Fabric treatment for stain release

Abstract

A fabric treatment composition that includes at least one zeta potential modifier and a hydrophobic agent with a melting point or glass transition temperature below 100° C. that imparts fabric protection benefits, including improved stain resistance, oil repellency, water repellency, softness, wrinkle and damage resistance, and better handfeel to treated fabrics. Particularly preferred compositions include at least one zeta potential modifier in an amount sufficient to adjust the zeta potential of the composition to be positive and greater than zero millivolts. Particularly preferred compositions also include a fluoropolymer. The composition can be used as a pretreatment prior to washing, through soaking or direct spray application, or added to the wash or rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine, or used prior to or during the drying cycle of an automatic drying machine or refresher machine, or used prior to or in conjunction with an ironing device. The fabric treatment is complete when the fabric is cured by drying and/or heating.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of increasing the fabric protective properties of a fabric that comprises the steps of: 
 (a) depositing a composition onto the fabric wherein the composition comprises a hydrophobic agent having a melting point or glass transition temperature of less than 100° C. and an effective amount of a zeta potential modifier so that the composition has a zeta potential that is positive and greater than zero millivolts; and    (b) curing said fabric at a temperature above ambient temperature but less than 100° C.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition further includes a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition has a zeta potential of less than about +150 millivolts, and preferably of less than about +100 millivolts.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step (a) is achieved through the use of one of an aerosol dispensing device, a bottle, a device to release the composition into a rinse water, a water soluble or water insoluble sachet, a water soluble or water insoluble package, a water soluble or water insoluble tablet, a water soluble or water insoluble powder, any one of which delays release of the composition into the rinse cycle of a washing machine.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step (a) deposits said composition onto said fabric without saturating said fabric.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step (a) saturates said fabric with said composition.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of rinsing said fabric prior to curing said fabric.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step (a) comprises placing the fabric in a wash liquor containing said composition.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fabric is selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the natural fibers comprise cellulose.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the natural fibers comprise cotton.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the synthetic fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) comprises drying the fabric at a temperature above about 45° C.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said fluoropolymer is 0.5 to 60 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydrophobic agent is 0.5 to 60 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said zeta potential modifier is 0.1 to 30 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said zeta potential modifier is a cationic material.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the cationic material is a cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of mono and di-methyl fatty amines, alkyl trimethyl ammonium salts, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts, alkyl amine acetates, trialkylammonium acetates, alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, dialkylmethylbenzyl ammonium salts, alkylpyridinium halide and alkyl (alkyl substituted) pyridinium salts, alkylthiomethylpyridinium salts, alkylamidomethylpyridinium salts, alkylquinolinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, N,N-alkylmethylpyrollidinium salts, 1,1-dialkylpiperidinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium-1-oxide salts, methyl bis (alkyl ethyl)-2-alkylimidazolinium methyl sulfate (and other salts), methyl bis(alkylamido ethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate (and other salts), alkylamidopropyl-dimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, carboxyalkyl-alkyldimethyl ammonium salts, alkylamine oxides, alkyldimethyl amine oxides, poly(vinylmethylpyridinium) salts, poly(vinylpyridine) salts, polyethyleneimines, trialkyl phosphonium bicarbonates (and other salts), trialkylmethyl phosphonium salts, alkylethylmethylsulfonium salts, and alkyldimethylsulfoxonium salts.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydrophobic agent is at least partly insoluble in water at a temperature of about 20° C.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydrophobic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic waxes, polymers produced from ethylenically unsaturated monomers, low molecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polyurethane, ethyl vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, co-polymers, and emulsifiable waxes.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises an aqueous liquid carrier that further includes a low molecular weight organic solvent.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said aqueous liquid carrier is between 20% and 80% weight of the composition.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, pH adjusters, silicones, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, soil release agents, soil release polymers, antistatic agents, fragrances, fragrance extenders, antimicrobial actives, preservatives, dyes, colorants, viscosity control agents, antifoaming agents, pearlizing agents, opacifying agents, antioxidants, sunscreens, dye transfer inhibitors, dye fixative agents, dispersants, chlorine scavengers, wetting agents, electrolytes, enzymes, bleaching agents, brighteners, heavy metal chelating agents, fabric softener actives, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic agent has a melting point or glass transition temperature between 45° C. and 100° C.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the composition comprises: (i) 5 to 30 weight % of a fluoropolymer; (ii) 5 to 30 weight % of said hydrophobic agent; and (iii) a liquid carrier.  
     
     
         26 . A method of treating a fabric that is laundered that comprises the steps of: 
 (a) immerging the fabric in a wash liquor bath containing a detergent;    (b) removing wash liquor from the bath and thereafter;    (c) adding sufficient water to the bath to immerse the fabric wherein the water contains a fluoropolymer and a hydrophobic agent having a melting point or glass transition temperature of less than 100° C.; and    (d) curing said fabric at a temperature above ambient temperature but less than 100° C.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein step (d) comprises the steps of (i) adding an effective amount of a zeta potential modifier so that the composition has a zeta potential that is positive and greater than zero millivolts; (ii) removing water from the bath and (iii) curing the fabric at a temperature above ambient temperature but less than 100° C.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said fluoropolymer is 0.5 to 60 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said hydrophobic agent is 0.5 to 60 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said zeta potential modifier is 0.1 to 30 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said zeta potential modifier is a cationic material.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the cationic material is a cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of mono and di-methyl fatty amines, alkyl trimethyl ammonium salts, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts, alkyl amine acetates, trialkylammonium acetates, alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, dialkylmethylbenzyl ammonium salts, alkylpyridinium halide and alkyl (alkyl substituted) pyridinium salts, alkylthiomethylpyridinium salts, alkylamidomethylpyridinium salts, alkylquinolinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, N,N-alkylmethylpyrollidinium salts, 1,1-dialkylpiperidinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium-1-oxide salts, methyl bis (alkyl ethyl)-2-alkylimidazolinium methyl sulfate (and other salts), methyl bis(alkylamido ethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate (and other salts), alkylamidopropyl-dimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, carboxyalkyl-alkyldimethyl ammonium salts, alkylamine oxides, alkyldimethyl amine oxides, poly(vinylmethylpyridinium) salts, poly(vinylpyridine) salts, polyethyleneimines, trialkyl phosphonium bicarbonates (and other salts), trialkylmethyl phosphonium salts, alkyletbylmethylsulfonium salts, and alkyldimethylsulfoxonium salts.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said hydrophobic agent is at least partly insoluble in water at a temperature of about 20° C.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said hydrophobic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic waxes, polymers produced from ethylenically unsaturated monomers, low molecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polyurethane, ethyl vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, co-polymers, and emulsifiable waxes.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the composition comprises an aqueous liquid carrier that includes a low molecular weight organic solvent.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said aqueous liquid carrier is between 20% and 80% weight of the composition.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, pH adjusters, silicones, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, soil release agents, soil release polymers, antistatic agents, fragrances, fragrance extenders, antimicrobial actives, preservatives, dyes, colorants, viscosity control agents, antifoaming agents, pearlizing agents, opacifying agents, antioxidants, sunscreens, dye transfer inhibitors, dye fixative agents, dispersants, chlorine scavengers, wetting agents, electrolytes, enzymes, bleaching agents, brighteners, heavy metal chelating agents, fabric softener actives, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the hydrophobic agent has a melting point or glass transition temperature between 45° C. and 100° C.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the composition comprises: (i) 5 to 30 weight % of a fluoropolymer; (ii) 5 to 30 weight % of said hydrophobic agent; and (iii) a liquid carrier.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the fabric work is made of cotton.  
     
     
         41 . A composition for textile treatment that comprises: 
 a fluoropolymer;    a hydrophobic agent having a melting point or glass transition temperature of less than 100° C.; and    an effective amount of a zeta potential modifier so that the composition has a zeta potential that is positive and greater than zero millivolts.    
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein the composition has a zeta potential of less than about +150 millivolts, preferably less than about +100 millivolts.  
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein said fluoropolymer is 0.5 to 60 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein said hydrophobic agent is 0.5 to 60 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein said zeta potential modifier is 0.1 to 30 weight % of the composition.  
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein said zeta potential modifier is a cationic material.  
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 46  wherein the cationic material is a cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of mono and di-methyl fatty amines, alkyl trimethyl ammonium salts, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts, alkyl amine acetates, trialkylammonium acetates, alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, dialkylmethylbenzyl ammonium salts, alkylpyridinium halide and alkyl (alkyl substituted) pyridinium salts, alkylthiomethylpyridinium salts, alkylamidomethylpyridinium salts, alkylquinolinium salts, alkylisoquinolinium salts, N,N-alkylmethylpyrollidinium salts, 1,1-dialkylpiperidinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium salts, 4,4-dialkylthiomorpholinium-1-oxide salts, methyl bis (alkyl ethyl)-2-alkylimidazolinium methyl sulfate (and other salts), methyl bis(alkylamido ethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate (and other salts), alkylamidopropyl-dimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, carboxyalkyl-alkyldimethyl ammonium salts, alkylamine oxides, alkyldimethyl amine oxides, poly(vinylmethylpyridinium) salts, poly(vinylpyridine) salts, polyethyleneimines, trialkyl phosphonium bicarbonates (and other salts), trialkylmethyl phosphonium salts, alkylethylmethylsulfonium salts, and alkyldimethylsulfoxonium salts.  
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein said hydrophobic agent is at least partly insoluble in water at a temperature of about 20° C.  
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein said hydrophobic agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic waxes, polymers produced from ethylenically unsaturated monomers, low molecular weight polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polyurethane, ethyl vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, co-polymers, and emulsifiable waxes.  
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein the composition comprises an aqueous liquid carrier that includes a low molecular weight organic solvent.  
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 50  wherein said aqueous liquid carrier is between 20% and 80% weight of the composition.  
     
     
         52 . The composition of  claim 41  further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, pH adjusters, silicones, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, soil release agents, soil release polymers, antistatic agents, fragrances, fragrance extenders, antimicrobial actives, preservatives, dyes, colorants, viscosity control agents, antifoaming agents, pearlizing agents, opacifying agents, antioxidants, sunscreens, dye transfer inhibitors, dye fixative agents, dispersants, chlorine scavengers, wetting agents, electrolytes, enzymes, bleaching agents, brighteners, heavy metal chelating agents, fabric softener actives, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         53 . The composition of  claim 41  wherein the hydrophobic agent has a melting point or glass transition temperature between 45° C. and 100° C.  
     
     
         54 . The composition of  claim 41  comprising (i) 5 to 30 weight % of a fluoropolymer (ii) 5 to 30 weight % of said hydrophobic agent and (iii) a liquid carrier.