Softening composition

Abstract: A particulate fabric laundering detergent formulation in which there is included at least one organic surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic compounds and mixtures thereof, at least one detergent builder selected from the group consisting of inorganic and organic water soluble builder salts, water insoluble builder salts and seeded builders and a mixture of a water dispersible fabric softening conditioning compound, a polydimethylsiloxane polymer and a polyoxyalkylene siloxane copolymer.

Description: This invention relates fabric softening composition, which can be used in a particulate fabric laundering composition. EP-A-0 163 352 discloses granular laundry detergents comprising conventional detersive surfactants, builders, enzymes, as well as a fabric softener clay. These are coated with a mixture of silica-silicone-alkoxylated siloxane-ethoxylated alcohol which provides suds control, especially in front loading automatic washing machines. EP-A-0 255 711 discloses antistatic fabric softening articles comprising cationic fabric softening agents in combination with a polydiorganosiloxane component on a flexible substrate. The polydiorganosiloxane component may be a polydimethylsiloxane, a polyphenylmethylsiloxane, or a dimethylsiloxane-glycol copolymer. The present invention provides a softening composition consisting of a fabric softening conditioning compound, a polydimethylsiloxane polymer and a polyoxyalkylene siloxane copolymer, as defined in the claims. The invention also relates to the use of such a mixture as a softening composition. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the fabric softening conditioning compound includes a cationic compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts and organic based compounds having C₁₂ to C₁₈ hydrocarbon chain molecules of amines, esters, acids or amine oxides. Thus, the fabric softening conditioning compound can be a quaternary ammonium salt compound of distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. The weight ratio of the polymer to the copolymer in the mixture is preferably from one to three, to three to one, more preferably one to one. The softening composition contains preferably from two percent to ten percent by weight of the polymer and the copolymer. In the polymer formula, preferably, x is an integer of about six hundred and the nominal viscosity of the polymer is about five thousand centistokes measured at 25°C. The copolymer has preferably a nominal viscosity of about fifteen hundred centistokes measured at 25°C. The present invention is also directed the use of such softening composition in a particulate fabric laundering detergent formulation comprising at least one organic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic compounds and mixtures thereof and at least one detergent builder selected from the group consisting of inorganic and organic water soluble builder salts, water insoluble builder salts and seeded builders. In this formulation, there is preferably included from ninety to ninety-eight percent by weight of the surfactant and the detergent builder and from two to ten percent by weight of the water dispersible fabric softening conditioning compound and the polymer and copolymer. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide not only a new and novel hitherto unknown type of softening composition, but the use of such a composition in a detergent formulation. It has been found that the silicone ingredients of the compositions of the present invention are viable alternatives to the organic dispersant compounds of the prior art, if not in fact, superior thereto. These and other features, objects and advantages, of the herein described present invention will become apparent when considered in conjunction with the following detailed description of the invention. Ammonium compounds in which all of the hydrogen atoms on nitrogen have been substituted by alkyl groups are called quaternary ammonium salts. These compounds may be represented in a general sense by the formula: The nitrogen atom includes four covalently bonded substituents that provide a cationic charge. The R groups can be any organic substituent that provides for a carbon and nitrogen bond with similar and dissimilar R groups. The counterion X is typically halogen. Use of quaternary ammonium compounds is based on the hydrophilic portion of the molecule which bears a positive charge. Since most surfaces are negatively charged, solutions, dispersions and particulate mixtures, of these cationic surface active agents are readily adsorbed to the negatively charged surface, such as fabrics, clothing and towels. In accordance with the present invention, the softening agent can include quaternary ammonium salts and, specifically, any of the cationic compounds described in British Patent No. 1,549,180, such as quaternary monoammonium compounds having either two C₁₂-C₂₀ alkyl chains or one C₁₈-C₂₄ alkyl chain; quaternary imidazolinium textile softeners; polyammonium compounds; fabric softening polyamine salts; fully substituted polyquaternary compounds; and polyalkylene imine salts. Particular quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use herein may include, for example, trimethyltallowammonium chloride, trimethylsoyaammonium chloride, trimethylcocoammonium chloride, dimethyldicocoammonium chloride, dimethyldi(hydrogenated tallow)ammonium chloride, trimethyldodecylammonium chloride, trimethyloctadecylammonium chloride, trimethylhexadecylammonium chloride, dimethylalkylbenzylammonium chloride, 1:1 mixture of trimethyltallowammonium chloride and dimethyldicocoammonium chloride, N,N,N′,N′,N′-pentamethyl-N-tallow-1,3-propanediammonium dichloride, methylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)cocoammonium chloride, methylpolyoxyethylene cocoammonium chloride, methylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)oleylammonium chloride, methylpolyoxyethylene oleyammonium chloride, methylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)oleylammonium chloride, methylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)octadecylammonium chloride, methylpolyoxyethylene octadecylammonium chloride, n-dodecyl tetradecyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, n-tetradecyl hexadecyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, n-dodecyl tetradecyl dimethyldichlorobenzylammonium chloride, n-octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride, dialkylmethylbenzylammonium chloride, n-dodecyl tetradecyl hexadecyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, n-dodecyl tetradecyl hexadecyl dimethylethylbenzylammonium chloride, methyl sulfate quaternary of ethyoxylated tallow diethylenetriamine condensate, methyl sulfate quaternary of propoxylated tallow diethylenetriamine condensate, 1-(tallow amidoethylene)-2-nor (tallow alkyl)2-imidazolinium and methyl sulfate quaternary. The silicone compositions of the present invention have been found to have no negative effect on the rewettability of fabrics treated in a laundry operation. The silicones are delivered to the fabric in the form of granules or particulates. The silicone particulates including the polymer, the copolymer and the active quaternary ammonium compound can be used alone or formulated into a fabric conditioning composition, such as a particulate detergent fabric softener. The quaternary ammonium salt based type of fabric softener compound is preferred. While the following examples are combinations of quaternary based softener compounds with silicone polymers and copolymers, the silicone compositions will improve softening when used in combination with any organic based fabric conditioning compound such as organic conditioning compositions comprised of long hydrocarbon C₁₂-C₁₈ chain molecules of amines, esters, acids, amine oxides and derivatives thereof. The polydimethylsiloxanes used herein can be high molecular weight polymers having a molecular weight in the range from 200 to 200,000 and have a viscosity in the range from 20 to 2,000,000 centistokes, preferably from 500 to 50,000 centistokes, more preferably from 3,000 to 30,000 centistokes measured at 25°C. The siloxane polymer is generally end-blocked either with trimethylsilyl or hydroxyl groups but other end-blocking groups are also suitable. The polymer can be prepared by various techniques such as the hydrolysis of dimethyldihalosilanes and subsequent condensation of the resulting hydrolysis product or by the cracking and subsequent polymerization of dimethylcyclosiloxanes. Example I Towels were prepared for treatment by removing the mill textile conditioners applied at the mill during manufacture of the towels. The process was conducted at a commercial laundromat. Bundles of 86:14 cotton polyester terry towels were washed five times with an anionic detergent containing a high level of phosphorus. Detergent remaining in the towels was removed by three final wash and rinse cycles from which detergent was omitted. Each bundle was subjected to eight complete wash and rinse cycles during the stripping process. The treatments were conducted in a Whirlpool Imperial Seventy model washing machine. The Cycle Setting was Heavy/14 minutes. The Cloth to Liquor Ratio was 1:20. The Wash Temperature was Warm (32°C.). The Rinse Temperature was Cold (11°C.). The detergent used was a nonionic-anionic phosphate built detergent at a level of 0.14% by weight. The Dryer was a Whirlpool model with a Dryer Setting of Permanent Press-High Drying, at a time of 60 minutes. The test used to measure softness was a panel test in which ten to twelve people were asked to rank five to six towels in order of softness. The towels were treated by the method described immediately above. Following treatment, the towels were placed in a constant temperature and humidity room over night to equilibrate and tested the next day. Dryers tend to overdry towels and provide a harsher feel than normal and, therefore, all towels tested in a given panel were conditioned at the same temperature and humidity before testing. Each test included one control towel. The control towel was a towel which had not been treated by softening agent. Ten to twelve people were asked to evaluate the towels by feeling the towels and choosing the harshest towel, the softest towel and placing the remaining towels in order of increasing softness. The towels were assigned a ranking between one and five to six with the highest value corresponding to the softest towel. Before the test was conducted, each member of the panel was asked to wash their hands to remove any residue which might interfere with the test. During the evaluation, the panel members rewashed their hands to remove any softener buildup. Since the softness of a towel increases with repeated handling, a new surface of each towel was exposed for each panel member and each towel was replaced after evaluation by three people. The resulting rankings were-evaluated using the Student Newman Keuls statistical procedure. The rewettability or water absorbency of the treated towels was determined by cutting strips of fabric from the towels and measuring the height of migration of a dyed water solution over a specified time. The greater the migration of dye solution up the fabric the better the rewet properties. Food coloring was used as the dye. The height of migration was measured after the strip had been immersed for four minutes. The variability of this wicking method was determined by using three bundles of twelve towels each treated with a 6% quaternary ammonium salt softener. The rewettability of one towel from each bundle was determined by cutting five strips of fabric from the towel and conducting the wicking test on each strip. The variability of the test method was found to be +/- 6.9 mm. Formulations containing varying amounts of silicone polymer and copolymer were evaluated for softening, static and rewettability. As noted above, the fabric bundle was treated and with a detergent containing the silicone polymer, copolymer and the softener active component. In the following examples, various combinations of ingredients were employed in order to further illustrate the concepts of the present invention. As base detergent, there was selected a nonionic-anionic phosphate built detergent. This base powder was a specially formulated detergent without a softener active ingredient and therefore functioned as the control. In all cases where the base powder was employed in admixture with other ingredients, it constituted 95.57 weight percent of the total amount of formulation employed. Where used as a control, the base powder was employed at a level of one hundred percent. In those instances where the silicone polymer and copolymer were added, these materials were employed at levels of 0.13 percent by weight of total formulation and in individual ratios with respect to one another varying from one to three to three to one. The level of 0.13 percent by weight was maintained even where one silicone compound was added to the exclusion of the other. Except for the control composition of base powder, all test runs included the remainder of 4.3 percent by weight of fabric softener active ingredient. It is noted that in the several treatments conducted in each instance, that the ratios of the silicone copolymer to silicone polymer was respectively, 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75. Each of the formulations employed included 4.3 percent distearyl dimethylammonium chloride(DDMAC), the active ingredient of a quaternary ammonium salt commercial fabric softener solid, manufactured by Sherex Chemical Company, Dublin, Ohio, as AROSURF® TA-100, a trademark of that company; together with varying amounts of the silicone composition of the present invention as noted above. The silicones and the quaternary ammonium salt softener were prepared by melting the components together. The mixture was then allowed to cool. After cooling, the mixture was granulated into powder form. A series of five treatments were conducted and evaluations were made following the first, third and fifth treatments. Average softness rankings are set forth below. Example II Into a beaker was added the silicone polymer of the present invention, the silicone copolymer and DDMAC, each individually and in the amounts and ratios indicated above. The ingredients were mixed while heat and agitation were applied and the beaker was allowed to cool. The resulting fabric softening mixture was then regranulated into small particles and sieved to between twenty to one hundred mesh size. Example III Example II was repeated except that the procedure for the addition of the various components was altered. In this example, the silicone polymer and the silicone copolymer were first each mixed together one with the other in order to form a uniform silicone blend. The silicone blend of the polymer and copolymer was then added to DDMAC in a beaker and the mixture was heated and agitated with stirring. The beaker was allowed to cool and the contents were regranulated and sieved as in Example II. In panel tests as outlined above in Example I, the panelists overwhelmingly chose towels treated in accordance with the procedure of Example III as being softer than those treated in accordance with the procedure of Example II after one and three treatments and, therefore, the procedure of Example III was employed and repeated in collecting the data shown hereinafter. Example IV The procedure of Example III was repeated in order to prepare the softener formulations and the formulations together with the base powder were tested for softness in accordance with the steps outlined in Example I. The results are shown in Table I. Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Treatment Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 75 25 4.8 4.8 4.9 95.57 4.3 50 50 4.6 4.6 4.3 95.57 4.3 25 75 3.9 4.1 4.3 95.57 4.3 -- 100 3.2 3.2 3.7 95.57 4.3 100 -- 2.9 2.7 2.7 100 -- -- -- 1.4 1.3 1.1 Example IV was repeated and a second set of data were collected and are shown in Table II. Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Treatment Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 25 75 5.6 4.7 3.3 95.57 4.3 50 50 4.9 4.9 5.0 95.57 4.3 75 25 3.3 3.7 3.6 95.57 4.3 -- 100 2.9 2.6 3.9 95.57 4.3 100 -- 2.2 3.8 3.7 100 -- -- -- 1.9 1.1 1.4 Tables I and II in particular indicate that combinations of both the polymer and copolymer provide a synergistic effect when compared to the effect obtained by the use of either individually. Example V Example IV was repeated except that there was also included comparative testing based on the ethoxylated tertiary amine softener composition of U.S. Patent No. 4,741,842, which is referred to in the following tables as ETA. ETA is approximately eighty-eight percent by weight quaternary ammonium compound and eight percent by weight of ethoxylated amine. In this example, rewettability as well as static control were tested in addition to softness. The results indicate that the compositions of the present invention provide equal, if not better, softness benefits than ETA, preferential static control and do not have a negative effect on fabric rewettability. Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Treatment Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 25 75 4.4 3.4 3.2 95.57 4.3 50 50 3.9 3.4 4.5 95.57 4.3 75 25 2.5 4.4 3.4 95.12 4.88 -- -- 2.3 1.9 2.6 100 -- -- -- 1.7 1.7 1.6 The procedure for Table III was repeated and a second set of data generated and set forth in Table IV. Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Treatment Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 25 75 5.0 4.4 4.4 95.57 4.3 50 50 3.2 4.3 3.6 95.57 4.3 75 25 2.1 2.6 3.1 95.12 4.88 -- -- 3.1 2.5 2.7 100 -- -- -- 1.4 1.0 1.0 Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Rewettability (mm/4 min.) Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 50 50 67 79 80 95.57 4.3 25 75 67 84 84 95.57 4.3 75 25 62 80 80 95.12 4.88 -- -- 69 84 84 100 -- -- -- 67 83 83 Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Rewettability (mm/4 min.) Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 50 50 66 81 82 95.57 4.3 25 75 70 80 85 95.57 4.3 75 25 75 81 80 95.12 4.88 -- -- 79 83 83.5 100 -- -- -- 74 78 78.5 It should be apparent from the foregoing tables that the softener ingredient containing the compositions of the present invention imparted the best softness. Specifically, combinations of the copolymer and the polymer exhibited a synergistic effect in comparison to the effect obtained when either was used without the other. The rewettability of each of the foregoing is set forth and it should be pointed out that the average rewettability imparted to each fabric was not negatived by the softeners including the compositions of the present invention. Example VI The compositions of the present invention were evaluated for their ability to reduce static electricity. The material ETA of Example V was again included for comparative purposes. The fabric bundle used to conduct this test consisted of the following garments or equivalent in yard goods: 10% 100% Nylon Tricot 10% 100% Polyester 12% 100% Acrylic 4% 100% Rayon 4% 100% Acetate 28% 65/35 Polyester/Cotton 32% 86/14 Cotton/Polyester Towels Bundles were stripped before use by washing in hot water five times with an anionic phosphate built detergent and then rinsed three times without any detergent, as noted in Example I. After treating the bundles with the detergent and softening mixture in the wash, the bundles were dried in dryers wiped with isoproponal to remove any previous residue. The bundles were dried for 60 minutes. Each piece of fabric was taken out one at a time. Different fabrics were brought together and separated to observe static and cling. Rubber Gloves were used to eliminate any dissipation of static. she entire bundle was rated according to the following scale: 1 NONE-No items affected by static; no detectable cling. 2 VERY LIGHT-Very slight attraction when swatches are brought together (no readably observable cling), slight static. 3 LIGHT-Some static, very little cling. 4 LIGHT MODERATE-Definite cling and static (1/3 synthetics). 5 MODERATE-1/4 of items affected by cling and static (2/3 synthetics). 6 MODERATE HEAVY-Same as above, but more intense. 7 HEAVY-1/2 of items affected by cling and static (all synthetics). 8 VERY HEAVY-Same as above but more intense. 9 SEVERE-3/4 or more of items affected (all synthetics and other items). At least two people were used to rate the static out of the dryer. The average of the two was recorded as the static rating for the particular bundle. The results of the static tests are shown below in Tables VII and VIII and it can be seen that the compositions of the present invention were at least three times more effective than the prior art material ETA. Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Static Rating Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 50 50 2 2.5 2.5 95.57 4.3 25 75 2 1.5 2 95.57 4.3 75 25 2.5 2 2.5 95.12 4.88 -- -- 6 7 8 100 -- -- -- 7 7 6 Ingredients (WT.%/Ratio) Static Rating Base QUAT DDMAC Silicone Copolymer Silicone Polymer No. I No. III No. V 95.57 4.3 50 50 1.5 1.5 1.5 95.57 4.3 25 75 2.5 2 2 95.57 4.3 75 25 2 2 3 95.12 4.88 -- -- 7 7.5 7 100 -- -- -- 7 8 8 Surfactants preferred in accordance with the present invention are anionic and nonionic and mixtures thereof. Specific anionic surfactants are, for example, carboxylic acids and salts; sulfonic acids and salts such as alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylarylsulfonates, naphthalenesulfonates, petroleum sulfonates, sulfonates with ester, ether or amide linkages and lignosulfonates; sulfuric acid esters and salts such as sulfated alcohols, ethoxylated and sulfated alcohols and alkylphenols, sulfated acids, amides and esters and sulfated natural fats and oils; and phosphoric and polyphosphoric acid esters and salts such as alkoxylated and phosphated alcohols and phenols. Among the category of nonionic surfactants which can be employed are, for example, ethoxylated alcohols; ethoxylated alkylphenols; ethoxylated carboxylic esters such as glycerol esters, polyethylene glycol esters, anhydrosorbitol esters, ethoxylated anhydrosorbitol and sorbitol esters, ethoxylated natural fats and oils, ethylene and diethylene glycol esters and propanediol esters; and ethoxylated carboxylic amides. Various category of builders can be employed exemplary of which are, for example, phosphates such as pentasodium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, trisodium phosphate, sodium polymetaphosphate and potassium phosphates; sodium carbonate; silicates; zeolites; clays; nitrilotriacetic acid and alkalies. In addition, those builders as well as surfactants set forth in U.S. Patent No. 3,936,537, issued February 3, 1976, as well as in U.S. Patent No. 4,741,842, issued May 3, 1988, may be employed herein. The silicone copolymers of the present invention and methods for their preparation are described in U.S. Patent No. 3,402,192, issued September 17, 1968. Generically, such materials are described as a copolymer selected from the group consisting of copolymers having the average structural formulae: (1) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) d OSiMe₂G] 4-a , (2) GMe₂Si(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) b OSiMe₂G, (3) Me₃Si(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃ , and (4) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃] 4-a , in which formulae R is a hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and contains from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, Me is a methyl radical, G is a radical of the structure -D(OR″) m A wherein D is an alkylene radical containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R″ is composed of ethylene radicals and radicals selected from the group consisting of propylene and butylene radicals, the amount of ethylene radicals relative to the other alkylene radicals being such that the ratio of carbon atoms to oxygen atoms in the total OR″ blocks ranges from 2.3:1 to 2.8:1, m has an average value from 7 to 100, A is a radical selected from the group consisting of the -OR′, -OOCR′ and radicals wherein R′ is a radical free of aliphatic unsaturation selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon and hydrocarbonoxy radicals, the A radical containing a total of less than eleven atoms, a has an average value of from 0 to 1, n has an average value of from 6 to 420, d has an average value of from 0 to 30, b has an average value from 1 to 30 and c has an average value from 3 to 30, said copolymers containing at least 13 percent by weight OSiMe₂ units based on the weight of the copolymer. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the forms of the invention described herein are exemplary only and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the present invention.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : BE, DE, FR, GB A softening composition consisting of a fabric softening conditioning compound, a polydimethylsiloxane polymer having the formula: where x is an integer of from one to one hundred thousand, and having a viscosity of from 20 to 2,000,000 centistokes, and a polyoxyalkylene siloxane copolymer, the copolymer being selected from the group consisting of copolymers having the average structural formulae: (1) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n OSiMe₂G]₄, (2) GMe₂Si(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) b OSiMe₂G, (3) Me₃Si(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃, (4) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃]₄, (5) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) d OSiMe₂G]₃, (6) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃]₃, in which formulae R is a hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, Me is a methyl radical, G is a radical of the structure -D(OR'') m A wherein D is an alkylene radical containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R'' is composed of ethylene radicals and radicals selected from the group consisting of propylene and butylene radicals, the amount of ethylene radicals relative to the other alkylene radicals being such that the ratio of carbon atoms to oxygen atoms in the total OR'' blocks ranges from 2.3:1 to 2.8:1, m has an average value from 7 to 100, A is a radical selected from the group consisting of the -OR', -OOCR' and radicals wherein R' is a radical free of aliphatic unsaturation selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon and hydrocarbonoxy radicals, the A radical containing a total of less than eleven atoms, a has an average value of 0 to 1, n has an average value of from 6 to 420, d has an average value of from 1 to 30, b has an average value from 1 to 30 and c has an average value from 3 to 30, said copolymers containing at least 13 percent by weight OSiMe₂ units based on the weight of the copolymer. Use as a softening composition of a mixture of a fabric softening conditioning compound, a polydimethylsiloxane polymer as defined in Claim 1, and a polyoxyalkylene siloxane copolymer as defined in Claim 1. Use according to Claim 2 in a particulate fabric laundering detergent formulation comprising at least one organic surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic compounds and mixtures thereof and at least one detergent builder selected from the group consisting of inorganic and organic water soluble builder salts, water insoluble builder salts and seeded builders. Claims for the following Contracting State : ES A process for preparing a softening composition which consists of mixing together a fabric softening conditioning compound, a polydimethylsiloxane polymer having the formula: where x is an integer of from one to one hundred thousand, and having a viscosity of from 20 to 2,000,000 centistokes, and a polyoxyalkylene siloxane copolymer, the copolymer being selected from the group consisting of copolymers having the average structural formulae: (1) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n OSiMe₂G]₄, (2) GMe₂Si(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) b OSiMe₂G, (3) Me₃Si(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃, (4) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃]₄, (5) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) d OSiMe₂G]₃, (6) R a Si[(OSiMe₂) n (OSiMeG) c OSiMe₃]₃, in which formulae R is a hydrocarbon radical free of aliphatic unsaturation and containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, Me is a methyl radical, G is a radical of the structure -D(OR'') m A wherein D is an alkylene radical containing from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, R'' is composed of ethylene radicals and radicals selected from the group consisting of propylene and butylene radicals, the amount of ethylene radicals relative to the other alkylene radicals being such that the ratio of carbon atoms to oxygen atoms in the total OR'' blocks ranges from 2.3:1 to 2.8:1, m has an average value from 7 to 100, A is a radical selected from the group consisting of the -OR', -OOCR' and radicals wherein R' is a radical free of aliphatic unsaturation selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon and hydrocarbonoxy radicals, the A radical containing a total of less than eleven atoms, a has an average value of 0 to 1, n has an average value of from 6 to 420, d has an average value of from 1 to 30, b has an average value from 1 to 30 and c has an average value from 3 to 30, said copolymers containing at least 13 percent by weight OSiMe₂ units based on the weight of the copolymer. Use as a softening composition of a mixture of a fabric softening conditioning compound, a polydimethylsiloxane polymer as defined in Claim 1, and a polyoxyalkylene siloxane copolymer as defined in Claim 1. Use according to Claim 2 in a particulate fabric laundering detergent formulation comprising at least one organic surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic compounds and mixtures thereof, and at least one detergent builder selected from the group consisting of inorganic and organic water soluble builder salts, water insoluble builder salts and seeded builders.

Inventors: MADORE LINDA MOY, ZOMBECK ALAN, MADORE, LINDA MOY, ZOMBECK, ALAN
Applicants: DOW CORNING, DOW CORNING CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C11D3
IPC codes: D06M13, C11D1, C11D3, D06M15