POLYMER DISPERSIONS SUITABLE FOR FABRIC CONDITIONING TREATMENT

1 . A process for preparing a dispersion (D 0 ), comprising the following successive steps:

(E1) a free radical polymerization is performed in an aqueous medium (M) in the presence of:

at least a pre-polymer (p0) soluble in the medium (M), having the following formula (I):

(R 11 ) x —Z 11 —C(═S)—Z 12 -[A]-R 12   (I)

wherein:

Z 11 represents C, N, O, S or P,

Z12 represents S or P,

R11 and R12, which may be identical or different, represent:

an optionally substituted alkyl, acyl, aryl, alkene or alkyne group (i), or

a saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted or aromatic carbon-based ring (ii), or

a saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted heterocycle (iii), these groups and rings (i), (ii) and (iii) being optionally substituted with substituted phenyl groups, substituted aromatic groups or groups: alkoxycarbonyl or aryloxycarbonyl (—COOR), carboxyl (—COOH), acyloxy (—O 2 CR), carbamoyl (—CONR 2 ), cyano (—CN), alkylcarbonyl, alkylarylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, arylalkylcarbonyl, phthalimido, maleimido, succinimido, amidino, guanidimo, hydroxyl (—OH), amino (—NR 2 ), halogen, allyl, epoxy, alkoxy (—OR), S-alkyl, S-aryl, groups of hydrophilic or ionic nature such as the alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids, the alkali metal salts of sulphonic acid, polyalkylene oxide (PEO or PPO) chains and cationic substituents (quaternary ammonium salts),

R representing an alkyl or aryl group,

x corresponds to the valency of Z 11 , or alternatively x is 0, in which case Z 11 represents a phenyl, alkene or alkyne radical, optionally substituted with an optionally substituted alkyl; acyl; aryl; alkene or alkyne group; an optionally substituted, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, carbon-based ring; an optionally substituted, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle; alkoxycarbonyl or aryloxycarbonyl (—COOR); carboxyl (COOH); acyloxy (—O 2 CR); carbamoyl (—CONR 2 ); cyano (—CN); alkylcarbonyl; alkylarylcarbonyl; arylcarbonyl; arylalkylcarbonyl; phthalimido; maleimido; succinimido; amidino; guanidimo; hydroxyl (—OH); amino (—NR 2 ); halogen; allyl; epoxy; alkoxy (—OR), S-alkyl; S-aryl groups; groups of hydrophilic or ionic nature such as the alkali metal salts of carboxylic acids, the alkali metal salts of sulphonic acid, polyalkylene oxide (PEO or PPO) chains and cationic substituents (quaternary ammonium salts); and

[A] represents a polymer chain; and

at least one free-radical polymerization initiator; and

at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer (m)

with a ratio m/p0 of the mass of the monomers (m) to the quantity of pre-polymer (p0) below 10 000 g/mol.

whereby a dispersion of copolymers is obtained, including polymer chains having a (R 11 ) x —Z 11 —C(═S)—Z 12 — terminal group, that confer to these chains a living character;

and then

(E2) the (R 11 ) x —Z 11 —C(═S)—Z 12 — terminal groups present in the dispersion of copolymers as obtained in step (E1) are converted into other groups that deprive the copolymers of their living character.

2 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio m/p0 of the mass of the monomers (m) to the quantity of pre-polymer (p0) is between 5,000 and 10.000 g/mol.

3 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer chain [A] of the pre-polymer (p0) comprises:

cationic monomers Ac, selected from the group consisting in:

Trimethylammoniumpropylmethacrylamide;

(3-methacrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium;

(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium;

Methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium;

acryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium;

methyldiethylammoniumethyl acrylate;

benzyldimethylammoniumethyle acrylate;

1-ethyl 2-vinylpyridinium;

1-ethyl 4-vinylpyridinium;

N-dimethyldiallylammonium;

dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide N-(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)trimethylammonium chloride; and

monomers of formula of

where each of X − is an anion, is chloride or methylsulfate;

and

non-ionic monomers An.

4 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the chain [A] is a statistical copolymer of acrylamide (AM) and (3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride (APTAC).

5 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-polymer (p0) is obtained by a preparation step (E 0 ) of controlled radical polymerization of a composition comprising:

monomers containing identical or different hydrophilic monomers mAh as defined above, optionally together with at least one hydrophobic monomer mAH

a radical polymerization control agent including a group (R 11 )x-Z 11 —C(═S)—Z 2 —, wherein R 11 , x, Z 11 , and Z 12 are as defined in claim 1 ; and

a free-radical polymerization initiator.

6 . The process according to claim 5 , wherein the monomers (m) comprise alkyl (meth)acrylates containing less than 30 carbon atoms.

7 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein step (E2) comprise the addition of a peroxide or peracid to the dispersion obtained in step (E1).

8 . A dispersion (D 0 ) obtainable according to the process of claim 1 .

9 . An aqueous medium comprising a dispersion (D 0 ) according to claim 8 and hydrophobic monomers.

10 . A process for preparing a dispersion (D) of hydrophobic monomers in an aqueous medium, comprising the preparation of a dispersion (D 0 ) according to the process of claim 1 and then a step (E3) wherein said dispersion D 0 is contacted with the hydrophobic monomers.

11 . A dispersion (D) of hydrophobic monomers in an aqueous medium, obtainable according to the process of claim 10 .

12 . A process for preparing a dispersion (Dp) of hydrophobic polymer in an aqueous medium, that comprises a step (E4) wherein all of part of the hydrophobic monomers contained in a dispersion (D) according to claim 11 are polymerized.

13 . A dispersion (Dp) of hydrophobic polymers in an aqueous medium obtainable according to the process of claim 12 .

14 . A fabric conditioning composition comprising the dispersion (D 0 ) according to claim 8 .

15 . A fabric conditioning composition comprising the dispersion (Dp) according to claim 13 .

16 . The process according to claim 6 , wherein the non-ionic monomers An are selected from (meth)acrylamides and derivatives or (meth)acrylic acids and derivatives

17 . The process according to claim 6 , wherein the monomers (m) comprise butyl acrylate and/or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.