A package for containing oxidant based bleaching composition containing a fragrance strip

Abstract: A package for containing oxidant based bleaching composition includes a fragrance strip adhered as a hot melt to the interior of the package at a location separated from the oxidant bleaching composition. The fragrance strip may be an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric material, such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, into which a fragrance has been intimately dispersed.

Description: This invention relates to a package for containing oxidant based bleaching compositions. In Application No. 86306442.4 (published EP-A-0 214 789) of which this application is a Divisional there are described bleaching compositions containing peracids and disposed in an enclosure of packaging material having a fragrance strip. The disclosure of that application is incorporated herein. The package (enclosure) for enclosing the bleaching product is a package which is novel and may be utilized generally for oxidant based bleaching compositions. We have found that the odor acceptability of an oxidant based bleaching composition can be enhanced by affixing a strip or area of fragranced polymeric adhesive, e.g., ethylene/vinyl acetate with fragrance dissolved therein to the interior of the bleach package in the headspace thereof. Document EP-A-0 113 085 discloses fragrance strips applied to the interior of packages as a solution or a dispersion of a polymer admixed with perfume. According to the present invention there is provided a package for containing oxidant based bleaching composition including a fragrance strip adhered as a hot melt to the interior of said package at a location separated from said oxidant bleaching composition, the fragrance strip comprising an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric matrix material into which a fragrance has been intimately dispersed. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a package for enclosing a dry peracid based bleaching product, said package containing therewithin a headspace, said headspace defined as the volume of the interior of the package which is unfilled by said bleaching product, the headspace of aid package being fragranced by a self-adhering fragrance strip applied as a hot melt to the interior of said package above said bleaching product, the fragrance strip comprising an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric matrix material into which a fragrance has been intimately dispersed. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of fragrancing a package for containing an oxidant based bleaching composition, comprising intimately dispersing a fragrance into an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric matrix material, and applying the fragranced material as a hot melt to the interior of the package at a location separated from the oxidant bleaching composition to form upon cooling an adhered fragrance strip. The invention will further be described with reference to bleach compositions according to EP Application No. 86306442 referred to above. Two compositions according to that application are described below:- Example 1 DPDDA Granules 37.62 wt.% pH control particles (Boric Acid) 16.9 FWA Particles 4.2 Fragrance Beads 0.66 Bulking Agent (Na 2 SO 4 ) 40.62 Example 2 DPDDA Granules 18.8 wt.% pH control particles (Boric Acid) 23.0 FWA Particles 4.0 Fragrance Beads 1.0 Bulking Agent (Na 2 SO 4 ) 53.2 Although the inclusion of unneutralized polyacrylic acid as a binder for the DPPDA granules reduces or eliminates off or rancid odors, the DPDDA itself generates an unpleasant acrid odor. This odor is unpleasant to most individuals and its presence reduces the acceptability of the bleaching product. The fragrance beads present in the product do not overcome this problem. Most of the fragrance is locked in the beads and is not released until the product is placed into an aqueous environment. Therefore additional steps are necessary to overcome this problem. According to the invention a source of fragrance is provided to counteract the normal unpleasant odor of the DPDDA. Specifically, a small adherent strip (perhaps 19 cm 2 (3 square inches) in area) of fragranced material is affixed to the inside of the bleach package at a location normally separated from the bleach formulation. This fragranced strip ideally is adhered to an inside upper flap of the bleach package. In such position, the fragranced strip is effectively removed from constant direct contact with the oxidizing component of the bleach composition and undesired oxidation of the admixed fragrance oil is avoided, or at least greatly reduced. Additionally, the use of a polymeric matrix material also affords protection of the entrapped fragrance from oxidation. Thus, the fragranced strip comprises fragrance admixed into a polymeric adhesive, e.g. an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric material into which fragrance has been intimately dispersed. On the other hand, the fragrance does slowly volatilize and permeate the air space within the bleach package to thereby counteract the undesirable odor emanating from the diperacid. The desired fragrance is dissolved in a matrix material, while the matrix material is at an elevated temperature, e.g., 65.5°-148.5°C (150-300°F). At such temperature the matrix melts and the fragrance oil is readily admixed therein. Suitable matrix materials are ethylene/ethyl acrylate blends, polyethylene/polypropylene blends, polyamides, polyesters, and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers. Ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers are preferred. Any such matrix material is selected for its ability to melt below a temperature above which a significant portion of the fragrance is volatilized. And for its ability to strongly adhere to the packaging material surface, e.g., laminated cartonboard, particle board, plastics, non-woven fabrics, etc., when solidified at room temperatures. The fragranced material is applied to the desired portion of the package interior as a hot melt. Upon cooling the fragranced material strongly adheres to the package interior, where it slowly releases its fragrance to counteract the objectionable odor of the diperacid. A typical hot melt fragranced composition may contain from about 10 to 60 wt.% of the fragrance oil and about 10 to 75% vinyl acetate in the ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer adhesive base. Such fragrance-adhesive mixture should have an equivalent hot melt index of from 1-50,000; and a hot melt ring and ball softening point of from 65.5°-148.5°C (150-300°F). About 0.5-10 grams of the fragranced adhesive are applied in a strip to the package interior. By such means, the diperacid odors are effectively counteracted upon opening and when using the diperacid bleach product. The diperacid based bleaching product as described hereinabove provides an effective bleaching material when poured into water at which time active oxygen is released. The fragrance beads also dissolve at that time to release their fragrance and counteract any adverse odors released by the diperacid during the bleaching and/or washing cycle. The following tests further illustrate the above disclosure. TEST 1 The fragrance beads were tested for stability when in the presence of DPDDA. Fragrance in starch beads were included in a DPDDA containing composition at a level of 0.50 wt.%. After 8 weeks storage at 38°C (100°F), the fragrance containing composition was used in a simulated washing situation and the level of fragrance released was evaluated by an experienced fragrance judge. The level of fragrance was judged to be acceptable. While the fragrance beads were demonstrated to be effective for these peracid formulations, in fact such technique is also applicable to other oxidant bleaches which may impart unpleasant odors in aqueous solution, such as perborate and activator systems, or even dry chlorine bleaches, such as dichloroisocyanurate. TEST 2 A floral type fragrance was mixed with an ethylene/vinyl acetate resin in accordance with process discussed above. A strip containing the fragrance was formed. The same fragrance was also adsorbed onto a cellulose pad. The strip and pad containing the fragrance were suspended above peracid containing composition in closed containers. After 4 weeks storage at 38°C (100°F), the fragrance in the strip was judged by a fragrance expert to be superior to the cellulose pad. The fragrance containing ethylene/vinyl acetate strip exhibited superior fragrance release and stability. While the fragrance strip is effective for peracid bleach packaging, in fact this technique is also applicable to packages for other oxidant bleaches which may evolve unpleasant odor within the package, such as perborate and activator systems, e.g., tetraacetyl ethylene diamine.

Claims: A package for containing oxidant based bleaching composition including a fragrance strip adhered to the interior of said package at a location separated from said oxidant bleaching composition, characterized in that the fragrance strip comprises an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric matrix material into which a fragrance has been intimately dispersed, the fragrance strip being adhered as a hot melt. A package for enclosing a dry peracid based bleaching product, said package containing therein a headspace, said headspace defined as the volume of the interior of the package which is unfilled by said bleaching product, the headspace of said package being fragranced by a self-adhering fragrance strip applied as a hot melt to the interior of said package above said bleaching product, the fragrance strip comprising an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric matrix material into which a fragrance has been intimately dispersed. A package as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that said polymeric matrix material has a hot melt ring and ball softening point of from 150-300°F (65.6-148.8°C). A package as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the polymeric matrix material is ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. A method of fragrancing a package for containing an oxidant based bleaching composition, comprising intimately dispersing a fragrance into an amorphous, hydrophobic, self-adhering polymeric matrix material, and applying the fragranced material as a hot melt to the interior of the package at a location separated from the oxidant bleaching composition to form upon cooling an adhered fragrance strip.

Inventors: COYNE THOMAS S, KLAPPROTT DANIEL H, LUTKIN ERIC A, MITCHELL FRANCES E, RIGGIN UTE H, STEICHEN DALE S, THOMPSON SUZANNE M, COYNE, THOMAS S., KLAPPROTT, DANIEL H., LUTKIN, ERIC A., MITCHELL, FRANCES E., RIGGIN, UTE H., STEICHEN, DALE S., THOMPSON, SUZANNE M.
Applicants: CLOROX CO, THE CLOROX COMPANY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C11D17
IPC codes: C11D3, C11D17