Paper products softening compositions
Provided herein are amphoteric surfactants derived from ethyleneamines, which surfactants are useful in treating paper, fibers, textiles, hair, and human skin, to impart softness-to-the-touch properties thereto.
1 ) A composition of matter useful for treating paper, textiles, and human skin comprising an amphoteric surfactant represented by the formula:
in which x is any integer selected from the group consisting of: 4, 5, and 6;
R 1 in each occurrence is independently any alkyl group having between 5 and 25 carbon atoms, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated or unsaturated;
R 2 in each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: 1) hydrogen; 2) any saturated or unsaturated aliphatic mono- or di-carboxylic acid moiety having one or more carboxyl functional groups and having one or more straight-chain or branched, saturated or un-saturated aliphatic chains containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; 3) a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic mono sulfonic acid moiety comprising an —SO 3 H functional group and having one or more straight-chain or branched, saturated or un-saturated aliphatic chains containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and 4) a radical of the formula:
in which R 1 is defined as above.
2 ) A composition according to claim 1 wherein R 1 in each occurrence may be independently derived from a carboxylic having an unsaturated alkyl carbon bond.
3 ) A composition according to claim 1 wherein R 2 in each occurrence is independently derived from an acid selected from the group consisting of: acrylic acid, maleic anhydride, vinyisulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid, 2-methyl vinyl sulfonic acid, and maleic acid.
4 ) A composition of matter useful for treating paper, textiles, and human skin comprising a mixture of at least two components each of which comprise different amphoteric surfactants which are represented by the formula:
in which x is any integer selected from the group consisting of: 4, 5, and 6;
R 1 in each occurrence is independently any alkyl group having between 5 and 25 carbon atoms, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated or unsaturated; R 2 in each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: 1) hydrogen; 2) any saturated or unsaturated aliphatic mono- or di-carboxylic acid moiety having one or more carboxyl functional groups and having one or more straight-chain or branched, saturated or un-saturated aliphatic chains containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; 3) a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic mono sulfonic acid moiety comprising an —SO 3 H functional group and having one or more straight-chain or branched, saturated or un-saturated aliphatic chains containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and 4) a radical of the formula:
in which R 1 is defined as above.
5 ) A composition according to claim 4 wherein one of the components of said mixture has the structure:
in which R in each occurrence R is independently any alkyl group having between 5 and 25 carbon atoms, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated or unsaturated.
6 ) A composition according to claim 5 in which the carboxylic acid appendage on the nitrogen atom is derived from acrylic acid.
7 ) A composition according to claim 4 wherein one of the components of said mixture has the structure:
in which R in each occurrence is independently any alkyl group having between 5 and 25 carbon atoms, whether straight-chain, branched, cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, and in which L is any alkyl group having any number of carbon atoms between about 2 and about 20, whether straight-chain, branched, or cyclic.
8 ) A composition according to claim 4 wherein said mixture comprises:
a) a first amphoteric surfactant, having a value for x of 4;
b) a second amphoteric surfactant, having a value for x of 5;
c) a third amphoteric surfactant, having a value for x of 6,
said first amphoteric surfactant being present in any amount between 8.0% and 20.0%; said second amphoteric surfactant being present in any amount between 25.0% and 45.0%; and said third amphoteric surfactant being present in any amount between 35.0% and 60.0%, wherein said percentages are calculated on a weight basis with respect to all of the amphoteric surfactants present which are defined by said formula.
9 ) A process for treating a substrate comprising the steps of:
a) providing an aqueous composition that comprises an amphoteric surfactant according to claim 1; and
b) contacting said substrate with said aqueous composition.
10 ) A process according to claim 9 wherein the concentration of said amphoteric surfactant is any concentration between 0.10% and 5.00% by weight based upon the total weight of said aqueous composition.
11 ) A process for treating a substrate comprising the steps of:
a) providing an aqueous composition that comprises an amphoteric surfactant according to claim 4; and
b) contacting said substrate with said aqueous composition.
12 ) A process according to claim 11 wherein the concentration of said amphoteric surfactant is any concentration between 0.10% and 5.00% by weight based upon the total weight of said aqueous composition.
13 ) A process for treating a substrate comprising the steps of:
a) providing an aqueous composition that comprises an amphoteric surfactant according to claim 7; and
b) contacting said substrate with said aqueous composition.
14 ) A process according to claim 13 wherein the concentration of said amphoteric surfactant is any concentration between 0.10% and 5.00% by weight based upon the total weight of said aqueous composition.
15 ) A composition according to claim 1 further comprising at least one fabric.
16 ) A composition according to claim 1 further comprising at least one paper.
17 ) A composition according to claim 1 further comprising at least one tissue paper for personal care.
18 ) A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a hair care product.
19 ) A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a skin care product.
20 ) A composition according to claim 1 further comprising at least one textile.