Method for Conditioning Textiles

Abstract

Fatty branched polyalkoxylates, particularly of the formula: R 1 O(AO) m R 2 (I) where R 1 is C 8 to C 30 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl; AO is predominantly branched alkyleneoxy, particularly propyleneoxy; m is from 2 to 50; and R 2 is H or a is C 1 to C 4 aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl, are used as fabric conditioners in CO 2 based dry cleaning systems. The cleaning medium may include detergent surfactant and/or non surfactant cleaning additive or may be free from such additives in which case the treatment can be provided in a rinse cycle in a cleaning process.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A dry cleaning medium based on liquid CO 2  and including:
 a) from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the cleaning medium of a cleaning additive which is at least one multi-ester having a molecular weight of not more than 750; and   b) from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the treatment medium of a conditioning agent which includes at least one fatty branched polyalkyloxylate.   
     
     
         12 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 11  which is free of detergent surfactant. 
     
     
         13 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fatty branched polyalkyloxylate is of the formula (I):
   R 1 O(AO) m R 2   (I)
 
 where 
 R 1  is a C 8  to C 30  aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl group; 
 AO is an alkyleneoxy group and is at least predominantly branched alkyleneoxy; 
 m is from 2 to 30; and 
 R 2  is H or is a C 1  to C 4  aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl group. 
 
     
     
         14 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the multi-ester is of the formula (II):
   R 11 (XR 12 ) n   (II)
   where   X is —C(O)O— or —OC(O)—; such that
 where X is —C(O)O—, 
 R 11  is a direct bond or the residue of a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed; and 
 R 12  is a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group; and 
 where X is —OC(O)—, 
 R 11  is or the residue of a C 2  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed; and 
 R 12  is H or a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group; and 
   n is from 2 to 5;   the compound having a molecular weight of not more than 750.   
     
     
         15 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 11  which additionally includes at least one of fragrances, optical brighteners, sizes, enzymes and/or bleaches. 
     
     
         16 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the fatty branched polyalkyloxylate is of the formula (I):
   R 1 O(AO) m R 2   (I)
   where   R 1  is a C 8  to C 30  aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl group;   AO is an alkyleneoxy group and is at least predominantly branched alkyleneoxy;   m is from 2 to 30; and   R 2  is H or is a C 1  to C 4  aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl group.   
     
     
         17 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the multi-ester is of the formula (II):
   R 11 (XR 12 ) n   (II)
   where   X is —C(O)O— or —OC(O)—; such that
 where X is —C(O)O—, 
 R 11  is a direct bond or the residue of a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed; and 
 R 12  is a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group; and 
 where X is —OC(O)—, 
 R 11  is or the residue of a C 2  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed; and 
 R 12  is H or a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group; and 
   n is from 2 to 5;   the compound having a molecular weight of not more than 750.   
     
     
         18 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 12  which additionally includes at least one of fragrances, optical brighteners, sizes, enzymes and/or bleaches. 
     
     
         19 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the multi-ester is of the formula (II):
   R 11 (XR 12 ) n   (II)
   where   X is —C(O)O— or —OC(O)—; such that
 where X is —O(O)O—, 
 R 11  is a direct bond or the residue of a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed; and 
 R 12  is a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group; and 
 where X is —OC(O)—, 
 R 11  is or the residue of a C 2  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group from which n hydrogen atoms have been removed; and 
 R 12  is H or a C 1  to C 10  hydrocarbyl group; and 
   n is from 2 to 5;   the compound having a molecular weight of not more than 750.   
     
     
         20 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 13  which additionally includes at least one of fragrances, optical brighteners, sizes, enzymes and/or bleaches. 
     
     
         21 . A dry cleaning medium as claimed in  claim 14  which additionally includes at least one of fragrances, optical brighteners, sizes, enzymes and/or bleaches. 
     
     
         22 . A method of dry cleaning which includes a conditioning step in which textile material is contacted with a treatment medium based on liquid C0 2  and which includes from 0.001 to 2.5% by weight of the treatment medium of a conditioning agent which includes at least one fatty alcohol or fatty acid branched polyalkyloxylate. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the alcohol branched polyalkyloxylate is of the formula (I):
   R 1 O(AO) m R 2   (I)
 
 where 
 R 1  is a C 8  to C 30  aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl group; 
 AO is an alkyleneoxy group and is at least predominantly branched alkyleneoxy; 
 m is from 2 to 30; and 
 R 2  is H or is a C 1  to C 4  aliphatic hydrocarbyl or acyl group.