EP2184398A1 - Use of silicone compounds for finishing fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

Use of silicon compound, preferably silicon dioxide or silicate layer for finishing of textile fibers, is claimed. An independent claim is included for improving the softness of textile fiber, comprising contacting the fiber with a surfactant containing wash solution and subsequently drying the washed fiber, where the fiber is contacted with the silicon compound, before, after or during contacting the fiber with the surfactant containing wash solution.

Description

The invention relates to a process for the temporary or permanent treatment or treatment of fibers and textiles, in order to reduce the skin friction which arises during wear.

The skin friction when wearing textiles is perceived by many people, especially people with - in their own opinion - dry skin, as disturbing. Sensitive people, especially those of older and younger generations, may even experience skin irritation, skin irritation or even visible reddening of the skin. In recent years, therefore, it has often been attempted to equip the textiles, which have direct skin contact when worn, with appropriate care products. This equipment can already be applied as initial or basic equipment on new textiles by the manufacturer or applied later only when washing or care of the textiles by the consumer. In the basic equipment either the nourishing ingredients can be applied directly or used with nourishing ingredients filled microcapsules that slowly release these agents only when wearing.

A process that describes, for example, the direct application of nourishing ingredients, is in the WO07045363 explained. Processes for the preparation or use of microcapsules have been published in numerous patents. Examples are the WO0162376 or EP1359212 , The advantage of such basic equipment is that the relatively large amount of nourishing ingredients can be uniformly applied to the textiles. Moreover, by using special binder systems known to those skilled in the art, one can influence the wash resistance of such equipment. Disadvantage is the relatively complex production and the associated costs, which can be passed only to a part of the consumer.

In addition, a uniform delivery of the caring ingredients over the entire wearing time of the textile is difficult to adjust. In particular, the new textile will deliver higher levels to the skin when initially worn than after a few washes. After about 20 washes, no effect is usually achievable.

Therefore, it would be desirable to apply the care ingredients directly in the care or washing of the textiles. The advantage of this approach is a uniform finish of the textiles with relatively small amounts of nourishing ingredients, which can be carried out by the end user alone without additional steps or special chemical processes. This procedure is in the DE 102005044514 described. As nourishing ingredients here is a whole series of organic ingredients called. In addition, possibilities are also mentioned, such as can improve the substantivity of the ingredients on the textiles during washing, for example, with a deposition aid. In particular, the last aspect is a not negligible problem with oil or waxy ingredients, which are generally used in cosmetics as nourishing products. The aim of a detergent is indeed to remove oil or pigment-containing stains from the textile and to disperse in the wash liquor. In addition, most universal detergents contain enzymes that may interfere with the added caring ingredients during storage and may negatively impact subsequent washing performance.

The object of the present invention was therefore to find a new class of product which is compatible with existing liquid or solid detergent formulations and which at the same time leads to a detectable sensory effect on the skin when the washed textiles are worn. In particular, the washed textiles are to be improved in their softness or smoothness with this class of products and skin irritations are reduced. The agent should be easy to apply to textiles and show the longest possible effect.

It has now been found that with a product class known for certain cosmetic or pharmaceutical applications, the effects described above are also found on laundered textiles.

A first subject of the present invention therefore relates to the use of silicon compounds selected from the group consisting of silica or phyllosilicates for finishing textile fibers.

As textile fibers are here all in clothing (commercial and private) commonly used natural and / or synthetic fibers or fabrics thereof made of all kinds to understand. Preferably, garments are treated with the compositions of the invention. Equipment in this case means that the silicon compounds are used up on the surface of the fibers and remain there. The equipment may be temporary, i. that the treated fiber loses the advantageous properties of the equipment after some time. In practice, the temporary equipment is the usual case. The use of the textiles, and especially the washing, removes the equipment and then has to be renewed. However, it explicitly includes the case that the properties remain on the fiber after application.

It is in the claimed silicon compounds to those from the product group of the quartzes, ie compounds of silicon and oxygen (Si _x O _y ), or silicates, ie compounds of silicon and oxygen with one or more metals (Me _x Si _y O _z ) and possibly also hydroxide ions, but in particular alkaline earth salts such as magnesium silicate and especially those known under the name: 'talc' or 'talcum' known products. As a mineral, talcum shades matt white, crystallizes in the monoclinic system and, with a hardness of 1, is the softest mineral. Talc feels soapy or greasy, so sometimes you can find the name soapstone. Talc is used by the pharmaceutical industry both as a powder base and as a lubricant in tablet manufacturing.

The concomitant use of talc in detergents in principle already from the US 4255294 However, only fixed forms of supply are disclosed there concretely, and above all, the document lacks the disclosure that the talc has a suitability for textile or fiber equipment. Talk acts namely according to the description of US 4255294 only as an aid to improve the flowability of the powders (see column 13, lines 7 to 12).

On the basis of these known effects, attempts have now been made to apply silicon compounds with specific embodiments directly to textiles during the washing process.

Here, it was found that textiles washed with the addition of talc in a specific embodiment were compared to those with conventional detergents washed textiles had a significantly better softness, feel and overall a significantly better overall sensory impression. In addition to its good effectiveness, another advantage of this use is that the talc used is chemically inert to the other ingredients of the detergent formulation, and thus does not interact with detergent ingredients. Due to its insolubility, the builder system used is not affected. Due to their availability, silicon compounds or talc are a very inexpensive raw material which, moreover, is dermatologically well protected due to its hitherto preferred fields of application.

Preference is given to using silicon compounds which are heavy or insoluble in water. Specifically, the solubility is preferably less than 10 ^-5 mol / l, and more preferably less than 10 ^-6 mol / l at 20 ° C.

The particles preferably have a particle size distribution of 0.1-100 μm, preferably with a particle size distribution of 0.5-50 μm and particularly preferably with a particle size distribution of 1-20 μm. When using this particle size distribution, the microparticles are almost invisible to the human eye, which is particularly important in the treatment of dark textiles. It is further preferred that the particles are as spherical as possible, which cause a kind of "ball-bearing effect" when applied to the textile. This effect enhances the softening, smoothing effect of the textile on contact with the skin surface.

For example, from the product group of silicates (Me _x Si _y- O _z ), for example, a commercial product of the company. 3M from the class of magnesium silicates, which is sold under the trade name Cosmetic Microspheres CM 311. As an example of the product group of the quartzes, the product of the company. Cognis, which is sold under the trade name Cosmedia SILC, to call. In addition, they are preferably asbestos-free, very pure qualities, that is to say qualities which contain no fibrous particles and can therefore also be used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The microparticles can be used both as a powder or as an aqueous dispersion. Using In aqueous dispersion, it is preferable to use for stabilization also a dispersant system which is compatible with a detergent formulation.
The possible use amount of the silicon compounds in a detergent formulation is 0.001% by weight to 10% by weight, preferably 0.001% by weight to 3% by weight, and particularly preferred are agents which are between 0.01 and 0.99% by weight .-% of silicon compounds and preferably talc, each based on the total amount of the detergent.

The silicon compounds used according to the invention can be incorporated directly into liquid detergent formulations both as a powder or as an aqueous dispersion. Also possible is a use directly in solid detergent formulations. These include the classic powder detergents, granules, extrudates or tablet-like detergents. For the preparation of these products, the silicon compounds according to the invention can either be incorporated directly into the aqueous dispersion of the detergent ingredients, which is then sprayed, for example, or only then - for example, in a granule - are added. The advantage of this preparation is that in this case no additional dispersants are necessary and there are no stability problems in the solid detergent formulation.

It is also possible to use the silicon compounds according to the invention in a fabric softener formulation. Such a softener formulation may contain both the hitherto customary plasticizers in combination with the silicon compounds, as well as predominantly consist of silicon compounds and dispersants for stabilizing the formulation.

The possible amount used in a softener formulation is 0.001% to 10%, preferably 0.001% to 3%, and most preferably 0.01 to 0.99% by weight, each based on the weight of the entire agent. For the purposes of the present invention, the concomitant use of cationic softening surfactants, and in particular of quaternized monomeric ammonium compounds is also possible. However, agents according to the invention can also be free from such surfactants or the abovementioned ammonium compounds.

As mentioned above, the silicon compounds used in the invention can be incorporated both directly and as an aqueous dispersion using dispersants in detergent or softener formulations. Nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric dispersants can be used to prepare an aqueous dispersion. Nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants, as described in detail in US Pat DE 103 05 552 A1 In particular, reference is made to the disclosure content of paragraphs [0016] and [0017] or [0031] to [0033] of the document.

Another object of the invention relates to the concomitant use of polymers in addition to the silicon compounds. Polymers may then preferably be used in a concentration of 0.05-2% by weight, the preferred range being 0.1-1% by weight. The polymers can on the one hand ensure the dispersion of the silicon compounds, but it is also part of the disclosure of the present application that a synergistic performance improvement is achieved by combining the silicon compounds with polymers.
In addition, the substantivity, that is, the amount of silicon compounds actually applied to the fibers when used in a fabric softener or detergent, can be improved by the polymer compound. Therefore, it is preferable that the silicon compound and the polymer are used in a weight ratio of 50: 1 to 1:50, and preferably 10: 1 to 1:10. An important finding of the present technical teaching is that the combination of small amounts of silicon compounds, ie less than 10 wt .-%, preferably less than 1 wt .-% with polymers, preferably cationic polymers to a significant improvement of softness and smoothness the textile fibers leads.

The polymers can be derived from natural sources or produced by polymerization. In the case of the polymers from natural raw material sources, it is possible, for example, to use products based on cellulose, such as Na-carboxymethylcellulose or polysaccharides, such as xanthan gum, gellan gum, guar or pectins, which may also be chemically modified. Artificially produced polymers can be synthesized, for example, via acrylates, such as, for example, Cosmedia SP Fa. Cognis or in combination with alkyl acrylates, such as pemulen of Fa. Noveon be constructed.

Particularly preferred are cationic polymers. The cationic polymers may, for example, be the polyquaternium polymers. These compounds are described, for example, in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook (published by: JA Wenniger and GN McEwen, published in 1995 by The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association). Particularly preferred for combination with the silicon compounds used in the invention are the polymers Polyquaternium-5, Polyquaternium-6, Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-8, Polyquaternium-9, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-11, Polyquartemium-16, Polyquarternium-28, Polyquaternium -46, Polyquaternium-55, which are marketed, for example, under the trade names Merquat (Nalco), Polyquart (Cognis), Luviquat (BASF), Styleze (ISP), Ucare (Dow Amchercol).
In addition, it may also be graft copolymers with a cellulose skeleton and quaternary ammonium groups, cationic cellulose derivatives, such as cationic guar and similar quaternized guar derivatives, which are sold, for example, under the trade names Cosmedia Guar (Cognis) or Jaguar (Rhodia), act. Furthermore, it is also possible to use cationic biopolymers based on chitin and derivatives thereof, such as, for example, the chitosan products from Cognis. Furthermore, polyethyleneimines, such as, for example, the Lupasol products (BASF) or cationic silicone oils, such as amine-functionalized silicones, amidomethicones or quaternized silicones, for example, under the trade names Belsil (Wacker Chemie), Ultrasil (Noveon) or Rewoquat (Evonik) are sold.

In addition to a combination with the water-soluble polymer compounds described above, the silicon compounds used according to the invention can also be mixed with the likewise water-insoluble microcapsules which are filled with care ingredients. These microcapsules likewise have a particle size distribution of 0.1-100 .mu.m, preferably a particle size distribution of 0.5-50 .mu.m, and particularly preferably a particle size distribution of 1-20 .mu.m. The preferred additional use level concentration of these microcapsules in a detergent or softener formulation is from 0.1% to 10% by weight, preferably 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight. Such a combination has the advantage that in addition to the improvement of the softness or smoothness of the washed textiles by the silicon compounds used plus any of the polymer compounds to avoid skin irritation, even nourishing products are transferred to the skin on the textiles.

An object of the invention is the use of the silicon compound in aqueous or anhydrous detergent or softener formulations. In addition, the silicon compounds used according to the invention could also be applied directly, for example in ironing aids, spray strengths, dryer sheets in tumble dryers or by manual application to laundered textiles.

The products prepared in this way may contain further typical auxiliaries and additives, for example anionic, cationic, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants, builders, co-builders, oil and fat-dissolving substances, bleaches, bleach activators, grayness inhibitors, enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, optical brighteners, Polymers, defoamers, disintegrants, fragrances, inorganic salts and color pigments. In addition, deposition aids, as described above, can be included, which improve the mounting of the silicon compounds described according to the invention on the textiles.

The individual substances are in the already cited DE 103 05 552 A1 described in detail, in particular paragraphs [0034] to [0064] are mentioned, the contents of which also belong to the disclosure content of the present application.

A final object relates to a process for improving the softness or smoothness of textile fibers, characterized in that the fibers are brought into contact with a surfactant-containing washing solution and then the washed fibers dried, characterized in that before, after or during the contacting the fibers with the surfactant-containing washing solution brings silicon compounds according to claim 1 with the fibers in contact. The silicon compounds according to the above description, if appropriate in combination with the polymers, can therefore be used in the context of a washing process known per se (for example in a commercially available washing machine, but also in industrial washing processes or in hand washing). be used. It is possible to apply the silicon compounds separately before or after the wash cycle, or, for example, by a detergent containing the silicon compounds, during the wash cycle itself.

Examples

A total of 4 example formulations were prepared according to the description of the following tables: Example Formulation 1: group ingredient description wt% II Edenor K1218 fatty acid 8.9 III Maranil Paste A 55 Linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Na salt 6.2 Dehydrol LT 7 Fettalkoholethoxylat 13.4 Glucopon 600 CSUP Alkylpolyglucosid 6.5 IV Citric acid, monohydrate 1.5 ethanol 3.0 amylase 0.7 cellulase 0.1 I Sodium hydroxide, 50% 5.0 Propylene glycol (1,2) 5.0 Water, desalted until 100 preservative 0.1 Storage stability, 5 - 40 ° C > 6 weeks PH value 7.5 - 8.5

Preparation of Example Formulation 1: Mix the components of group I and heat to 70 ° C. with stirring. Slowly add Group II components and stir at 70 ° C for 15 minutes to saponify. Add components of phase III and stir homogeneously at 70 ° C. Cool to 30 ° C and add the components of phase IV. Adjust the pH to values between 7.5 - 8.5.

Example recipe 2:

group ingredient description wt% II Edenor K1218 fatty acid 8.9 III Maranil Paste A 55 6.2 Dehydrol LT 7 Linear dodecyl benzene sulfonate, Na salt fatty alcohol ethoxylate 13.4 Glucopon 600 CSUP Alkylpolyglucosid 6.5 IV Cosmetic Microspheres CM 311 magnesium silicate 2.0 Citric acid, monohydrate 1.5 ethanol 3.0 amylase 0.7 cellulase 0.1 I Sodium hydroxide, 50% 5.0 Propylene glycol (1,2) 5.0 Water, desalted until 100 preservative 0.1 Storage stability, 5 - 40 ° C > 6 weeks PH value 7.5 - 8.5

Preparation of Example Formulation 2: Mix the components of group I and heat to 70 ° C. with stirring. Slowly add Group II components and stir at 70 ° C for 15 minutes to saponify. Add components of phase III and stir homogeneously at 70 ° C. Cool to 30 ° C and add the components of phase IV with vigorous stirring. Adjust the pH to values between 7.5 - 8.5.

Example recipe 3:

group ingredient description wt% II Edenor K1218 fatty acid 8.9 III Maranil Paste A 55 Linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Na salt 6.2 Dehydrol LT 7 Fettalkoholethoxylat 13.4 Glucopon 600 CSUP Alkylpolyglucosid 6.5 IV Cosmedia SILC silicas 0.2 Polymer, cationic Copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and acrylamide 0.5 Citric acid, monohydrate 1.5 ethanol 3.0 amylase 0.7 cellulase 0.1 I Sodium hydroxide, 50% 5.0 Propylene glycol (1,2) 5.0 Water, desalted until 100 preservative 0.1 Storage stability, 5 - 40 ° C > 6 weeks PH value 7.5 - 8.5

Preparation of example recipe 3: Mix the components of group I and heat up to 70 ° C. with stirring. Slowly add Group II components and stir at 70 ° C for 15 minutes to saponify. Add components of phase III and stir homogeneously at 70 ° C. Cool to 30 ° C and add the components of phase IV with vigorous stirring. Adjust the pH to values between 7.5 - 8.5.

Example recipe 4:

group ingredient description wt% II Edenor K1218 fatty acid 8.9 III Maranil Paste A 55 Linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Na salt 6.2 Dehydrol LT 7 Fettalkoholethoxylat 13.4 Glucopon 600 CSUP Alkylpolyglucosid 6.5 IV Adasil SM Microemulsion of amino-functional silicone oils 10 Citric acid, monohydrate 1.5 ethanol 3.0 amylase 0.7 cellulase 0.1 I Sodium hydroxide, 50% 5.0 Propylene glycol (1,2) 5.0 Water, desalted until 100 preservative 0.1 Storage stability, 5 - 40 ° C > 6 weeks PH value 7.5 - 8.5

Preparation of Example Formulation 4: Mix the components of group I and heat to 70 ° C. with stirring. Slowly add Group II components and stir at 70 ° C for 15 minutes to saponify. Add components of phase III and stir homogeneously at 70 ° C. Cool to 30 ° C and add the components of phase IV with vigorous stirring. Adjust the pH to values between 7.5 - 8.5.

Comparison of the example formulations : For the evaluation of the formulations both objective and subjective evaluation methods were used. In the objective method, the force required to wash a fabric washed with each formulation through a ring of a defined diameter was measured to draw. With this method, one can compare the smoothness or softness of differently treated textiles. The lower the force required, the smoother or softer the textile is.

In a commercially available Miele Softronic W 3527 washing machine, several wfk 10A cotton wipes, available from wfk / Krefeld / Germany, plus ballast laundry were washed with the 'delicates' washing program at 40.degree. For a total laundry of 2.4 kg each 75 g of the example formulations were used. For comparison, a wash load was only washed with water. After completion of the wash, the cotton towels were dried on a leash, ironed and cut into strips (4 cm wide and 20 cm long). Subsequently, under air-conditioned conditions (21 ° C, 40% RH), a ring of Teflon having an inner diameter of 5 mm was drawn over the strips. At the same time, the force required for pulling through was measured. This process was repeated a total of 10 times to allow for statistical evaluation. From the resulting force-displacement curves, one can then determine an average force for a certain distance, which makes it possible to compare the effectiveness of the example formulations. Table: Determined forces according to the ring method example recipe water 1 2 3 4 Force [mN], averaged 3174 2816 2566 2510 2720

A static evaluation with the help of the T-test also showed that the example formulas 2 and 3 differ significantly, ie with a probability> 95%, from recipe 1, ie the formula without additives. Accordingly, it can be concluded from the required forces that the formulation 2 or 3 has significantly improved the softness or smoothness of the washed textiles. Particularly noteworthy here is the recipe 3, since this achieves the best result of the average in terms of the force, which is attributed to a synergistic effect of the silicon compound with the polymer. This is also due to the circumstance supported that in the recipe 3, only 1/10 of the amount of silicon compound to counter, compared with the polymer-free but inventive formula. 2

This objective measurement has now been compared with a subjective assessment. For this purpose, the remaining cotton cloths from the same washing program were sensory evaluated with the help of a total of 11 test persons. The wipes which had been washed with the different example formulations were compared in pairs and assembled in the following tables. The results are shown in Table 1 to 2 below. <b> Table 1: Comparison example recipe 2 versus example recipe 1: </ b> criteria rating probability smoothness better Significance <90% elasticity equal - Handle better Significance> 90% softness better Significance> 95% overall impression better Significance> 95%

Example recipe 2 has a significantly better grip, softness and overall significantly better overall impression than example recipe 1. The smoothness of example recipe 2 is also better rated by most subjects, the significance is slightly below 90%. <b> Table 2: Comparison example recipe 3 versus example recipe 1: </ b> criteria rating probability smoothness better Significance <90% elasticity equal - Handle better Significance> 90% softness better Significance> 95% overall impression better Significance> 95% criteria rating probability smoothness equal - elasticity better Significance <90% Handle equal - softness better Significance <90% overall impression equal -

It can be clearly seen from the examples that the textiles washed without or with soluble silicone oils have a significantly poorer feel or softness than the textiles washed with the silicon compounds described in accordance with the invention.

Claims (10)

Use of silicon compounds selected from the group consisting of silica or phyllosilicates for finishing textile fibers. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that layer silicates and preferably talc are selected as the silicon compound. Use according to at least one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that sparingly water-soluble, preferably water-insoluble silicon compounds are used. Use according to at least one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the silicon compounds have a particle size in the range from 0.1 to 100 μm, preferably from 0.5 to 50 μm and in particular in the range from 1 to 20 μm. Use according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the silicon compound in the form of solid or liquid agents and therein in amounts of 0.001 to 10 wt .-% are used. Use according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the silicon compound is used in combination with a polymer. Use according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the silicon compound is used in combination with a quaternary ammonium compound. Use according to claim 6 and or 7, characterized in that the silicon compound and the polymer in a weight ratio of 50: 1 to 1: 50, in particular in a weight ratio of 10: 1 to 1:10 is used. Use according to at least one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that as polymers cationic polymers are selected. Process for improving the softness of textile fibers, characterized in that the fibers are brought into contact with a surfactant-containing washing solution and then the washed fibers dried, characterized in that before, after or during the contacting of the fibers with the surfactant-containing washing solution silicon compounds according to Claim 1 brings into contact with the fibers.