Softening composition

Abstract

The invention relates to the field involving the softening or lubricating of natural, synthetic or mixed textile fibres, as well as keratin fibres. The invention provides a softening composition, the rheology of which is controlled by means of a particular thickening agent. The invention also relates to the thickening agent, which is made from multiple isocyanate compounds.

Claims

1. A thickening agent, comprising: I. a compound prepared by reaction of compounds (A), (B), and (C), wherein said compounds (A), (B), and (C) are free of any diisocyanate compound, and wherein: (A) is at least one monoisocyanate compound chosen from: (A1) a compound comprising a single isocyanate group and (A2) at least one monoisocyanate compound from a separate reaction of (A2-1) at least one compound comprising a labile hydrogen atom and (A2-2) at least one asymmetric diisocyanate compound, (B) is at least one isocyanate compound comprising more than 2 isocyanate groups, and (C) is at least one compound of formula (I):
(HO)-L.sub.n-(OH)  (I) wherein L independently represents a polyalkylene glycol residue and n represents a number ranging from 40 to 400; and II. a solvent which is non-aromatic, non-reactive with the isocyanate group and at least one selected from the group consisting of a ketone, an ether, an aprotic ethyl derivative, a diether, a crown ether, an ester, a diester, a carbonate, a furan, a halogenated solvent, an alkane, an alkene, an alkyne, a nitrogenous or sulphurous solvent, a mineral oil and a silicone oil.

2. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the compound (A1) is: a compound of formula (II):
R—NCO  (II) wherein R represents a straight, branched or cyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic hydrocarbon group; or a compound selected from the group consisting of: an aromatic monoisocyanate compound; a polyfunctional aromatic monoisocyanate compound; an alkyl monoisocyanate compound; and a cycloalkyl monoisocyanate compound.

3. The thickening agent according to claim 2, in which the compound (A1) is a compound of formula (II) wherein R represents: a straight, branched, or cyclic saturated, unsaturated or aromatic hydrocarbon group comprising from 10 to 32 carbon atoms.

4. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the at least one compound (A2-1) is selected from the group consisting of a compound comprising a labile hydrogen atom that is reactive with the asymmetric diisocyanate compound; a compound comprising at least one hydroxyl group; a compound comprising a primary amine group or a secondary amine group; a carboxylic acid; and a mercaptan compound.

5. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the at least one asymmetric compound (A2-2) is selected from the group consisting of: an asymmetric aromatic diisocyanate compound; and an asymmetric alicyclic diisocyanate compound.

6. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which: the at least one isocyanate compound (B) is an isocyanate compound comprising more than 2.2 isocyanate groups, the at least one isocyanate compound (B) is triphenylmethane-4,4′,4″-triisocyanate or 1,1′,1″-methylidynetris (4-isocyanatobenzene), the at least one isocyanate compound (B) is an isocyanurate compound, or the at least one isocyanate compound (B) is a biuret trimer compound.

7. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the at least one compound (C) is a compound of formula (I) wherein: L independently represents a polyethylene glycol residue; and/or n represents a number ranging from 50 to 400.

8. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the at least one compound (C) of formula (I) has a molecular mass (M.sub.W) ranging from 1,500 to 20,000 g/mol.

9. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which a molar amount of the at least one monoisocyanate compound (A) is approximately twice as high as a molar amount of the at least one compound (C).

10. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the solvent (II) is present when preparing the compound (I).

11. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the solvent (II) is partially separated.

12. The thickening agent according to claim 1, in which the solvent (II) is completely separated.

13. A softening composition, comprising: the thickening agent according to claim 1, a softening agent, and optionally water.

14. The softening composition according to claim 13, in which: the softening agent is selected from the group consisting of a softening agent for textile, natural, synthetic or mixed fibres, and a softening agent for keratin fibre; or the softening agent is a hydrophobic substance dispersed in an aqueous phase.

15. The softening composition according to claim 13, in which the softening agent is a compound comprising an ester group, a compound comprising an amido-amine group, a compound comprising an imidazoline group, a compound comprising an amine group and at least one hydrocarbon fatty chain or a cationic compound comprising an ammonium group and at least one hydrocarbon fatty chain.

16. A method for controlling the viscosity of a softening composition of claim 13, the method comprising adjusting the quantity of said thickening agent.

17. A method for lubricating textile, natural, synthetic or mixed fibres, or keratin fibres comprising implementing at least one thickening agent according to claim 1.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of Urethane Compounds (I) According to the Invention

(1) In a 3 L glass reactor (container 1) equipped with a mechanical stirring rod, vacuum pump, and nitrogen inlet, and heated by means of a jacket in which oil circulates, 514.8 g of polyethylene glycol with a molecular mass (M.sub.w) of 10,000 g/mol (PEG 10,000) is placed as compound (C1) along with 514.8 g of ethylene diglycol monoethyl ether acetate (EDGA—CAS number 112-15-2) as compound (II). The stirred medium is heated to 100° C. and placed in an inert atmosphere.

(2) Additionally, in a 250 mL three-necked glass flask (container 2), 34.29 g of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) is placed as compound (A2-2), to which is added 1 g of a bismuth catalyst (bismuth carboxylate). The medium is purged with nitrogen and then heated to 50° C. When this temperature is reached, 37.38 g of hexadecan-1-ol is injected with a syringe into container 2, as compound (A2-1). When the injection is completed, the reaction mixture of container 2 is left to stir for 15 minutes. A urethane compound (A) is obtained according to the invention.

(3) Next, 13.14 g of HDI isocyanurate is added to container 2, as compound (B) and left to stir for 5 minutes.

(4) Then, the contents of container 2, comprising the admixture of monoisocyanate compound (A) and triisocyanate compound (B), are poured into container 1. Stirring is continued for 60 minutes at 100±2° C. Then the NCO group level is checked to ensure it is null, indicating the end of the reaction.

(5) A thickening agent (AE1) according to the invention is obtained comprising the urethane compound (I-1) and EDGA as a non-reactive solvent (II) according to the invention.

(6) The mixture of compounds (I-1) and (II) is formulated by adding, in succession, 150 g of alkyl-ethoxylated surfactant (Disponil D8 from BASF) (TA), 1,722 g of water and 3 g of biocide (Biopol SMV from Chemipol).

(7) A thickening formulation (FE1) comprising the thickening agent (AE1) is obtained according to the invention.

(8) Similarly, other urethane compounds (I) are prepared (compounds (I-2) to (I-6)), then thickening agents (AE2) to (AE6) are prepared, and lastly thickening formulations (FE2) to (FE6) according to the invention comprising thickening agents (AE2) to (AE6), respectively. The respective reagents and proportions (% by mass) are shown in Table 1, in particular tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether or TEGDE (CAS number 112-49-2) as another solvent (II) according to the invention.

(9) The thickening formulations (FE1) to (FE6) according to the invention are liquid at room temperature; their Brookfield viscosity was measured at 100 rpm and at 25° C.

(10) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Thickening formulation (FE1) (FE2) (FE3) (FE4) (FE5) (FE6) Compound (I) (I-1) (I-2) (I-3) (I-4) (I-5) (I-6) (A2-1) hexadecan-1-ol 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.2 (A2-2) IPDI 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.4 1.1 1.1 (B) HDI isocyanurate 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.4 (B) HDI biuret / / 0.2 / / / (C) PEG8000 / / 16.8 / / (C) PEG10000 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.2 17.2 Bi catalyst 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 EDGA solvent (II) 17.2 17.3 17.4 16.8 17.2 / TEGDE solvent (II) / / / / 17.3 Biocide 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 TA 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Water 57.6 57.6 57.5 58.1 57.7 57.6 Viscosity (mPa .Math. s) 7,000 7,100 2,900 3,950 7,600 9,800

EXAMPLE 2

Preparation and Assessment of Thickening Compositions According to the Invention and Comparative Thickening Compositions

(11) A softening composition (CA1) is prepared according to the invention by preparing 50 g of methyl bis[ethyl (tallow)]-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium methyl sulphate (Stepantex VT 90 by Stepan) melted at a temperature of 50° C. and then pouring the melted product into 950 g of stirred deionised water and bringing it to a temperature of 50° C.

(12) After the softening agent has been fully added, stirring is continued for 30 minutes at a temperature of 50° C. Heating is stopped and the mixture is left to stir until it has cooled to room temperature.

(13) To 100 g of this mixture, 0.29 g of thickening formulation (FE1) according to the invention is added while stirring; it is left to stir for 30 minutes.

(14) Next, the effectiveness of the thickening agent according to the invention is assessed using a Haake Mars III viscosity meter with a planar cone measurement system. Viscosity measurement (mPa.Math.s) is performed at 18.17 s.sup.−1 after 1 day and after 5 days.

(15) Similarly, other softening compositions (CA2), (CA3), (CA4), and (CA5) according to the invention are prepared comprising the thickening formulations (FE2), (FE3), (FE5) and (FE6), respectively, as well as a comparative softening composition (CC1) comprising a known polyurethane thickening agent (0.29 g of Dow Acusol 882 at a concentration of 17.5% by weight in solvent) rather than a thickening agent according to the invention. The results obtained are shown in Table 2.

(16) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Viscosity Viscosity Softening composition at 1 day at 5 days (CA1) 362 416 (CA2) 398 426 (CA3) 285 267 (CA4) 330 361 (CA5) - 0.28 g (FE6) 317 342 (CC1) 180 258

(17) For comparable amounts of thickening formulation with regard to the comparative softening composition comprising a known polyurethane thickening agent, the softening compositions according to the invention have much higher viscosities. The thickening agents according to the invention that were implemented are more effective than the known polyurethane thickening agent.

EXAMPLE 3

Preparation and Assessment of a Thickening Composition According to the Invention and a Comparative Thickening Composition

(18) A softening composition (CA6) according to the invention is prepared comprising the thickening formulation (FE5) according to the invention and a comparative softening composition (CC2) comprising a known polyurethane thickening agent (Dow Acusol 882 at a concentration of 17.5% by weight in a solvent) rather than a thickening agent according to the invention.

(19) A comparison is then made of the amounts of thickening formulation required to obtain an identical or comparable viscosity for the two softening compositions. 200 g of a known softening composition comprising no thickening agent (ADCO Velveta) is placed under stirring and an amount of thickening formulation is added and then it is left to stir for 30 minutes.

(20) Viscosity (in mPa.Math.s) is measured at room temperature using a Brookfield viscosity meter at 20 rpm. This measurement is performed immediately after stirring at the time of preparation and after 21 and 28 days of storage at room temperature. The results obtained are shown in Table 3.

(21) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Velveta Softening Composition 200 g 200 g (CA6) 0.16 g / (CC2) / 0.59 g Storage time (days) Viscosity 0 2,949 2,689 21 2,689 2,689 28 2,699 1,970

(22) The initial viscosity of the softening composition according to the invention and its viscosity at 21 days and 28 days are equal to or well above the viscosities of the softening composition prepared from a known polyurethane thickening agent. Moreover, the softening composition according to the invention comprises a very low amount of thickening agent.

EXAMPLE 4

Preparation and Assessment of a Thickening Composition According to the Invention and Comparative Thickening Compositions

(23) Similar to Example 3, a softening composition (CA7) according to the invention is prepared comprising the thickening formulation (FE5) and 3 comparative softening compositions (CC3), (CC4) and (CC5) are prepared comprising various known thickening agents rather than a thickening agent according to the invention.

(24) The comparative softening composition (CC3) comprises a known polyurethane thickening agent (Dow Acusol 882 at a concentration of 17.5% by weight in solvent). The comparative softening composition (CC4) comprises a known thickening agent (Rheovis CDE by BASF, at a concentration of at least 50% by weight in a solvent blend).

(25) The comparative softening composition (CC5) comprises a known thickening agent (Flosoft 222 by Snf at a concentration of 56% by weight in solvent).

(26) 200 g of a known softening composition comprising no thickening agent (ADCO Velveta) is placed under stirring and an amount of thickening formulation is added and then it is left to stir for 30 minutes.

(27) Next, the effectiveness of the thickening agent according to the invention is assessed using a Haake Mars III viscosity meter with a planar cone measurement system. Viscosity measurement (mPa.Math.s) is performed at 18.17 s.sup.−1 after 1 day. The results obtained are shown in Table 4.

(28) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Velveta Softening Composition 100 g 100 g 100 g 100 g (CA7) 0.079 g (CC3) 0.0825 g (CC4) 0.0815 g (CC5) 0.0807 g Storage time (days) Viscosity measured at 18.17 s.sup.−1 1 252 91 74 61

(29) The viscosity of the softening composition according to the invention is much higher than the viscosity of the various softening compositions prepared from the known thickening agents.