Polymeric film for water soluble package
View Patent ↗A water soluble package comprises a polymeric film, the polymeric film comprising a polymeric backbone derived from a polymer which is water soluble, as defined herein, and one or more derivatising groups attached to the backbone, the derivatising group(s) being derived from a material having a ClogP of from 0.5 to 6 and/or being derived from a parent material comprising a C4 to C22 hydrocarbyl chain.
1. A process for conditioning fabrics comprising the steps of:
adding to the beginning of a laundry wash cycle of a washing machine in the drum of the washing machine, a water soluble package comprising a polymeric film, the polymeric film comprising a polymeric backbone derived from a polymer which is water soluble, and one or more derivatising groups attached to the backbone, the derivatising group(s) being derived from a parent material comprising a C4 to C22 hydrocarbyl chain, wherein the polymeric film has a solubility or dispersibility in anionic or combinations of anionic/nonionic surfactants of more than 15 minutes when the surfactant concentration in water is greater than 0.05 g/L and a solubility or dispersibility of less than 15 minutes when the surfactant concentration in water is less than 0.05 g/L; and
contacting the contents of the package with fabric in the rinse cycle of the washing machine in the drum of the washing machine.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the tendency of the water soluble package to break down is reduced in the presence of a fabric wash detergent active.
3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the water soluble package comprises a crystallinity disruptor and/or a plasticizer physically or chemically bound to the backbone of the polymeric film.
4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric backbone is derived from PVOH.
5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the parent material from which the derivatising group is obtained is selected from the group consisting of acetals, ketals, esters, fluoro-organics, ethers, epoxides, alkanes, alkenes and aromatic compounds.
6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the parent material from which the derivatising group is obtained is an aldehyde.
7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymer has an average degree of saponification of from 70 to 99%.
8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the degree of derivatisation of the polymeric backbone by the derivatising group is from 0.1 to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer.
9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymer has an average degree of saponification of from 80 to 99%.
10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymer has an average degree of saponification of from 88 to 99%”.
11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the degree of derivatisation of the polymeric backbone by the derivatising group is from 2 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer.
12. A process according to claim 1 wherein the degree of derivatisation of the polymeric backbone by the derivatising group is from 5 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer.
13. A process according to claim 1 wherein the degree of derivatisation of the polymeric backbone by the derivatising group is from 8 to 12% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer.
14. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is based on PVOH and the number ratio of the derivative groups to the free hydroxyl pairs on the backbone is from 1:4 to 1:20.
15. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is based on PVOH and the number ratio of the derivative groups to the free hydroxyl pairs on the backbone is from 1:7 to 1:15.
16. A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymer is based on PVOH and the number ratio of the derivative groups to the free hydroxyl pairs on the backbone is from 1:8 to 1:13.