Liquid detergent compositions having washing and softening properties

Disclosed is a liquid fine washing agent, which, in addition to good washing properties, has an excellent fiber-caring effect and, in particular, bestows a soft feel to textiles treated therewith. The washing agent achieving these objectives contains about 7 to 40% by weight of at least one nonionic surface-active agent, especially at least one C.sub.10 -C.sub.20 -alkylpolyglycol ether and/or C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 -alkylphenolpolyglycol ether; about 3 to 15% by weight of at least one C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 fatty acid polyglycol diester; and about 1 to 7% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound with textile-softening properties, especially a di-C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 -alkyldimethyl or - ethylammonium halide.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
It has already been proposed, particularly in automatic washing machines, 
to go beyond the main washing cycle, whereby the laundry is washed with a 
tenside-containing, and preferably an anion-active detergent in a 
so-called softening rinse cycle, where the laundry is contacted with a 
cation-active compound, most commonly a quaternary ammonium compound. 
It has also been proposed to incorporate the washing and softening action 
into a single detergent composition. However, the practical utilization of 
these proposals generally failed, for one thing because anion-active and 
cation-active substances are incompatible and as a rule react by the 
formation of a deposit. 
In addition, it has also been proposed (e.g., in the German Published 
Application 1,220,956) to prepare detergents with a softening effect by 
the compatible combination of a non-ionic surface-active agent with a 
cation-active softener in a quaternary nitrogen base. 
The compositions previously proposed for this purpose, however, have the 
drawback that their washing effect is either generally too insignificant 
or a satisfactory softening effect cannot be obtained. Thus a demand 
exists for a single, compatible composition which will provide the desired 
washing and softening effect, both to a high degree. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has now been found that a liquid fine washing agent may be prepared 
having both excellent washing properties as well as outstanding 
fiber-caring, particularly soft-rinsing, properties if there is added to 
an aqueous base a composition comprising about 7 to 40% by weight of at 
least one non-ionic surface-active agent, especially at least one C.sub.10 
-C.sub.20 -alkylpolyglycol ether and/or C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 
-alkylphenolpolygylcol ether; about 3 to 15% by weight of at least one 
C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 fatty acid polyglycol diester; and about 1 to 7% by 
weight of at least one cationic component with textile-softening 
properties, especially a di-C.sub.10 -C.sub.20 -alkyldimethyl- or 
-ethylammonium halide. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The novel compositions according to the invention contain preferably 
alkylpolyglycol ethers which have 10-16 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical 
and are alkoxylated with 3 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide and/or propylene 
oxide (in the case both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units are 
present, the ethers may be random or block copolymers). Outstandingly 
suitable for use in these novel compositions are C.sub.10 -C.sub.12 
-alkylpolyglycol ethers with 5 to 7 ethylene oxide groups in the molecule. 
Suitable C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 -alkylphenolpolyglycol ethers which may replace 
some or all of the alkylpolyglycol ethers, for example, are those having 
the formula: 
##STR1## 
wherein R is a C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 -alkyl group and particularly a C.sub.8 
-C.sub.16 -alkyl group and n is a whole number from 3 to 15, and 
particularly 5 to 10. Random or block copolymers may be employed when 
mixed ethylene and propylene oxide units are present. 
The polyglycol ethers to be employed can also be selected from the known 
polyether glycols, e.g. the block polymers of the general structure HO 
(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.x --(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.y --(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 
O).sub.z H or HO(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.n --(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.m 
--(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.n H whose molar weight is between about 1,000 
and 15,000, and which are sold, for example, under the trade name 
"Pluronic.RTM." (see McCutcheons, Detergents & Emulsifiers, 1974 Ed., pp. 
137-138). In these formulae, typically x is a whole number between 10 and 
40, especially 26 and 30; y and z are whole numbers between 10 and 60, 
especially 30 and 40; m is a whole number from 10 to 50, especially 36 to 
40 and n is a whole number from 10 to 40, especially 20 to 30. The 
preparation and the properties of these compounds are described in detail 
by K. Lindner, Tenside, Textilhilfsmittel, Waschrohstoffe (Tensides, 
Textile Aids, Washing Raw Materials) 2nd Ed. (Stuttgart, 1964), pp. 
1052-1057. 
Suitable polyglycol ethers, furthermore, are the fatty acid amide 
polyglycol ethers whose preparation and properties are described by K. 
Lindner, Tenside, Textilhilfsmittel, Waschrohstoffe, 2nd Ed. (published by 
Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H., Stuttgart, 1964), pp. 
912-914. 
Preferred fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers are those having the 
structure: 
##STR2## 
wherein n and m are whole numbers from 1 to 20 and preferably 5 to 15, and 
R is a higher alkyl radical with preferably 8 to 20 carbon atoms. 
Needless to say, the corresponding propoxylates may also be employed in 
place of the ethoxylation products. Suitable commercial products, for 
example, are known under the name "Dionil.RTM." of Chemische Werke Huels. 
As C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 -fatty acid polyglycol diesters, the esters of 
unsaturated fatty acids, e.g., oleic acid, are particularly suitable. The 
polyglycol portion of the diester preferably contains ethylene and/or 
propylene oxide units. 
The fatty acid polyglycol ether diester used in this invention has 
preferably a molar weight of about 200 to about 800; a preferred fatty 
acid polyglycol diester is polyethylene glycol-600-dioleate. 
A particularly suitable quaternary ammonium compound has been shown to be a 
di-C.sub.10 -C.sub.22 -alkyldimethyl or ethyl ammonium chloride 
or-bromide, as sold, for example, by the company Farbwerke Hoechst AG 
under the trade name "Praepagen WKT". 
Also quaternized imidazoline derivatives of the general formula: 
##STR3## 
wherein R is H or an optionally substituted alkyl group with 1 to 18 
carbon atoms, R' is an alkyl group with 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R" is a 
lower alkyl group and X is a monovalent anionic group, may be used as 
textile-softening agents, as well as long-chain alkyl pyridinium halides. 
These compounds and their textile-softening properties are well-known and 
are described by K. Lindner, Tenside, Textilhilfsmittel, Waschrohstoffe, 
2nd Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 987-995. 
Suitable products are sold, for example, by the companies REWO, Schluchtern 
(Germany) under the name "Steinaquat", Servo B.V. under the name 
"Servamine KOV 4342 B", Ashland Chemical Co. under the name "Varisoft", 
especially "Varisoft 475" and Dutton & Reinisch Ltd. under the name 
"Loraquat M 5040". 
The novel liquid fine washing agents with softening action may contain 
further agents known per se in liquid detergents. Thus, the addition of 
other non-ionic, cationic and/or amphoteric tensides is possible; however, 
out of the question is the addition of considerable amounts of 
anion-active tensides because of their incompatibility with the softening 
ammonium compounds. Further surface-active compounds which may be co-used 
are, for example, betaines or long-chain alkylaminocarboxylic acids, amine 
oxides, e.g., lauryldimethylamine oxide, further alkylene oxide adducts as 
well as polyglycol monoesters of saturated fatty acids, e.g., 
polyethyleneglycol monostearate. Furthermore, in small proportions, the 
customary builders and synthesizing agents may be present; also possible 
is the addition of other substances, known per se in washing agents, such 
as enzymes, brighteners, dirt carriers, urea, ethyl alcohol, propyl 
alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. 
The novel agents may suitably also contain a preserving agent and, if 
desirable, dyestuffs, opacifiers, etc. In short, the novel compositions 
according to the present invention may contain in addition to the 
specified agents any of the well known ingredients commonly found in 
washing compositions and one skilled in the art may select such agents 
depending upon the precise properties desired. 
The pH value of the novel liquid detergents is normally between about 2 and 
7; the range of pH 3 to pH 6 is preferred. 
The turbidity points of the novel detergents are commonly between about 
10.degree. C. and 65.degree. C. and preferably between 30.degree. C. and 
55.degree. C.