Softener composition

Abstract

The present invention provides a softener composition, which attaches onto the fabric during the rinsing process, and thus enables the fabric to have the anti-ultraviolet function. The softener composition comprises (A) 0.05 to 50 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber, (B) 2 to 15 wt % of cationic softener, and (C) 35 to 97 wt % of water.

Claims

1. A softener composition, comprising: (A) 0.05 to 50 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber; (B) 2 to 15 wt % of cationic softener; and (C) 35 to 97 wt % of water wherein the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber is represented by formula (I): ##STR00015## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of the following: ##STR00016## wherein, x is an integer of 15 to 20, y is an integer of 20 to 50, and z is an integer of 10 to 15, m is an integer of 15 to 20, and * is a site for bonding to M; each of M and U is NHCOO; and Y is selected from the group consisting of the following: ##STR00017## wherein n is an integer of 5 to 10.

2. The softener composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein Y in the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber is represented by the following: ##STR00018## wherein n is an integer of 5 to 10.

3. The softener composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein A in the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber is ##STR00019## wherein m is an integer of 15 to 20.

4. The softener composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein A in the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber is ##STR00020## wherein, x is an integer of 15 to 20, y is an integer of 20 to 50, and z is an integer of 10 to 15.

5. The softener composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber is represented by formula (II): ##STR00021## wherein n is an integer of 5 to 10.

6. The softener composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber is represented by formula (III): ##STR00022## wherein, n is an integer of 5 to 10, and y is an integer of 20 to 50.

7. The softener composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cationic softener comprises at least a quaternary ammonium salt compound.

8. The softener composition as claimed in claim 7, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt compound is selected from the group consisting of cationic quaternary ammonium salts, cyclic quaternary ammonium salts of the imidazolinium type, diamido quaternary ammonium salts, biodegradable quaternary ammonium salts, and a combination thereof.

9. The softener composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cationic softener is a cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type.

10. The softener composition as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type is represented by formula (IV): ##STR00023## wherein each of R and R is a tallow alkyl group.

11. The softener composition as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least an additive selected from the group consisting of perfume, dyes, bactericide, emulsifiers, and whiteners.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(1) Preparation Example 1Preparation Method of Compound (II)

(2) 55.67 g of EV80 (-[3-[3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-1-oxopropyl]--hydroxypoly(oxo-1,2-ethanediyl) (Taiwan Everlight Chemical Industrial Corporation) was placed in a 125-ml separable reaction flask, stirred, heated to 50 C., and thereafter added with 22.20 g of THDI (1,3,5-tris(6-isocyanatohexyl)-1,3,5-triazinane-2,4,6-trione, Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd. (NPU)) and 19.50 g of DMAc (N,N-dimethylacetamide). The mixture was heated to 90 C., and the reaction was performed for 2-3 hours (the NCO group was titrated till the end point of the reaction). Then, the mixture was cooled to 70 C., and 2.59 g of MDEA (N-methyldiethanolamine) neutralized by 1.30 g of AcOH (acetic acid) and 7.20 g of DMAc were then added. The mixture was heated to 90 C., and the reaction was performed for 2-3 hours (the NCO group was titrated till the end point of the reaction). Then, the mixture was cooled to 50 C., yielding the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber represented by formula (II):

(3) ##STR00010##
in which, n is an integer of 5 to 10.

(4) Preparation Example 2Preparation Method of Compound (III)

(5) 46.82 g of EV80 (-[3-[3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-1-oxopropyl]--hydroxypoly(oxo-1,2-ethanediyl) (Taiwan Everlight Chemical Industrial Corporation) was placed in a 250-ml separable reaction flask, stirred, heated to 50 C., and added with 18.67 g of THDI (1,3,5-tris(6-isocyanatohexyl)-1,3,5-triazinane-2,4,6-trione, Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd. (NPU)) and 16.40 g of DMAc (N,N-dimethylacetamide). The mixture was then heated to 90 C., and the reaction was performed for 2-3 hours (the NCO group was titrated till the end point of the reaction). Then, the mixture was cooled to 70 C., and then added with 11.30 g of DMAc and 18.00 g of PEG1000 (polyethylene glycol, Mw=1000). The mixture was heated to 90 C., and the reaction was performed for 2-3 hours (the NCO group was titrated till the end point of the reaction). Thereafter, the mixture was cooled to 50 C., yielding compound (III):

(6) ##STR00011##
in which, n is an integer of 5 to 10, and y is an integer of 20 to 50.

EXAMPLE 1

(7) In an environment of about 50 C., a mixed solution containing 0.1 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber, 7.1 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 92.8 wt % of deionized water was sufficiently stirred for 1 hour to form a softener composition. The polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber was represented by the aforesaid formula (II), which is a cationic polymeric UV light absorber. The cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type was represented by formula (IV):

(8) ##STR00012##
in which each of R and R was a tallow alkyl group.

(9) At room temperature, a double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution prepared as described above for 6 minutes, with a little stirring during the soaking. The weight ratio of the fabric to the solution was 1:10. Thereafter, the fabric after being soaked was taken out, and excess solution was removed to make the fabric with a liquid pick up rate of 80% to 150%. The fabric was then placed in an oven at 60 C. for 20 minutes to dry, and then taken out to stand at room temperature for 4 hours to regain moisture, completing the preparation of samples. Thereafter, the ultraviolet protection factors (UPF) of samples were measured using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer UV-2600 (made by SHIMADZU company) at wavelengths of 280 to 400 nm. The test results are reported in Table 1. In addition, the grade and category of various UPF values are shown in Table 2.

EXAMPLE 2

(10) Example 2 is substantially the same as Example 1 with the differences in that the softener composition was prepared to contain 1 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber (cationic type, represented by formula (II)), 7 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 92 wt % of deionized water. Furthermore, the double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 3

(11) Example 3 is substantially the same as Example 1 with the differences in that the softener composition was prepared to contain 10 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber (cationic type, represented by formula (II)), 6.4 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 83.6 wt % of deionized water. Furthermore, the double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 4

(12) Example 4 is substantially the same as Example 1 with the differences in that the softener composition was prepared to contain 50 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber (cationic type, represented by formula (II)), 3.5 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 46.5 wt % of deionized water. Furthermore, the double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 5

(13) In an environment of about 50 C., a mixed solution containing 0.1 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber, 7.1 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 92.8 wt % of deionized water was sufficiently stirred for 1 hour to prepare a softener composition. The polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber was represented by the aforesaid formula (III), which is a nonionic polymeric UV light absorber; the cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type was represented by formula (IV):

(14) ##STR00013##
in which each of R and R was a tallow alkyl group.

(15) At room temperature, a double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution prepared as described above for 6 minutes, with a little stirring during the soaking. The weight ratio of the fabric to the solution was 1:10. Thereafter, the fabric after being soaked was taken out, and excess solution was removed to make the fabric with a liquid entrainment rate of 80% to 150%. The fabric was placed in an oven at 60 C. for 20 minutes to dry, and then taken out to stand at room temperature for 4 hours to regain moisture, completing the preparation of samples. Then, the ultraviolet protection factors (UPF) of samples were measured using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer UV-2600 (made by SHIMADZU company) at wavelengths of 280 to 400 nm. The test results are reported in Table 1. In addition, the grade and category of various UPF values are reported in Table 2.

EXAMPLE 6

(16) Example 6 is substantially the same as Example 5 with the differences in that the softener composition was prepared to contain 1 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber (nonionic type, represented by formula (III)), 7 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 92 wt % of deionized water. Furthermore, the double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 7

(17) Example 7 is substantially the same as Example 5 with the differences in that the softener composition was prepared to contain 10 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber (nonionic type, represented by formula (III)), 6.4 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 83.6 wt % of deionized water. Furthermore, the double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 8

(18) Example 8 is substantially the same as Example 5 with the differences in that the softener composition was prepared to contain 50 wt % of polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber (nonionic type, represented by formula (III)), 3.5 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH), and 46.5 wt % of deionized water. Furthermore, the double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

(19) Comparative Example 1 is substantially the same as Example 1 with the differences in that the softener composition did not contain any UV light absorber but just contained 7.1 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH) and 92.9 wt % of deionized water. The double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present comparative example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

(20) Comparative Example 2 is substantially the same as Example 1 with the differences in that the softener composition contained the small molecular UV light absorber Tinuvin-571 (represented by the following formula, commercially available from Taiwan Everlight Chemical Industrial Corporation) instead of the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber. In addition, the softener composition contained 1 wt % of Tinuvin-571, 7 wt % of cyclic quaternary ammonium salt of the imidazolinium type (trade name: quaternary ammonium salt-27, commercially available from CHEMOS GmbH) and 92 wt % of deionized water. The double knitted fabric was soaked in the softener composition solution of the present comparative example for 6 minutes. The results of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) tests are reported in Table 1.

(21) ##STR00014##

(22) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 UV light absorber Type Cationic Nonionic Formula Formula Tinuvin- (II) (III) 571 UPF UPF (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) Values Grade Ex. 1 0.1 55 A Ex. 2 1 72 A Ex. 3 10 737 A Ex. 4 50 2346 A Ex. 5 0.1 47 A Ex. 6 1 91 A Ex. 7 10 449 A Ex. 8 50 1249 A Comp. Ex. 1 18 C Comp. Ex. 2 1 33 B

(23) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 UPF Grade Category 40-50, 50+ A Excellent 25-39 B Very good 15-24 C Good

(24) In view of the results of the UV protection (UPF) tests of the examples and the comparative examples, it can be seen that when the double knitted fabrics were rinsed with the softener composition provided in the present invention, each of the fabrics could possess an excellent ultraviolet light protection effect. Even though the softener compositions contained merely 0.1 wt % of the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber (cationic or nonionic type), the resultant UPFs had reached to about 50 and all the fabrics exhibited very good UV light absorption effect. As the concentration of the polyurethane-based polymeric UV light absorber in the softener composition increased, the exhibited UPFs increased. In contrast to the examples, in the comparative example 1, the double knitted fabric was rinsed with the softener without any addition of UV light absorber. The resultant fabric merely exhibited an ultraviolet protection factor of 18. Furthermore, in the comparative example 2, even when a small molecular UV light absorber was added, the resultant ultraviolet protection factor is still merely 33. Accordingly, the softener composition provided by the present invention can give fabrics an excellent anti-ultraviolet light function.

(25) Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.