Fabric protectant and use thereof

Abstract: The present invention provides a fabric protectant which can prevent hatching of the eggs of fabric pest insects. The fabric protectant comprises a paper or paper-like sheet carrying 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl 1R-trans-2,2-dimethyl- 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl) cyclopropanecarboxylate [Transfluthrin] and 1-ethynyl-2-methyl-2-pentenyl 1R-cis,trans-chrysanthemate [Empenthrin].

Description: The present invention relates to a fabric protectant and its use. Usefulness of 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzyl 1R-trans-2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)cyclopropanecarboxylate (Transfluthrin) as an active ingredient for a fabric protectant is known from JP-A-6-9318. Also, a fabric protectant containing 1-ethynyl-2-methyl-2-pentenyl 1R-cis,trans-chrysanthemate (Empenthrin) is currently commercially available. US-A-4 889 872 and EP-A-0 576 270 disclose fabric protectants containing transfluthrin. The US document says that further insecticides, e.g. empenthrin, may be included. For controlling fabric pest insects, however, it is important to give consideration not only to the insecticidal effect, repellent action and clothes-eating protection against fabric pest insects (such as the larvae of the casemaking clothes moth and webbing clothes moth), which have conventionally been studied, but also to the efficacy of preventing hatching of eggs of the fabric pest insect. Embodiments of the present invention can provide fabric pest insects controlling compositions which can also prevent hatching of the insects' eggs. The present invention provides a method for preventing hatching of the eggs of fabric pest insects comprising using a sheet carrying Transfluthrin and Empenthrin. This is useful for controlling fabric pest insects and for protecting fabric (eg, clothes) by using the fabric protectant. The fabric protectant of the invention may have an insecticidal effect, repellent action and clothes-eating protection against fabric pest insects as well as showing an excellent inhibitory effect against the hatching of the eggs of the fabric pest insects. The present invention also provides a fabric protectant comprising a sheet carrying Transfluthrin and Empenthrin, the sheet having a thickness of 0.1 to 4 mm and a bulk density of 0.2 to 0.7 g/cm 3 , the mixing ratio by weight of Transfluthrin to Empenthrin in the sheet being in the range from 20:80 to 70:30 and the total amount of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin being between 0.1 and 100 mg/cm 3 . The bulk density is an index relating to a strength and opacity, and refers to a weight per unit volume of paper, namely relative density in g/cm 3 . The calculation is effected by the following formula: Bulk density (g/cm 3 ) = [basis weight (g/cm 2 )/thickness (mm)] × 1000 As the sheet in the present invention, there may be used not only pulp paper such as card board and filter paper but also paper-like material made of vegetable fiber materials other than pulp, such as cotton linters. The size of the sheet is preferably about 10 cm to about 1 m in each of its length and width, for example for use in a dresser. A sheet of several centimetres by several metres can be used. The fabric protectant of the present invention can be produced, for instance, by dissolving Transfluthrin and Empenthrin in a solvent, for example, a ketone such as acetone, an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol, a halogenated hydrocarbon such as dichloroethane, an ether such as tetrahydrofuran or dioxane, an ester such as ethyl acetate, or a hydrocarbon such as hexane, kerosine or petroleum benzine, and having this solution carried on or in a sheet by coating, impregnation or other means. The total amount of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin carried by the sheet is 0.1 to 100 mg/cm 3 . When these compounds are dissolved in a solvent to prepare a solution to be carried on or in a sheet, there may be added an emulsifier, dispersant, spreading agent, stabilizer or other adjuvant(s). It is also possible to add another insecticide, synergist, anti-mold agent or the like. The fabric protectant according to the present invention is effective for controlling the fabric pest insects such as those belonging to the genus Tineola such as a webbing clothes moth, the genus Tinea such as casemaking clothes moth, the genus Trichophaga such as tapestry clothes moth, the genus Attagenus such as black carpet beetle, and the genus Anthrenus such as varied carpet beetle. The fabric protectant of the present invention may be used in various ways; usually, it is placed in the vicinity of fabric at ordinary temperature and for instance, it may be directly placed in a cabinet drawer, or may be packed in an appropriate container and hung up in a wardrobe. The effective amount of the fabric protectant used is usually about 1 to 10 g (in total amount of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin) per 1 m 3 of space. The mixed insecticidal composition comprising Transfluthrin and Empenthrin in the form of use as a fabric protectant according to the present invention has an insecticidal effect which is exhibited synergistically in inhibiting hatching of the eggs of fabric pest insects. EXAMPLES Preparation examples of the fabric protectant of the present invention and a test example thereof are shown below. Example 1 An acetone solution of 50 mg each of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin was dropped onto and impregnated in a 34 cm x 58 cm sheet of paper (filter paper) having a thickness of 0.2 mm and a bulk density of 0.5 g/cm 3 , and the sheet was air dried to obtain a fabric protectant of the present invention. Example 2 An acetone solution of 50 mg each of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin was dropped onto and impregnated in a 2.2 cm x 3.5 cm sheet of paper (made of cotton linters) having a thickness of 2.5 mm and a bulk density of 0.4 g/cm 3 , and the sheet was air dried to obtain a fabric protectant of the present invention. The preparation of the fabric protectant used for comparison in Example 3 (test example) described below is shown as Referential Examples 1 and 2. Referential Example 1 In the process of Example 1, 100 mg of Transfluthrin alone was used instead of using 50 mg of Transfluthrin and 50 mg of Empenthrin to obtain a fabric protectant for comparison. Referential Example 2 100 mg of Empenthrin alone was used instead of using 50 mg of Transfluthrin and 50 mg of Empenthrin in the process of Example 1, to obtain a fabric protectant for comparison. Example 3 Eight articles of working clothes (made of 65% polyester and 35% cotton) were interposingly contained in two piles (4 in each pile) in a 43 cm x 73 cm x 16 cm clothing box, and the fabric protectant obtained in Example 1, Referential Example 1 or Referential Example 2 was placed between the second and third clothes articles from the bottom in each pile. After the lapse of the predetermined periods of time (4 weeks, 20 weeks and 40 weeks), several Petri dishes of 3.5 cm in diameter containing 10 eggs of webbing clothes moth (about one day after oviposition) with a 2 cm x 2 cm wool muslin cloth were prepared and they were placed between the fabric protectant and the third clothcing article from the bottom of each pile, between the third and fourth articles from the bottom each pile and on top of each pile of clothes in the said clothing box. Then the clothing box was covered, and after leaving it in a room of 25°C for one week, the state of hatching of the moth eggs was observed. The results are shown in Table 1 as the average of observations of the eggs at six locations. The respective marks in the table have the following significances. X: 50% or more of the eggs hatched. Δ: 30 to not more than 50% of the eggs hatched. ○: 10 to not more than 30% of the eggs hatched. o ○: Less than 10% of the eggs hatched. Hatch inhibiting effect 4 weeks 20 weeks 40 weeks Example 1 ○ o ○ o ○ Referential Example 1 × Δ o ○ Referential Example 2 Δ o ○ × No treatment × × × Example 4 Eight articles of working clothes (made of 65% polyester and 35% of cotton) are interposingly contained in two piles (4 in each pile) in a 43 cm x 73 cm x 16 cm clothing box, and the fabric protectant obtained in Example 2 is placed between the second and third clothes articles from the bottom in each pile. Then, two Petri dishes of 3.5 cm in diameter containing 10 eggs of webbing clothes moth (about one day after oviposition) with a 2 cm x 2 cm wool muslin cloth are prepared and they are placed similarly to said fabric protectants mentioned above. After the clothing box is covered and is stored in a room of 25°C for one week, the inhibiting effect of the eggs can be obtained sufficiently. The fabric protectant of the present invention exhibits an excellent synergistic effect in inhibiting hatch of the eggs of fabric pest insects and is very useful for repelling and preventing breeding of fabric pest insects.

Claims: A method for preventing hatching of the eggs of fabric pest insects comprising using a sheet carrying Transfluthrin and Empenthrin. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet has a thickness of 0.1 to 4 mm and a bulk density of 0.2 to 0.7 g/cm 3 . The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight ratio of Transfluthrin to Empenthrin falls in the range from 20:80 to 70:30. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a total amount of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin carried by the sheet is between 0.1 and 100 mg/cm 3 . The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a total amount of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin is between 1 and 10 g per 1 m 3 of space. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein fabric pest insects are of the genus Tineola, the genus Tinea or the genus Trichophaga. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is placed in the vicinity of fabric. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is hung up in a wardrobe. A fabric protectant comprising a sheet carrying Transfluthrin and Empenthrin, wherein the sheet has a thickness of 0.1 to 4 mm and a bulk density of 0.2 to 0.7 g/cm 3 , a weight ratio of Transfluthrin to Empenthrin in the range from 20:80 to 70:30, and a total amount of Transfluthrin and Empenthrin of between 0.1 and 100 mg/cm 3 . A fabric protectant according to claim 9, wherein the sheet comprises a pulp paper or a paper like material made of non-pulp vegetable fiber materials. A fabric protectant according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the sheet in each of its length and width is between 10cm and 1m. Use of a sheet carrying Transfluthrin and Empenthrin for preventing hatching of eggs of fabric pest insects.

Inventors: ISHIWATARI TAKAO, ISHIWATARI, TAKAO
Applicants: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL CO, SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1998
Main classification: D06M13
IPC codes: A01N25, D06M16, D06M13, A01N53, D21H21