Hydrophobically modified polyalkylenimines for use as dye transfer inhibitors

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of hydrophobically modified polyalkylenimines as dye transfer inhibitors.

1 . A method for inhibiting dye transfer during washing of textiles with a detergent composition, which comprises at least one hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimines in an amount which is effective for inhibiting dye transfer. 
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , where, on average, at least 10 mol % of the nitrogen atoms of the poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine carry an aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical which has at least 8 carbon atoms. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , where the fraction of the hydrocarbon radicals, based on the total weight of the poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine, constitutes 25 to 95% by weight. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , where the hydrocarbon radicals are present in the form of C 8 -C 30 -alkyl-, C 8 -C 30 -alkylcarbonyl, C 8 -C 30 -alkenyl-, C 8 -C 30 -alkenylcarbonyl-, C 8 -C 30 -alkadienyl-, C 8 -C 30 -alkadienylcarbonyl- and/or hydroxy-C 8 -C 30 -alkyl groups. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , where the hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine has a number-average molecular weight in the range from 3000 to 300 000 Daltons. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , where the hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine in the poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine moiety is branched. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , where the hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine has quaternized nitrogen atoms. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , where the hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine is obtainable by a process which comprises the reaction of a nonmodified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine with a hydrophobicizing agent. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , where the hydrophobicizing agent is selected from saturated, mono- or polyunsaturated aliphatic C 9 -C 31 -carboxylic acids, their amide-forming derivatives and C 8 -C 30 -alkylene oxides. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , where the hydrophobicizing agent, calculated as the parts of the hydrophobicizing agent remaining in the product, is used in an amount of from 0.35 to 20 parts by weight per part by weight of unmodified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 8 , where the preparation of the hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine additionally comprises a quaternization. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8 , where the unmodified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine used for the preparation is branched. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 8 , where the unmodified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine used for the preparation has a number-average molecular weight in the range from 1000 to 200 000 Daltons. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1 , where the fraction of nonionic surfactants in the detergent composition, based on the total amount of surfactant in the detergent composition, is at least 50% by weight. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , where the hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimine is used in a concentration of from 5 to 150 ppm in the wash liquor. 
   
   
       16 . A method for inhibiting dye transfer during washing of textiles with a detergent composition, which comprises
 contacting a textile with at least one hydrophobically modified poly-C 2 -C 4 -alkylenimines in an amount which is effective for inhibiting dye transfer.