阅读说明：本技术 衣物洗涤护理组合物 (Laundry care compositions ) 是由 G·S·米瑞科 丹尼尔·戴尔·迪图利奥 于 2019-03-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开涉及包含多个颗粒的衣物洗涤护理组合物,所述颗粒中的至少一个颗粒包含载体和隐色着色剂,至少80％的所述颗粒具有<1.25glcm3的密度和0.1mg-5g的质量。每个颗粒具有<10mm的最大尺寸。用于处理待洗衣物的方法,所述方法包括以下步骤：向洗衣机或洗衣盆中投配2-60g的所述衣物洗涤护理组合物。提供纺织物增白,而不会不利地影响较新衣服的颜色。(The present disclosure relates to a laundry care composition comprising a plurality of particles, at least one of said particles comprising a carrier and a leuco colorant, at least 80% of said particles having a density <1.25glcm3 and a mass of 0.1mg-5 g. Each particle has a maximum dimension of <10 mm. Method for treating laundry, the method comprising the steps of: dosing 2-60g of the laundry care composition into a washing machine or a washtub. Providing whitening of textiles without adversely affecting the color of newer garments.)

1. A laundry care composition comprising a plurality of particles (90), wherein at least one of said particles comprises:

a carrier; and

a leuco colorant;

wherein at least 80% of the particles have a particle size of less than about 1.25g/cm³(ii) a density of (d);

wherein at least 80% of the particles have a mass between about 0.1mg to about 5 g; and is

Wherein each of said particles has a largest dimension of less than about 10 mm.

2. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim wherein said leuco colorant is selected from the group consisting of diarylmethane leuco colorants, triarylmethane leuco colorants, oxazine leuco colorants, thiazine leuco colorants, hydroquinone leuco colorants, arylamino phenol leuco colorants, and mixtures thereof.

3. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claims, wherein said leuco colorant is selected from one or more compounds selected from:

(f) Mixtures thereof;

wherein the ratio of formula I-V to its oxidized form is at least 1: 3; wherein each individual R on each of rings A, B and C_o、R_mAnd R_pThe radicals are independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium and R⁵(ii) a Wherein

Each R⁵Independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, — C (O) R¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)O^-、─C(O)NR¹R²、─OC(O)R¹、─OC(O)OR¹、─OC(O)NR¹R²、─S(O)₂R¹、─S(O)₂OR¹、─S(O)₂O^-、─S(O)₂NR¹R²、─NR¹C(O)R²、─NR¹C(O)OR²、─NR¹C(O)SR²、─NR¹C(O)NR²R³、─OR¹、─NR¹R²、─P(O)₂R¹、─P(O)(OR¹)₂、─P(O)(OR¹)O^-and-P (O)^-)₂(ii) a (ii) a Wherein said R on at least one of the three rings A, B or C_oAnd R_mAt least one of the radicals is hydrogen; each R_pIndependently selected from hydrogen, — OR¹and-NR¹R²；

Wherein G is independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, C₁-C₁₆Alkoxides, phenoxides, bisphenolates, nitrites, nitriles, alkylamines, imidazoles, arylamines, polyalkylene oxides,Halides, alkyl sulfides, aryl sulfides, and phosphine oxides;

wherein R is¹、R²And R³Independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl and R⁴；R⁴Is an organic group consisting of one or more organic monomers, wherein the monomer molecular weight is in the range of 28 to 500;

wherein e and f are independently integers from 0 to 4;

wherein each R²⁰And R²¹Independently selected from halogen, nitro group, alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, — nc (o) OR¹、─NC(O)SR¹、─OR¹and-NR¹R²；

Wherein each R²⁵Independently selected from the group consisting of monosaccharide moiety, disaccharide moiety, oligosaccharide moiety, polysaccharide moiety, — C (O) R¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)NR¹R²；

Wherein each R²²And R²³Independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl groups and substituted alkyl groups;

wherein R is³⁰Positioned ortho OR para to the bridging amine moiety and selected from-OR³⁸and-NR³⁶R³⁷Wherein each R is³⁶And R³⁷Independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, aryl group, substituted aryl group, acyl group, R⁴、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)R¹And C (O) NR¹R²；

Wherein R is³⁸Selected from hydrogen, acyl radicals, — C (O) OR¹、─C(O)R¹And C (O) NR¹R²；

Wherein g and h are independently integers from 0 to 4;

wherein each R³¹And R³²Independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, substituted alkyl groups, aryl groups, substituted aryl groups, alkaryl groups, substituted alkaryl groups, — C (O) R¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)O^-、─C(O)NR¹R²、─OC(O)R¹、─OC(O)OR¹、─OC(O)NR¹R²、─S(O)₂R¹、─S(O)₂OR¹、─S(O)₂O^-、─S(O)₂NR¹R²、─NR¹C(O)R²、─NR¹C(O)OR²、─NR¹C(O)SR²、─NR¹C(O)NR²R³、─OR¹、─NR¹R²、─P(O)₂R¹、─P(O)(OR¹)₂、─P(O)(OR¹)O^-and-P (O)^-)₂；

wherein-NR³⁴R³⁵Positioned ortho or para to the bridging amine moiety, and R³⁴And R³⁵Independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl and R⁴；

Wherein R is³³Independently selected from hydrogen, — S (O)₂R¹、─C(O)N(H)R¹；─C(O)OR¹(ii) a and-C (O) R¹(ii) a Wherein when g is 2 to 4, any two adjacent R³¹Groups can be combined to form five or more membered fused rings, wherein no more than two atoms in the fused rings can be nitrogen atoms;

wherein X⁴⁰Selected from oxygen atom, sulfur atom and NR⁴⁵(ii) a Wherein R is⁴⁵Independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, — s (o)₂OH、─S(O)₂O^-、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)R¹And C (O) NR¹R²；

Wherein R is⁴⁰And R⁴¹Independently selected from-OR¹and-NR¹R²；

Wherein j and k are independently integers from 0 to 3;

wherein R is⁴²And R⁴³Independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, — s (o)₂R¹、─C(O)NR¹R²、─NC(O)OR¹、─NC(O)SR¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)R¹、─OR¹、─NR¹R²(ii) a Wherein R is⁴⁴is-C (O) R¹、─C(O)NR¹R²and-C (O) OR¹(ii) a Wherein any charge present in any one of the compounds is balanced with a suitable independently selected internal or external counterion.

4. The laundry care composition of any preceding claim, wherein the leuco colorant conforms to the structure of formula VI,

wherein each R⁴Independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, ((CH)₂CH₂O)_a(C₃H₆O)_b) H, and mixtures thereof; preferably at least one R⁴The radical being ((CH)₂CH₂O)_a(C₃H₆O)_b) H; wherein each index a is independently an integer from 1 to 100, each index b is independently an integer from 0 to 50, and wherein all R's are⁴The sum of all independently selected a integers in the group does not exceed 200, preferably 100, and all R⁴The sum of all independently selected b integers in the group does not exceed 100, preferably does not exceed 50, preferably at least two R⁴The groups are selected from methyl and ethyl, most preferably at least one N in structure VI is replaced by two R⁴Is substituted by radicals of two R⁴The radicals are selected from methyl and ethyl, preferably Me.

5. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said leuco colorant conforms to the structure of formula VII

Wherein each index c is independently 0, 1 or 2, preferably each c is 1; each R4 is independently selected from H, Me, Et, ((CH 2O) a (C3H6O) b) H, and mixtures thereof; preferably each R⁴Is ((CH2CH2O) a (C3H6O) b) H, wherein each index a is independently an integer from 1 to 50, more preferably from 1 to 25, even more preferably from 1 to 20, 1 to 15, 1 to 10, 1 to 5, or even 1 to 2; each index b is independently an integer from 0 to 25, more preferably from 0 to 15, even more preferably from 1 to 5 or even from 1 to 3, and wherein the sum of all independently selected a integers in the leuco colorant does not exceed 100, more preferably does not exceed 80, most preferably does not exceed 60, 40, 20, 10 or even does not exceed 5, and the sum of all independently selected b integers in the leuco colorant does not exceed 50, more preferably does not exceed 40, most preferably does not exceed 30, 20 or even 10.

6. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said leuco colorant conforms to the structure of formula VIII

Wherein R is⁸Is H or CH₃And each index b is independently about 1 to 2 on average.

7. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said particles comprise perfume.

8. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said particles are substantially free of perfume.

9. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said particles comprise occlusions of gas.

10. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said particles has a volume, and said occlusions of gas within said particle comprise from about 0.5% to about 50% of the volume of said particle.

11. The laundry care composition according to any preceding claims, wherein said carrier is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble organic alkali metal salts, water-soluble inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble organic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble carbohydrates, water-soluble silicates, water-soluble urea, starch, clay, water-insoluble silicates, citric acid carboxymethyl cellulose, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, diglycerides of hydrogenated tallow, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof.

12. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said particles comprise from about 20% to about 99.9%, by weight of said particles, of said carrier.

13. A laundry care composition according to any preceding claim, wherein said carrier is polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 13000.

14. The laundry care composition of any preceding claim further comprising from about 0.001% to about 2% of an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of hindered phenols, diarylamines, and mixtures thereof.

15. A method for treating laundry, the method comprising the steps of: dosing into a washing machine or a laundry tub from about 2g to about 60g of the laundry care composition according to any preceding claim.

Technical Field

Laundry care compositions

Background

As textile substrates age, their color tends to fade or yellow due to exposure to light, air, dirt, and the natural degradation of the fibers making up the substrate. Thus, to visually enhance these textile substrates and counteract fading and yellowing, the use of polymeric colorants to color consumer products is well known in the art. For example, the use of brighteners (optical brighteners or bluing agents) in textile applications is well known. However, traditional brighteners tend to lose efficacy on storage due to deleterious interactions with other formulation components, such as, for example, perfumes. In addition, such brighteners may suffer from poor deposition on textile substrates. Thus, formulators tend to increase the amount of whitening agent used to offset any loss of efficacy upon storage and/or increase the amount of whitening agent available for deposition on the textile substrate.

Leuco dyes are also known in the prior art to exhibit a change from a colorless or pale colored state to a colored state upon exposure to a particular chemical or physical trigger. The resulting change in coloration is typically visually perceptible to the human eye. Many of these compounds have some absorbance in the visible region (400-750nm) and thus more or less some color. In the present invention, a dye is considered to be a "leuco dye" if it does not exhibit significant color at its applied concentration and conditions, but does exhibit significant color in its triggered form. The color change upon triggering results from a change in the molar attenuation coefficient (also referred to in some literature as molar extinction coefficient, molar absorption coefficient and/or molar absorption) of the leuco dye molecules in the range 400-750nm, preferably in the range 500-650nm, and most preferably in the range 530-620 nm. The increase in the molar decay coefficient of the leuco dye before and after triggering should be greater than 50%, more preferably greater than 200%, and most preferably greater than 500%.

The leuco compounds are useful as brighteners in laundry care compositions (e.g., laundry detergents). In such applications, the addition of a leuco compound in an uncolored or only lightly colored state does not significantly affect the aesthetics of the laundry care composition. The leuco compound can then be converted into a colored state in which it imparts the desired whitening benefit to the textile substrate.

Thus, the purpose of leuco colorants is generally to visually whiten these textile substrates and counteract the fading and yellowing of the substrates. Typically, the leuco colorant may be present in a laundry detergent and thus applied to the textile substrate during the laundry process. However, consumers do not have the flexibility to customize their desired experience when the leuco colorant is in a laundry detergent. Additional whitening can only be achieved by adding additional detergent, which requires additional cleaning ingredients and can be wasteful and can also lead to the deposition of excess fragrance. Thus, consumers are unable to balance their desire for effective use of cleaning ingredients, modulation of the appropriate amount of fragrance, and also be able to deliver variable amounts of whitening as needed for the particular fabric being treated.

Accordingly, there is a need for a laundry care composition that allows the leuco colorant to be used independently as an additive to meet consumer expectations for adjustable dose, on-demand whitening, while delivering the benefits of the leuco colorant from particles of low color or colors other than that of the leuco colorant.

One of the challenges in delivering whiteness benefits using toning techniques is that consumers often possess garments designed to be lightly colored, such as pastes, and the application of toners, colorants, or bluing agents can compromise the intended color of such garments, resulting in consumer dissatisfaction. There is a continuing need to develop methods for toning that selectively deposit on aged cotton garments (those most likely to yellow over time, which may benefit from color correction) and less well on new clean cotton garments that do not require color correction.

We have found that leuco colorants can exhibit superior deposition on consumer derived aged cotton garments over new clean cotton. Thus, leuco colorants are able to better deliver whitening benefits when needed, and avoid tinting new clean cotton garments, where such tinting may be considered undesirable.

It has been surprisingly found that the laundry care compositions of the present disclosure, incorporating leuco colorants, not only effectively whiten textile substrates without determining the color of the composition, but also provide a clean and convenient way to add a consumer-desired amount of whitening agent to a laundry treatment without adversely affecting the color of newer clothes.

Disclosure of Invention

A laundry care composition comprising a plurality of particles, wherein at least one of said particles, more preferably at least 10%, 25% or even 50% of said particles comprise: a carrier; and a leuco colorant; wherein at least 80% of the particles have a particle size of less than about 1.25g/cm³(ii) a density of (d); wherein at least 80% of the particles have a mass between about 0.1mg to about 5 g; wherein each of said particles has a largest dimension of less than about 10 mm.

A method for treating laundry, the method comprising the steps of: dosing into a washing machine or a wash basin from about 0.1g to about 200g, or from about 0.5g to about 100g, or from about 2.0g to about 60g, or from about 5g to about 25g, per 3kg of fabric to be washed, of particles comprising: a carrier; and a leuco colorant; and wherein at least 80% of the particles have a particle size of less than about 1.25g/cm³(ii) a density of (d); wherein at least 80% of the particles have a mass between about 0.1mg to about 5 g; and wherein substantially all of the particles have a largest dimension of less than about 10 mm; the dosing provides an aqueous solution comprising from 1ppb to 5000ppm, preferably from 10ppb to 50ppm, even more preferably from 25ppb to 5ppm or even from 50ppb to 2ppm of a leuco colorant; and optionally rinsing and drying the textile.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an apparatus for forming particles.

Fig. 2 is a portion of an apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a profile view of a particle.

Fig. 5 is a laundry care composition comprising a plurality of particles.

Detailed Description

Definition of

As used herein, the term "alkoxy" is intended to include alkoxy derivatives of polyols and C₁-C₈Alkoxy groups, the polyol having a repeating unit such as butylene oxide, glycidyl oxide, ethylene oxide or propylene oxide.

As used herein, the interchangeable terms "alkylene oxide" and "alkylene oxide", and the interchangeable terms "polyalkylene oxide" and "polyoxyalkylene" generally refer to the molecular structure-C comprising one or more than one repeating unit, respectively₂H₄O-、-C₃H₆O-、-C₄H₈O-, and any combination thereof. Non-limiting structures corresponding to these groups include, for example, -CH₂CH₂O-、-CH₂CH₂CH₂O-、-CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂O-、-CH₂CH(CH₃) O-and-CH₂CH(CH₂CH₃) O-is formed. Furthermore, the polyoxyalkylene component may be selected from one or more monomers selected from C_2-20Alkylene oxide groups, glycidyl groups, or mixtures thereof.

The terms "ethyleneoxy", "propyleneoxy" and "butyleneoxy" may be illustrated herein by their typical labels "EO", "PO" and "BO", respectively.

As used herein, the terms "alkyl" and "alkyl-terminated" are intended to mean any monovalent group formed by removing a hydrogen atom from a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon. Non-limiting examples include branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl moieties including C₁-C₁₈An alkyl group, and in one aspect, C₁-C₆An alkyl group.

As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the term "aryl" is intended to include C₃-C₁₂An aryl group. The term "aryl" refers to both carbocyclic and heterocyclic aryl groups.

As used herein, the term "alkaryl" refers to any alkyl-substituted aryl substituent and aryl-substituted alkyl substituent. More specifically, the term is intended to refer to C_7-16Alkyl-substituted aryl substituents and C_7-16Aryl-substituted alkyl substituents, which may or may not comprise additional substituents.

As used herein, the term "detergent composition" is part of a laundry care composition and includes cleaning compositions, including but not limited to products for laundering fabrics. Such compositions may be pre-treatment compositions used prior to the washing step, or may be rinse-added compositions, as well as cleaning adjuncts, such as bleach additives and "stain-stick" or pre-treatment types.

As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the term "laundry care composition" includes granular, powder, liquid, gel, paste, unit dose bar form and/or flake type detergent and/or fabric treatment compositions, including but not limited to products for laundering fabrics, fabric softening compositions, fabric enhancing compositions, fabric freshening compositions, and other products for fabric care and maintenance, and combinations thereof. Such compositions may be pre-treatment compositions used prior to the washing step, or may be rinse-added compositions as well as cleaning adjuvants, such as bleach additives and/or "stain-stick" or pre-treatment compositions, or substrate-borne products such as dryer paper.

As used herein, the term "leuco" (as used in connection with, for example, a compound, moiety, radical, dye, monomer, fragment, or polymer) refers to an entity (e.g., an organic compound or portion thereof) that undergoes one or more chemical and/or physical changes upon exposure to a particular chemical or physical trigger that results in a transition from a first color state (e.g., uncolored or substantially colorless) to a second color state (higher degree of coloration). Suitable chemical or physical triggers include, but are not limited to, oxidation, pH change, temperature change, and change in electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light) exposure. Suitable chemical or physical changes that occur in the leuco entity include, but are not limited to, oxidative and non-oxidative changes, such as intramolecular cyclization. Thus, in one aspect, a suitable leuco entity may be a reversibly reduced form of a chromophore. In one aspect, the leuco moiety preferably comprises at least first and second pi-systems that are capable of converting to a third combined conjugated-system that binds the first and second pi-systems upon exposure to one or more of the above-described chemical and/or physical triggers.

As used herein, the term "leuco composition" or "leuco colorant composition" refers to a composition comprising at least two leuco colorant compounds having independently selected structures, as described in further detail herein.

As used herein, the "average molecular weight" of a leuco colorant is reported as the weight average molecular weight as determined by its molecular weight distribution: because of its manufacturing process, the leuco colorants disclosed herein may contain a distribution of repeating units in their polymer portion.

As used herein, the terms "maximum extinction coefficient" and "maximum molar extinction coefficient" are intended to describe the molar extinction coefficient at the maximum absorption wavelength (also referred to herein as the maximum wavelength) in the range of 400 nanometers to 750 nanometers.

As used herein, the term "conversion agent" refers to any oxidizing agent as known in the art, in addition to molecular oxygen in any of its known forms (singlet and triplet).

As used herein, the term "trigger" refers to a reactant suitable for converting a leuco composition from a colorless or substantially colorless state to a colored state.

As used herein, the term "brightener" refers to a dye or a leuco colorant that forms a dye upon activation, which when on white cotton provides a shade to a cloth having a relative hue angle of 210 to 345, or even 240 to 320, or even 250 to 300 (e.g., 250 to 290).

As used herein, "cellulosic substrate" is intended to include any substrate that is at least largely composed of cellulose by weight. Cellulose may be present in wood, cotton, flax, jute, and hemp. The cellulosic substrate may be in the form of powder, fiber, pulp, and articles formed from powder, fiber, and pulp. Cellulosic fibers include, but are not limited to, cotton, rayon (regenerated cellulose), acetates (cellulose acetate), triacetates (cellulose triacetate), and mixtures thereof. Articles formed from cellulosic fibers include textile articles such as fabrics. Articles formed from pulp include paper.

As used herein, articles such as "a" and "an" when used in a claim are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described.

As used herein, the terms "include" and "comprise" are intended to be non-limiting.

As used herein, the term "solid" includes granular, powder, bar, and tablet product forms.

As used herein, the term "fluid" includes liquid, gel, paste, and gaseous product forms.

Unless otherwise specified, all components or compositions are on average with respect to the active portion of that component or composition, and do not include impurities, such as residual solvents or by-products, that may be present in commercially available sources of such components or compositions.

All percentages and ratios are by weight unless otherwise indicated. All percentages and ratios are calculated based on the total composition, unless otherwise indicated.

Granules

An apparatus 1 for forming granules is shown in figure 1. One or more raw materials may be provided to the batch mixer 10. The batch mixer 10 may have sufficient capacity to maintain a volume of raw materials provided thereto for a sufficient residence time to allow a desired level of raw material mixing and/or reaction to occur. The material exiting the batch mixer 10 may be the precursor material 20. Optionally, the precursor material may be provided to the feed tube 40 from some other upstream mixing process (e.g., in-line mixing, in-line static mixing, etc.). The precursor material 20 may be a molten product. The batch mixer 10 may be a dynamic mixer. A dynamic mixer is a mixer that applies energy to mix the contents of the mixer. The batch mixer 10 may include one or more impellers to mix the contents of the batch mixer 10.

Between the batch mixer 10 (optionally present) and the distributor 30, the precursor material 20 may be conveyed through a feed pipe 40. The feed tube 40 may be in fluid communication with the batch mixer 10. The gas feed line 155 can be placed in fluid communication with the feed line 40 downstream of the batch mixer 10. A gas feed line 155 can be provided in fluid communication with the feed line 40 between the batch mixer 10 and the distributor 30. The grinder 200 may be disposed downstream of the gas feed pipe 155 and in series with the feed pipe 40. The grinder 200 may be disposed in series with the feed pipe 40 downstream of the gas feed pipe 155 and upstream of the distributor 30.

The precursor material 20 can be provided to a feed tube 40. The feed tube 40 is a transport device that carries the precursor material 20. The feed tube 40 includes transport means between elements of the apparatus 1 and transport means by which precursor material is carried within parts of the apparatus 1. For example, the grinder 200 may be provided in a unit in which a portion of the transport device is proximate to the grinder 200 and a portion of the transport device is away from the grinder 200. Each of these sections is part of the feed tube 40. Thus, the feed pipe 40 can be considered the entire transfer device between the batch mixer 10 and the distributor 30, and the feed pipe 40 is interrupted by various elements such as the gas feed pipe 155, the grinder 200, the intermediate mixer 50, and the feed pump 140. In the absence of the batch mixer 10 upstream of the feed pipe 40, the feed pipe 40 can be considered the entire conveyance upstream of the distributor 30, and the feed pipe 40 is interrupted by various elements such as the gas feed pipe 155, the grinder 200, the intermediate mixer 50, and the feed pump 140.

An intermediate mixer 55 may be provided downstream of the mill 200 and in series with the feed pipe 40. The intermediate mixer 55 may be in fluid communication with the feed pipe 40 between the grinder 200 and the distributor 30. The intermediate mixer 55 may be a static mixer 50, which may be downstream of the batch mixer 10. In other words, the batch mixer 10 may be upstream of the intermediate mixer 55 or the static mixer 50 (if used). The intermediate mixer 55 may be in series with the feed pipe 40. The intermediate mixer 55 may be a rotor-stator mixer. The intermediate mixer 55 may be a colloid mill. The intermediate mixer 55 may be an in-line driven fluid disperser. The intermediate mixer 55 may be an Ultra Turrax disperser, Dispax-reactivor disperser, Colloid Mil MK, or Cone Mill MKO available from IKA, Wilmington, North Carolina, United states of America. The intermediate mixer 55 may be a perforated disc mill, toothed colloid mill, or DIL Inline Homogenizer available from FrymaKoruma, Rheinfelden, Switzerland. The static mixer 50 may be a helical static mixer. The static mixer 50 may be Kenics1.905cm ID KMS 6 available from Chemineer, Dayton, OH, USA.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the intermediate mixer 55, such as the static mixer 50, can provide a more uniform temperature of the precursor material 20 within the stator 100 of the distributor 30. At the downstream end of the intermediate mixer 55 or the static mixer 50 (if used), the temperature of the precursor material 20 within the feed tube 40 across the cross-section of the feed tube 40 can vary by less than about 10 ℃, or less than about 5 ℃, or less than about 1 ℃, or less than about 0.5 ℃.

In the absence of the static mixer 50, the temperature across the cross-section of the feed pipe 40 may be non-uniform. The temperature of the precursor material 20 at the centerline of the feed tube 40 can be higher than the temperature of the precursor feed material 20 at the peripheral wall of the feed tube 40. As the precursor material 20 is discharged into the distributor 30 or stator 100, the temperature of the precursor material 20 may change at different locations within the distributor or stator 100. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that by using a static mixer 40 as described herein to provide a uniform temperature across the entire cross-section of the feed tube 40, more uniform particles 90 may be produced compared to the apparatus 1 without the static mixer 40.

The dispenser 30 may have a plurality of apertures 60. The precursor material 20 may pass through the apertures 60. After passing through the holes 60, the precursor material 20 may be deposited on a moving conveyor 80 disposed below the distributor 30. While the conveyor 80 is moving, the precursor material 20 may be deposited on the moving conveyor 80. The transfer device 80 may be translatable relative to the dispenser 30. The conveyor 80 may be a continuously moving conveyor 80. The conveyor 80 may be an intermittently moving conveyor 80. The continuously moving conveyor 80 may provide higher processing speeds. The intermittently moving conveyor 80 may provide improved control over the shape of the particles 90 being prepared.

The precursor material 20 may be cooled on the moving conveyor 80 to form a plurality of solid particles 90. Cooling may be provided by ambient cooling. Optionally, cooling may be provided by spraying the underside of the conveyor 80 with ambient temperature water or cooling water.

Once the pellets 90 have developed sufficient viscosity, the pellets 90 may be transferred from the conveyor 80 to downstream processing equipment of the conveyor 80 for further processing and/or packaging.

The distributor 30 can be a drum 110 rotatably mounted about a stator 100 in fluid communication with the feed tube 40, and the drum 110 can have a perimeter 120 and can have a plurality of apertures 60 in the perimeter 120, as shown in fig. 2. Accordingly, the apparatus 1 may include a stator 100 in fluid communication with the feed tube 40. The feed pipe 40 may feed the precursor material 20 into the stator 100 after the precursor material 20 has passed through the grinder 200.

The apparatus 1 may comprise a cylinder 110 rotatably mounted about the stator 100. The stator 100 feeds the precursor material through one or both ends 130 of the cylinder 110. The cylinder 110 may have a longitudinal axis L through the cylinder 110 about which the cylinder 110 rotates. The cylinder 110 has a periphery 120. There may be a plurality of apertures 60 in the perimeter 120 of the cylinder 110.

As the cylinder 110 is driven to rotate about its longitudinal axis L, the bore 60 may be intermittently in fluid communication with the stator 100 as the cylinder 110 rotates about the stator 100. It is contemplated that the cylinder 110 has a machine direction MD in the direction of motion across the periphery 120 of the stator 100 and a cross direction orthogonal to the machine direction MD at the periphery 120. It is similarly contemplated that the stator 100 has a transverse direction CD parallel to the longitudinal axis L. The transverse direction of the stator 100 may be aligned with the transverse direction of the cylinder 110. The stator 100 may have a plurality of distribution ports 120 distributed in the transverse direction CD of the stator 100. The dispensing port 120 is a portion or region of the stator 100 that supplies the precursor material 20.

Generally, the precursor material 20 can be fed to the stator 100 through the grinder 200 and the feed pipe 40 via the gas feed pipe 155. The stator 100 distributes the precursor feed material 20 across the operating width of the cylinder 110. As the cylinder 110 rotates about its longitudinal axis, the precursor material 20 is fed through the holes 60 as the holes 60 pass through the stator 100. As each aperture 60 encounters the stator 100, a discrete amount of precursor material 20 is fed through each aperture 60. As each orifice 60 passes through the stator 100, the amount of precursor material 20 fed through each orifice 60 may be controlled by controlling one or both of the precursor material pressure within the stator 100 and the rotational speed of the cylinder 110.

The drops of precursor material 20 fall on the conveyor 80 over the entire operating width of the cylinder 110. The transfer device 80 may be translatable relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 110. The speed of the conveyor 80 may be set relative to the tangential speed of the cylinder 110 to control the shape of the precursor material 20 once it is deposited on the conveyor 80. The speed of the conveyor 80 may be approximately the same as the tangential speed of the cylinder 110.

As shown in fig. 1, the flow of precursor material 20 through the feed tube 40 may be provided by gravity-driven flow from the batch mixer 10 and the distributor 30. In order to provide more controlled manufacturing, the apparatus 1 may be provided with a feed pump 140, as shown in fig. 2. The feed pump 140 can be in series with the feed pipe 40, in series meaning in line with the flow of the precursor material 20. A feed pump 140 may be interposed between the batch mixer 10 and the distributor 30. The feed pump 140 may be upstream of the distributor 30. If a stator 100 is used, the feed pump 140 can be in series with the feed pipe 40, which is meant to be coincident with the flow of the precursor material 20. If a stator 100 is used, a feed pump 140 may be interposed between the batch mixer 10 and the stator 100. The feed pump 140 may be upstream of the stator 100. In describing the location of the feed pump 140, the interjacent is used to describe the feed pump 140 in series downstream of the batch mixer 10 and upstream of the distributor 30, or upstream of the stator 100 if used.

If used in the apparatus 1, the gas feed pipe 155 and the grinder 200 may be positioned in series between the feed pump 140 and the distributor 30 or stator 100.

The gas feed line 155 can include a flow regulator 158. The flow regulator 158 can regulate the flow of gas into the feed tube 40. The volume of gas added per unit volume of precursor material 20 can be controlled by setting the flow regulator 158 to a desired flow rate. The more gas that is fed into the precursor material 20 within the feed tube 40, the more gas will be contained in the particles 90. The gas feed line 155 can be used to entrain gas into the precursor material 20.

The flow regulator 158 may be a Key Instruments Flo-Rite series GS 65mm flow meter, part number 60410-R5. The feed tube 40 may be an 11/2 inch stainless steel sanitary tube. The gas feed tube 155 can be a 1/4 inch inner diameter polyethylene tube. Gas can be provided to the gas feed line 155 at a pressure of about 85 psi.

The flow rate of the precursor material 20 may be about 3L/min. The precursor material 20 can be a molten material comprising any of the compositions described herein for the precursor material 20 or the particles 90.

The gas provided to the gas feed line 155 can be air. Air may be practical because it is readily available, inexpensive, and has well-understood chemical interactions with the components of the particles 90.

The gas provided to the gas feed pipe 155 can be an inert gas. The inert gas may be practical because the particles 90 entrained with the inert gas may be less susceptible to degradation than the particles 90 entrained with the air.

The gas provided to the gas feed line 155 can be selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, and mixtures thereof. Such gases are widely available and commonly used in commercial applications. Without being bound by theory, such gases may improve the stability of the product.

The gas may be provided at a temperature such that when the gas reaches ambient temperature, a desired volume of gas is present in the particles 90. The ideal gas law can be used to determine the desired temperature for delivery. The gas may also comprise water. The water may be in gaseous or liquid form. The amount of water in the gas may be selected to be at a desired level.

Optionally, the gas may be entrained in the precursor material by mixing the gas-generating material in the precursor material 20.

The mill 200 may be a rotor-stator type mill. The mill may be a QuadroZ1 in-line mixer with a single stage mid-rotor stator, which runs at about 400 RPM.

The grinder 200 and the gas feed pipe 155 may be combined in a single unit.

An Oakes foaming agent (e.t. Oakes Corporation,686Old Willets Path, Hauppauge, NY11788)2MT1A continuous foaming agent may be used to place the gas feed pipe 155, flow regulator 158 and grinder 200 in a single unit.

A view of the apparatus 1 in the machine direction MD is shown in fig. 3. As shown in fig. 3, the apparatus 1 may have an operating width W and the cylinder 110 may be rotatable about a longitudinal axis L.

The apparatus 1 for forming particles 90 may comprise: a feed pipe; a gas feed line 155 mounted in fluid communication with the feed line 40 downstream of the batch mixer 10; a grinder 200 downstream of the gas feed pipe 155 and in series with the feed pipe 40; and a distributor 30, said distributor 30 being downstream of the grinding mill 200 and in fluid communication with said feed pipe 40, wherein said distributor 30 comprises a plurality of apertures 60. The apparatus 1 may comprise a conveyor below the dispenser 30 and movable in translation with respect to the dispenser 30. The distributor 30 can include a stator 100 in fluid communication with the feed tube 40. The distributor 30 may comprise a cylinder 110 rotatably mounted around the stator 100 and rotatable around a longitudinal axis L of the cylinder 110. The cylinder 110 may have a perimeter 120, and the cylinder 110 may have a plurality of apertures 60 disposed about the perimeter 120. The holes 60 may be intermittently in fluid communication with the stator 100 as the cylinder 110 rotates about the stator 100. The apparatus may include a conveyor 80 below the cylinder 110, and the conveyor 80 may be movable in translation relative to the longitudinal axis L. The apparatus 1 for forming the particles 90 may include a batch mixer 10. The feed tube 40 may be in fluid communication with the batch mixer 10.

The method for forming the particles 90 may include the steps of: providing the precursor material 20 to the feed tube 40; providing the precursor material 20 to the feed tube 40; entraining the gas into the precursor material 20, thereby providing a stator 100 in fluid communication with the feed tube 40; dispensing the precursor material 20 to the stator 100; providing a cylinder 110 rotatable about the stator 100 and rotatable about a longitudinal axis L of the cylinder 110, wherein the cylinder 110 has a periphery 120 and a plurality of apertures 60 disposed about the periphery 120; passing the precursor material 120 through the aperture 60; providing a moving conveyor 80 below the cylinder 110; depositing the precursor material 20 onto the moving conveyor 80; and cooling the precursor material 20 to form a plurality of particles 90. The method may be implemented using any of the apparatuses disclosed herein. The method may use any of the precursor materials 20 disclosed herein to form any of the particles 90 disclosed herein. The method may comprise the steps of: the precursor material 20 is provided in a batch mixer 10 in fluid communication with a feed line.

The method for forming the particles 90 may include the steps of: providing the precursor material 20 to the feed tube 40; providing the precursor material 20 to the feed tube 40; entraining the gas into the precursor material 20; providing a dispenser 30 having a plurality of apertures 60; delivering the precursor material 20 from the feed tube 40 to the distributor 30; passing the precursor material 20 through the aperture 60; providing a moving conveyor 80 below the dispenser 30; depositing the precursor material 20 onto the moving conveyor 80; and cooling the precursor material 20 to form a plurality of particles 90. The precursor material 20 can comprise more than about 40% by weight of polyethylene glycol (having a weight average molecular weight of about 2000 to about 13000) and about 0.0001% to 50% by weight of a leuco colorant, or preferably 0.001% to about 25% by weight of a leuco colorant as disclosed herein. The method may be implemented using any of the apparatuses disclosed herein. The method may employ any of the additional precursor materials 20 disclosed herein to form any of the particles 90 disclosed herein. The method may comprise the steps of: the precursor material 20 is provided in a batch mixer 10 in fluid communication with a feed line.

The precursor material 20 can be any composition that can be processed as a molten material capable of being formed into particles 90 using the apparatus 1 and the methods described herein. The composition of the precursor material 20 depends on what benefit the particles 90 will have. The precursor material 20 can be a raw material composition, an industrial composition, a consumer composition, or any other composition that can preferably be provided in particulate form.

The precursor material 20 and particles 90 can be incorporated into fabric detergent compositions as is known in the art. When incorporated into fabric detergents, the fabric detergents may also contain from about 0.001% to less than about 90% of typical fabric care adjuncts, as known in the art, including surfactants, builders, chelating agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, dispersants, enzymes, and enzyme stabilizers, plasticizing solvents, catalytic materials, bleach activators, polymeric dispersing agents, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, brighteners, suds suppressors, dyes, additional perfume and perfume delivery systems, structure elasticizing agents, fabric softeners, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids and/or pigments, and mixtures thereof. When the precursor material 20 and particle 90 are not incorporated into the fabric detergent composition, any typical fabric care adjunct as known in the art can be co-incorporated with the leuco colorant into the precursor material 20 and particle 90 depending on the desired benefit to be delivered. For example, antioxidants, UV absorbing compounds, and the like may be co-incorporated in order to prevent degradation of the leuco colorant or any conventional aesthetic or colored dyes that may be included in the composition. Furthermore, other dyes may be incorporated into both the particles containing the leuco colorant and the particles not containing the leuco colorant for aesthetic purposes. Incompatible perfumes can be incorporated into laundry care compositions by placing those perfumes in particles that do not contain a leuco colorant or contain only very low levels. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these are merely examples of the manner in which one of ordinary skill can construct a laundry care composition in order to maximize the intended benefit, and are not intended to be limiting.

The precursor material 20 and particles 90 can comprise a carrier and any combination of leuco colorants, colored dyes, aesthetic dyes, fragrances, and gas occlusions. The occlusion of gas may be a spherical occlusion of gas.

Carrier

The carrier may be or comprise a material selected from: water-soluble inorganic alkali metal salts, water-soluble alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble organic alkali metal salts, water-soluble organic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble carbohydrates, water-soluble silicates, water-soluble urea, and any combination thereof. The alkali metal salt may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium and potassium salts, and any combination thereof. Useful alkali metal salts can be selected, for example, from alkali metal fluorides, alkali metal chlorides, alkali metal bromides, alkali metal iodides, alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal hydrogen sulfates, alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal monohydrogen phosphates, alkali metal dihydrogen phosphates, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal monohydrogen carbonates, alkali metal acetates, alkali metal citrates, alkali metal lactates, alkali metal pyruvates, alkali metal silicates, alkali metal ascorbates, and combinations thereof.

The alkali metal salt may be selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfate, sodium phosphate, sodium monohydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, sodium tartrate, sodium silicate, sodium ascorbate, potassium fluoride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, potassium sulfate, potassium bisulfate, potassium phosphate, potassium monohydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium monohydrogen carbonate, potassium acetate, potassium citrate, potassium lactate, potassium tartrate, potassium silicate, potassium, ascorbic acid, and combinations thereof. The alkaline earth metal salt may be selected from magnesium salts, calcium salts, and the like, and combinations thereof. The alkaline earth metal salt may be selected from the group consisting of alkali metal fluorides, alkali metal chlorides, alkali metal bromides, alkali metal iodides, alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal hydrogen sulfates, alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal monohydrogen phosphates, alkali metal dihydrogen phosphates, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal monohydrogen carbonates, alkali metal acetates, alkali metal citrates, alkali metal lactates, alkali metal pyruvates, alkali metal silicates, alkali metal ascorbates, and combinations thereof. The alkaline earth metal salt may be selected from the group consisting of magnesium fluoride, magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, magnesium iodide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium monohydrogen phosphate, magnesium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium monohydrogen carbonate, magnesium acetate, magnesium citrate, magnesium lactate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium silicate, magnesium ascorbate, calcium fluoride, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium iodide, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, calcium monohydrogen phosphate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium carbonate, monohydrogen carbonate, calcium acetate, calcium citrate, calcium lactate, calcium tartrate, calcium silicate, calcium ascorbate, and combinations thereof. Inorganic salts, such as inorganic alkali metal salts and inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, do not contain carbon. Organic salts, such as organic alkali metal salts and organic alkaline earth metal salts, contain carbon. The organic salt may be an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of sorbic acid (i.e., an ascorbate salt). The sorbate salt can be selected from the group consisting of sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate, magnesium sorbate, calcium sorbate, and combinations thereof.

The carrier may be or comprise a material selected from: water-soluble inorganic alkali metal salts, water-soluble organic alkali metal salts, water-soluble inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble organic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble carbohydrates, water-soluble silicates, water-soluble urea, and combinations thereof. The carrier or water soluble carrier may be selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, sodium tartrate, potassium sodium tartrate, calcium lactate, water glass, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, dextrose, fructose, galactose, iso-glucose, sucrose, raffinose, isomalt, xylitol, fructoses, brown sugar, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the carrier or water soluble carrier may be sodium chloride. In one embodiment, the carrier or water soluble carrier may be common salt.

The carrier may be or comprise a material selected from: sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium formate, calcium formate, sodium chloride, sucrose, maltodextrin, corn syrup solids, corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, clay, silicates, citric acid carboxymethylcellulose, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, diglycerides of hydrogenated tallow, glycerol, and combinations thereof.

The carrier may be selected from the group consisting of water-soluble organic alkali metal salts, water-soluble inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble organic alkaline earth metal salts, water-soluble carbohydrates, water-soluble silicates, water-soluble urea, starch, clay, water-insoluble silicates, citric acid carboxymethylcellulose, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, diglycerides of hydrogenated tallow, glycerol, polyethylene glycols, polyvinyl alcohols, and combinations thereof.

The particles 90 may comprise from about 20% to about 99.9% by weight of the particles 90 of the carrier. The carrier may be polyethylene glycol.

The precursor material 20, and the particles 90 obtained therefrom, may comprise more than about 20% by weight of polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight of about 2000 to about 13000. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has a relatively low cost, can be formed into many different shapes and sizes, minimizes diffusion of small molecules such as some leuco colorants or unencapsulated perfumes, and dissolves well in water. PEG has a variety of weight average molecular weights. Suitable PEG weight average molecular weight ranges include from about 2,000 to about 13,000, from about 4,000 to about 12,000, or from about 5,000 to about 11,000, or from about 6,000 to about 10,000, or from about 7,000 to about 9,000, or combinations thereof. PEG is available from BASF, such as PLURIOL E8000.

The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise more than about 20% PEG particles by weight. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise more than about 40% PEG particles by weight. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise more than about 60% PEG particles by weight. The precursor material 20, and the particles 90 obtained therefrom, may comprise about 65% to about 99.9% by weight of the PEG composition. The precursor material 20, and the particles 90 obtained therefrom, may comprise from about 20% to about 99.9% by weight of the PEG composition.

Alternatively, the precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise about 20% to less than about 99.9%, alternatively about 45% to about 90%, alternatively about 60% to about 80%, alternatively combinations thereof and any percentage integers or ranges of percentage integers within any of the foregoing ranges, by weight of the precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom.

Depending on the application, the precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of particles of a balancing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polypropylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, dipropylene glycol, 1, 2-propanediol, and PEG having a weight average molecular weight of less than 2,000, and mixtures thereof.

The precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise an antioxidant. Antioxidants can help promote the stability of the color and/or odor of the particles over time between manufacture and use. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise from about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of the antioxidant. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise from about 0.001% to about 2% by weight of the antioxidant. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise from about 0.01% to about 0.1% by weight of the antioxidant. The antioxidant can be butylated hydroxytoluene.

Antioxidant agent

The laundry care composition may optionally contain an antioxidant present from about 0.001 wt% to about 2 wt%. Preferably the antioxidant is present at a concentration in the range of 0.01 to 0.1 wt%. Mixtures of antioxidants may be used, and in some embodiments, mixtures of antioxidants may be preferred.

Antioxidants are substances as described in Kirk-Othmer (vol.3, p.424) and Ullmann's Encyclopedia (vol.3, p.91).

One class of antioxidants useful in the present invention are alkylated phenols having the general formula:

wherein R is C₁-C₂₂Straight or branched alkyl, preferably methyl or branched C₃-C₆Alkyl radical, C₁-C₆Alkoxy, preferably methoxy or CH₂CH₂C (O) OR ', wherein R' is H, a charge-balancing counterion OR C₁-C₂₂A linear or branched alkyl group; r₁Is C₃-C₆A branched alkyl group, preferably a tert-butyl group; x is 1 or 2. Hindered phenol compounds are the preferred type of alkylated phenols having this formula. A preferred hindered phenol compound of this type is 3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT).

Further, the antioxidant employed in the composition may be selected from the group consisting of α -, β -, gamma-, - -tocopherol, ethoxyquin, 2, 4-trimethyl-1, 2-dihydroquinoline, 2, 6-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, tert-butylhydroxyanisole, lignosulfonic acid and salts thereof, and mixtures thereof, notably ethoxyquinoline (1, 2-dihydro-6-ethoxy-2, 2, 4-trimethylquinoline)^TMUnder the trade name Raschig^TMCommercially available from the company Raschig.

Another type of antioxidant that can be used in the composition is 6-hydroxy-2, 5,7, 8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolo)^TMx) and 1, 2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (Proxel GXL).^TM

Another class of antioxidants that may be suitable for use in the composition are benzofuran or benzopyran derivatives having the formula:

wherein R is₁And R₂Each independently is alkyl, or R₁And R₂Can be taken together to form C₅-C₆A cyclic hydrocarbyl moiety; b is absent or CH₂；R₄Is C₁-C₆An alkyl group; r₅Is hydrogen or-C (O) R₃Wherein R is₃Is hydrogen or C₁-C₁₉An alkyl group; r₆Is C₁-C₆An alkyl group; r₇Is hydrogen or C₁–C₆An alkyl group; x is-CH₂OH or-CH₂A, wherein A is a nitrogen-containing unit, a phenyl group, or a substituted phenyl group. Preferred nitrogen-containing a units include amino, pyrrole, piperidine, morpholine, piperazine, and mixtures thereof.

Antioxidants such as tocopherol hill may also be usedIn one aspect, the most preferred type of antioxidant for use in the composition is 3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT), α -, β -, gamma-, -tocopherol, 1, 2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (Proxel GXL)^TM) And mixtures thereof. On the other hand, the most preferred type of antioxidant for use in the composition is a hindered phenol, diarylamine (including having less than 1,000M in the wavelength range of 400 to 750nm)^{- 1}cm^-1Phenazine of maximum molar extinction coefficient), and mixtures thereof. In preferred mixtures, the number of equivalents of hindered phenol initially formulated will generally be greater than or equal to the number of equivalents of diarylamine.

Leuco colorants

The precursor material 20 and the particles 90 may comprise a leuco colorant. Preferably, at least about 0.0001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, or even about 95% of particles 90 comprise a leuco colorant.

Leuco colorants (sometimes referred to as leuco dyes) generally provide a blue or violet shade to the fabric upon conversion to their second colored state. Leuco colorants can be used alone or in combination with conventional shading dyes or other leuco colorants to produce hues of a particular hue and/or to color different fabric types. This may be provided, for example, by mixing red and blue-green dyes to produce a blue or violet hue. Preferably the coloured dye or second coloured state of the leuco colorant is a blue or violet dye, thereby providing a blue or violet colour to the white cloth or fabric. Such white cloths treated with the laundry care composition will have a hue angle of from 210 to 345, more preferably from 240 to 345, more preferably from 260 to 325, even more preferably from 270 to 310.

In one aspect, the molar extinction coefficient of the second colored state at the maximum absorbance at a wavelength in the range of 200 to 1,000nm (more preferably 400 to 750nm) is preferably at least five times the molar extinction coefficient of the first colored state at the wavelength of the maximum absorbance of the second colored stateMore preferably 10 times, even more preferably 25 times, most preferably at least 50 times. Preferably, the molar extinction coefficient of the second coloured state at maximum absorbance at a wavelength in the range of 200 to 1,000nm (more preferably 400 to 750nm) is at least five times, preferably 10 times, even more preferably 25 times, most preferably at least 50 times, the molar extinction coefficient of the first coloured state at the corresponding wavelength range. One of ordinary skill will recognize that these ratios can be much higher. For example, the first color state may have a color as small as 10M^-1cm^-1And the second tinting state can have a maximum molar extinction coefficient in the wavelength range of 400 to 750nm of up to 80,000M^-1cm^-1Or a greater maximum molar extinction coefficient in the wavelength range of 400 to 750nm, in which case the ratio of the extinction coefficients may be 8,000:1 or greater.

In one aspect, the maximum molar extinction coefficient of the first color state at a wavelength in the range of 400 to 750nm is less than 1000M^-1cm^-1And the maximum molar extinction coefficient of the second colored state is greater than 5,000M at a wavelength in the range of 400 to 750nm^-1cm^-1Preferably greater than 10,000, 25,000, 50,000 or even 100,000M^-1cm^-1. The skilled artisan will recognize and appreciate that polymers comprising more than one leuco moiety may have significantly higher maximum molar extinction coefficients in a first color state (e.g., due to the additive effect of the multiplicity of leuco moieties or the presence of one or more leuco moieties that convert to a second color state).

The range of textile products encountered in consumer homes is very large and typically includes garments composed of a variety of natural and synthetic fibers, as well as mixtures of these materials in the same wash load or even in the same garment. The article can be constructed in various ways and can include any of a wide array of finishes that can be applied by the manufacturer. The amount of any such finish remaining on a consumer's textile article depends on a number of factors, among which is the durability of the finish under the particular wash conditions used by the consumer, the particular detergents and additives that the consumer may use, and the number of cycles the article has been washed. Depending on the history of each article, the finish may be present to varying degrees or substantially absent, however, other materials present in the wash or rinse cycle, as well as contaminants encountered during wear, may begin to accumulate on the article.

The skilled person is keenly aware that any detergent formulation used by the consumer will encounter the full range of textile articles representing possibilities, and it is expected that not only is possible, but in fact the way in which the formulation will behave for some textile articles will differ significantly, as opposed to others. When incorporated into laundry care compositions of the present invention, leuco colorants have been found to increase the whiteness of consumer aged garments, rather than they increase the whiteness of new garments from which finishes have been removed by successive washes. Thus, laundry care compositions comprising such leuco colorants may be superior to conventional hueing agents, as newer garments generally have fewer yellowing problems, while older consumer old garments are more prone to have yellowing problems. The leuco colorants employed in the laundry care compositions of the present invention have an increased deviation in whiteness of aged garments relative to clean, fresh garments, which is greater than the deviation exhibited by many conventional toners.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a leuco composition selected from the group consisting of: diarylmethane leuco compositions, triarylmethane leuco compositions, oxazine leuco compositions, thiazine leuco compositions, hydroquinone leuco compositions, arylaminophene leuco compositions, and mixtures thereof.

Diarylmethane leuco compounds suitable for use herein include, but are not limited to, diarylmethylene derivatives capable of forming a second colored state as described herein. Suitable examples include, but are not limited to, Michler methane, diarylmethylene substituted with-OH groups (e.g., Michler hydrolysates) and ethers and esters thereof, diarylmethylene substituted with photocleavable moieties such as-CN groups (di (p-N, N-dimethyl) phenyl) acetonitrile), and similar such compounds.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a composition comprising one or more leuco compounds conforming to a group selected from:

and (V)

(f) Mixtures thereof;

wherein the ratio of formula I-V to its oxidized form is at least 1:19, 1:9 or 1:3, preferably at least 1:1, more preferably at least 3:1, most preferably at least 9:1 or even 19: 1.

In the structure of formula (I), each independent Ro, Rm, and Rp group on each ring of rings A, B and C is independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, and R⁵(ii) a Each R⁵Independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, — (CH)₂)_n─O─R¹、─(CH₂)_n─NR¹R²、─C(O)R¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)O^-、─C(O)NR¹R²、─OC(O)R¹、─OC(O)OR¹、─OC(O)NR¹R²、─S(O)₂R¹、─S(O)₂OR¹、─S(O)₂O^-、─S(O)₂NR¹R²、─NR¹C(O)R²、─NR¹C(O)OR²、─NR¹C(O)SR²、─NR¹C(O)NR²R³、─P(O)₂R¹、─P(O)(OR¹)₂、─P(O)(OR¹)O^-and-P (O)^-)₂(ii) a Wherein the index n is an integer from 0 to 4, preferably from 0 to 1, most preferably 0; wherein A, B and two R on the C ring are different_oCan be combined to form five or more membersA condensed ring of members; when the condensed ring is six-membered or more, two R groups on different A, B and C rings_oCan be combined to form an organic linking group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; in one embodiment, A, B and two R on the C ring are different_oCombine to form a heteroatom bridge selected from-O-and-S-, thereby forming a six-membered fused ring; r on the same ring_oAnd R_mOr R on the same ring_mAnd Rp may combine to form a fused aliphatic ring or a fused aromatic ring, either of which may contain heteroatoms; at least one, preferably at least two, more preferably at least three, and most preferably all four R's on at least one of the three rings A, B or C_oAnd R_mThe radicals being hydrogen, preferably all four R on at least two of rings A, B and C_oAnd R_mThe radicals are hydrogen; in some embodiments, all R on rings A, B and C_oAnd R_mThe radical is hydrogen; preferably each R_pIndependently selected from hydrogen, — OR¹and-NR¹R²(ii) a Not more than two, preferably not more than one R_pAre hydrogen, preferably none; more preferably at least one, preferably two, most preferably all three R_pis-NR¹R²(ii) a In some embodiments, one or even both of rings A, B and C can be with independently selected C₃-C₉A heteroaryl ring comprising one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, optionally substituted with one or more independently selected R⁵Substituted by groups; g is independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, C₁-C₁₆Alkoxides, phenoxides, biphenoxides, nitrites, nitriles, alkylamines, imidazoles, arylamines, polyalkylene oxides, halides, alkyl sulfides, aryl sulfides or phosphine oxides; in one aspect, the fraction of G [ (deuterium)/(deuterium + hydrogen)]Is at least 0.20, preferably at least 0.40, even more preferably at least 0.50 and most preferably at least 0.60 or even at least 0.80; wherein R is attached to the same heteroatom¹、R²And R³Any two of which can be combined to form a five-or more-membered ring, optionally comprising one or more ring members selected from-O-NR¹⁵-and-S-additional heteroatoms;

in the structures of formulae (II) - (III), e and f are independently integers from 0 to 4; each R²⁰And R²¹Independently selected from halogen, nitro group, alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, — nc (o) OR¹、─NC(O)SR¹、─OR¹and-NR¹R²(ii) a Each R²⁵Independently selected from the group consisting of monosaccharide moiety, disaccharide moiety, oligosaccharide moiety, and polysaccharide moiety, — c (o) R¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)NR¹R²(ii) a Each R²²And R²³Independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl groups and substituted alkyl groups.

In the structure of formula (IV), wherein R³⁰Positioned ortho OR para to the bridging amine moiety and selected from-OR³⁸and-NR³⁶R³⁷Each R³⁶And R³⁷Independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, aryl group, substituted aryl group, acyl group, R⁴、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)R¹and-C (O) NR¹R²；R³⁸Selected from hydrogen, acyl radicals, — C (O) OR¹、─C(O)R¹and-C (O) NR¹R²(ii) a g and h are independently integers from 0 to 4; each R³¹And R³²Independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, substituted alkyl groups, aryl groups, substituted aryl groups, alkaryl groups, substituted alkaryl groups, — (CH)₂)_n─O─R¹、─(CH₂)_n─NR¹R²、─C(O)R¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)O^-、─C(O)NR¹R²、─OC(O)R¹、─OC(O)OR¹、─OC(O)NR¹R²、─S(O)₂R¹、─S(O)₂OR¹、─S(O)₂O^-、─S(O)₂NR¹R²、─NR¹C(O)R²、─NR¹C(O)OR²、─NR¹C(O)SR²、─NR¹C(O)NR²R³、─P(O)₂R¹、─P(O)(OR¹)₂、─P(O)(OR¹)O^-and-P (O)^-)₂(ii) a Wherein the index n is an integer from 0 to 4, preferably from 0 to 1, most preferably 0; -NR³⁴R³⁵Positioned ortho or para to the bridging amine moiety, and R³⁴And R³⁵Independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, and R⁴；R³³Independently selected from hydrogen, — S (O)₂R¹、─C(O)N(H)R¹；─C(O)OR¹(ii) a and-C (O) R¹(ii) a When g is 2 to 4, any two adjacent R³¹Groups can combine to form fused five or more membered rings, wherein no more than two atoms in the fused ring can be nitrogen atoms.

In the structure of formula (V), wherein X⁴⁰Selected from the group consisting of oxygen atom, sulfur atom, and NR⁴⁵；R⁴⁵Independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, — s (o)₂OH、─S(O)₂O^-、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)R¹And C (O) NR¹R²；R⁴⁰And R⁴¹Independently selected from-CH₂)_n─O─R¹、─(CH₂)_n─NR¹R²Wherein the index n is an integer from 0 to 4, preferably from 0 to 1, most preferably 0; j and k are independently integers from 0 to 3; r⁴²And R⁴³Independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, — s (o)₂R¹、─C(O)NR¹R²、─NC(O)OR¹、─NC(O)SR¹、─C(O)OR¹、─C(O)R¹、─(CH₂)_n─O─R¹、─(CH₂)_n─NR¹R²(ii) a Wherein the index n is an integer from 0 to 4, preferably from 0 to 1, most preferably 0; r⁴⁴is-C (O) R¹、─C(O)NR¹R²and-C (O) OR¹。

In the structures of formulae (I) - (V), any charge present in any of the foregoing groups is balanced with a suitable independently selected internal or external counterion. Suitable independently selected external counterions can be cationic or anionic. Examples of suitable cations include, but are not limited to, one or more metals preferably selected from groups I and II, of which Na, K, Mg and Ca are most preferred, or organic cations such as iminium, ammonium and phosphonium. Examples of suitable anions include, but are not limited to: fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, perchlorate, hydrogensulfate, sulfate, aminosulfate, nitrate, dihydrogenphosphate, hydrogenphosphate, phosphate, hydrogencarbonate, carbonate, methylsulfate, ethylsulfate, cyanate, thiocyanate, tetrachlorozincate, borate, tetrafluoroborate, acetate, chloroacetate, cyanoacetate, hydroxyacetate, aminoacetate, methylamoacetate, dichloro-and trichloroacetate, 2-chloropropionate, 2-hydroxypropionate, glycolate, thioglycolate, thioacetate, phenoxyacetate, pivalate, valerate, palmitate, acrylate, oxalate, malonate, crotonate, succinate, citrate, methylenebisthioglycolate, ethylenebisiminoacetate, nitrilotriacetate, Fumarate, maleate, benzoate, methylbenzoate, chlorobenzoate, dichlorobenzoate, hydroxybenzoate, aminobenzoate, phthalate, terephthalate, indoleacetate, chlorobenzenesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, biphenyl sulfonate and chlorotoluenesulfonate. Those of ordinary skill in the art are well aware of the different counterions that can be used in place of those listed above.

In the structural formulae (I) to (V), R¹、R²、R³And R¹⁵Independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkaryl, substituted alkaryl, and R⁴(ii) a Wherein R is⁴Is an organic group composed of one or more organic monomers having a molecular weight in the range of from 28 to 500, preferably from 43 to 350, even more preferably from 43 to 250, wherein the organic group may be pigmented with one or more additional leuco dyesThe colorant portion is substituted, and the leuco colorant portion conforms to the structure of formula I-V. In one aspect, R⁴Selected from the group consisting of alkyleneoxy (polyether), oxoalkyleneoxy (polyester), oxoalkyleneamine (polyamide), epichlorohydrin, quaternized epichlorohydrin, alkyleneamine, hydroxyalkylene, acyloxyalkylene, carboxyalkylene, carboalkoxyalkylene, and sugars. In one aspect, R⁴Selected from EO, PO, BO, and mixtures thereof, more preferably from EO alone or EO/PO mixtures. Any leuco colorant comprises R having three or more consecutive monomers⁴In the case of a group, the leuco colorant is defined herein as a "polymeric leuco colorant". Those skilled in the art know that the identity of a compound with respect to any of a variety of characteristic attributes such as solubility, partitioning, deposition, removal, staining, and the like, is related to the location, identity, and quantity of such adjacent monomers incorporated therein. Thus, the skilled person may adjust the position, nature and number of such successive monomers to alter any particular property in a more or less predictable manner.

Preferred leuco colorants include those conforming to the structure of formula VI,

wherein each R⁴Independently selected from H, methyl, ethyl, ((CH)₂CH₂O)_a(C₃H₆O)_b) H, and mixtures thereof; preferably at least one R⁴The radical being ((CH)₂CH₂O)_a(C₃H₆O)_b) H; wherein each index a is independently an integer from 1 to 100, each index b is independently an integer from 0 to 50, and wherein all R's are⁴The sum of all independently selected a integers in the group does not exceed 200, preferably 100, and all R⁴The sum of all independently selected b integers in the group is not more than 100, preferably not more than 50. Preferably at least two R⁴The groups are selected from methyl and ethyl, most preferably at least one N in structure VI is replaced by two R⁴Radical (I)Substituted, the two R⁴The radicals are selected from methyl and ethyl, preferably Me.

Highly preferred leuco colorants include those conforming to the structure of formula VII,

wherein each index c is independently 0, 1 or 2, preferably each c is 1; each R⁴Independently selected from H, Me, Et, ((CH)₂CH₂O)_a(C₃H₆O)_b) H, and mixtures thereof; preferably each R⁴Is ((CH)₂CH₂O)_a(C₃H₆O)_b) H, wherein each index a is independently an integer from 1 to 50, more preferably from 1 to 25, even more preferably from 1 to 20, from 1 to 15, from 1 to 10, from 1 to 5 or even from 1 to 2; each index b is independently an integer from 0 to 25, more preferably from 0 to 15, even more preferably from 1 to 5 or even from 1 to 3, and wherein the sum of all independently selected a integers in the leuco colorant does not exceed 100, more preferably does not exceed 80, most preferably does not exceed 60, 40, 20, 10 or even does not exceed 5, and the sum of all independently selected b integers in the leuco colorant does not exceed 50, more preferably does not exceed 40, most preferably does not exceed 30, 20 or even 10. In a particularly preferred aspect, each index c is 1 and each R is⁴Is ((CH)₂CH₂O)_a(C₃H₆O)_b) H, each index a is an integer from 1 to 5, each index b is an integer from 1 to 5, the sum of all independently selected a integers in the leuco compound is from 4 to 10, and the sum of all independently selected b integers in the leuco colorant is from 5 to 15.

On the other hand, highly preferred leuco compounds include those conforming to the structure of formula (VIII),

wherein R is⁸Is H or CH₃And each index b is independently about 1 to 2 on average.

The leuco triarylmethane compounds described herein can be prepared by any suitable synthetic method. For example, such compounds may be prepared via an acid-catalyzed condensation reaction between an aromatic aldehyde and an electron-rich aryl coupler (e.g., an amount of about 2 molar equivalents of aryl coupler to 1 molar equivalent of aromatic aldehyde). The aromatic aldehyde can be any suitable compound comprising an aromatic moiety (e.g., an aryl moiety, a substituted aryl moiety, a heteroaromatic moiety, or a substituted heteroaromatic moiety) having an aldehyde group covalently attached to the aromatic moiety. In one aspect, the aromatic aldehyde is preferably a substituted benzaldehyde, preferably comprising a substituted benzaldehyde having the structure-OR in the para position relative to the aldehyde group¹or-NR¹R²A group of (1). In another aspect, the aromatic aldehyde is preferably a substituted benzaldehyde comprising a group-NR in the para position relative to the aldehyde group¹R²Wherein R is¹And R²Selected from hydrogen, methyl or ethyl (more preferably methyl).

As noted above, the condensation reaction utilizes an aryl coupling agent in addition to the aromatic aldehyde. To produce leuco triarylmethane compounds, the condensation reaction typically utilizes at least two molar equivalents of the aryl coupler per molar equivalent of aromatic aldehyde. In one aspect, a single aryl coupler compound may be used to provide two molar equivalents of aryl coupler used in the reaction. In another aspect, the reaction may be carried out using a mixture of two molar equivalents of two or more different aryl couplers. In such embodiments, two or more different aryl couplers may be used in any combination or relative ratio, provided that the sum of the mixtures is at least about two molar equivalents of aryl coupler per molar equivalent of aromatic aldehyde. In such embodiments, the two or more different aryl couplers may differ, for example, in the number and/or nature of the substituents attached to the aryl moiety. In one aspect, the reaction may utilize a first aryl coupler comprising a first oxyalkylene or polyoxyalkylene moiety having a first distribution of oxyalkylene groups and a second aryl coupler comprising a second oxyalkylene or polyoxyalkylene moiety having a second distribution of oxyalkylene groups different from the first distribution. For example, in one aspect, the first aryl coupler may comprise an oxyalkylene portion consisting of an oxirane group, such as AC-I below, and the second aryl coupler may comprise a polyoxyalkylene portion consisting of an oxirane group and a propylene oxide group, such as AC-II below.

Wherein the indices a, b, c and d are independently selected from integers from 0 to 5; for coupling agents selected from the group consisting of AC-I and AC-II, the sum of a and b is from 2 to 10, and the sum of c and d in AC-II is from 2 to 10. In a more specific aspect, for the coupling agent selected from the group consisting of AC-I and AC-II, the sum of a and b is from 2 to 5, and the sum of c and d in AC-II is from 2 to 5. In one embodiment, the sum of indices a and b in AC-I is 2 or 3; the sum of the indices a and b in AC-II is 2 or 3, and the sum of the indices c and d in AC-II is 1 to 5, preferably 2 to 4, or even 2 to 3. Couplers AC-I and AC-II may be combined in any ratio, provided that the amount of coupler used is sufficient to provide at least two molar equivalents relative to the equivalents of aromatic aldehyde used in the acid-catalyzed condensation reaction to produce the leuco compound.

In one aspect, for example, one equivalent of p-N, N-dimethylbenzaldehyde is condensed with a mixture of at least two molar equivalents of the aryl coupling agents AC-I and AC-II shown above, wherein for the aryl coupling agent AC-I, the sum of the indices a and b is 2 or 3, preferably 2, and wherein preferably a and b are each 1; and wherein for the aryl coupler AC-II, the sum of the indices a and b is 2 or 3, preferably 2, and wherein preferably a and b are each 1, and the sum of the indices c and d averages about 2.5 to 3.0, and wherein at least one of c or d is 1.

It should be understood that any leuco colorant may be suitable for incorporation into the precursor material 20 and the particles 90.

Perfume

In addition to the PEG and leuco colorant in the precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom, the precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may further comprise 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a perfume. Alternatively, the particles 90, the precursor material 20, and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may be substantially free or free of perfume. The perfume may be an unencapsulated perfume, an encapsulated perfume, a perfume provided by perfume delivery technology, or a perfume provided in some other manner. Fragrances are reviewed in U.S. patent 7,186,680 at column 10, line 56 to column 25, line 22. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise unencapsulated perfume and be substantially free of perfume carriers, such as perfume microcapsules. The precursor material 20, and the particles 90 obtained therefrom, may comprise a perfume carrier material (and the perfume comprised therein). Examples of perfume carrier materials are described in U.S. patent No.7,186,680, column 25, line 23 to column 31, line 7. Specific examples of perfume carrier materials can include cyclodextrins and zeolites.

The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, can comprise from about 0.1% to about 20%, alternatively from about 1% to about 15%, alternatively from 2% to about 10%, alternatively combinations thereof and any whole percentage within any of the foregoing ranges, of perfume by weight of the precursor material 20 or the particles 90. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, can comprise from about 0.1% to about 6% by weight of the pro-fragrance material 20 or particles 90 of fragrance. The perfume may be an unencapsulated perfume and/or an encapsulated perfume.

The precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may be free or substantially free of perfume carriers. The precursor material 20 and particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise from about 0.1% to about 20%, alternatively from about 1% to about 15%, alternatively from 2% to about 10%, alternatively combinations thereof and any whole number of percentages within any of the foregoing ranges of unencapsulated perfume by weight of the precursor material 20 and particles 90 obtained therefrom.

The precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise unencapsulated perfume and perfume microcapsules. The precursor material 20 and particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise from about 0.1% to about 20%, alternatively from about 1% to about 15%, alternatively from about 2% to about 10%, alternatively combinations thereof and any whole percentage or whole range of percentages within any of the foregoing ranges of unencapsulated perfume by weight of the precursor material 20 and particles 90 obtained therefrom. Such levels of unencapsulated perfume may be applicable to any of the precursor materials 20 with unencapsulated perfume disclosed herein and the particles 90 obtained therefrom.

The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise unencapsulated perfume and perfume microcapsules, but no or substantially no other perfume carriers. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise unencapsulated perfume and perfume microcapsules, and be free of other perfume carriers.

The precursor material 20 and the particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise encapsulated perfume. The encapsulated perfume may be provided in the form of a plurality of perfume microcapsules. The perfume microcapsule is a perfume oil encapsulated within a shell. The shell can have an average shell thickness that is less than the maximum perfume core size. The perfume microcapsule may be a friable perfume microcapsule. The perfume microcapsule may be a moisture-activated perfume microcapsule.

The perfume microcapsule may comprise a melamine/formaldehyde shell. Perfume microcapsules are available from Appleton, quest International, or International Flavor & Fragrances, or other suitable sources. The perfume microcapsule shell may be coated with a polymer to enhance the ability of the perfume microcapsule to adhere to fabric. This may be desirable if the particles 90 are designed as a fabric treatment composition. The perfume microcapsules may be those described in U.S. patent publication 2008/0305982.

The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, can comprise from about 0.1% to about 20%, alternatively from about 1% to about 15%, alternatively from 2% to about 10%, alternatively combinations thereof and any whole percentage within any of the foregoing ranges, of encapsulated perfume by weight of the precursor material 20 or the particles 90.

The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, may comprise perfume microcapsules, but no or substantially no unencapsulated perfume. The precursor material 20, and thus the particles 90, can comprise from about 0.1% to about 20%, alternatively from about 1% to about 15%, alternatively from about 2% to about 10%, alternatively combinations thereof and any whole percentage within any of the foregoing ranges, of encapsulated perfume by weight of the precursor material 20 or the particles 90.

The precursor material 20 can be prepared by providing molten PEG into the batch mixer 10. The batch mixer 10 may be heated to help prepare the precursor material 20 at a desired temperature. Leuco colorants and flavorants (if present) can be added to the molten PEG. Aesthetic dyes, if present, may also be added to the batch mixer 10. Other adjunct materials may be added to the precursor material 20 if desired. The precursor material 20 may optionally be prepared by in-line mixing or other known methods for mixing materials.

If an aesthetic dye is employed, the precursor material 20 and particles 90 may comprise an aesthetic dye. The precursor material 20 and particles 90 obtained therefrom may comprise less than about 0.1%, alternatively from about 0.001% to about 0.1%, alternatively from about 0.01% to about 0.02%, alternatively combinations thereof and any percentage or range of percentages within any of the aforementioned ranges, by weight of the precursor material 20 or particles 90. Examples of suitable aesthetic dyes include, but are not limited to, LIQUITINT PINK AM, AQUA AS, CYAN 15, and VIOLET FL available from Milliken Chemical.

The particles 90 may have a variety of shapes. The granules 90 may be formed into various shapes including tablets, pellets, spheres, and the like. The particles 90 may have a shape selected from the group consisting of: spherical, hemispherical, compressed hemispherical, lentil-shaped, and oblong. Lentil refers to the shape of lentil. A compressed hemisphere refers to a shape corresponding to a hemisphere that is at least partially flat such that the curvature of the curved surface is on average less than the curvature of a hemisphere having the same radius. The compressed hemispherical grains 90 may have a ratio of height to maximum base dimension of about 0.01 to about 0.4, alternatively about 0.1 to about 0.4, alternatively about 0.2 to about 0.3. By rectangular is meant a shape having a largest dimension and a second largest dimension orthogonal to the largest dimension, wherein the ratio of the largest dimension to the second largest dimension is greater than about 1.2. The ratio of the maximum base dimension to the second maximum base dimension of the rectangle can be greater than about 1.5. The ratio of the maximum base dimension to the second maximum base dimension of the rectangle can be greater than about 2. The oblong particles may have a maximum base dimension of about 2mm to about 6mm, a second maximum base dimension of about 2mm to about 6 mm.

The individual particles 90 may have a mass of about 0.1mg to about 5g, alternatively about 10mg to about 1g, alternatively about 10mg to about 500mg, alternatively about 10mg to about 250mg, alternatively about 0.95mg to about 125mg, or combinations thereof and any integer mg or range of integers of mg within any of the foregoing ranges. In the plurality of particles 90, individual particles may have a shape selected from the group consisting of: spherical, hemispherical, compressed hemispherical, lentil-shaped, and oblong.

The individual particles may have about 0.003cm³To about 0.15cm³The volume of (a). A plurality of particles 90 may be combined to form a dose for dosing into a washing machine or laundry tub. A single dose of particles 90 may comprise from about 0.1g to about 200g, or from about 0.5g to about 100g, or from about 2.0g to about 60g, or from about 5g to about 25g of particles per 3kg of fabric being laundered. A single dose of particles 90 may comprise from about 1g to about 27 g. A single dose of particles 90 may comprise from about 5g to about 27g, alternatively from about 13g to about 27g, alternatively from about 14g to about 20g, alternatively from about 15g to about 19g, alternatively from about 18g to about 19g, alternatively combinations thereof and any gram integer or range of gram integers within any of the foregoing ranges. The individual particles 90 forming the dose of particles 90 may have a mass of about 0.95mg to about 2 g. The plurality of particles 90 may be comprised of particles having different sizes, shapes, and/or masses. The particles 90 in one dose may have a largest dimension of less than about 1 centimeter.

Particles 90 that can be made as provided herein are shown in fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a profile view of a single particle 90. The particles 90 can have a substantially flat base 150 and a height H. The height H of the particles 90 is measured as the maximum extent of the particles 90 in a direction normal to the substantially flat base 150. Height H can be conveniently measured using image analysis software for analyzing the profile view of particles 90.

The method for forming particles 90 in which gas is entrained into the precursor material 20, thereby forming particles 90 in which gas is entrained, may be practical for providing particles 90 that float in a liquid. Particles 90 floating in certain liquids may be practical in various industrial processes and in household processes where the particles may be used.

The particles 90 with entrained gas therein are comprised of gas inclusions and solid and/or liquid materials. Because of the gas entrained in the particles 90 in these embodiments, the density of the particles 90 is less than the density of the constituent solid and/or liquid materials forming the particles 90. For example, if the particles 90 are made of particles having a density of 1g/cm³And the particles 90 contain 10% by volume of air, the density of the particles 90 is 0.90g/cm³。

As shown in fig. 5, particles 90 may be packaged together as a laundry care composition 160 comprising a plurality of particles 90. The particles may comprise a carrier, a leuco colorant, a fragrance, and an occlusion of gas. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the spherical gas occlusions provide particles 90 with improved strength compared to particles 90 having other shapes of gas occlusions. Spherical gas occlusions may provide improved strength compared to non-spherical gas occlusions.

In embodiments that do not include an air occlusion, at least 80%, 90%, 95%, substantially all of the particles 90 may have a density greater than about 1g/cm and preferably less than about 1.25 g/cm. In embodiments that do include air occlusions, at least 80%, 90%, 95%, substantially all of the particles 90 may have a density of less than about 0.95 g/cm. Since the density of a typical wash solution is about 1g/cm³Thus, it may be desirable to provide a density greater than about 1g/cm³Or in some embodiments less than about 0.95g/cm³Of particles 90. Such that substantially all of the particles 90 have a particle size greater than about 1g/cm³May be desirable to provide particles 90 that sink in the wash liquor. Such that substantially all of the particles 90 have a particle size of less than about 1g/cm³May be desirable to provide particles 90 that float in the wash liquid.

At least 80%, 90%, 95%, substantially all of particles 90 may have a mass between about 0.1mg to about 5 g. The particles 90 may have a largest dimension of less than about 20 mm. The particles 90 may have a largest dimension of less than about 10 mm. Particles 90 having such mass and maximum size are believed to be readily soluble in solutions such as washing solutions used to wash clothes.

Each particle 90 may have a volume, and occlusions of gas within the particle 90 may comprise between about 0.5% and about 50% of the volume of the particle 90, or even between about 1% and about 20% of the volume of the particle, or even between about 2% and about 15% of the volume of the particle, or even between about 4% and about 12% of the volume of the particle. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that if the volume of the gas occlusions is too large, the particles 90 may not be strong enough and may disintegrate in an undesirable manner when the particles are packaged, transported, stored and used.

The occlusions may have an effective diameter of between about 1 micron to about 2000 microns, or even between about 5 microns to about 1000 microns, or even between about 5 microns to about 200 microns, or even between about 25 to about 50 microns. In general, smaller occlusions of gas are considered more desirable than larger occlusions of gas. If the effective diameter of the gas occlusions is too large, it is believed that these particles may not be strong enough and may disintegrate in an undesirable manner when the particles are packaged, transported, stored and used. The effective diameter is the diameter of a sphere having the same volume as the gas occlusion. The occlusion of gas may be a spherical occlusion of gas.

The particles 90 may be prepared as follows. A batch of 50kg of precursor material 20 may be prepared in a mixer. Molten PEG8000 can be added to a jacketed mixer maintained at 70 ℃ and stirred with a pitched blade paddle stirrer at 125 rpm. Butylated hydroxytoluene may be added to the mixer at a level of 0.01% by weight of the precursor material 20. Dipropylene glycol may be added to the mixer at a level of 1.08% by weight of the precursor material 20. A water-based slurry of perfume microcapsules may be added to the mixer at a level of 4.04% by weight of the precursor material 20. Unencapsulated perfume may be added to the mixer at a level of 7.50% by weight of the precursor material 20. The leuco colorant may be added to the mixer at a level of 0.0095% by weight of the precursor material 20. PEG may account for 87.36% by weight of the precursor material 20. The precursor material 20 may be mixed for 30 minutes.

The precursor material 20 may be formed into particles 90 on a SANDVIK ROTOFORM 3000 having a strip 750mm wide by 10m long. The cylinders 110 may have 2mm diameter holes 60 arranged at a pitch of 10mm in the cross direction CD and at a pitch of 9.35mm in the machine direction MD. The cylinder may be positioned about 3mm above the belt. The belt speed and the rotation speed of the cylinder 110 may be set to 10 m/min.

After mixing the precursor material 20, the precursor material 20 may be pumped from the mixer 10 at a constant rate of 3.1kg/min through a plate and frame heat exchanger configured to control the outlet temperature to 50 ℃.

Air or another gas may be entrained in the precursor material 20 in an amount of about 0.5% to about 50% by volume. The precursor material 20 with air or another gas entrained therein may be passed through a Quadro Z1 mill with a central rotor/stator element. After milling, the precursor material may optionally be passed through a kenicss 1.905cm KMS 6 static mixer 50 mounted 91.44cm upstream of the stator 100.

Table 1 lists the formulation of particles 90 that can be made. It should be understood that many additional formulations may be prepared, and those shown below are not intended to be limiting in any way.

Table 1: possible formulations of the granules。