Compositions and methods for using polymeric suds enhancers

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for using polymeric suds enhancers (stabilizers) to increase the suds and/or foam volume and suds and/or foam retention in suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprising such polymeric suds stabilizers. Suitable suds-forming and/or foam-forming compositions comprise one or more polymeric suds stabilizers. The polymeric suds stabilizers suitable for use in the methods and/or compositions of the present invention comprise cationic, anionic, and noncharged monomer units, or units having mixtures thereof, wherein said polymers have an average cationic charge density from about 0.05 to about 5 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12.

1 . A suds-forming and/or foam-forming composition having increased suds volume and suds retention, said composition comprising: 
 a) an effective amount of a polymeric suds stabilizer, said stabilizer comprising: 
 i) units capable of having a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 provided that said suds stabilizer has an average cationic charge density from about 0.05 to about 5 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12, wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer (a) is a polymer comprising at least one monomeric unit of the formula:  
                     
 wherein each of R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1  to C 6  alkyl, and mixtures thereof; L is O; Z is selected from the group consisting of: —(CH 2 )—, (CH 2 —CH═CH)—, —(CH 2 —CHOH)—, (CH 2 —CHNR 6 )—, —(CH 2 —CHR 14 —O)— and mixtures thereof; wherein R 14  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1  to C 6  alkyl, and mixtures thereof; z is an integer selected from about 0 to about 12; A is NR 4 R 5 , wherein each of R 4  and R 5  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 8  linear or branched alkyl, alkyleneoxy having the formula:  
   —(R 10 O) y R 11    
 wherein R 10  is C 2 -C 4  linear or branched alkylene, and mixtures thereof; R 11  is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4  alkyl, and mixtures thereof; y is from 1 to about 10; or NR 4 R 5  form a heterocyclic ring containing from 4 to 7 carbon atoms, optionally containing additional hetero atoms, optionally fused to a benzene ring, and optionally substituted by C 1  to C 8  hydrocarbyl; and wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer has a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 2,000,000 daltons; and  
 ii) a monomer unit selected from the group consisting of:  
 a) units capable of having an anionic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 b) units capable of having an anionic charge and a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 c) units having no charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12; and  
 d) mixtures thereof;  
   b) an effective amount of a detersive surfactant; and    c) the balance carriers and other adjunct ingredients;    provided that a 10% aqueous solution of said suds-forming and/or foam-forming composition has a pH of from about 4 to about 12;    wherein the mole ratio of i to ii ranges from 2 to 10:1.    
   
   
       2 - 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the detersive surfactant (b) is selected from the group consisting of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, a-olefin sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, methyl ester sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl alkoxy sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl alkoxy carboxylates, alkyl alkoxylated sulfates, sarcosinates, taurinates, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said other adjuncts ingredients (c) is selected from the group consisting of: soil release polymers, polymeric dispersants, polysaccharides, abrasives, bactericides, tarnish inhibitors, builders, enzymes, opacifiers, dyes, perfumes, thickeners, antioxidants, processing aids, suds boosters, buffers, antifungal or mildew control agents, insect repellants, anti-corrosive aids, and chelants.  
   
   
       6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said detersive surfactant (b) is selected from the group consisting of amine oxides, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, betaines, sulfobetaines, alkyl polyglycosides, alkyl ethoxylates, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising an enzyme selected from the group consisting of protease, amylase, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A suds-forming and/or foam-forming composition having increased suds volume and suds retention, said composition comprising: 
 a) an effective amount of a polymeric suds stabilizer, said stabilizer comprising: 
 i) units capable of having a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 provided that said suds stabilizer has an average cationic charge density from about 0.05 to about 5 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12, and  
 ii) a monomer unit selected from the group consisting of:  
 a) units capable of having an anionic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 b) units capable of having an anionic charge and a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 c) units having no charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12; and  
 d) mixtures thereof;  
   b) an effective amount of a detersive surfactant; and    c) the balance carriers and other adjunct ingredients;    provided that a 10% aqueous solution of said suds-forming and/or foam-forming composition has a pH of from about 4 to about 12;    wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer (a) is a copolymer of:    i)                          ii)                          
   
   
       29 . A suds-forming and/or foam-forming composition having increased suds volume and suds retention, said composition comprising: 
 a) an effective amount of a polymeric suds stabilizer, said stabilizer comprising: 
 i) units capable of having a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 provided that said suds stabilizer has an average cationic charge density from about 0.05 to about 5 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12,  
   b) an effective amount of a detersive surfactant; and    c) the balance carriers and other adjunct ingredients;    provided that a 10% aqueous solution of said suds-forming and/or foam-forming composition has a pH of from about 4 to about 12;    wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer (a) is a homopolymer of:                          
   
   
       30 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer (a) is a copolymer of: 
 i)                          ii)                          wherein R 1  is either hydrogen or methyl;    wherein the mole ratio of i to ii ranges from 2 to 10:1.    
   
   
       31 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a laundry detergent composition.  
   
   
       32 . A method for providing increased suds volume and increased suds retention while washing a fabric and/or garment in need of cleaning, comprising the step of contacting said fabric and/or garment with an aqueous solution of a laundry detergent composition, said laundry detergent composition comprising: 
 a) an effective amount of a polymeric suds stabilizer, said stabilizer comprising: 
 i) units capable of having a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 provided that said suds stabilizer has an average cationic charge density from about 0.05 to about 5 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12, wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer (a) is a polymer comprising at least one monomeric unit of the formula:  
                     
 wherein each of R 1 , R 2  and R 3  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1  to C 6  alkyl, and mixtures thereof; L is O; Z is selected from the group consisting of: —(CH 2 )—, (CH 2 —CH═CH)—, —(CH 2 —CHOH)—, (CH 2 —CHNR 6 )—, —(CH 2 —CHR 14 —O)— and mixtures thereof; wherein R 14  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1  to C 6  alkyl, and mixtures thereof; z is an integer selected from about 0 to about 12; A is NR 4 R 5 , wherein each of R 4  and R 5  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 8  linear or branched alkyl, alkyleneoxy having the formula:  
   —(R 10 O) y R 11    
 wherein R 10  is C 2 -C 4  linear or branched alkylene, and mixtures thereof; R 11  is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4  alkyl, and mixtures thereof; y is from 1 to about 10; or NR 4 R 5  form a heterocyclic ring containing from 4 to 7 carbon atoms, optionally containing additional hetero atoms, optionally fused to a benzene ring, and optionally substituted by C 1  to C 8  hydrocarbyl; and wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer has a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 2,000,000 daltons; and  
 ii) a monomer unit selected from the group consisting of:  
 a) units capable of having an anionic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 b) units capable of having an anionic charge and a cationic charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12;  
 c) units having no charge at a pH of from about 4 to about 12; and  
 d) mixtures thereof;  
   b) an effective amount of a detersive surfactant; and    c) the balance carriers and other adjunct ingredients;    provided that the pH of a 10% aqueous solution of said laundry detergent composition is from about 4 to about 12;    wherein the mole ratio of i to ii ranges from 2 to 10:1.    
   
   
       33 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the mole ratio of i to ii ranges from2 to 3:1.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer (a) is a homopolymer of:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein said polymeric suds stabilizer (a) is a copolymer of:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R 1  is either hydrogen or methyl;  
       wherein the mol ratio of i to ii ranges from 2 to 10:1.  
     
   
   
       36 . The method according to claim  26 , wherein the mole ratio of i to ii ranges from 2 to 3:1.  
   
   
       37 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the monomeric unit is selected from the group consisting of styrene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, 1,2-phenylene, esters, amides and ethers.  
   
   
       38 . A composition according to  claim 28 , wherein the monomeric unit is selected from the group consisting of styrene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, 1,2-phenylene, esters, amides and ethers.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the monomeric unit is selected from the group consisting of styrene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, 1,2-phenylene, esters, amides and ethers.