Washing composition

Abstract

The invention provides a washing composition for washing a surface to deposit thereon a solid active agent, the washing composition comprising an emulsion of silicone droplets, the silicone droplets comprising: (a) a continuous silicone phase, and; (b) a dispersed phase of solid particulate active agent. Preferably the solid active agent is a solid antimicrobial such as zinc pyridinethione.

1 . A washing composition for washing a surface to deposit thereon a solid active agent, the washing composition comprising an emulsion of silicone droplets, the silicone droplets comprising: 
 (a) a continuous silicone phase, and;    (b) a dispersed phase of solid particulate active agent.    
     
     
         2 . A washing composition according to  claim 1 , in which the solid active agent is a solid antimicrobial, preferably zinc pyridinethione.  
     
     
         3 . A washing composition according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , in which the silicone droplets have an average particle size of from 1 to 100 microns, referably from 2 to 30 microns, more preferably 3 to 10 micron.  
     
     
         4 . A washing composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , which is in the form of a rinse-off cleansing shampoo composition for the hair or the body, the shampoo composition comprising: 
 (a) from 0.1 to 50% by weight based on total weight of one or more surfactants;  
 (b) from 0.001% to 5% by weight based on total weight of solid active agent which is preferably a solid antimicrobial agent, most preferably zinc pyridinethione;  
 (c) from 0.01 to 10% by weight based on total weight of silicone;  
 (d) from 0.01% to 10% by weight based on total weight of a deposition polymer, which is preferably selected from the group comprising cationic polyacrylamides, cationic hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers and cationic guar derivatives.  
 
     
     
         5 . A washing composition according to  claim 4 , which further comprises from 0.1 to 5% of a silicone suspending agent.  
     
     
         6 . A washing composition according to  claim 4  or  claim 5 , which further comprises from 0.1 to 10% by weight based on total weight of a conditioning agent selected from cationic surfactants, Quaternium-5, Quaternium-31, Quaternium-18, protein hydrolysates, quaternised protein hydrolysates, perfluoropolyether materials, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A method of making an emulsion of silicone droplets comprising: 
 (a) a continuous silicone phase, and;    (b) a dispersed phase of solid particulate active agent, for incorporation into a washing composition, the method comprising the steps of:    (a) dispersing the solid active agent into silicone fluid, and    (b) emulsifying the dispersion so obtained, thereby forming an emulsion of silicone droplets comprising:    (a) a continuous silicone phase, and;    (b) a dispersed phase of solid particulate active agent.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , in which the solid active agent is an antimicrobial, preferably zinc pyridinethione, and in which the viscosity of the silicone phase is at least 10,000, preferably at least 50,000 centistokes, and further in which, in a first stage, the solid active agent is pre-wetted with a low viscosity silicone, of viscosity ranging from 5 to 500 centistokes, preferably from 5 to 200 centistokes.