US2016010029A1PendingUtilityA1

Fabric softener compositions

49
Assignee: STEPAN COPriority: Mar 15, 2013Filed: Sep 14, 2015Published: Jan 14, 2016
Est. expiryMar 15, 2033(~6.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Dennis S. MurphyLeonard F. ZaporowskiChristopher A. GariepyCarmen MatacheDiana J. Dardugno
C11D 3/30C11D 3/0015C11D 3/2093C11D 7/3209C11D 1/62C11D 3/2079C07C 213/06C07C 213/02C11D 2111/12
49
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Claims

Abstract

A fabric conditioning active composition comprising an esterquat mixture of quaternized mono-, di-, and tri-esters of alkanolamine in which the tri-esterquat content of the quaternized esterquat mixture is greater than 25% by weight of the esterquat mixture, and the combined di-esterquat and tri-esterquat content in the esterquat mixture is greater than 78% by weight of the esterquat mixture. Additionally, the free fatty acid content of the composition is greater than 1% by weight based on the weight of the esterquat mixture. The fabric conditioning active composition provides high viscosity when dispersed into water at low concentrations of 0.5% to 12%, without the need for additional polymeric thickeners or other thickening additives.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid fabric softening composition comprising:
 a. from 0.5% to 12% by weight of a fabric softening active containing an esterquat mixture of quaternized mono-, di- and tri-ester alkanolamines, in which the tri-esterquat content of the esterquat mixture is greater than 25% by weight of the mixture; and   b. water;   wherein,   when the fabric softening active is made from a 50% hard, 50% soft tallow fatty acid mixture,   the initial viscosity of a 4% dispersion of the composition is greater than 304 cPs; and   the fabric softening active contains greater than 1% by weight free fatty acid.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the esterquat mixture is the reaction product of an alkanolamine, a fatty acid or methyl ester thereof having an iodine value of between 1 and 100, and a quaternizing agent. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the iodine value is between 20 and 50. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the tri-esterquat content is up to 55% by weight of the esterquat mixture. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric softener active has a combined di-esterquat and tri-esterquat content of greater than 78% by weight of the esterquat mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the combined di-esterquat and tri-esterquat content is up to about 98% by weight of the esterquat mixture. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the fatty acid or methyl ester and alkanolamine are reacted in a greater than 1.94:1 molar ratio of fatty acid/fat to alkanolamine. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the molar ratio of fatty acid/fat to alkanolamine is up to about 2.7:1. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the free fatty acid content is up to 10% by weight of the fabric softening active. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alkanolamine is triethanolamine (TEA). 
     
     
         11 . A method for conditioning textiles comprising, in no particular order, the steps of:
 a. providing a liquid fabric softener composition according to any of  claims 1 - 9  in a concentration to effectively soften and condition fabrics under predetermined laundering conditions;   b. contacting one or more articles with the composition at one or more points during a laundering process; and   c. allowing the articles to dry or mechanically tumble-drying them.   
     
     
         12 . A fabric softening active composition comprising:
 a mixture of quaternized mono-, di- and tri-ester alkanolamines,   wherein,   the combined diester quat and triester quat content is greater than 78% by weight of the total esterquat mixture;   the triester quat content is greater than 25% by weight of the total esterquat mixture; and   the fabric softening active contains greater than 1% by weight free fatty acid.   
     
     
         13 . The fabric softening active of  claim 12 , wherein the esterquat mixture is the reaction product of an alkanolamine, a fatty acid or methyl ester thereof having an iodine value of between 1 and 100, and a quaternizing agent. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric softening active of  claim 13 , wherein the iodine value is between 20 and 50. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric softening active of  claim 13 , wherein the fatty acid or methyl ester and alkanolamine are reacted in a greater than 1.94:1 molar ratio of fatty acid/fat to alkanolamine. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric softening active of  claim 15 , wherein the reaction time for reacting the alkanolamine and the fatty acid or methyl ester is less than 6 hours and 40 minutes when the reaction is run at 190° C. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric softening active of  claim 12 , wherein the tri-esterquat content is up to 55% by weight of the esterquat mixture. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric softening active of  claim 12 , wherein the combined di-esterquat and tri-esterquat content is up to about 98% by weight of the esterquat mixture. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric softening active of  claim 15 , wherein the molar ratio of fatty acid/fat to alkanolamine is up to about 2.7:1. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric softening active of  claim 12 , wherein the free fatty acid content is up to 10% by weight of the fabric softening active. 
     
     
         21 . The fabric softening active of  claim 12 , wherein the alkanolamine is triethanolamine.

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