MXPA06008733A - A composition for use in the laundering or treatment of fabrics, and a process for making the composition - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an auxiliary composition, for use in the laundering or treatment of fabrics, comprising an admix of (i) clay and (ii) a silicone in an emulsified form.

Description

A COMPOSITION TO BE USED IN THE WASHING OR TREATMENT OF FABRICS AND A PROCESS TO MANUFACTURE SUCH COMPOSITION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a composition for use in the washing or treatment of fabrics. More specifically, the present invention relates to a laundry detergent composition that has the ability to both clean and soften fabrics during the washing process. The present invention also relates to a process for making the above composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Laundry detergent compositions are known in the field which have the ability to both clean and soften fabrics during the washing process, which have been manufactured and sold for many years by laundry detergent manufacturers. Typically, these laundry detergent compositions contain components that have the ability to impart to washed fabrics the benefit of softening thereof; These fabric softening components include clays and silicones.

The incorporation of clay in the laundry detergent compositions in order to impart to the fabrics being washed the benefit of softening thereof is described in the following references. In the U.S. patent no. No. 4,062,647 (to Storm, TD, and Nirschl, JP; The Procter &Gamble Company) discloses a prepared laundry detergent composition, granulated, containing a smectite-like clay having the ability to both clean and soften fabrics during washing process. In patent GB 2 138 037 (from Alien, E., Coutureau, M., and Dillarstone, A., Colgate-Palmolive Company) a heavy-duty fabric softening detergent containing agglomerated bentonite is disclosed. In the U.S. patent no. 4,885,101 (Tai, H.T., Lever Brothers Company) laundry detergent compositions are described which contain fabric softening clays with sizes between 150 and 2000 microns. The fabric softening performance of laundry detergent compositions containing clay improves when a flocculation aid is incorporated into said detergent compositions. For example, EP 0 299 575 (by Raemdonck, H., and Busch, A.; The Procter &Gamble Company) discloses a detergent composition containing a smectite-like clay and a clay flocculating polymeric agent. It is also known to use silicones in order to provide the fabric that is being washed with the benefit of fabric softening during the washing process. U.S. Pat. no. 4,585,563 (from Busch, A., and Kosmas, S., The Procter &Gamble Company) states that certain specific organofunctional polydialkylsiloxanes can, advantageously, be incorporated into granular detergents to offer remarkable benefits including that of fabric softening during washing, as well as further improvements in the handling of textile articles. U.S. Pat. no. 5,277,968 (de Canivenc, E., Rhone-Poulenc Chemie) describes a process for conditioning textile substrates to allegedly impart a pleasant touch and adequate hydrophobicity; the process comprises treating the textile articles with an effective conditioning amount of a specific polydiorganosiloxane. Detergent manufacturers have tried to incorporate both clay and silicon into the same laundry detergent composition. For example, in compositions containing clay, siliconates have been incorporated to, it is claimed, improve the ease with which they are dispensed. U.S. Pat. no. 4,419,250 (from Alien, E., Dillarstone, R., and Reul, JA; Colgate-Palmolive Company) discloses agglomerated bentonite particles containing a salt of a lower alkylsiliconic acid and / or one or more polymerization products thereof. . U.S. Pat. no. 4,421,657 (from Alien, E., Dillarstone, R., and Reul, J.A., Colgate-Palmolive Company) discloses a particulate composition for laundry and heavy-duty textile softening containing bentonite clay and a siliconate. U.S. Pat. no. 4,482,477 (from Alien, E., Dillarstone, R., and Reul, J.A., Colgate-Palmolive Company) discloses a synthetic organic detergent composition prepared in particulate form that includes a certain proportion that aids the dispatch of a siliconate and, as a fabric softening agent, preferably includes bentonite. In another example, EP 0 163 352 (from York, DW; The Procter &Gamble Company) describes the incorporation of silicone in a laundry detergent composition containing clay in an attempt to control the excessive foaming which during the washing process generates laundry detergent composition containing clay. EP 0 381 487 (by Biggin, I.S., and Cartwright, P.S., BP Chemicals Limited) discloses a water-based liquid detergent formulation containing clay, which receives a pretreatment with a barrier material such as a polysiloxane. Detergent manufacturers have also tried to incorporate silicone, clay and a flocculant into a laundry detergent composition. For example, a composition for the treatment of fabrics containing substituted polysiloxanes, softening clay and a clay flocculant is described in patent WO 92/07927 (by Marteleur, CAAVJ, and Convenis, A. C; The Procter &Gamble Company) . More recently, some compositions for the care of fabrics containing an organophilic clay and oil with functional groups are described in US Pat. no. 6,656,901 B2 (from Moorfield, D., and Whilton, N., Unilever Home &Personal Care USA Division of Conopeo, Inc.). Patent WO 02/092748 (Instone, T. et al., Unilever PLC) describes a granular composition containing an intimate mixture of a nonionic surfactant; a liquid insoluble in water that can be a silicone, and a granulated carrier material that can be a clay. WO 03/055966 (from Cocardo, D. M., et al .; Hindustain Lever Limited) describes a fabric care composition that contains a solid carrier which can be a clay, and an anti-wrinkle agent that can be a silicone. However, despite all previous attempts, any improvement in fabric softening performance that detergent manufacturers have been able to achieve in a laundry detergent has been at the expense of their fabric cleaning performance, as well as their ease of use. prosecution. Therefore, there is still a need to improve the fabric softening performance of a laundry detergent composition without excessively affecting its fabric cleaning performance or its ease of processing in a negative sense.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the aforementioned problem by offering an auxiliary composition to be used in the washing or treatment of fabrics; the composition comprises a mixture of (i) clay and (i) silicone in emulsified form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Clay Clay is usually a fabric softening clay, such as a smectite-like clay. The preferred smectite clays are beidelite, hectorite, laponite, montmorillonite, nontronite, saponite and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the smectite-type clay is a dioctahedral smectite, more preferably a montmorillonite. The dioctahedral smectite clays usually have one of the following two general formulas: Formula (I) NaxAI2.xMgxSi4O10 (OH) 2 or Formula (II) CaxAI2.xMgxSi4O10 (OH) 2 where x is a number from 0.1 to 0.5, preferably from 0.2 to 0.4. Preferred clays are montmorillonite clays with low loading levels (also known as sodium montmorillonites or Wyoming montmorillonite clays) having a general formula corresponding to the above Formula (I). The preferred clays are also montmorillonite clays with a high level of charge (also known as calcitic montmorillonites or montmorillonite clays of the Queto type), which have a general formula corresponding to the previous Formula (II). The preferred clays are supplied under the trade names of: Fulasoft 1 of Activated Andine Clays; White Bentonite STP by Fordamin; and Detercal P7 from Laviosa Chemica Mineraria SPA. The clay can be a hectorite. A typical hectoritic clay has the following general formula: Formula (lll) [(Mg3.xLix) Si4.yMelllyO10 (OH2.2Fz)] - ^) ((x + y) / n) Mn + where y = from 0 to 0.4, if y = > 0, then Me "'is Al, Fe or B, preferably, y = 0; Mn + is a monovalent (n = 1) or divalent metal ion (n = 2), preferably selected from Na, K, Mg, Ca and Mr. x is a number from 0.1 to 0.5, preferably from 0.2 to 0.4, more preferably from 0.25 to 0.35, z is a number from 0 to 2. The value of (x + y) is the layer load of the clay, preferably, the value of (x + y) is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5, preferably 0.2 to 0.4, more preferably 0.25 to 0.35 A preferred hectorite clay is that supplied by Rheox under the trade name of Bentone HC Other hectoritic clays which are preferred to be used herein are those hectorites which are supplied by CSM Materials under the tradename of Hectorite U and Hectorite R. The clay may also be selected from the group comprising: allophane clays; among which is preferred amesite, baileycloro, chamosite, clinocloro, cookeita, corundofita, dafnita, delessita, gonyerite, nimite, odinite, ortochamosite, pennantite, penninite, ripidolite, sudoite and thuringite; illite clays; interbedded clays; iron oxyhydroxide clays, among which hematite, goethite, lepidocrite and ferrihydrite are preferred; kaolin clays, among which kaolinite, halloysite, dickite, nacrite and hisingerite are preferred; smectite clays; Vermiculite clays and mixtures thereof. The clay may also be a light-colored crystalline clay mineral, preferably with a minimum reflectance value of 60, more preferably at least 70 or at least 80 at a wavelength of 460 nm. The preferred slightly colored crystalline clay minerals are Chinese clay, halloysite, dioctahedral clays such as kaolinite, trioctahedral such as antigorite and amesite, smectite clays and hormite such as bentonite (montmorillonite), beidilite, nontronite, hectorite, attapulguite, pimelite, mica, moscovite and vermiculite as well as pyrophyllite / talc, willemseite and minnesotaite clays. The slightly colored crystalline clay minerals are described in patents GB 2357523A and WO 01/44425. Preferred clays have a cation exchange capacity of at least 70 meq / 100 g. The cation exchange capacity of the clays can be measured using the method described in Grimshaw, The Chemistry and Physics of Clays, Interscience Publishers, Inc., pgs. 264-265 (1971). Preferably, the clay has a weighted average primary particle size, which is usually greater than 20 microns, preferably greater than 23 microns, and, more preferably, greater than micrometers; or preferably from 21 microns to 60 microns; more preferably from 22 microns to 50 microns; more preferably from 23 micrometers to 40 micrometers; more preferably from 24 to 30 microns; more preferably from 25 microns to 28 microns. Clays that have these primary weighted average particle sizes provide an even better fabric softening benefit. The method for determining the weighted average particle size of the clay is described below in greater detail. Method for determining the primary weighted average particle size of the clay: The primary weighted average particle size of the clay is usually determined using the following method: 12 g of clay are placed in a beaker containing 250 mL of distilled water and stir vigorously for 5 minutes to form a clay solution. The clay is not sonicated or microfluidized in a high-pressure microfluidization processor, but is added to the raw (ie, raw) beaker water. To the deposit of an Accusizer 780, an apparatus for the optical determination of the size of a single particle or SPOS (for its acronym in English), 1 mL of the clay solution is added using a micropipette. The clay solution added to the SPOS Accusizer 780 tank is diluted with more distilled water to form a diluted clay solution; This dilution is done in the SPOS Accusizer 780 tank and is an automated process controlled by the SPOS Accusizer 780, the which determines the optimal concentration of the diluted clay solution for the determination of the weighted average particle size of the clay particles in the diluted clay solution. The diluted clay solution is left for 3 minutes in the SPOS Accusizer 780 tank. The clay solution is stirred vigorously during the entire time it remains in the SPOS Accusizer 780 tank. Then the diluted clay solution is sucked and passes by the sensors of the SPOS Accusízer 780; This is an automated process controlled by the SPOS Accusizer 780, which determines the optimal flow rate of the diluted clay solution that passes through the sensors to determine the weighted average particle size of the clay particles in the diluted solution. of clay. All steps of this method are carried out at a temperature of 20 ° C. This method is carried out in triplicate and the average of the results is calculated. Silicone Silicone is preferably a fabric softener silicone. The silicone normally has the following general formula: Formula (IV) where, each R ^ and R2 of each repeating unit, - (Si (R1) (R2) 0) -I is are selected independently from C10 alkyl or alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, or units of - [- R- ^ Si-O -] -; x is a number from 50 to 300,000, preferably, from 100 to 100,000, more preferably from 200 to 50,000; wherein the alkyl, alkenyl or substituted phenyl are normally substituted with halogen, amino, hydroxyl groups, quaternary ammonium groups, polyalkoxy groups, carboxyl groups or nitro groups; and wherein the polymer ends in a hydroxyl group, hydrogen or -SiR3, wherein R3 is hydroxyl, hydrogen, methyl or a functional group. Suitable silicones include: aminosilicones such as those described in patents EP 150872, WO 92/01773 and U.S. Pat. no. 4800026; quaternary silicones such as those described in U.S. Pat. no. 4448810 and EP 459821; high viscosity silicones such as those described in WO 00/71806 and WO 00/71807; modified polydimethylsiloxane; polydimethylsiloxane with functional groups such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5668102. Preferably, the silicone is a polydimethylsiloxane. The silicone may preferably be a mixture of silicones of two or more different types of silicones. Preferred silicone blends are those comprising: a high viscosity silicone and a low viscosity silicone; a silicone with functional groups and a silicone without functional groups; or an unfilled silicone polymer and a cationic silicone polymer. Silicone normally has a viscosity of 5 Pa.s (5000 cp) to 5000 Pa.s (5,000,000 cp), or greater than 10 Pa.s (10,000 cp) a 1000 Pa.s (1, 000,000 cp), or from 10 Pa.s (10,000 cp) to 600 Pa.s (600,000 cp), more preferably from 50 Pa.s (50,000 cp) to 400 Pa.s (400,000 cp), and more preferably from 80 Pa.s (80,000 cp) to 200 Pa.s (200,000 cp) when measured at a cutting speed of 20 s "1 and at ambient conditions (20 ° C and 101 kPa (1 atmosphere)) Silicone is usually in liquid or liquefiable form, especially when mixed with clay.Normally, silicone is a polymeric silicone that contains more than 3, preferably more than 5 and even more than 10 monomer units The silicone is in the form of an emulsion, especially when mixed with clay.The emulsion can be a water-in-oil emulsion or an oil-in-water emulsion.The emulsion is preferably water-in-oil emulsion form, wherein the silicone forms at least a part, preferably, of the entire continuous phase, and the water forms at least part, preferably, of the the discontinuous phase. The emulsion generally has an average primary droplet volumetric size of 0.1 micrometers to 5000 micrometers, preferably from 0.1 micrometers to 50 micrometers and, most preferably from 0.1 micrometers to 5 micrometers. The average primary volumetric particle size is usually measured using a Coulter Multisizer ™ or by the method described in detail below. The silicone in emulsified form has, in general, a viscosity of 500 cp (0.5 Pa.s) at 70,000 cp (70 Pa.s), or from 3000 cp (3 Pa.s) to 20,000 cp (20 Pa.s) ).

Commercially available silicone oils that are suitable for use herein are DC200 ™ (from 12,500 cp (12.5 Pa.s) to 600,000 cp (600 Pa.s)), supplied by Dow Corning or the Silicones of the Baysilone Fluid M series supplied by GE Silicone. Alternatively, the use of preformed silicone emulsions is equally suitable. These emulsions may contain water and / or other solvents in an amount effective to aid emulsification of the silicone. Method for determining the average volumetric droplet size of the silicone: The average droplet volumetric size of the emulsion is usually determined using the following method: The emulsion is applied to a microscope slide and covered with the coverslip by placing it gently. The emulsion is observed under a microscope with magnifications of 400X and 1000X; The average droplet size of the emulsion is calculated by comparison with a standard platen micrometer. Emulsifier The emulsifier can be any surfactant, preferably a detergent surfactant. Suitable detergent surfactants include anionic detergent surfactants, nonionic detergent surfactants, cationic detergent surfactants, zwitterionic detergent surfactants, amphoteric detergent surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Preferred detergent surfactants are selected from the group comprising C8.18 alkyl sulphates, C8.18 ethoxylated alkyl sulphates having an average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 7, linear alkylbenzenesulfonates of C8.18, alkylcarboxylic acids of C12.18, ethoxylated alkyl alcohols of C8-18 having an average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 7, N-methylglycosamides of C12-24 alkyl, C8.18 alkyl polyglycosides, amine oxides, C12-24 alkylbetaines, monoalkyl monoethoxy dimethylammonium quaternary chlorides of C6.18, and mixtures thereof. Most preferably, the emulsifier is an anionic detergent surfactant, such as a linear alkylbenzene sulphonate. Polymeric component with load that increases the softening of the fabric The polymeric component with load that increases the softening of the fabric is preferably cationic. Preferably, the charged polymer component that increases fabric softening is a cationic guar gum. The charged polymer component that increases fabric softening may be a cationic polymer comprising (i) monomeric acrylamide units, (i) other cationic monomer units and (iii) optionally, other monomer units. The polymeric component with charge that increases the softening of the fabric can be a polyacrylamide with cationic modification or a copolymer thereof; any cationic modification can be used in these polyacrylamides. The load-bearing polymeric components which increase the softening of the fabric and which are most preferred to be used are the copolymers of acrylamide and a quaternary salt of methyl chloride of dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (DMA3-MeCI), for example such as those supplied by BASF, Ludwigshafem, Germany, with the trade name of Sedipur CL343.

The general structure of the DMA3MeCI is: Formula (V) The general structure of acrylamide is: Formula (VI) Preferred cationic polymers have the following general structure: Formula (Vll) where n and m are, independently, numbers that are in the range of 100 to 100,000, preferably 800 to 3400. The molar ratio of n: m is, preferably in the range of 4: 1 to 3: 7, of preference from 3: 2 to 2: 3. The polymeric components under load that increase the fabric softening are described in greater detail in DE 10027634, DE 10027636, DE 10027638, US Pat. num. 6111056 and 6147183, WO 98/17762, WO 98/21301, WO 01/05872 and WO 01/05874, in addition to which they can be synthesized in accordance with the methods described therein. The polymeric component with charge that increases the softening of the fabric has, preferably, an average degree of cationic substitution of 1% to 70%, preferably greater than 10% to 70%, more preferably 10% to 60%. If the charged polymer component that increases fabric softening is a cationic guar gum, then its preferred degree of cation substitution is 10% to 15%. However, if the polymeric component with load increasing fabric softening is a polymer having a general structure in accordance with the above Formula Vll, then its degree of cationic substitution is preferably 40% to 60%. The average degree of cationic substitution generally refers to the molar percentage of monomers in the cationic polymer having a cationic substitution. The average degree of cationic substitution can be determined using any known method, such as colloidal titration. One of these colloidal titration methods is the one described in detail by Horn, D., in Prog. Colloid & amp;; Polymer Sci. (Colloidal and Polymer Science), 1978, 8, p. 243-265. The polymeric component with charge that increases fabric softening preferably has a charge density of 0.2 meq / g to 1.5 meq / g. The charge density is usually defined in terms of the number of charges the polymer has, expressed in milliequivalents / gram. An equivalent is the weight of material needed to provide one mole of charge; Therefore one milliequivalent is one thousandth of it. Preferably, the load-bearing polymer component that increases fabric softening has a weight average molecular weight greater than 0.166 g (100,000 Da) to below 16.6 g (10,000,000 Da), preferably 0.83 g (500,000 Da) a 3.32 ag (2,000,000 Da) and, preferably from 1.66 ag (1, 000,000 Da) to 3.32 ag (2,000,000). To determine the weighted average molecular weight of a polymer, in this case the polymeric component with charge that increases fabric softening, any of the known methods of determination by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) can be used. English). GPC determinations are described in more detail in Polymer Analysis (Analysis of polymers) by Stuart, B. H., pgs. 108-112, published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, UK, © 2002. The following is a typical GPC method for determining the weighted average molecular weight of the polymer component with charge that increases the fabric softening: Method for determining the weighted average molecular weight of the polymer component with charge that increases the softening of the fabric: 1. Dissolve 1.5 g of the polymer in 1 liter of deionized water. 2. Filter the mixture obtained in the previous step 1 using a Sartorius Minisart RC25 filter. 3. In accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, inject 100 liters of the mixture obtained in step 2 into an apparatus for GPC that comes equipped with a Suprema MAX column (8 mm by 30 cm), which operates at 35 ° C, and an ERC7510 detector, where an elution solvent is used as an aqueous solution of 0.2 M acetic acid and a solution of potassium chloride at a flow of 0.8 mL / min. 4. The weighted average molecular weight is obtained by analyzing the GPC data, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Flocculation adjuvant Flocculation adjuvant has the ability to flocculate clay. Normally, the flocculation aid is polymeric. Preferably, the flocculation aid is a polymer containing monomer units selected from the group comprising ethylene oxide, acrylamide, acrylic acid and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the flocculation aid is a polyethylene oxide. Typically, the flocculation aid has a molecular weight of at least 0.166 ag (100,000 Da), preferably from 0.25 ag (150,000 Da) to 8.3 ag (5,000,000 Da) and most preferably 0.33 ag (200,000 Da) a 1.16 g (700,000 Da.) Auxiliary Components The auxiliary composition and / or the laundry detergent composition may, optionally, contain one or more auxiliary components. These auxiliary components are usually selected from the group comprising detergent surfactants, additives, co-additives polymers, bleach, chelants, enzymes, antiredeposition polymers, polymers that release the dirt, polymeric agents that disperse the dirt and / or suspend it, dye transfer inhibitors, agents for the integrity of the fabric, brighteners, suds suppressors, softeners of fabrics, flocculants and combinations thereof. Auxiliary composition The auxiliary composition is to be used in the washing or treatment of fabrics and typically, or forms part of a fully formulated laundry detergent composition or is an additive composition, suitable for adding to a fully formulated laundry detergent composition. Preferably, the auxiliary composition forms part of a fully formulated laundry detergent composition. The auxiliary composition contains a mixture of clay and a silicone in emulsified form. Normally, the auxiliary composition further contains a polymeric component with charge that increases the fabric softening and, optionally, one or more auxiliary components. Preferably, the charged polymer component that increases the fabric softening is present in the auxiliary composition in the form of a mixture with the clay and the silicone; this means that usually the polymeric component with charge that increases the softening of the fabric is present in the same particle as clay and silicone.

Preferably, the weight ratio of the silicone to the emulsifier, if present, in the auxiliary composition is from 3: 1 to 20: 1. Preferably, the weight ratio of the silicone to the clay is 0.05 to 0.3. Laundry Detergent Composition The laundry detergent composition comprises the auxiliary composition, a detergent surfactant, optionally a flocculation aid, optionally an additive, and optionally a bleach. The laundry detergent composition optionally contains one or more auxiliary components. The laundry detergent composition is preferably in a particulate form, preferably in a fluid particulate form, ie free-flowing, although the composition may also be in liquid or solid form. The composition in solid form can be in the form of agglomerate, granules, flakes, extruded product, stick, tablet or any combination thereof. The solid composition can be prepared using methods such as dry mixing, agglomeration, compaction, spray drying, tray granulation, spherization or any combination thereof. The solid composition preferably has a bulk density of 300 g / L to 1500 g / L, preferably 500 g / L to 1000 g / L. The composition may also be in liquid, gel, paste, dispersion form, preferably, colloidal dispersion or any combination thereof. Liquid compositions typically have a viscosity of 500 cps (0.5 Pa.s) at 3000 cps (3 Pa.s) when measured at a cutting speed of 20 s "1 under ambient conditions (20 ° C and 101 kPa (1 atmosphere)) and has, as a rule, a density of 800 g / L to 1300 g / L. If the composition is in the form of A dispersion will then normally have a volumetric average particle size of 1 micrometer to 5000 micrometers, preferably 1 micrometer to 50 micrometers.The particles forming the dispersion are usually clay and, if present, the To measure the average volumetric particle size of a dispersion, a Coulter Multisizer is usually used.The composition may include, in its unit dose form, not only tablets, but also unit dose envelopes wherein the composition is enclosed or contained, at least partially, but preferably completely contained by a film, for example a film of polyvinyl alcohol.The composition has the ability to both clean and soften the during the washing process. In general, the composition is formulated for use in an automatic washing machine, although it can also be formulated for use in a hand washing process. The following auxiliary components and their levels, when incorporated into a laundry detergent composition of the present invention, further improve the fabric softening performance and the fabric cleaning performance of the laundry detergent composition: at least 10% by weight the composition of an alkylbenzene sulfonate detergent surfactant; at least 0.5%, or at least 1%, or even at least 2% by weight of the composition of a cationic quaternary ammonium detergent surfactant; at least 1% by weight of the composition of an alkoxylated alkyl sulfate detergent surfactant, preferably an ethoxylated alkyl sulfate detergent surfactant; less than 12% or even less than 6%, or even 0% by weight of the composition, of a zeolite additive; and any combination of these. Preferably, the laundry detergent composition comprises at least 6%, or at least 8% or at least 12%, or even at least 18%, by weight of the laundry detergent composition of the auxiliary composition. Preferably, the composition comprises at least 0.3% by weight of the composition of a flocculation aid. The weight ratio of the clay to the flocculation aid in the laundry detergent composition is preferably in the range of 10: 1 to 200: 1, preferably 14: 1 to 160: 1, more preferably 20: 1 to 100: 1 and, more preferably, from 50: 1 to 80: 1. The process The process for manufacturing the auxiliary composition comprises the steps of: (i) contacting a silicone with water and, optionally, with an emulsifier to form a silicone in emulsified form; and (ii) thereafter, contacting the silicone, in emulsified form, with a clay to form a mixture of clay and a silicone. Preferably, the silicone is in liquid or liquefiable form when it is contacted with the clay in step (ii). Preferably, the emulsion formed in step (i) is a water-in-oil emulsion, wherein the silicone forms at least part, preferably all, of the phase of the emulsion, and the water forms at least part, preferably all, of the discontinuous phase of the emulsion. Preferably, a charged polymeric component that increases fabric softening is contacted with the clay and silicone in step (ii). The intimate mixing of the polymeric component with filler that increases the softening of the fabric with the clay and silicone further improves the fabric softening performance of the resulting auxiliary composition. Step (i) can be carried out at room temperature (for example at 20 ° C), however, it is possibly preferred to carry out step (i) at an elevated temperature, such as a temperature within the range of 30 ° C to 60 ° C. If an emulsifier is used in the process, then the emulsifier is preferably placed in contact with the water to form an emulsifier-water mixture; after that, the emulsifier-water mixture is contacted with the silicone. For continuous processes, step (i) is normally carried out in a static mixer in line or in a dynamic mixer (cutting) in line. For non-continuous processes, step (i) is normally performed in a batch or batch mixer, such as a Z-blade mixer, an anchor mixer or a paddle mixer. The mixture of clay and silicone is preferably subsequently agglomerated in a high shear mixer. Suitable high shear mixers include Loedige CB mixers, Schugi mixers, Littleford mixers, Drais mixers and laboratory mixers, such as Braun mixers. From Preferably, the high shear mixer is a tine or spike mixer, such as a CB mixer from Loedige or a Littleford mixer or a Drais mixer. High shear mixers normally operate at high speed, preferably at a tip speed of 30 ms "1 to 35 ms" 1. Preferably, water is added to the high shear mixer. The clay-silicone mixture is usually then subjected to a conditioning step in a low shear mixer. Suitable low shear mixers include plow blade mixers, such as the KM from Loedige. Preferably, the low shear mixer has a tip speed of 5 ms "1 to 10 ms" 1. Optionally, fine particles, such as zeolite and / or clay particles, which typically have an average particle size of 1 micrometer to 40 micrometers, even from 1 micrometer to 10 micrometers are introduced into the low effort mixer. cutting. This spray step improves the ability of the resulting particles to flow or slide by reducing their adhesion and controlling their growth. Typically, the clay-silicone mixture is subjected to a size separation step, wherein the particles having a particle size greater than 500 mm are removed from the mixture. Normally, these larger particles are removed from the mixture by sieving. The mixture of clay and silicone is preferably exposed to hot air, which has a temperature higher than 50 ° C, even higher than 100 ° C. Normally, the mixture of clay and silicone is dried at elevated temperature (for example at a temperature higher than 50 ° C, or even higher than 100 ° C); preferably, the mixture is dried in a low shear apparatus such as a fluidized bed dryer. After this preferred drying step, the clay-sylcone mixture is subsequently exposed, preferably to cold air having a temperature of less than 15 ° C, preferably from 1 ° C to 10 ° C. This cooling step is preferably carried out in a fluid bed cooler. The clay-silicone mixture is preferably subjected to a second size separation step, where particles having a particle size of less than 250 microns are removed from the mixture. These small particles are removed from the mixture by sieving and / or elutriation. If elutriation is used, then the second size separation step is preferably carried out in a fluid bed, such as the dryer and / or fluid bed cooler, in case it is used in the process. The clay-silicone mixture is preferably subjected to a third size separation step, where the particles having a particle size greater than 1400 microns are removed from the mixture. These large particles are removed from the mixture by sieving. Large particles that are optionally removed from the mixture during the first and / or third size separation steps are normally recycled back to the high shear mixer and / or to the fluid bed dryer or cooler, in case of that are used in the process. From optionally, these large particles are subjected to a grinding step prior to their introduction to the high shear mixer and / or to the fluid bed dryer or cooler. The small particles that are optionally removed from the mixture during the second size separation step are normally recycled back to the high shear mixer and / or the low shear mixer, if used. in the process.

Examples Example 1: a process for preparing a silicone emulsion To a glass is added 81.9 g of silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) having a viscosity of 100,000 cp (100 Pa.s). Next, 8.2 g of 30% by weight aqueous solution of alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) of C are added to the beaker. C13, and the silicone, LAS and water are perfectly mixed by hand for 2 minutes with a flat spatula to form an emulsion.

Example 2: a process for preparing a clay / silicone agglomerate To a Braun mixer are added 601.2 g of the bentonite clay and 7.7 g of cationic guar gum. To the Braun mixer are added 90. 1 g of the emulsion of Example 1 and all the ingredients of the mixer were mixed for 10 seconds at 115.2 rad / s (1100 rpm) (speed level 8). The speed of the Braun mixer is then increased to 209 rad / s (2000 rpm) (speed level 14) and, slowly, 50 g of water are added to the Braun mixer. The mixer is maintained at 209 rad / s (2000 rpm) for 30 seconds so that wet agglomerates are formed. The wet agglomerates are transferred to a drying fluidized bed and dried for 4 minutes at 137 ° C to form dry agglomerates. The dry agglomerates are screened to remove agglomerates having a particle size greater than 1400 microns and agglomerates having a particle size of less than 250 microns.

Example 3: a clay / silicone agglomerate A clay / silicone agglomerate suitable for use in the present invention comprises: 80.3% by weight of bentonite clay, 1.0% by weight of cationic guar gum, 10.9% by weight of silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) ), 0.3% in weight of alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) of C? C13 and 7.5% by weight of water.

Example 4: a clay / silicone agglomerate A clay / silicone agglomerate suitable for use in the present invention comprises: 72.8% by weight of bentonite clay, 0.7% by weight of cationic guar gum, 15.9% by weight of silicone (polydimethylsiloxane), 0.5% by weight of alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) of C? C13 and 10.1% by weight of water.

Example 5: A Laundry Detergent Composition A laundry detergent composition suitable for use in the present invention comprises: 15% by weight clay / silicone agglomerates of any of the foregoing Examples 3 or 4; 0.2% by weight of polyethylene oxide having a weight average molecular weight of 0.5 g (300,000 Da); 11% by weight of the linear alkylbenzenesulfonate detergent surfactant of C11-13; 0.3% by weight of C12-14 alkyl sulfate detergent surfactant; 1% by weight of a C12-C14 quaternary alkyl, dimethyl, quaternary etoxammonium detergent surfactant; 4% by weight of crystalline sodium silicate stratified; 12% by weight of zeolite A; 2.5% by weight of citric acid; 20% by weight of sodium carbonate; 0.1% by weight of sodium silicate; 0.8% by weight of hydrophobically modified cellulose; 0.2% by weight of protease; 0.1% by weight of amylase; 1.5% by weight of tetraacetylethylenediamine; 6.5% by weight of percarbonate; 0.1% by weight of ethylenediamine-N'N-disuccinic acid, isomer (S, S) in the form of a sodium salt; 1.2% by weight of 1, 1-hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid; 0.1% by weight of magnesium sulfate; 0.7% by weight of perfume; 18% by weight of sulfate; 4.7% by weight of miscellaneous compounds / water.

Example 6: A Laundry Detergent Composition A laundry detergent composition suitable for use in the present invention comprises: 12.5% by weight clay / silicone agglomerates of any of the foregoing Examples 3 or 4; 0. 3% by weight of polyethylene oxide with a weight average molecular weight of 0.5 g (300,000 Da); 11% by weight of the linear alkylbenzenesulfonate detergent surfactant of C ,,, ^; 2.5% by weight of the detergent surfactant of alkyl, dimethyl, quaternary etoxammonium of C12-C14; 4% by weight of crystalline sodium silicate stratified; 12% by weight of zeolite A; 20% by weight of sodium carbonate; 1.5% by weight of tetraacetylethylenediamine; 6.5% by weight of percarbonate; 1.0% by weight of perfume; 18% by weight of sulfate; 10.7% by weight of miscellaneous compounds / water.

Example 7: A Laundry Detergent Composition A laundry detergent composition suitable for use in the present invention comprises: 12.5% by weight clay / silicone agglomerates of any of the foregoing Examples 3 or 4; 0.3% by weight of polyethylene oxide with a weight average molecular weight of 0.5 g (300,000 Da); 10% by weight of the linear alkylbenzenesulfonate detergent surfactant of C11-13; 1% by weight of the condensed alkyl detergent surfactant, with an average of 7 moles of ethylene oxide; 4% by weight of crystalline sodium silicate stratified; 18% by weight of zeolite A; 20% by weight of sodium carbonate; 1.5% by weight of tetraacetylethylenediamine; 6.5% by weight of percarbonate; 1.0% by weight of perfume; 15% by weight of sulfate; 4.2% by weight of miscellaneous compounds / water.

Claims (28)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. An auxiliary composition to be used in the washing or treatment of fabrics; the composition comprises a mixture of (i) clay and (ii) a silicone in emulsified form.

2. An auxiliary composition to be used in the washing or treatment of fabrics; the composition comprises a mixture of clay and a silicone, wherein the auxiliary composition can be obtained by the process comprising the steps of: i) contacting a silicone with water and, optionally, an emulsifier to form a silicone in emulsified form; and ii) after that, contacting the silicone in emulsified form with a clay to form a mixture of clay and a silicone in emulsified form.

3. The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the auxiliary composition further comprises at least one polymeric component with charge that increases the fabric softening.

4. The auxiliary composition in accordance with the claim 2, characterized in that the silicone in emulsified form has a viscosity of 3000 cp (3 Pa.s) at 20,000 cp (20 Pa.s), at a cutting speed of 20 s "1.

5. The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the silicone is a polymeric silicone having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 cp (10 Pa.s) to 600,000 cp (600 Pa.s), at a speed The cutting composition of 20 s "1.

6. The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the silicone is a polydimethylsiloxane 7.

The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the emulsion is a water-in-oil emulsion in which the silicone forms the continuous phase of the emulsion and the water forms the discontinuous phase of the emulsion 8.

The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the phase The discontinuous emulsion has an average droplet size of 0.1 micrometer to 5 micrometers.

The cement according to any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the clay is a fabric softening clay.

10. The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the clay is a montmorillonite clay.

11. The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the emulsifier is an anionic detergent surfactant.

12. The auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the emulsifier is a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate detergent surfactant.

The auxiliary composition according to claim 3, further characterized in that the load-bearing polymer component that increases fabric softening has a charge density of 0.2 meq / g at 1.5 meq / g.

The auxiliary composition according to claim 3 or 13, further characterized in that the polymeric component with load increasing fabric softening has a weight average molecular weight of 1.66 g (1,000,000 Da) at 3.32 g (2,000,000 Da) ).

15. The auxiliary composition according to the claims 3 or 13 to 14, further characterized in that the polymeric component with charge that increases the softening of the fabric is cationic guar gum.

16. A laundry detergent composition comprising: i) an auxiliary composition according to any of the preceding claims; and (i) a detergent surfactant; and iii) optionally, a flocculation adjuvant; and v) optionally, an additive; and v) optionally, a bleach; and vi) optionally, one or more auxiliary components.

17. The composition according to claim 16, further characterized in that the composition comprises a flocculation adjuvant.

The composition according to claims 16 to 17, further characterized in that the flocculation aid is a polyethylene oxide having a weight average molecular weight of 0.332 g (200,000 Da) at 1.16 g (700,000 Da).

19. The composition according to claims 16 to 18, further characterized in that the form of the composition is that of a free-flowing particulate material.

20. A process for preparing an auxiliary composition according to claims 1 or 2; the process comprises the steps of: i) contacting a silicone with water and, optionally, an emulsifier, to form a silicone in emulsified form; and i) after that, contact the silicone in emulsified form with clay to form a mixture of clay and a silicone in emulsified form.

21. The process according to claim 20, further characterized in that the silicone in emulsified form has a viscosity of 3000 cp (3 Pa.s) at 20,000 cp (20 Pa.s), at a cutting speed of 20 s.

The process according to any of claims 20 to 21, further characterized in that at least one polymeric component with charge that increases the softening of the fabric is brought into contact with the clay and silicone of step (ii).

23. The process according to any of claims 20 to 22, further characterized in that the mixture of clay and a silicone in emulsified form is subsequently agglomerated in a mixer of high shear to form an agglomerate.

24. The process according to claim 23, further characterized in that water is added to the high shear mixer.

25. The process according to any of claims 20 to 24, further characterized in that the mixture of clay and silicone in emulsified form is subjected to a temperature greater than 100 ° C.

26. The process according to any of claims 20 to 25, further characterized in that the discontinuous phase of the emulsion has an average droplet size of 0.1 micrometers to 5 micrometers.

27. The process according to any of claims 20 to 26, further characterized in that the clay has a primary particle size of 14 microns to 160 microns.

28. The process according to any of claims 20 to 27, further characterized in that the weight ratio of the silicone to the emulsifier is from 3: 1 to 20: 1.