with an average of 13 moles ethylene oxide, and melting point about 32C, sold by the Shell Chemical Company.

The aforedescribed fabric softening particles formed from quaternary ammonium substituted clay and quaternary ammonium salt may be incorporated into d~tergent compositions. These may be liquid or powder products ":

1 32 1 ~48 - 10 - C.6026 for washin~ fabrics. The detergent compositions are well known in the art. They generally comprise surfactants, builders and adjunct functional ingredients.

Organic surfactants may be incorporated into the detergent composition including anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic and mixed type surfactants.
Surfactants may be present in an amount from about 2% to 50~ by weight, preferably from 5% to 30~ by weight.
Among the anionic surfactants are water-soluble salts of organic sulphur reaction products having in their molecular stxucture an alkyl radical containlng from about 8 to about ~2 carbon atoms and a radical selected from the group consisting of sulphonic acid and sulphuric acid éster radicals. Such surfactants are well known in the detergent art and are described at length in Surface Active Aqents and Deterqents, Vol. II, by Schwartz, Perry & Birch, Interscience Publishers, 0 Inc., 1958, ~ .
Illustrative of these surfactants are the salts of alkylbenzene sulphonates,~ -olefin sulphonates, dialkyl sulphosuccinates and their esters, alkyl glycerol ether sulphonates, fat~y acid monoglyceride sulphates and ~ulphonates, alkyl phenyl polyethoxy ether sulphates, 2-acyloxy-alkane-1 sulphonates and ~ -alkoxy alkane sulphonates. Soaps constituted from C8-C22 fatty acid salts of alkali metals are also suitable anionic surfactants.
30~
Nonionic surfactants whîch may be included in the detergent compositions of this invention are water-soluble compounds produced by the condensation of an alkylene oxide with a hydrophobic compound such as an alcohol~ alkylphenol, fatty acid, polypropoxy glycol or polypropoxy ethylene diamine. More specifically, the :' . . ,: ~, ~ : ;

~ C.6026 nonionics may be polyoxyethylene or polyoxypropylene condensates of C8-C24 aliphatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic alcohols or alkyl phenols, Appropriate concentrations for the nonionic surfactant range from about 2~ to about 10~ by weight of the total formulation.

The compositions of this invention will contain detergent builders. Useful builders can include any of the conventional inorganic and organic water-soluble builder salts. Typical of the well known inorganic builders are the sodium and potassium salts of the following: pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate/
orthophosphate, carbonate, bicarbonate, silicate, sesquicarbonate, borate and aluminosilicate. ~mong the organic detergent builders that can be used are the sodium and potassium salts of citric acid, nitrilotriacetic acid~ carboxymethyloxy sulphosuccinic acid and vinyl polymers such as polyacrylate and polyacrylic/maleic acid copolymers. The detergent ~-builders are generally used in a concentration range of from about 2% to about 80% by weight of the total formulation; preferably they are present from about 8%
to about 60%; more preferably rom about 20% to 60~o Apart from detergent active compounds and builders, compositions of the present invention can contain all manner of minor additives commonly found in laundering or cleaning compositions in amounts in which such additives are normally employed. Examples of these additives include: la~her boosters, such as alkanolamides, particularly the mono- and diethanolamides derived from palm kernel fatty acids and coconut fatty acids; lather depressants, such as alkyl phosphates, waxes and silicones, oxygen and chlorine bleaching agents;
inorganic fillers; and usually present in very minor ..

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- 12 - C,6026 amounts fabric whitening agents, perfumes, enzymes, germicides and colourants.
The following examples will illustrate certain aspects of the invention but are not limiting thereof.
Unless otherwise sta~ed, all parts~ percentages and proportions are by weight.

Fabric softening particles of the present invention were prepared according to the following general process.

An aqueous solution of a binding agent was dissolved in water under agitation. Experiments were run with each of two different binding agents. These binders were Neodol 45-13 (Trade Mark), an ethoxylated fat y alcohol from the Shell Chemical Company and Carbowax 3350, from the Union Carbide Corporation. The water containing the binding agen~ was heated to approximately 60C to aid dissolution. After dissolution, a colourant ~ was added and mixing continued for about another 15 minutes.

, Softening actives, Bentone 34 and Arosurf TA-100 5Trade Mark) were each charged to a Marion mixer.
2S Arosurf TA-100 is dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride, manuEactured by the Sherex Chemical Company. After the Bentone 34 and Arosur TA-100 had been mixed for a short period of time, the binding solution was then sprayed onto the aforementioned solid components by means of a Unijet nozzle (Spraying Systems Company)O Subsequent to spraying the solution, the resultant agglomerated powder was allowed to mix for an additional 45 minutes. The agglomerated powder was then stored in a vented container and allowed to age several days until equilibration of the moisture level.

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- 13 - C.6026 Agglomerates produced with Carbowax 3350 exhibited a wide particle size distribution. A significant portion (15% by weight) of the batch required milling or grinding. Batches using Neodol 45-13 as the sole binding agent, produced a narrow particle size distribution. The entire batch could pass through a U.S. sieve No. 10 screen without milling or grinding.

Softening particle compositions made by the described process are listed in Table I. Typical properties of these powders are detailed in Table TI.
For instance, the dynamic flow rate (DFR~ is listed which characterises the powder flow quality; values above 100 ml/sec are considered reflective of good free-flow properties while those substantially below this value flow poorly. Measurement of DFR is more fully described in U.S. Patent 4,473,485.

TABLE I
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Compositio s of Fabric Softeninq Powders Sample No. 1 2 3 4 _ 5 Bentone 34 42.415% 42.485% 39.62~ 46.455~ 41.565%
Arosurf TA-100 42.415% 42.485% 39.62% 46.455~ 41.565%
Neodol 45-13 - 0.86% 1.6% - 0,85%
Carbowax 3350 - - - 1.9% 0.85 Colourant 0.17~ 0.17% 0.16~ 0.19~0.17%
Water 15% 14% 19% 5% 15%

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- 14 - C.6026 TABLE II

Powder Properties Sample No. 1 2 3 4 5 Additives None 1~ 2% 2% 1~ Neodol (basis dry Neodol Neodol Carbowax 45-13 agglomerate 45-13 45-13 3550 1~ Carbowax weight) 3550 Density (g/l) 477 527 560 563 559 Moisture (~) 15 14 19 5 15 DFR lml/sec) 65 120 112 115 100 Compressibility24 15 20 11 21 (%) x mean particle395 714 879 709 978 size in microns) N (distribution1.572.31 3.41 1.81 1.44 coefficient;
higher values reflect narrower particle distribution) ~5 EX~MPLE 2 ~etergent compositions containing the fabric softening particles of the present invention were evaluated using a standard fabric softening test. This test measures the relative effectiveness of products containing fabric softening material to impart a ~oft ~eel or hand to fabrics. Full scale evaluations wexe performed in a top-loading washing machine containing typical loads at detergent usage levels for high suds powders (1.6 g/l). Terry towel fabric was included to assess softness. Tap water (120-130 ppm hardness) at : . . , , , , , : -: , .: . ~ , : . , : .

- 15 ~ C.6026 38C was generally used for the test. All tests were done in triplicate for statistical purposes.
Preliminary determinations of softness were run on sample cloth in a Terg-o-tometer apparatus under conditions similar to that of the larg~r scale washing machine loads~ Cloth to wash solution ratio (23~1) was kept identical to that used with the washing machines.
Tap water (1000 ml) of previously specified hardness was used at 38C. Wash times were 15 minutes at 90 cpm speed. Two rinses were performed at 3 minutes each.
The foregoing wash sequence, each followed by line or dryer drying, was repeated for a total of 4 times. The test pieces were six terry towel swatches of 10 cm x 15 cm dimension.
Relative softness imparted to the cloths by the test products was assessed by a ten member panel comprised of technicians and graduates experienced in softness evaluations. Panellists were asked to assess only three ~est pieces at any one time to minimise loss of discrimination.

Each panellist was asked to assign a relative score and absolute grade to each test piece from the washing machine or from the 6 pieces from the Terg-o-tometer pot.
The score~ reported by the panellists were averaged.
They are here reported as "comparativel' softening for relating rank and "absolute" softening graded on a 1 to 5 scale, lowest number best.
The base detergent powder employed for the fabric softening evaluations is listed helow.

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1 32~ ~8 - 16 - C.60~6 TABLE III
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Base Powder (A) .Com~onent Linear alkylbenzene sulphonate 16.0 Sodium tripolyphosphate 34.0 Sodium carbonate 10.0 10 Sodium silicate 8.0 Sodium sulphate 21.0 Minor detergent adjuncts and water to 100%

Base powder ~A3 in an amount of 95~ was mixed with 5~ of softener adjunct particles. Formulation 1 contained base powder (A) and 5~ Bentone 34.
Formulation 2 contained S~ of a 1:1 mixture Arosurf TA-100. As seen in Table V, formulation 2 combining both Arosurf TA-100 and Bentone 34 softened better than either of the components separately. The order of so~tness was seen both on a comparative and an absolute scale.

TABLE IV

Detergent Compositions with Softener Eormulations ~ Base_Powder (A~ Bentone 34 1 95% 5%
2 95% 2.5~ 2.5%
3 95% - 5 ., ". .
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- 17 - C.6026 TABLE V
Line Drled Terry Cloths 4X Softening Assessment Totals Comparative _ Absolute Formulation 1 2 3 1 2 3 Score 22 8 18 3.2 1.9 2.4 Rank 2 > 3 ~ l 2 > 3 > 1 *Legend: Comparative Rank Absolute_Gradin~
1 = Best softening 1 = Very 50ft 2 = Intermediate 2 = Sot 3 = Poorest softening 3 = Fair 4 = Harsh 5 = Very harsh EXaMP~E 4 This example illustra~es the softening effect of various ratlos of Arosurf TA-lOO to Bentone 34 in base powder (A). The results from the assessment are summarised in Table VI. It is seen that the 1:1 blend of Arosurf TA-lOO:Bentone 34 performs better than the 3:1 and 1:3 ratios.

TABLE VI

Deter~ent Compositions~with Softener Formulations Formu1ation Base Pvwder (A) Bentone 34 2 95~ 2.5~ 2.5%
3 95% 1.25% 3.7~%
4 g5% 3.75% 1.25%

1 32 1 4~8 - 18 - C.~026 TABLE V.II

Llne and Dryer Dried Te~y Cloth lX Soften ~ s ~C_=` ~
Dryer Line-dried Rank 2 > 4 > 3 ~ > 4 > 3 _ Absolute _ Dryer Line-dried Foxmulation 2 3 4 2 3 4 Grade 2.1 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.7 2.4 lS From Table VII it will be observed that the best dryer and line dry balance is achieved with a 1:1 bl~nd of Arosurf TA-lOO~Bentone 34.

EXAMPLE_5 Further da~a is here provi~ed demonstrating the softening e~fects of particles with different ratios Arosurf TA-100 to Bentone 34 in base powder (A)~
Determinations of softness were conducted as described in Example 2 and identical to Example 4 except that the par~icle use level was increased from l.S g/l to 2.0 g/l.
The difference in use level is believed to be insignificant with regard to comparison between the results o Example 4 and the present dataO
.

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1 32 1 ~48 ~ 19 - C.6026 TABLE VIII

Det_rgent Compositions wlth Softener Formula~ions 5 Formulation ~Bentone 34 Arosurf TA-I00 95% ~.0% ~.0 6 g5~ 1.25~ 3.75%

7 95~ 4.0~ 1.0%

8 95% 3.75% 1.25%

TABLE IX

Dryer Dried Terr~ Cloth lX Softening Totals Comparative Rank .6 > 5 8 ~ 7 Formulation 5 6 7 8 Grade 2.87 2.1 2.7 2.47 From Table IX, it will be observed that formulatioDs 6 and 8 (1:3 and 3:1 ratio~ were judged to be significantly softer than formulations 5 and 7 (1:4 and 4:1 ratio3, respectively.

These ratings were both found on an absolute and comparative scale. Accordingly, it appears that the outer limits of the present inv~ntion would be Bentone 34 to Arosurf TA-100 proportions of 3:1 to 1:3.

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- 20 - C.6026 The detergency effects of fabric softening particles of the present invention are herewith reported.
Compositions using base powder (A~ were formulated as detailed in Table X. Detergency of these formulations was evaluated in a Terg-o-tometer under conditions identical to that described in Example 2.

TABLE X

Deter~ent Compositions wlth Softening Formulations . Base Sodium 15 Formulation Powder (A) Bentone 34 Arosurf TA-100 9 95% -- -- 5.0 95% 5.0% -- --11 95~ -- 5.0~ --12 95~ 2.~ 2.5% --TABLE XI

Detergency Re~ults I. Conditions __ _ _ Water hardness - 150 ppm Water temperature - 38C
~ deterqency Vacuum Cleaner l.e 30 Formulation Dust Soll Soil 9 44.1 47.0 35.4 38.7 11 41.1 34.0 12 41.0 46.3 ,. .

- . . - :. -- 21 - C.6026 II. Conditions Water hardness - 125 ppm Water temperature - 38C
~ deter~ency Vacuum Cleaner Lever Clay FormulationDust Soll _ Soil 9 47.6 55.5 38.7 52.6 11 45.3 49.6 10 12 45.8 54.6 It can be seen from Table XI that the presence of Bentone 34 and Arosurf TA-100 at best allows detergency equivalent to that of formulations where the fabric softener particles are absent. Formulation 10 with Bentone 34 exhibits inferior detergency against vacuum cleaner dust in comparison with the control formulation 9.
Against clay soil, both the Bentone 34 formulation 10 and Arosurf TA lO0 formulation 11 have infexior detergency relative to the control composition. A combination of Bentone 34 and Arosurf TA-100 unexpectedly permits detergency not substantially inferior to that of the cont~ol.

The foregoing description and Examples illustrate selected embodiments of the present invention and in light thereof variations and modifications will be sugges~ed to one skilled in the art, all of which are in the spirit and purview of this invention.

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Claims (10)

1. A fabric softening particle comprising:

(i) an impalpable, expandable, layered clay with ion-exchange capacity in which clay from about 5 to 100 molar percent of the exchangeable cations are quaternary ammonium ions of the formulae [R1R2R3R4]+ wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4N are organic radicals selected from the group consisting of C1-C22 alkyl, benzyl, C10-C16 alkyl phenyl, C2-C4 hydroxyalkyl, cyclic structures in which nitrogen forms part of a ring, and mixtures thereof; and (ii) a water-insoluble quaternary ammonium salt of the formula [R1R2R3R4N] + nxn- wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are organic radicals as defined above;
x can be any salt forming anion; n is an integer from 1 to 3; and the weight ratio of (i) to (ii) is 3:1 to 1:3.

2. A fabric softening particle according to claim 1 further comprising a water-soluble or water-dispersible binder.

3. A fabric softening particle according to claim 2 wherein the amount of said binder is from about 0.1% to 20%.

4. A fabric softening particle according to claim 2 wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of organic homo- or hetero polymers, organic nonionic compounds, long-chain C10-C22 fatty acids and fatty acid soaps, and mixtures thereof.

- 23 - C.6026

5. A fabric softening particle according to claim 1 wherein said water-insoluble quaternary ammonium salt is a distearyl dimethyl ammonium salt.

6. A fabric softening particle according to claim 1 wherein said clay is of the montmorillonite type.

7. A fabric softening particle according to claim 1 wherein the exchanged quaternary ammonium cations are dihydrogenated ditallow dimethyl ammonium ions.

8. A detergent composition comprising:

(i) from 0.1% to 20% of fabric softening particles according to claim 1;

(ii) from 2% to 50% of a surfactant; and (iii) from 2% to 80% of a builder.

9. A detergent composition according to claim 8 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and surfactant mixtures thereof.

10. A detergent composition according to claim 8 comprising:

(i) from about 3% to 10% of fabric softening particles according to claim 1;

(ii) from 5% to 20% of an anionic surfactant; and (iii) from 20% to 60% of a builder.