FABRIC SOFTENING AND PERFUMING COMPOSITION WITH ANTI-LIME EFFECT AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING SAID COMPOSITION

Abstract

 The invention comprises a composition for softening and perfuming fabrics with anti-lime effect, with which a high persistance of the perfuming effect is achieved on apparel subjected to a washing treatment and, additionally, an anti-lime or anti-scale effect to prevent the mineral deposits that occur in fabrics or in machines during said washing treatment. The composition comprises a solid product in the form of pearls or granules comprising a water-soluble core, a first enveloping layer composed of coadjuvants, fragrances and dyes, and additionally a layer comprising drying agents, chelating agents and anti-lime polymeric removers. Additionally, the composition comprises amorphous silicate that facilitates the flow of the composition.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention is intended to disclose a composition for softening and perfuming fabrics with anti-lime effect, which is adequate for use in fabric washing treatments to prevent the mineral deposits that occur during said washing treatment in the fabrics and in the machines in which said washing treatments are carried out.

State of the art

[0002] For many years, the washing of fabric articles, particularly household apparel, has required the use of different types of products to wash and soften the fabric articles, which are usually applied during the washing phases of a washing machine, without excluding the manual use thereof.

[0003] The objectives pursued by the products used in the softening and washing phases of fabric articles are of multiple types, due to which there are a wide variety thereof.

[0004] In many cases, the objective pursued has been to simultaneously achieve a washing action, i.e. an action using detergents, and a softening action of the fabric articles, such that functions have been included in said softening with the aim of achieving different objectives, such as avoiding wrinkling of the apparel, achieving surface feel effects on the user's skin without abrasive action, preserving the colours of the fabric articles or livening up some of said colours, extending the useful life of the apparel, achieving greater physical consistency of the apparel, achieving perfuming effects, etc. For this reason, multiple inventions have been disclosed that fulfil some of the aforementioned, or other, objectives.

[0005] The use of solid compositions to wash and condition fabrics during a washing process is known in the state of the art.

[0006] WO2010000636 discloses a solid fabric-care composition comprising a water-soluble carrier, a water-soluble polymer, a fabric-care compound, a polysaccharide and a fragrance, the water-soluble carrier being in the form of particles and having a coating that comprises the water-soluble polymer and the fragrance, wherein a mixture of the fabric-care compound and the polysaccharide is incorporated at least partially to the coating, whereupon the carrier is at least partially coated with a mixture of the fabric-care compound and the polysaccharide.

[0007] ES2348068 discloses a solid particle adequate for carrying out a fabric washing and softening process comprising carbonate(s), sulphates and perfume, wherein the particle also contains layered silicates and wherein the proportion of layered silicates to the total amount of carbonate and sulphate is 1:2.

[0008] Furthermore, it is known that minerals deposits occur during washing processes on the devices or machines wherein said processes are carried out, said deposits being particularly due to the accumulation of lime, an element that forms part of drinking water. When this occurs the machine does not function properly and the fabric does not come out of the machine properly washed.

[0009] The existence of a solid composition for softening and perfuming fabrics during a washing process that includes compounds in its composition for adequately removing and effectively avoiding mineral deposits, particularly limescale, both on the fabrics and on the machines during a washing process, is not known in the state of the art.

Description of the invention

[0010] In the present invention, chelating agent shall be understood to be heavy metal sequestering or antagonist agents, which is a substance that forms strong complexes with heavy metal ions. These complexes are known as chelates and generally prevent these heavy metals from reacting.

[0011] In the present invention, anti-lime polymeric removal agent or lime removing agent, as used herein, shall be understood to be an agent capable of preventing the lime present in the water from adhering to the fabric product during washing thereof.

[0012] The present invention is based on the research carried out by the inventors, according to which it is possible to obtain a solid composition with high persistance of the perfuming effect in apparel subjected to washing and softening and that additionally comprises a significant anti-lime effect.

[0013] Thus, the solid composition with anti-lime effect for softening and perfuming fabrics of the present invention comprises a water-soluble core having a first enveloping layer composed of a coadjuvant agent, a perfuming agent and a dye, and a second enveloping layer comprising a drying agent, a chelating agent and an anti-lime polymeric removal agent, wherein the compounds are comprised according to the following concentration by weight: water-soluble core between 70% and 95%, drying agent between 2% and 10%, chelating agent between 0.05% and 15%, and lime-removing agent between 0.05% and 35%, with the condition that the sum of all the components does not exceed 100%, wherein the lime-removing agent is selected from the group consisting of a sulfonated polymer, a sodium salt of the the maleic/acrylic acid copolymer and a sodium salt of the the polyacrylic acid.

[0014] Surprisingly, the solid composition of the invention provides a single product with a fabric softening and perfuming effect with a simultaneous anti-lime effect that removes mineral deposits both from the fabic and from the machine during a washing process.

[0015] The water-soluble core is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, carbamide (urea), and carbohydrates, wherein urea is preferably used in a concentration between 75% and 95% by weight.

[0016] The drying agent is selected from the group consisting of clay, zeolite, and silicon dioxide. Preferably, the clay is bentonite.

[0017] The chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of trisodium salt of the methylglycinediacetic acid, tetrasodium salt of the L-glutamic-N,N-diacetic acid (tetrasodium salt of the GLDA), trisodium citrate dihydrate, and tetrasodium iminodisuccinate.

[0018] The solid composition according to the present invention additionally comprises amorphous silicon as fluid agent with antiagglomerant function, which is comprised in a concentration between 0.1% and 0.4% by weight in relation to said solid composition.

[0019] The coadjuvant used will be a polyacrylic polymer which is comprised in a concentration between 0.01% and 15% by weight.

[0020] The perfuming agent used is in a concentration comprised between 2% and 9% by weight, and the dye in a concentration comprised between 0.005% and 0.15% by weight.

[0021] The solid composition of the present invention is constituted in the form of a solid granule having an average diameter size comprised between 0.15 mm and 8 mm.

[0022] Advantageously, the solid composition is presented in the form of pearls. This solid presentation form makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous mixture with the detergent and allows easier and more secure handling of the composition during manufacturing, marketing and distribution thereof.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is the method for obtaining the previously defined solid composition, wherein said method comprising the following steps:

• coating the water-soluble core that is present in a concentration comprised between 70% and 95% with a homogeneous liquid pre-mixture containing the coadjuvant at a concentration between 0.01% and 15% by weight, the perfuming agent at a concentration between 2% and 9% by weight, and the dye at a concentration between 0.005% and 0.15% by weight, such that a first enveloping layer is created,
• homogeneously pre-mixing the drying agent at a concentration between 2% and 10% by weight, the chelating agent at a concentration between 0.05 and 15% by weight, and the anti-lime polymeric remover at a concentration between 0.05% and 35%, and adding it to the first enveloping layer such as to create a second enveloping layer over the water-soluble core,
• adding the fluid agent at a concentration between 0.1% and 0.4% by weight with the condition that the sum of all the components does not exceed 100%, such that the solid granule has an average diameter size comprised between 0.15 mm and 8 mm.

[0024] The homogeneous liquid pre-mixture containing the coadjuvant, the perfuming agent and the dye is prepared at room temperature. The liquid mixture is added very slowly to the pearl with a water-soluble core, gently agitating the result to maintain the integrity of the resulting granule or solid particle to create said first enveloping layer.

[0025] Subsequently, the drying agent, the chelating agent and the anti-lime polymeric remover are homogeneously pre-mixed under moderate agitation and are added to the first enveloping layer, such as to create a second enveloping layer differentiated from the first enveloping layer.

[0026] The fluid agent with antiagglomerant effect is added over the second enveloping layer, obtaining the final solid granule.

[0027] The pearls or granules formed in this process have a density at 20°C comprised between 0.7 and 1.5 g/cm³ and a non-volatile dry extract at 105°C comprised between 80% and 99%.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

EXAMPLES

[0028] The following examples illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and do not aim to limit the scope thereof.

Method for preparing the solid composition

[0029] In order to prepare the solid composition of the present invention in the examples illustrated below, selective layering is carried out that makes it possible to differentially deposit the different ingredients sequentially in enveloping layers in the wash bath at room temperature, without need to heat and/or melt any ingredient, mixture or pre-mixture throughout the entire manufacturing process of the preparation.

[0030] The components mentioned herein are expressed as a percentage by weight with respect to the total weight of the solid composition.

[0031] Initially, a homogeneous liquid pre-mixture is prepared containing the coadjuvant at a concentration between 0.01% and 15%, the perfuming agent at a concentration between 2% and 9% by weight, and the dye at a concentration between 0.005% and 0.15% by weight. The liquid mixture is very slowly added to the pearls with a water-soluble core present in a concentration between 70% and 95%, gently agitating the contents to maintain the integrity of the resulting granules, such as to create a first enveloping layer over said core.

[0032] Next, the drying agent is homogeneously pre-mixed at a concentration between 2% and 10% by weight, the chelating agent at a concentration between 0.05% and 15% by weight, and the anti-lime polymeric remover at a concentration between 0.05% and 35%. This mixture is added to the first enveloping layer such as to create a second enveloping layer thereover.

[0033] Lastly, the fluid agent is added at a concentration between 0.1% and 0.4% by weight, such that the solid granule has an average diameter size between 0.15 mm and 8 mm.

[0034] The product is present in a presentation form of opaque granules with different shades of colour, very stable over time, easily flowing without generating lumps difficult to dose.

[0035] Following are six examples of solid compositions of the present invention, which were prepared following the method previously described in this section.

Example 1

[0036] The product consists of the following components expressed as a percentage by weight of the total compound; sodium chloride 76.695%, polyacrylic polymer 0.8%, perfuming agent 9%, dye 0.005%, zeolite 3%, trisodium salt of the methylglycinediacetic acid 3%, tetrasodium salt of the GLDA 2%, sulfonated polymer 0.2%, sodium salt of the maleic/acrylic acid copolymer 2% and amorphous silicon 0.3%.

Example 2

[0037] The product consists of the following components expressed as a percentage by weight of the total compound: carbohydrate 75.785%, polyacrylic polymer 1%, perfuming agent 3%, dye 0.015%, zeolite 4%, silicon dioxide 3%, tetrasodium salt of the GLDA 6%, trisodium citrate dihydrate 6%, sodium salt of the maleic/acrylic acid copolymer 1% and amorphous silicon 0.2%.

Example 3

[0038] The product consists of the following components expressed as a percentage by weight of the total compound: carbamide (urea) 85.69%, polyacrylic polymer 0.2%, perfuming agent 5%, dye 0.01%, clay 5%, trisodium salt of the salt of the methylglycinediacetic acid 3%, sulfonated polymer 1% and amorphous silicon 0.1%.

Example 4

[0039] The product consists of the following components expressed as a percentage by weight of the total compound: sodium chloride 76.888%, polyacrylic polymer 0.9%, perfuming agent 6%, dye 0.012%, silicon dioxide 3%, tetrasodium iminodisuccinate 10%, sodium salt of the the maleic/acrylic acid copolymer 3% and amorphous silicon 0.2%.

Example 5

[0040] The product consists of the following components expressed as a percentage by weight of the total compound: sodium chloride 77.193%, polyacrylic polymer 0.6%, perfuming agent 4%, dye 0.007%, zeolite 4%, tetrasodium salt of the GLDA 12%, sulfonated polymer 0.8%, sodium salt of the polyacrylic acid 1% and amorphous silicon 0.4%.

Example 6

[0041] The product consists of the following components expressed as a percentage by weight of the total compound: sodium chloride 8.589%, carbamide 72%, polyacrylic polymer 0.1%, perfuming agent 2%, dye 0.011%, clay 3%, zeolite 3%, tetrasodium salt of the GLDA 5%, trisodium citrate dihydrate 5%, sodium salt of the polyacrylic acid 1.2% and amorphous silicon 0.1%.

Performance test

[0042] Tests were conducted on the solid compositions to verify the removal of the mineral deposits, such as calcification, in addition to softness tests.

[0043] The objective of the tests was to compare the decalcifying properties between two different laundry additives.

[0044] The test conditions and experimental procedure used were as follows:

Washing machine: BAUKNECHT WAE 8788

Load type: Front

Max. weight: 5 Kg

Weight used: 3 Kg of 100% cotton towels 100% (40 cm x 25cm)

Washing cycle: Cotton programme (cycle = 2 hours, 20 minutes)

Number of washes: 5 (cumulative effect)

Washing temperature: 60°C

Water hardness: 40 +/- 2 French degrees

Product / wash dose: 47 ml + 60 g of IEC A* detergent.

1) Softening effect: This method makes it possible to evaluate, through a sensory panel, the softness provided by the products to a cotton fabric. The towels are dried at room temperature on a clothesline for one night and judged by ten panelists. After being evaluated by the panelists, the towels are washed up to the fifth cycle and then dried as described above. A second evaluation is carried out by the panel after five iterative washes.

2) Mineral deposits: a washed piece of cotton (approximate weight: 1.5 g) is weighed on a precision scale and placed in a tared silicon crucible. After calcination by flame it is introduced in a muffle furnace for 1 hour at 800ºC and left to cool in the dryer at room temperature. Next, the mineral residue is weighed.

[0045] The ash content (C%) is given by the formula:

where:

M0 = Weight of the piece of cotton.

M1 = Weight of the empty crucible.

M2 = Weight of the crucible and residue after calcination.

[0046] Four measurements are made per product and the average value is determined.

Composition of the IEC A detergent *:

Ingredients	Content in w/w %	Tolerance (±)
Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate sodium	11.4	± 0.5
Fatty alcohol ethoxylate C12-14(7EO)	6.1	± 0.3
Sodium soap (tallow soap)	4.2	± 0.2
Foam inhibitor concentrate (12% silica in an inorganic carrier)	5.1	± 0.3
Zeolite 4A sodium alumina (80% active substance)	36.7	± 1.0
Sodium carbonate	15.1	± 1.0
Sodium salt of a maleic/acrylic acid copolymer	3.1	± 0.2
Sodium silicate (SiO2:Na2O=3,3:1)	3.9	± 0.2
Carboxymethylcellulose	1.6	± 0.1
Phosphonate (25% of active acid)	3.6	± 0.2
Protease	0.5	± 0.5
Sodium sulfonate	Other	Other

3) Softness test after five washes

[0047] 

Panel of judges in favour of the product of the present invention: 17

Panel of judges in favour of the product of the market: 11

Equality results: 8

[0048] The product of the present invention has a greater softness than the market product.

4) Results of mineral deposits

[0049] Two products are significantly different when the respective range of results does not overlap.
IEC-A detergent * 60 g + 47 ml of product of the state of the art, in gel form, comprising, in descending order, firstly appearing those present in larger quantities: water, sodium citrate, acrylic copolymer, xantane gum, carboxylate copolymer, ctiric acid, perfume, benzisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone.
C% = 4.09% (4.05-4.07-4.08-4.16).

[0050] IEC-A detergent * 60 g + 47 ml of compound of the present invention, where the conversion of volume to weight can be performed based on the density value of the solid composition of the invention.
C% = 3.05% (3.00-3.02-3.04-3.12).

[0051] The following conclusions can be drawn from the technical washing machine tests:

The values found show that the product of the present invention offers better performance in terms of decalcification and softening than the product of the state of the art.

[0052] Having sufficiently described the present invention in correspondence with the attached figures, it is easy to understand that any changes in detail deemed convenient may be made thereto provided that they do not alter the essence of the invention, which is summarised in the following claims.

Claims

1. A solid composition with anti-lime effect for softening and perfuming fabrics, comprising a water-soluble core having a first enveloping layer composed of a coadjuvant agent, a perfuming agent and a dye, and a second enveloping layer comprising a drying agent, a chelating agent and anti-lime polymeric removers, characterised in that the compounds are comprised according to the following concentration by weight: water-soluble core between 70% and 95%, drying agent between 2% and 10%, chelating agent between 0.05% and 15%, and limescale removing agent between 0.05% and 35% with the condition that the sum of all the components does not exceed 100%, wherein the limescale removing agent is selected from the group consisting of a sulfonated polymer, a sodium salt of maleic/acrylic acid copolymer and a sodium salt of polyacrylic acid..

2. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that the water-soluble core is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, carbamides and carbohydrates.

3. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that the drying agent is selected from the group consisting of clay, zeolite and silicon dioxide.

4. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of trisodium salt of methylglycinediacetic acid, tetrasodium salt of GLDA, trisodium citrate dihydrate and iminodisuccinate tetradosium.

5. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that it additionally comprises amorphous silicon as fluid agent comprised in a concentration between 0.1 % and 0.4% by weight.

6. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that the coadjuvant is a polyacrylic polymer and is comprised in a concentration between 0.01 and 15% by weight with respect to the total weight of the solid composition.

7. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that the perfuming agent is in a concentration comprised between 2% and 9% by weight with respect to the total weight of the solid composition.

8. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that the dye is in a concentration comprised between 0.005% and 0.15% by weight with respect to the total weight of the solid composition.

9. The solid composition, according to claim 1, characterised in that the solid granule has an average diameter size comprised between 0.15 mm and 8 mm.

10. A method for obtaining a solid composition, defined according to claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

• coating the water-soluble core with a homogeneous liquid pre-mixture containing the coadjuvant, the perfuming agent and the dye such as to create a first enveloping layer,

• homogeneously pre-mixing the drying agent, the chelating agent and the anti-lime polymeric remover and adding to the first enveloping layer, such as to create a second enveloping layer over the water-soluble core,

• adding the fluid agent such that the solid granule has an average diameter size comprised between 0.15 mm and 8 mm.

11. The method, according to claim 10, characterised in that the homogeneous liquid pre-mixture is prepared at room temperature.