Clothing softener as well as preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a clothing softener as well as a preparation method and application thereof. Relates to the technical field of softeners. The clothing softener comprises the following components: an acylamino quaternary ammonium salt; polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride; dioctyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; and water. Compared with commercially available mainstream like products, the clothing softener provided by the invention has the advantages that the basic properties such as antistatic property, softness, fluffiness and the like of treated clothing reach the same level, the water absorption is more excellent, the smooth touch feeling is more obvious, and particularly, the stability and antibacterial property of the clothing softener provided by the invention are obviously superior to those of the existing products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fabric softener technology, and in particular to a fabric softener, its preparation method, and its application. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, public attention to healthy living continues to rise, and the functional demands of daily chemical products have upgraded from basic cleaning to multifunctional and composite products. Among them, products that combine cleaning, care, and long-lasting hygiene protection are gradually becoming the mainstream in the market. As daily necessities that come into direct and prolonged contact with human skin, clothing is susceptible to microbial growth on its surface, which can not only lead to odors and fiber damage but also become a carrier for bacterial transmission. Therefore, consumers have placed higher demands on the antibacterial and bacteriostatic properties of clothing care products. Against this backdrop, traditional laundry products achieve immediate bacteriostasis by adding antibacterial ingredients, while fabric softeners focus on improving the feel of clothing. The two functions are relatively independent and cannot meet consumers' comprehensive needs for "one-time care, multiple effects," especially in achieving a significant technical bottleneck in the synergistic effect of long-lasting antibacterial and long-lasting softening.

[0003] Current laundry products primarily rely on water-soluble antibacterial ingredients for their antibacterial mechanisms. These ingredients typically achieve immediate sterilization or bacteriostatic effects by disrupting bacterial cell membranes or inhibiting enzyme activity, effectively removing initial microbial contamination from clothing surfaces during washing. However, because laundry products are applied in water-based environments, and most antibacterial ingredients are highly water-soluble, their binding to fabric fibers relies mainly on physical adsorption, lacking stable chemical or electrostatic bonding. Consequently, most antibacterial ingredients are lost with the washing wastewater during subsequent rinsing, failing to form a lasting adhesion on the fiber surface. When clothing is worn or stored after washing, it inevitably comes into contact with microorganisms in the environment—including airborne bacteria, microorganisms secreted by human sweat, and cross-contamination from contact with other items. At this point, no effective antibacterial ingredients remain on the fiber surface, allowing microorganisms to quickly colonize and multiply, rapidly restoring the pre-wash microbial levels. This limits the antibacterial effect to the washing process, failing to extend throughout the entire lifespan and making it difficult to truly guarantee the long-term hygiene and safety of clothing.

[0004] Fabric softeners, as an important category of garment care products, rely on the electrostatic interaction between cationic surfactants and fabric fibers to achieve their core function. During washing, fabric fibers typically carry a negative charge on their surface due to the residue of anionic surfactants in the detergent or the chemical properties of the fibers themselves. Cationic surfactants, on the other hand, contain positively charged hydrophilic groups in their molecular structure. The two are tightly bound together through electrostatic attraction, forming a continuous adsorption film on the fiber surface. This film can encapsulate the fibers, reducing direct friction between fibers and imparting good smoothness and elasticity, thus improving the soft and fluffy feel of the garments. Looking back at the application history of cationic surfactants in fabric softeners, early products often used dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (D1821) as the main ingredient. Its long-chain alkyl structure effectively reduced the coefficient of friction between fibers, resulting in a significant softening effect. However, due to the lack of easily degradable groups in its molecular structure, its biodegradability was extremely poor, and it easily accumulated in the environment after use, posing a potential threat to the ecosystem. With increasingly stringent environmental regulations, D1821 gradually withdrew from the civilian market, and is still used only in small quantities in a few cost-sensitive or less environmentally conscious industrial linen washing and care scenarios.

[0005] To replace D1821, the industry has developed ester-based quaternary ammonium salts as the core ingredient of a new generation of consumer fabric softeners. The introduction of ester groups into their molecular structure significantly improves biodegradability, aligning with modern environmental trends and making them the mainstream choice in the current market. However, the widespread application of ester-based quaternary ammonium salts has not completely solved the technical pain points of cationic surfactants in fabric softeners; instead, it has brought new challenges. While the ester structure improves biodegradability, its chemical stability is poor. During product storage, the ester group is prone to hydrolysis under the influence of moisture, temperature, or trace impurities, leading to molecular chain breakage, reduced cationic charge density, and loss of the ability to bind to fibers. The accumulation of hydrolysis can cause product stratification, turbidity, and viscosity changes, severely affecting product appearance and performance, shortening shelf life, and increasing the difficulty of quality control and after-sales risks for companies. In addition, ester-based quaternary ammonium salts are usually in a paste or high-viscosity solid state at room temperature. During the production process, they need to be heated to a specific temperature (such as 60-80℃) to melt and liquefy them in order to be uniformly mixed with other auxiliary components. This heating process not only consumes a lot of energy and increases production costs, but may also affect product stability due to improper temperature control. It also prolongs the production cycle and reduces equipment utilization. Especially in large-scale continuous production, the superposition of energy costs and time costs puts significant pressure on the economic benefits of enterprises.

[0006] In response to the problems that existing laundry products cannot achieve long-lasting antibacterial properties, and that traditional fabric softeners are unstable due to hydrolysis and have high production energy consumption, developing a garment care product that combines long-lasting antibacterial and stable softening functions has become an important direction for technological breakthroughs in the industry. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fabric softener with excellent antibacterial properties, long-term antibacterial activity, and stable non-hydrolysis.

[0008] The first aspect of the present invention is: Provide a fabric softener.

[0009] The second aspect of the present invention is as follows: A method for preparing a fabric softener is provided.

[0010] The third aspect of the present invention is: The application of the fabric softener.

[0011] Specifically, the technical solution adopted according to the first aspect of the present invention is as follows: A fabric softener comprising the following components: Amide quaternary ammonium salts; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride; Dioctyldecyldimethylammonium chloride; water.

[0012] According to embodiments of the present invention, one of the technical solutions has at least one of the following advantages or beneficial effects: Compared with mainstream similar products on the market, the fabric softener of this invention achieves the same level of basic properties such as antistatic properties, softness, and fluffiness in treated clothing, and has better water absorption and a more noticeable smooth feel. More importantly, the fabric softener of this invention has significantly better stability and antibacterial properties than existing products.

[0013] This invention utilizes a combination of two cationic antibacterial components, bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, to form a stable antibacterial protective film through the interaction of their positive charges with the negative charges on the surface of fabric fibers. This protective film not only instantly kills pathogens but also remains on the fiber surface for a long time through charge adsorption, achieving long-lasting antibacterial effect for more than 72 hours and solving the problem of secondary contamination.

[0014] In this invention, amide-based quaternary ammonium salts are used instead of ester-based quaternary ammonium salts in traditional fabric softeners as the softening ingredient. Because the chemical stability of the amide group structure in amide-based quaternary ammonium salts is higher than that of the ester group in ester-based quaternary ammonium salts, hydrolysis reactions can be avoided, ensuring that the fabric softener product does not separate or become ineffective within a 3-year shelf life.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fabric softener comprises the following components by weight percentage: Amide quaternary ammonium salts, 3.0-10.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.1-0.5%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.3-2.5%.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fabric softener further comprises a thickener, a fragrance, and a colorant.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the thickener is at least one selected from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum, polyacrylamide, or xanthan gum. The use of a thickener increases the viscosity of the system, prevents the antibacterial components and the softening components from separating due to density differences, and maintains product stability.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fragrance is a daily chemical grade fragrance; and / or, the pigment is a food grade pigment.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fabric softener further comprises the following components by weight percentage: Thickener, 0.3-1.5%; Fragrance 0.3-1.0%; Pigment content: 0.02-0.1%.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mass ratio of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 3-5:1. The synergistic effect of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride at a ratio of (3-5):1 enhances the charge stability of the antibacterial protective film and improves its antibacterial durability.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the mass percentage of the amide quaternary ammonium salt is ≤5%, the mass ratio of dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 3:1. When the content of the amide quaternary ammonium salt is low (≤5%), the 3:1 ratio of dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride can avoid micelle aggregation caused by excessive antibacterial components, ensuring the stability of the fabric softener system. For example, when the mass percentage of oleoyl imidazoline methyl sulfate is 4.0%, and the mass ratio of dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 3:1, the fabric softener achieves a 24-hour antibacterial rate of over 99.9% against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and a 72-hour long-lasting antibacterial rate still remains above 95%, significantly superior to single antibacterial components or other ratio combinations.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the mass percentage of the amide quaternary ammonium salt is ≥5%, the mass ratio of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 5:1. When the content of the amide quaternary ammonium salt is high (≥5%, such as 6.0-10.0%), the 5:1 ratio of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride ensures that the antibacterial component maintains a sufficient molar proportion in the mixed micelles, avoiding the ineffective release of the antibacterial agent due to excessive fabric softener molecules encapsulating it.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the amide-based quaternary ammonium salt comprises one of methyl oleoyl imidazoline sulfate ammonium and bis(palmitoyl ethylamide)polyethylene glycol sulfate ammonium. On one hand, the amide group in the methyl oleoyl imidazoline sulfate ammonium molecule has high stability, and the mixed micelles formed with the antibacterial component can enhance the adsorption force with fibers, thereby improving the long-lasting antibacterial effect. On the other hand, methyl oleoyl imidazoline sulfate ammonium is a transparent liquid at room temperature and has good fluidity. During the production process, this component can be directly dissolved in the process water after stirring is started to complete the dispersion and formulation, without the need for heating treatment throughout the process. This characteristic contrasts sharply with the traditional ester-based quaternary ammonium salt formulation, which requires heating for formulation, significantly reducing energy input and accelerating the production process, thus improving overall production efficiency.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the mass percentage of oleoyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium is 3.0-5.0%, the mass percentage of polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 0.1-0.3%, and the mass percentage of dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride is 0.3-1.9%.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the mass percentage of oleoyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium is 6.0-10.0%, the mass percentage of polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 0.1-0.3%, and the mass percentage of dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride is 0.5-1.5%.

[0026] Specifically, the technical solution adopted according to the second aspect of the present invention is as follows: A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: The fabric softener is obtained by mixing the amide quaternary ammonium salt, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, and bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride in water.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: The polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride and bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride were mixed to obtain a premix; The amide quaternary ammonium salt is added to water, followed by the premix, and stirred to obtain the fabric softener.

[0028] This invention achieves its goal by precisely selecting raw materials, ensuring that each material remains a highly fluid liquid at temperatures above 5°C. During production, the raw materials can be directly added to water for dispersion and formulation under stirring conditions, eliminating the need for heating throughout the process. Compared to traditional ester-based quaternary ammonium salt formulations that require heating for formulation, this invention significantly reduces energy consumption and effectively improves production efficiency, demonstrating outstanding advantages in process simplification and cost control.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the amide quaternary ammonium salt is added to water under a stirring speed of 80-90 r / min.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stirring time is 30-40 minutes.

[0031] Another aspect of the present invention relates to the application of the fabric softener in long-lasting antibacterial action on fabrics. This includes the fabric softener described in the first aspect of the embodiment above. Since this application employs all the technical solutions of the aforementioned fabric softener, it possesses at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments.

[0032] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the discovery. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 The graphs show the absorption performance test results of the fabric softeners in Examples 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3.

[0034] Figure 2 The graphs show the fluffing properties of fabric softeners in Examples 1 and 1-3.

[0035] Figure 3 The graphs show the test results of the fluffiness of fabric softener after compression treatment in Examples 1 and 1-3. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The terms "preferred," "more preferred," etc., used in this invention refer to embodiments of the invention that provide certain beneficial effects under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the description of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are unavailable, nor is it intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of this invention.

[0037] When a numerical range is disclosed herein, the range is considered continuous and includes the minimum and maximum values ​​of the range, as well as every value between the minimum and maximum values. Furthermore, when the range refers to integers, it includes every integer between the minimum and maximum values ​​of the range. Additionally, when multiple ranges are provided to describe a feature or characteristic, the ranges may be combined. In other words, unless otherwise specified, all ranges disclosed herein should be understood to include any and all subranges to which they are incorporated.

[0038] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] Unless otherwise specified, the reagents, methods and equipment used in this invention are all conventional reagents, methods and equipment in this technical field.

[0040] In the examples and comparative examples, methyl oleoyl imidazoline sulfate ammonium was purchased from Guangzhou Innocare Chemical Co., Ltd., with the trade name: lnnocare HP25.

[0041] In the examples, di(palmitoethylamide) polyethylene glycol methyl sulfate ammonium was purchased from Evonik Chemicals, with the trade name: VARISOFT 222 AP.

[0042] In the examples and comparative examples, bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride was purchased from Shanghai Mikexin Biotechnology Co., Ltd., with the trade name SYNGUARD™ DAC80.

[0043] In the examples and comparative examples, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride was purchased from Shanghai Maikexin Biotechnology Co., Ltd., with the trade name SYNGUARD™ BG280C. Its degree of polymerization was approximately 12 and its average molecular weight was approximately 6600.

[0044] Example 1 A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.5%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.1%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.3%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0045] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker and start the stirrer, maintaining the stirring speed at 80 r / min. Add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex. After stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it is evenly dispersed. Then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min. Then add bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0046] Example 2 The difference between Example 2 and Example 1 is that the mass percentage of the components is different.

[0047] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.1%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.3%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0048] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker and start the stirrer, maintaining the stirring speed at 80 r / min. Add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex. After stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it is evenly dispersed. Then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min. Then add bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0049] Example 3 The difference between Example 3 and Example 1 is that the mass percentage of the components is different.

[0050] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.2%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.2%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0051] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker and start the stirrer, maintaining the stirring speed at 80 r / min. Add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex. After stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it is evenly dispersed. Then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min. Then add bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0052] Example 4 The difference between Example 4 and Example 1 is that the mass percentage of the components is different.

[0053] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.3%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.1%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0054] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker and start the stirrer, maintaining the stirring speed at 80 r / min. Add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex. After stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it is evenly dispersed. Then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min. Then add bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0055] Example 5 The difference between Example 5 and Example 1 is that the mass percentage of methyl ammonium oleoyl imidazoline sulfate is different.

[0056] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 8.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.1%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.3%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0057] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker and start the stirrer, maintaining the stirring speed at 80 r / min. Add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex. After stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it is evenly dispersed. Then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min. Then add bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0058] Example 6 The difference between Example 6 and Example 5 is that the mass percentage of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride is different.

[0059] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 8.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.1%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.5%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0060] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker and start the stirrer, maintaining the stirring speed at 80 r / min. Add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex. After stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it is evenly dispersed. Then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min. Then add bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0061] Example 7 The difference between Example 7 and Example 2 is that in Example 7, the amide quaternary ammonium salt is selected as di(palmitoethylamide) polyethylene glycol methyl sulfate ammonium.

[0062] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Di(palmitoethylamide) polyethylene glycol methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.1%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.3%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0063] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker and start the stirrer, maintaining the stirring speed at 80 r / min. Add di(palmitoethylamide) polyethylene glycol methyl sulfate ammonium to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed to form a vortex. After stirring for 30 minutes, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it is evenly dispersed. Then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 minutes. Subsequently, add bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, fragrance, and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0064] Comparative Example 1 Comparative Example 1 is the first commercially available fabric softener, whose main active ingredient is an ester-based quaternary ammonium salt.

[0065] Comparative Example 2 Comparative Example 2 is the second commercially available fabric softener, whose main active ingredient is an ester-based quaternary ammonium salt.

[0066] Comparative Example 3 Comparative Example 3 is the third commercially available fabric softener, whose main active ingredient is an ester-based quaternary ammonium salt.

[0067] Comparative Example 4 The difference between Comparative Example 4 and Example 1 is that the mass percentage of the components is different and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is not added.

[0068] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.4%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0069] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker, start the stirrer, and maintain the stirring speed at 80 r / min; add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex; after stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it has been evenly dispersed, then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min; then add bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, as well as fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0070] Comparative Example 5 The difference between Comparative Example 5 and Example 1 is that the mass percentage of the components is different and bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride is not added.

[0071] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.4%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0072] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker, start the stirrer, and maintain the stirring speed at 80 r / min; add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex; after stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it has been evenly dispersed, then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min; then add polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, as well as fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0073] Comparative Example 6 The difference between Comparative Example 6 and Example 1 is that the mass percentage of the components is different and bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride is not added.

[0074] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 8.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.6%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0075] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker, start the stirrer, and maintain the stirring speed at 80 r / min; add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex; after stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it has been evenly dispersed, then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min; then add polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, as well as fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0076] Comparative Example 7 The difference between Comparative Example 7 and Example 2 is that Comparative Example 7 does not contain polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride and bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

[0077] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0078] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker, start the stirrer, and maintain the stirring speed at 80 r / min; add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex; after stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it has been evenly dispersed, then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min; then add 1227, fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0079] Comparative Example 8 The difference between Comparative Example 8 and Example 2 is that Comparative Example 8 does not add polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride and bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, but instead adds silver ion antibacterial agent.

[0080] Specifically: A fabric softener comprising the following components by weight percentage: Oleyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium, 4.0%; Silver ion antibacterial agent (silver ion active ingredient >1200ppm), 0.5%; Thickener, 0.85%; Fragrance, 0.5%; Pigment, 0.03%; Water, remaining amount.

[0081] A method for preparing the fabric softener includes the following steps: Add water to a 1000mL beaker, start the stirrer, and maintain the stirring speed at 80 r / min; add ammonium methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate to the beaker, and then adjust the stirring speed so that the liquid just forms a vortex; after stirring for 30 min, take a sample to observe the state of the liquid and confirm that it has been evenly dispersed, then add the thickener and continue stirring for 10 min; then add the silver ion antibacterial agent, as well as the fragrance and pigment, and stir until evenly mixed to obtain the fabric softener.

[0082] Performance testing: Antistatic effect test Following the method specified in the industry standard GB / T 16801-2013 "Determination of Antistatic Properties of Fabric Conditioners", the fabric was treated with the softener from Example 1 and the softeners from Comparative Examples 1-3, and then its surface resistivity was tested. The decrease in the logarithmic value of the fabric surface resistivity (Δlgρ) was calculated. s The higher the value, the better the antistatic performance. The results are shown in Table 1 below: △lgρ s The calculation formula is: lgρ s =lgρ sB -lgρ sC =lgR sB -lgR sC .

[0083] Where, lgρ sB The average logarithmic surface resistivity of the four blank test pieces; lgρ sC The average surface resistivity logarithmic value of four test pieces after being treated with the conditioning agent solution; lgR sB The average logarithmic surface resistance of the four blank test pieces; lgR sC The average logarithmic surface resistivity of four test pieces after treatment with the conditioning agent solution.

[0084] Table 1

[0085] Table 1 shows that the test results indicate that the antistatic performance of the sample in Example 1 is comparable to that of the fabric softener in Comparative Example 1, while the fabric softeners in Comparative Examples 2-3 have poor antistatic performance.

[0086] Water absorption performance test Take white cotton cloth and cut it into 5 strips of 3*15cm each. Mark the strips at 1cm, 3cm, and 7cm intervals. Take fabric softener diluted 100 times in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3 respectively, and immerse the 3*15cm strips of white cotton cloth in water, fabric softener of Example 1, and fabric softener of Comparative Examples 1-3 respectively. After 5 minutes, remove and dry, iron flat, and then immerse the strips in a prepared dye solution that covers the 1cm mark line. Test for 30 minutes. The higher the water level, the better the water absorption performance of the product. The test results are as follows. Figure 1 .

[0087] from Figure 1 The results show that the absorbency of all white cotton strips decreased to varying degrees after treatment with fabric softener. However, the white cotton strips treated with the fabric softener in Example 1 had the best absorbency, while the white cotton strips treated with fabric softeners in Comparative Examples 1-3 had poor absorbency.

[0088] Fluffy performance test The following method was used to test the fluffiness of the towels in this experiment: White towels of uniform size were selected and divided into 5 groups (3 towels per group). One group served as the water control group, and the other 4 groups corresponded to Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3, respectively. Fabric softener solutions diluted 100 times were prepared for Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3, while the control group used water directly. Each group of towels was immersed in its corresponding solution for 5 minutes, then removed and air-dried. After drying, the towels were neatly stacked according to uniform dimensions, with each group stacked in a pile. The initial stack height (H0) was measured and recorded. The actual image of the towels at this point is shown below. Figure 2 As shown. From Figure 2 The results showed that the towels treated with fabric softener had better fluffiness than the blank sample. There were significant differences in fluffiness among the different treatment groups. Among them, Example 1 and Comparative Example 3 had the best initial fluffiness, while Comparative Example 2 had the worst initial fluffiness.

[0089] Subsequently, a constant pressure of 15N was applied to the stacked towels using a compression tester. After 3 minutes of pressure application, the pressure was released, and the towels were removed and allowed to recover for 5 minutes. The height immediately after pressure application (H1) and the height after 5 minutes of recovery (H2) were recorded. The experimental results used the recovered height (H2) as the core evaluation index: a higher H2 indicates better fluffiness of the sample. The test results are as follows: Figure 3 As shown. From Figure 3 The results showed that after applying a constant pressure of 15N for 3 minutes and then releasing the pressure and allowing it to stand for 5 minutes to recover, the relative fluffiness of each group was slightly adjusted compared to the initial state. However, all fabric softener-treated groups were still significantly better than the water control group. Among them, the best results were in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, and the worst results were in Comparative Example 2.

[0090] The height of the white towel before and after the fluffiness test is shown in Table 2.

[0091] Table 2

[0092] Combination Figure 3 As shown in Table 2, the white towels treated with the fabric softener of Example 1 have the highest height and the best fluffiness.

[0093] Smooth performance test A cotton-polyester blended fabric (cotton:polyester = 6:4) was selected and cut into rectangular samples of 18 cm × 50 cm. After ironing, the samples were ready for use. During the experiment, fabric softener solutions from Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3 were diluted 100 times, while the control group used water directly. The rectangular samples were completely immersed in their respective solutions, statically soaked at room temperature for 5 minutes, and then removed and allowed to drain naturally. The dried samples were laid flat on a 10° inclined ceramic plate and secured along the edges with traceless tape to ensure no wrinkles or tension. An 875 g cylindrical stainless steel weight was then placed at the top of the inclined plate and released, allowing it to slide freely down the sample surface. The total time taken for the slide was recorded using an electronic stopwatch (denoted as t, accurate to 0.01 s). Each group underwent three parallel tests, and the average value was taken. Smoothness was characterized by the t-value: a shorter t-value indicated better surface smoothness, while a longer t-value indicated poorer smoothness. The test results are shown in Table 3.

[0094] Table 3

[0095] As can be seen from Table 3, the cotton-polyester fabric treated with the fabric softener in Example 1 has the best smoothness, followed by the fabric softener in Comparative Example 3, while the cotton-polyester fabric treated with the fabric softener in Comparative Example 1 has the worst smoothness.

[0096] Stability test The fabric softener solutions of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3 were diluted 100 times to obtain fabric softener samples. The prepared fabric softener samples were divided into two parts. One part was subjected to a high-temperature heat storage test at 40°C, and the other part was subjected to a low-temperature freezing test at -5°C. After two months, the samples were taken out, brought back to room temperature, and observed. The appearance of each fabric softener sample was recorded. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0097] Table 4

[0098] As shown in Table 4, the accelerated stability test reveals that the fabric softener sample of Example 1, due to the use of amide quaternary ammonium salt as the main component, eliminates the risk of product hydrolysis, and therefore exhibits significantly better stability than commercially available competing products.

[0099] 24-hour antibacterial performance test of fabric softeners in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3 The fabric softener solutions of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-3 were diluted 100 times to obtain fabric softener samples. The antibacterial test was carried out in accordance with the "Evaluation Method of Antibacterial and Bacteriostatic Effect of Daily Chemical Products" (QB / T2738). The test bacteria were Escherichia coli ATCC25922 and Staphylococcus aureus. The sample concentration was 1:100 and the action time was 20 min. The test results of the antibacterial rate are shown in Table 5 below.

[0100] Table 5

[0101] As can be seen from the test results in Table 5 above, the sample of Example 1 achieved an inhibition rate of over 99.9% against two representative Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, while the inhibition rates of the samples of Comparative Examples 1-3 were all below 46%.

[0102] Example 1: 72-hour long-lasting antibacterial test of fabric softener Given that there are currently no national or industry standards for testing long-lasting antibacterial performance, this invention adopts a self-developed method, "07JS08X-801 Test Method for 72-Hour Long-Lasting Antibacterial Performance of Fabric Softeners." The core principle is as follows: First, take a white cloth of uniform specifications (sterilized at high temperature). Using sterile hard water conforming to GB / T 15818, immerse the white cloth in the fabric softener sample from Example 1 at the normal usage concentration (100 times dilution, mass fraction), and soak at room temperature for 5 hours. After 72 minutes, the sample was removed, dried, and stored in a sterile environment. Subsequently, the stored test sample and the blank control sample (without softener) treated with sterile hard water were placed in sterile petri dishes, inoculated with a suspension of test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), and incubated at 37±1℃ and 90% humidity for 24 hours. The sample was then eluted with sterile physiological saline by shaking, and the number of viable bacteria in the eluent was determined by plate counting (culture conditions: nutrient agar medium, 37℃, 48 hours). The inhibition rate was calculated according to the formula "inhibition rate (%) = (number of viable bacteria in blank control sample - number of viable bacteria in test sample) / number of viable bacteria in blank control sample × 100%" to evaluate the long-term antibacterial effect of the sample.

[0103] Test results showed that the antibacterial rate of the blank control test was 0%, while the fabric treated with the fabric softener sample of Example 1 still maintained an antibacterial rate of over 95.0% against Staphylococcus aureus after 72 hours of storage.

[0104] In addition, because the fabric softeners in Comparative Examples 1-3 failed to meet the 24-hour antibacterial performance test requirements (24-hour antibacterial rate <50%), they were not included in this long-lasting antibacterial test.

[0105] 24-hour antibacterial performance test of fabric softeners in Examples 2-4 and Comparative Examples 4-5 The fabric softener solutions of Examples 2-4 and Comparative Examples 4-5 were diluted 100 times to obtain fabric softener samples. The antibacterial test was carried out in accordance with the "Evaluation Method of Antibacterial and Bacteriostatic Effect of Daily Chemical Products" in QB / T 2738. The test bacteria were Escherichia coli ATCC25922 and Staphylococcus aureus. The sample concentration was 1:100 and the action time was 20 min. The test results of the antibacterial rate are shown in Table 6 below.

[0106] Table 6

[0107] 72-hour long-lasting antibacterial test of fabric softeners in Examples 2-4 and Comparative Examples 4-5 Using the above-mentioned "07JS08X-801 Fabric Softener 72-hour Long-lasting Antibacterial Test Method", the long-lasting antibacterial performance of the fabric softener solutions in Examples 2-4 and Comparative Examples 4-5 was tested, and the test results are shown in Table 7.

[0108] Table 7

[0109] Tables 6-7 show that although the total amount of octyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride remained constant, the antibacterial effect varied due to the different compounding ratios. For 24-hour antibacterial activity, although the antibacterial rates in Examples 2-4 all reached over 90%, there was a certain gap compared to the over 99.0% 24-hour antibacterial performance of Examples 1 and 2. This indicates that in a basic formulation using methyl oleate imidazoline sulfate as the main softening ingredient, a 3:1 compounding ratio of octyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride achieves the best synergistic effect, resulting in an antibacterial performance of over 99.0%. Even after 3 days of storage, the long-term antibacterial rate of the treated fabric remained above 95.0%. In contrast, when fabric softeners with a ratio of 4-5 are used alone, the antibacterial properties and long-lasting antibacterial effects are not as good as those of fabric softeners that are combined, due to the lack of synergistic effects.

[0110] 24-hour antibacterial performance tests of fabric softeners in Examples 2, 5-6, and Comparative Examples 6-8 Fabric softener solutions from Examples 2, 5-6, and 6-8 were diluted 100 times to obtain fabric softener samples. Antibacterial testing was conducted according to the "Evaluation Method for Antibacterial and Bacteriostatic Effects of Daily Chemical Products" (QB / T 2738). The test bacteria were Escherichia coli ATCC25922 and Staphylococcus aureus. The sample concentration was 1:100, and the contact time was 20 minutes. The results of the antibacterial rate test are shown in Table 8 below.

[0111] Table 8

[0112] 72-hour long-lasting antibacterial test of fabric softeners in Examples 2, 5-6, and Comparative Examples 6-8 Using the above-mentioned "07JS08X-801 Fabric Softener 72-hour Long-lasting Antibacterial Test Method", the long-lasting antibacterial performance of the fabric softener solutions in Examples 2-4 and Comparative Examples 4-5 was tested, and the test results are shown in Table 9.

[0113] Table 9

[0114] The test results in Table 9 show that, since the fabric softener in Comparative Example 6 contains only polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride and not dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, its antibacterial effect is not as good as the compound system of dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride. This is mainly attributed to the lack of synergistic effect between the two components when used alone.

[0115] Although the ratio of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride in Example 5 was exactly the same as in Examples 1 and 4, the antibacterial effect was significantly lower than that in Examples 1 and 4 simply by increasing the amount of oleic acid imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium.

[0116] Example 6 increased the dosage of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride, but its antibacterial efficacy was basically the same as that of Examples 1 and 4. The underlying mechanism of the above phenomenon may be that methyl oleate sulfate can form a dynamic mixed micelle structure with bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride in the formulation. When the content of methyl oleate sulfate increases, the molar ratio of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride in the mixed micelles decreases, resulting in a decrease in the effective concentration of the antibacterial active ingredient, thereby weakening the antibacterial efficacy.

[0117] Furthermore, Comparative Example 7, using the conventional cationic antibacterial component benzalkonium chloride (1227), showed an antibacterial rate of only 60%–65%; Comparative Example 8, using a silver ion antibacterial agent (silver chloride), achieved an immediate antibacterial rate of over 85%, but due to the difficulty of silver ions forming effective adsorption and retention on the fabric fiber surface, its 72-hour long-term antibacterial rate was the lowest. These results indicate that in fabric softener systems with oleoyl imidazoline sulfate methyl ester ammonium as the main component, while the conventional 1227 cationic quaternary ammonium salt and silver ion antibacterial agent possess certain antibacterial activity, their overall antibacterial effect (including immediate antibacterial rate and long-term antibacterial stability) is significantly inferior to the combination of dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride.

[0118] Antibacterial tests of fabric softeners in Examples 2 and 7 The fabric softener solutions of Examples 2 and 7 were diluted 100 times to obtain fabric softener samples. The antibacterial effect was tested for 24 hours according to "QB / T2738 Evaluation Method for Antibacterial and Bacteriostatic Effects of Daily Chemical Products" and the antibacterial effect was tested for 72 hours according to "07JS08X-801 Test Method for 72-Hour Long-Lasting Antibacterial Effect of Fabric Softener". The test results are shown in Table 10.

[0119] Table 10

[0120] Table 10 shows that in the compound system of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, when bis(palmitoethylamide)polyethylene glycol methyl sulfate ammonium and oleoyl imidazoline methyl sulfate ammonium are used as amide quaternary ammonium salts, the immediate antibacterial rate and 72-hour long-term antibacterial rate of the former (Example 7) are significantly lower than those of the latter (Example 2). The performance difference may stem from the differences in the adsorption strength of different amide quaternary ammonium salts on fabric fibers (affecting the retention amount of active ingredients on the fabric surface), or the different molar proportions of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride and polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride in the mixed micelles formed with the antibacterial active ingredients (affecting the release efficiency of the active ingredients). Considering both antibacterial performance and cost control, the fabric softener of Example 2 achieves a balance between long-term antibacterial performance and cost-effectiveness, making it the optimal fabric softener.

[0121] The above are merely embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent modifications made based on the content of the present invention specification, or direct or indirect applications in related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fabric softener, characterized in that: Includes the following components: Amide quaternary ammonium salts; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride; Dioctyldecyldimethylammonium chloride.

2. The fabric softener according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fabric softener comprises the following components by weight percentage: Amide quaternary ammonium salts, 3.0-10.0%; Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, 0.1-0.5%; Dioctyldecyl dimethylammonium chloride, 0.3-2.5%.

3. The fabric softener according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fabric softener also includes thickeners, fragrances, and colorants.

4. The fabric softener according to claim 3, characterized in that: The thickener is at least one of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum, polyacrylamide, or xanthan gum.

5. The fabric softener according to claim 2, characterized in that: The mass ratio of the dioctyldecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is (3-5):

1.

6. The fabric softener according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the mass percentage of the amide quaternary ammonium salt is ≤5%, the mass ratio of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 3:

1.

7. The fabric softener according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the mass percentage of the amide quaternary ammonium salt is ≥5%, the mass ratio of bis(octyldecyl)dimethylammonium chloride to polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride is 5:

1.

8. The fabric softener according to claim 1, characterized in that: The amide quaternary ammonium salt includes one of oleoyl imidazoline ammonium sulfate and di(palmitoyl ethylamide) polyethylene glycol ammonium sulfate.

9. A method for preparing a fabric softener as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: The fabric softener is obtained by mixing the amide quaternary ammonium salt, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, and bis(octyl)decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride in water.

10. The application of the fabric softener as described in any one of claims 1 to 8 in long-lasting antibacterial activity of fabrics.

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