Laundry composition

Abstract

This document discloses a laundry composition comprising a plurality of hollow particles, wherein the hollow particles comprise (a) 20 to 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier selected from carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea, and mixtures thereof, and (b) 0.1 to 30% by weight of a beneficial agent; and wherein the hollow particles have (i) a flat base and a longitudinal length perpendicular to the base; and (ii) a hollow channel extending throughout the particle along the longitudinal length direction; wherein the water-soluble carrier comprises a sugar selected from dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isomerized glucose, rhamnose, fucose, deoxyribose, ribose, trehalose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, isomaltose, melibiose, gentiobiose, maltotriose, raffinose, panose, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the beneficial agent is a fragrance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a laundry composition comprising a plurality of hollow particles. Background Technology

[0002] A wide variety of laundry products are available on the market, including detergents, fabric conditioners, stain removers, and bleaches. Laundry products are used for a variety of reasons; traditionally, detergents are used for cleaning, and fabric conditioners are used to soften and scent fabrics. There is a continuous demand for laundry products that provide fabric care benefits.

[0003] Many beneficial agents are often incorporated into laundry products to provide fabric care benefits. However, adding beneficial agents to laundry products has disadvantages such as increased formulation complexity, increased cost, and the possibility that the beneficial agents may not meet consumer expectations for environmental certification.

[0004] Today, laundry products that offer additional benefits to fabrics beyond regular detergents and fabric conditioners are gaining popularity. Consumers appreciate products that allow them to use customized amounts of beneficial agents based on their personal preferences for how much to use to achieve the desired benefits. Demand is increasing for laundry products that allow consumers to tailor their laundry process to their needs and preferences.

[0005] Products have been developed that deliver benefits to fabrics during washing independently of other laundry products, aiming to achieve desired benefits based on individual consumer preferences. Among these products, granule form is particularly popular. The conventional carrier material used for granules is a synthetic polymer, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). In a typical granule production method, a melt containing the carrier material and other components is first prepared, and the resulting melt is directly mixed with a beneficial agent. The resulting melt dispersion is then shaped into granules.

[0006] WO 2011 / 056938 A1 relates to a fabric fragrance additive containing polyethylene glycol and a fragrance. This fabric fragrance additive allows consumers to control the amount of fragrance imparted to their clothing.

[0007] WO 2016099852 A1 relates to a composition of multiple homogeneous, structured particles. The particles comprise polyethylene glycol, fragrance, and starch particles, each having a mass of about 0.95 mg to about 5 g.

[0008] EP 1 193 310 A1 relates to composite detergent particles prepared by means of dry-mix detergent additive particles (a) and detergent particles (b), wherein the detergent additive particles (a) comprise 30 to 100% by weight of two or more water-soluble substances, the detergent additive particles having an average particle size of 150 to 600 µm and a bulk density of 300 to 1000 g / L, and wherein the detergent additive particles have a dissolution rate of 90% or higher calculated by Equation 1; the detergent particles (b) have an average particle size of 150 to 600 µm and a bulk density of 300 to 1000 g / L, and comprise 10 to 50% by weight of a surfactant; and a granular detergent composition comprising 50 to 100% by weight of the composite detergent particles.

[0009] WO 2017 / 219238 A1 relates to water-dispersible 3D-printed aesthetic particles. Each particle has a first side and an opposing second side, the first side having a length of 0.2 mm to 20 mm. Furthermore, such a particle comprises at least one wall separating a first void and a second void contained between the first and second sides, the wall having a width of 0.01 mm to 5 mm as measured in a cross-sectional plane.

[0010] US 2002 / 0155977 A1 relates to rapidly dissolving detergent particles that are able to dissolve rapidly in water after being supplied with the detergent particles, a method for preparing the detergent particles, and a detergent composition comprising the detergent particles.

[0011] However, the production of such products has certain limitations: the heating and cooling processes are time-consuming and complex, requiring specialized equipment; some beneficial agents, such as fragrances, tend to evaporate rapidly at higher temperatures, thus causing the fragrance content of the composition to decrease rapidly during production. Furthermore, carrier materials such as PEG are expensive and unsustainable. Many consumers prefer compounds with good environmental properties, therefore, alternatives to petroleum-based raw materials are needed for environmental sustainability purposes.

[0012] Another potential problem with granular laundry products is their poor stability. For example, the granules may clump together and lose their flowability during production, transportation, and / or storage, causing processing problems and issues with metering for consumers. Due to the stickiness of the granules, such granules may even leave more undissolved residue on clothes or the washing machine (e.g., on the washing machine door glass or rubber seals) after washing, resulting in a poor consumer experience. Furthermore, the granules may be brittle and tend to break into small pieces or deform irreversibly during production, transportation, and / or storage, which can mean poor product quality and negatively impact consumer acceptance of the product. Therefore, it is desirable for the granules to have sufficient strength to maintain mechanical stability. As used herein, "mechanical stability" refers to the granules maintaining their shape under conditions common in production, transportation, and / or storage, i.e., they neither break into small pieces nor deform irreversibly within the temperature ranges common in production, transportation, and / or storage or under the influence of forces.

[0013] Consumers are sensitive to visual cues when using these types of laundry products. Good color stability is expected for granular laundry products. Product color stability provides a measure of product quality over time under various conditions (such as temperature, humidity, and light) and is used to establish product shelf life and storage conditions.

[0014] In addition, the dissolution behavior of granular laundry products is also important to consumers.

[0015] Further expectations are placed on these laundry products having visually appealing shapes for consumers.

[0016] Therefore, improvements to these laundry products are still needed. Summary of the Invention

[0017] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a laundry composition comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the particles comprise: a) 20 to 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, said water-soluble carrier being selected from carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea, and mixtures thereof; and b) 0.1 to 30% by weight of beneficial agents; And the hollow particles described therein have: (i) a flat base and a longitudinal length perpendicular to the base; and (ii) A hollow channel extending along the longitudinal length direction through the entire particle; The water-soluble carrier comprises a sugar selected from dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, rhamnose, fucose, deoxyribose, ribose, trehalose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, isomaltose, melibiose, gentobiose, maltotriose, raffinose, panose, and mixtures thereof; and The beneficial agent mentioned therein is a fragrance.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for forming a laundry composition according to any embodiment of the first aspect, comprising the following steps: (i) Combining the components of a composition to form a mixture; (ii) Feeding the mixture into an extruder and extrudeing it to form an extrudate; (iii) Cut the extrudate to form granules; (iv) dried granules; and (v) Optionally, the granules are dusted with an anti-caking agent.

[0019] In a third aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a laundry composition according to any embodiment of the first aspect to provide fabric care benefits to washed fabrics during the washing process, preferably to impart fragrance to washed fabrics.

[0020] In a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a method for treating clothing, comprising the following steps: (i) Providing fabric in the washing machine; (ii) Dispensing the laundry composition of any embodiment of the first aspect into a washing machine; and (iii) Contact the fabric with the washing composition during the washing cycle of the washing machine. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 The image shown is a cross-sectional view of the hollow particles of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 The image shown is a perspective view of the hollow particles of this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Unless otherwise expressly indicated in the embodiments, or unless otherwise explicitly indicated, all figures indicating the amount of material or reaction conditions, the physical properties of the material and / or its use in this description may optionally be understood to be modified by the word “approximately”.

[0024] Unless otherwise stated, all quantities are by weight of the composition.

[0025] It should be noted that when specifying any numerical range, any particular upper limit value can be associated with any particular lower limit value.

[0026] To avoid ambiguity, the word "contains" means "includes" but not necessarily "composes of" or "consisting of". In other words, the listed steps or options do not have to be exhaustive.

[0027] The disclosure of the present invention described herein should be considered to cover all embodiments in which the claims are mutually dependent, regardless of whether the claims are in a dependent or redundant form.

[0028] When a feature is disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention (e.g., a composition of the invention), that disclosure should also be considered applicable to any other aspect of the invention (e.g., a method of the invention) with the necessary modifications.

[0029] In the context of this invention, laundry compositions refer to laundry compositions used in addition to conventional detergents or fabric conditioners. These laundry compositions provide additional benefits beyond those delivered by detergents or fabric conditioners, and they offer consumers the ability to customize the level of beneficial agents delivered during washing.

[0030] Water-soluble carrier As used herein, the term "water-soluble" means that the material is soluble or otherwise dispersible in water at 25°C in an ambient condition at a content of at least 90% by weight, preferably at least 95% by weight, more preferably at least 98% by weight, under ambient conditions at 25°C. The particles of the present invention contain at least 20% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, preferably at least 30%, more preferably at least 35%, and most preferably at least 40% by weight. The particles of the present invention contain no more than 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, preferably no more than 85%, more preferably no more than 75%, and most preferably no more than 70% by weight. The particles of the present invention contain 20 to 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, preferably 30 to 85%, more preferably 35 to 75%, and most preferably 40 to 70% by weight of a water-soluble carrier.

[0031] The water-soluble carrier is selected from carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea, and mixtures thereof.

[0032] Suitable alkali metal salts comprise alkali metal ions and anions, wherein the alkali metal ions are selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, and mixtures thereof, and the anions are selected from fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, sulfates, bisulfates, phosphates, carbonates, acetates, citrates, lactates, pyruvates, ascorbic acid, sorbates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable inorganic alkali metal salts include, but are not limited to, sodium fluoride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfate, sodium phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium fluoride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, potassium sulfate, potassium bisulfate, potassium phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, or mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable organoalkali metal salts include sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium lactate, sodium tartrate, sodium ascorbate, sodium sorbate, potassium acetate, potassium citrate, potassium lactate, potassium tartrate, potassium ascorbate, potassium sorbate, or mixtures thereof.

[0033] Suitable alkaline earth metal salts comprise alkaline earth metal ions and anions, wherein the alkaline earth metal ions are selected from magnesium, calcium, and mixtures thereof, and the anions are selected from fluorides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, sulfates, hydrogen sulfates, phosphates, carbonates, acetates, citrates, lactates, pyruvates, ascorbic acid, sorbates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable inorganic alkaline earth metal salts include, but are not limited to, magnesium fluoride, magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, magnesium iodide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium monohydrogen phosphate, magnesium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, calcium fluoride, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium iodide, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, calcium monohydrogen phosphate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, or mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable organic alkaline earth metal salts include magnesium acetate, magnesium citrate, magnesium lactate, magnesium tartrate, magnesium ascorbate, magnesium sorbate, calcium acetate, calcium citrate, calcium lactate, calcium tartrate, calcium ascorbate, calcium sorbate, or mixtures thereof.

[0034] The water-soluble carrier is a carbohydrate selected from sugars, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof, which can reduce corrosion of internal washing machine components compared to using salt as a carrier. The water-soluble carrier may contain or be a sugar. Suitable sugars may be selected from dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, rhamnose, fucose, deoxyribose, ribose, trehalose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, isomaltose, melibiose, gentiobiose, maltotriose, raffinose, panose, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the sugar is selected from dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, galactose, raffinose, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the sugar contains or is sucrose.

[0035] A sugar alcohol is an organic compound having more than two hydroxyl groups. Sugar alcohols can have 4 to 12 carbon atoms. Suitable sugar alcohols can be selected from sorbitol, mannitol, isomaltitol, maltitol, lactitol, xylitol, erythritol, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the sugar alcohol is selected from mannitol, sorbitol, and mixtures thereof.

[0036] If the water-soluble carrier contains sugar, it may preferably contain a bittering agent. Preferred bittering agents are selected from denatam benzoate, denatam saccharin, quinine, or quinine salts. The chemical name for denatam is benzyl-[2-[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino]-2-oxoethyl]-diethylammonium. Denatam benzoate is particularly preferred. An example is Bitrex, available from Johnson Matthey Fine Chemicals. ® Preferably, the bittering agent is present in an amount of 0.001 to 0.01% by weight of the particles.

[0037] The particles of this invention may contain additional carriers (in addition to water-soluble carriers). Additional carrier materials can provide various benefits, such as stability benefits. Additional carrier materials may be selected from: polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol, ethylene oxide / propylene oxide block copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate and their derivatives), proteins (e.g., gelatin, albumin, casein), polysaccharides (e.g., starch, xanthan gum, cellulose or their derivatives), water-dispersible fillers (e.g., zeolite, silica, clay), plant soaps (e.g., coconut oil soap beads or palm soap), and ethoxylated nonionic surfactants (having the formula R1O(R2O)). x H, wherein R1 preferably contains 12 to 20 carbon atoms, R2 is C2H4 or a mixture of C2H4 and C3H6 units, and x = 8 to 120) and mixtures thereof.

[0038] Preferably, the additional carrier comprises or is a polysaccharide. The polysaccharide is a sugar polymer containing more than 10 monosaccharide units, preferably 15 to 1000 monosaccharide units, more preferably 25 to 500 monosaccharide units. Suitable polysaccharides may be selected from starch, glycogen, chitin, gum arabic, xanthan gum, cellulose, callose, dextran, cellulose capsulatum, inulin, alginate, glucan gum, guar gum, carob powder, carrageenan, and derivatives of these compounds, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the polysaccharide comprises starch and / or its derivatives. Most preferably, the polysaccharide comprises or is starch. Suitable starch may be selected from wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, corn starch, tapioca starch, and mixtures thereof.

[0039] Preferably, the particles of the present invention contain 0.1 to 50% by weight of an additional carrier, more preferably 1 to 35%, even more preferably 2 to 25%, and most preferably 5 to 20% by weight of an additional carrier.

[0040] Beneficial agents As used herein, a beneficial agent refers to an active substance that is typically delivered to washed fabrics to enhance or improve the properties of those fabrics. Preferably, the beneficial agent is dispersed within a carrier material. The beneficial agent may be free in the carrier material, or it may be encapsulated. The particles of the present invention contain 0.1 to 30% by weight of the beneficial agent, preferably 1 to 30%, more preferably 2 to 30%, even more preferably 5 to 30%, even more preferably 5 to 20%, and most preferably 5 to 15% by weight of the beneficial agent.

[0041] Examples of suitable beneficial agents include, but are not limited to: fragrances; odor eliminators (e.g., uncomplexed cyclodextrins, odor blockers, reactive aldehydes, flavonoids, zeolites, activated charcoal, or mixtures thereof); fabric softening agents; cationic polymers; dye transfer inhibitors; shading dyes; insect repellents; organic sunscreen agents (e.g., octyl methoxycinnamate); antimicrobial agents (e.g., 2-hydroxy-4,2,4-trichlorodiphenyl ether); ester solvents (e.g., isopropyl myristate); lipids and lipid-like substances (e.g., cholesterol); hydrocarbons (e.g., paraffin, petrolatum, and mineral oils); fish oils and vegetable oils; hydrophobic plant extracts; waxes; pigments (e.g., inorganic compounds having hydrophobically modified surfaces and / or dispersed in oils or hydrophobic liquids); sugar esters (e.g., sucrose polyesters); silicone oils, silicone resins, and their modifications (e.g., linear and cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes, amino-modified, alkyl-, aryl-, and alkylaryl silicone oils, preferably having a viscosity greater than 50,000 cst); or mixtures thereof.

[0042] The beneficial agent is a fragrance. The particles contain 0.1 to 30% by weight of fragrance material, i.e., free fragrance and / or fragrance microcapsules. As is known in the art, free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules provide fragrance hits to consumers at different points in time during a wash cycle. Particularly preferred is that the particles of the present invention contain a combination of both free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules.

[0043] Preferably, the particles of the present invention contain 0.5 to 20% of flavoring material, more preferably 1 to 15% of flavoring material, and most preferably 2 to 10% of flavoring material.

[0044] Available flavoring ingredients can include materials of both natural and synthetic origin. They include single compounds and mixtures. Specific examples of these components can be found in current literature, such as Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, 1975, CRC Press; Synthetic Food Adjuncts, 1947 by MB Jacobs, edited by Van Nostrand; or Perfume and Flavor Chemicals by S. Arctander 1969, Montclair, NJ (USA). These substances are well known to those skilled in the art of flavoring, seasoning, and / or enhancing consumer products.

[0045] Free spices The particles of the present invention preferably contain 0.1 to 15% free fragrance by weight of the particles, more preferably 0.5 to 8% free fragrance.

[0046] Particularly preferred flavoring components are blooming and persistent flavoring components. Blooming flavoring components are defined by a boiling point below 250°C and a LogP greater than 2.5. Persistent flavoring components are defined by a boiling point above 250°C and a LogP greater than 2.5. Boiling points are measured at standard pressure (760 mm Hg). Preferably, the flavoring composition comprises a mixture of blooming and persistent flavoring components. The flavoring composition may contain other flavoring components.

[0047] Commonly, multiple flavoring components are present in free oil flavoring compositions. In the compositions used in this invention, it is envisioned that there are three or more, preferably four or more, more preferably five or more, and most preferably six or more different flavoring components. Up to 300 flavoring components can be used.

[0048] Flavor microcapsules The particles of the present invention preferably contain 0.1 to 15% of fragrance microcapsules by weight of the particles, more preferably 0.5 to 8% of fragrance microcapsules. The weight of the microcapsules is the weight of the supplied material.

[0049] When fragrance ingredients are encapsulated, suitable encapsulation materials may include, but are not limited to: amino plastics, proteins, polyurethanes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polysaccharides, polyamides, polyolefins, gums, silicones, lipids, modified cellulose, polyphosphates (esters), polystyrene, polyesters, or mixtures thereof. More preferably, the encapsulation material comprises amino plastics, such as melamine-formaldehyde or urea-formaldehyde microcapsules, proteins, and / or polysaccharides.

[0050] The fragrance microcapsules of the present invention can be fragile microcapsules and / or moisture-activated microcapsules. Fragile means that the fragrance microcapsule will break when force is applied. Moisture-activated means that the fragrance is released in the presence of water. The particles of the present invention preferably contain fragile microcapsules. Moisture-activated microcapsules may also be present. Examples of fragile microcapsules include aminoplastic microcapsules.

[0051] Fragrance ingredients contained in microcapsules may include scented materials and / or pre-fragrance materials.

[0052] Particularly preferred flavoring ingredients contained in the microcapsules are blooming flavoring ingredients and persistent flavoring ingredients. Blooming flavoring ingredients are defined by a boiling point below 250°C and a LogP greater than 2.5. Persistent flavoring ingredients are defined by a boiling point above 250°C and a LogP greater than 2.5. The boiling point is measured at standard pressure (760 mm Hg). Preferably, the flavoring composition comprises a mixture of blooming and persistent flavoring ingredients. The flavoring composition may contain other flavoring ingredients.

[0053] Commonly, multiple fragrance ingredients are present in the microcapsules. In the compositions used in this invention, it is envisioned that three or more, preferably four or more, more preferably five or more, and most preferably six or more different fragrance ingredients are present in the microcapsules. Up to 300 fragrance ingredients can be used.

[0054] The microcapsules may contain flavoring ingredients and a carrier for the flavoring ingredients, such as zeolite or cyclodextrin.

[0055] Another preferred beneficial agent can be a fabric softening active substance. A fabric softening active substance can be any material known to soften fabrics. These can be polymeric materials or compounds of known softening materials. Examples of suitable fabric softening active substances include quaternary ammonium compounds, silicone polymers, polysaccharides, clays, amines, fatty acid esters, dispersible polyolefins, polymer latexes, or mixtures thereof.

[0056] The fabric softening active material can preferably be a cationic or nonionic material. Preferably, the fabric softening active material of the present invention is a cationic material. Suitable cationic fabric softening active materials are described herein.

[0057] The preferred softening active substance used in the particles of the present invention is a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC).

[0058] QAC preferably contains at least one chain derived from fatty acids, more preferably at least two chains derived from fatty acids. Fatty acids are generally defined as aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having chains of 4 to 28 carbons. Fatty acids can be derived from various sources, such as animal fats or plant sources. Preferably, the fatty acid chains are derived from plants. Preferably, the fatty acid chains of QAC contain 10 to 50% by weight of saturated carbon based on the total fatty acid chains. 18 Chain and 5 to 40% by weight of monounsaturated C 18 In a further preferred embodiment, the fatty acid chain of the QAC comprises 20 to 40% by weight, preferably 25 to 35% by weight, saturated C based on the total fatty acid chain. 18 Chain and 10 to 35% by weight, preferably 15 to 30% by weight, monounsaturated C 18 chain.

[0059] One preferred class of quaternary ammonium compounds is the so-called "ester quaternary ammonium salt". Particularly preferred materials are ester-linked triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium compounds, which comprise a mixture of monoester, diester and trimer-linked components.

[0060] Typically, TEA-based fabric softening compounds comprise a mixture of monoester, diester, and trimer forms of the compound, wherein the diester-linked component comprises no more than 70% by weight of the fabric softening compound, preferably no more than 60% by weight, for example no more than 55%, or even no more than 45%, and the monoester-linked component comprises at least 10% by weight.

[0061] The first group of quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) applicable to this invention are represented by formula (I): (I) Each R is independently selected from C5 to C6. 35 alkyl or alkenyl groups; R 1 Represents a C1 to C4 alkyl, C2 to C4 alkenyl, or C1 to C4 hydroxyalkyl group; T can be O-CO (i.e., an ester group bonded to R via its carbon atom), or alternatively, CO-O (i.e., an ester group bonded to R via its oxygen atom); n is a number selected from 1 to 4; m is a number selected from 1, 2, or 3; and X – These are anionic counterions, such as halides or alkyl sulfates, such as chlorides or methyl sulfates. Diester variants of Formula I (i.e., m = 2) are preferred, and typically have associated monoester and trimer analogs. Such materials are particularly suitable for this invention.

[0062] Suitable active ingredients include soft quaternary ammonium active ingredients, such as Stepantex VT90, Rewoquat WE18 (purchased from Evonik), and Tetranyl L1 / 90N, Tetranyl L190 SP, and Tetranyl L190 S (all purchased from Kao).

[0063] Also suitable are active substances rich in triethanolamine methyl sulfate diesters, also known as "TEA ester quaternary ammonium salts".

[0064] Commercial examples include Preapagen™ TQL (purchased from Clariant) and Tetranyl™ AHT-1 (purchased from Kao), both of which are di[hardened tallow esters] of triethanolamine methyl sulfate, AT-1 (di[tallow esters] of triethanolamine methyl sulfate) and L5 / 90 (di[palmitoyl esters] of triethanolamine methyl sulfate), both of which are purchased from Kao, as well as Rewoquat™ WE15 (a diester of triethanolamine methyl sulfate, with C... 10 -C 20 and C 16 -C 18 Fatty acyl residues of unsaturated fatty acids (purchased from Evonik).

[0065] The second set of QAC applicable to this invention is represented by formula (II): (II) Each R 1 The groups are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or C2 to C4 alkenyl groups; and each R 2 The groups are independently selected from C8 to C9. 28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and wherein n, T and X – As defined above.

[0066] Preferred materials in this second group include 1,2-bis[tallowyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride, 1,2-bis[hardenedtallowyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride, 1,2-bis[oleoyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride, and 1,2-bis[stearoyloxy]-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride. Such materials are described in US 4,137,180 (LeverBrothers). Preferably, these materials also contain an amount of the corresponding monoester.

[0067] The third group of QAC applicable to this invention is represented by formula (III): (III) Each R 1The groups are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl or C2 to C4 alkenyl groups; and each R 2 The groups are independently selected from C8 to C9. 28 Alkyl or alkenyl groups; and n, T and X – As defined above. Preferred materials in this third group include bis(2-tallowyloxyethyl)dimethylammonium chloride, its partially hardened and hardened versions.

[0068] The fourth group of QAC applicable to this invention is represented by formula (IV). (IV) R1 and R2 are independently selected from C 10 To C 22 Alkyl or alkenyl groups, preferably C 14 To C 20 Alkyl or alkenyl groups. X – As defined above.

[0069] The iodine value of the quaternary ammonium fabric conditioning material is preferably 0 to 80, more preferably 0 to 60, and most preferably 0 to 45. The iodine value can be appropriately selected. Substantially saturated materials with an iodine value of 0 to 5, preferably 0 to 1, can be used in the compositions of the present invention. Such materials are referred to as "hardened" quaternary ammonium compounds.

[0070] A further preferred iodine value range is 20 to 60, more preferably 25 to 50, and even more preferably 30 to 45. This type of material is a "soft" triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compound, preferably triethanolamine dialkyl ester methyl sulfate. This ester-linked triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compound contains unsaturated aliphatic chains.

[0071] If the composition contains a mixture of quaternary ammonium materials, the iodine value mentioned above represents the average iodine value of the parent fatty acyl compound or fatty acid of all the quaternary ammonium materials present. Similarly, if the composition contains any saturated quaternary ammonium materials, the iodine value represents the average iodine value of the parent fatty acid acyl compound of all the quaternary ammonium materials present.

[0072] In the context of this invention, iodine value refers to the fatty acid used to generate QAC, and the method of measuring the degree of unsaturation present in the material by NMR spectroscopy, as described in Anal. Chem., 34, 1136 (1962) Johnson and Shoolery.

[0073] Another type of softening compound can be a non-ester quaternary ammonium material represented by formula (V): (V) Each R 1The groups are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or C2 to C4 alkenyl groups; each R 2 The groups are independently selected from C8 to C9. 28 Alkyl or alkenyl groups, and X – As defined above.

[0074] The particles of the present invention preferably contain 0.1 to 50% by weight of fabric softening active material, more preferably 1 to 40%, even more preferably 5 to 35%, and most preferably 10 to 30% by weight of fabric softening active material.

[0075] adhesives The particles of the present invention preferably contain a polymer as a binder material. Examples of suitable polymers include, but are not limited to, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyester, or mixtures thereof. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is particularly preferred.

[0076] PEG can be used as a binder to bind carrier materials and other components of a composition together, thereby facilitating the provision of a processable composition in production. It is not preferable to use high PEG content in granules. Excessive PEG can cause the granules to soften and / or become sticky.

[0077] PEG has various weight-average molecular weights. Preferably, the PEG used in the particles has a weight-average molecular weight of 3,000 to 18,000 g / mol, more preferably 4,000 to 15,000 g / mol, more preferably 5,000 to 12,000 g / mol, and most preferably 5,000 to 11,000 g / mol. Non-limiting examples of suitable PEGs are: Polyglycol 6000 and Polyglycol 8000 purchased from Clariant, Pluriol 6000 and Pluriol 8000 purchased from BASF.

[0078] Preferably, the particles of the present invention contain at least 1% by weight of PEG, more preferably at least 2% by weight of PEG, even more preferably at least 3% by weight of PEG, and most preferably at least 5% by weight of PEG. Preferably, the particles of the present invention contain no more than 15% by weight of PEG, more preferably no more than 14% by weight of PEG, even more preferably no more than 13% by weight of PEG, and most preferably no more than 12% by weight of PEG. Preferably, the particles contain 1 to 15% by weight of PEG, more preferably 2 to 14%, even more preferably 3 to 13%, and most preferably 5 to 12% by weight of PEG.

[0079] The particles of the present invention may contain anionic surfactants selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, soaps, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the anionic surfactant is selected from alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the anionic surfactant comprises or is an alkyl sulfate. The anionic surfactant can also be used as a binder to facilitate the provision of processable compositions in production.

[0080] Preferably, the particles of the present invention contain at least 5% by weight of anionic surfactant, more preferably at least 6% by weight of anionic surfactant, and even more preferably at least 7% by weight of anionic surfactant. The particles of the present invention contain no more than 15% by weight of anionic surfactant, more preferably no more than 12% by weight of anionic surfactant, and even more preferably no more than 10% by weight of anionic surfactant. The particles of the present invention contain 5 to 15% by weight of anionic surfactant, more preferably 6 to 12% by weight of anionic surfactant, and even more preferably 7 to 10% by weight of anionic surfactant.

[0081] Surprisingly, it was found that using 5 to 15% by weight of anionic surfactants provided improved processability of the composition. Anionic surfactants also improved the appearance of the particles and made the particle surface appear smoother. Consumers are sensitive to visual cues when using laundry products. Laundry products containing particles with rough surfaces are generally considered a quality issue and are disliked by consumers.

[0082] Alkyl sulfates are anionic surfactants, which are water-soluble salts containing a hydrophobic hydrocarbon group and a hydrophilic sulfate group. Preferably, the alkyl sulfate contains an alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms. It should be understood that both branched and straight-chain alkyl groups are included. The alkyl group is preferably straight-chain, i.e., n-alkyl, but branched alkyl sulfates can be used, although they are less preferred from a biodegradability perspective.

[0083] Preferably, the alkyl sulfate comprises a salt of an alkyl sulfate ester. In this manner, the alkyl sulfate comprises a positively charged ion and a negatively charged alkyl sulfate moiety. The positively charged ion can be a metal ion, such as sodium, potassium, or magnesium; or an ammonium ion, such as ammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine. Mixtures of these ions may also be used. Sodium and potassium are preferred.

[0084] Preferably, the alkyl sulfate comprises sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, or ethanolamine salts of alkyl sulfate esters having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, and even more preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms. Illustrative but non-limiting examples of alkyl sulfates include sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate), ammonium lauryl sulfate, and diethanolamine (DEA) lauryl sulfate. Suitable examples also include alkyl sulfates from natural sources with trade names Galaxy 689, Galaxy 780, Galaxy 789, Galaxy 799 SP, and Ufarol TCL 92N, and from synthetic sources with trade names Safol 23, Dobanol 23A or 23S, Lial 123 S, Alfol 1412S, Empicol LC3, and Empicol 075SR.

[0085] Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate, is a particularly preferred alkyl sulfate. An example of sodium lauryl sulfate is commercially available from Dongming Juhua Chemical Co., Ltd.

[0086] Alkyl ether sulfates are those with the formula RO(CH2CH2O). n SO3M is an anionic surfactant, wherein R is a straight-chain or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms; M is a positively charged ion including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, or mixtures thereof, preferably sodium, potassium, or mixtures thereof; and n is a degree of ethoxylation of 0.5 to 3, preferably 1 to 3. A preferred example is sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), wherein the main component is C 12 The lauryl alkyl group has been ethoxylated with an average of 2 EO units per molecule.

[0087] As used herein, the term "soap" refers to an alkali metal salt or alkanol ammonium salt of aliphatic alkane or olefin monocarboxylic acid. Preferred monocarboxylic acids are fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable soaps include, but are not limited to, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, or mixtures thereof of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, (hydrogenated) erucic acid, behenic acid, coconut oil fatty acids, palm oil fatty acids, palm kernel oil fatty acids, olive oil fatty acids, and tallow fatty acids. The fatty acids can be saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain or branched. Particularly preferred are soaps comprising sodium or potassium salts of coconut oil fatty acids, palm kernel oil fatty acids, or mixtures thereof.

[0088] In addition to the anionic surfactants described above, the particles of the present invention may contain other anionic surfactants. Examples of suitable anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkyl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, alkyl hydroxyethyl sulfonates, alkyl acyl hydroxyethyl sulfonates, alkyl succinates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, N-alkyl sarcosine salts, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, alkyl ether carboxylic acids and their salts, especially their sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium salts, as well as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine salts. The alkyl group preferably contains 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. Alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether phosphates, and alkyl ether carboxylic acids and their salts may contain one to twenty ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule.

[0089] The particles of the present invention may comprise alkylbenzene sulfonates, particularly straight-chain alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) having an alkyl chain length of 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Commercial LAS are mixtures of closely related isomers and homologues of alkyl chains, each containing an aromatic ring sulfonated at the "para" position and attached to a straight-chain alkyl chain at any position except the terminal carbon. The straight-chain alkyl chain typically has a chain length of 11 to 15 carbon atoms, and the primary material has approximately C0. 12 The chain length. Each alkyl chain homologue consists of a mixture of all possible sulfophenyl isomers except for the 1-phenyl isomer. LAS are typically formulated into compositions in acid (i.e., HLAS) form and then at least partially neutralized in situ. Examples of alkylbenzene sulfonates include sodium salts of the following: linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyltoluene sulfonates, alkylxylbenzene sulfonates, alkylphenol sulfonates, alkylnaphthalene sulfonates, ammonium dipentylnaphthalene sulfonate, and sodium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate, as well as mixtures with olefin sulfonates. Preferably, the particles of the present invention are substantially free of alkylbenzene sulfonates. As used herein, “substantially free” means less than 1.5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, preferably less than 1.0%, more preferably less than 0.75%, even more preferably less than 0.5%, even more preferably less than 0.1%, and most preferably 0 to 0.01% by weight, including all ranges contained therein. Preferably, the particles of the present invention do not contain any alkylbenzene sulfonates.

[0090] filler The particles of the present invention preferably contain filler. Preferably, the particles contain 0.1 to 10% by weight of filler, more preferably 0.3 to 8%, even more preferably 0.5 to 5%, and most preferably 1 to 4% by weight of filler. The filler can be used as a processing aid to improve the processability of the composition in production by imparting hardness to the composition.

[0091] The filler is selected from silica, zeolite, clay (e.g., kaolin, talc, bentonite), calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, calcium phosphate, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the filler is selected from silica, zeolite, clay (e.g., kaolin, talc, bentonite), calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof. Silica is particularly preferred. An example is silica available under the trade name GF052 from Jin Sanjiang (Zhaoqing) Silicon Materials Co., Ltd.

[0092] The filler used in this invention has a D50 particle size of 0.01 to 100 micrometers, preferably 0.1 to 50 micrometers, more preferably 1 to 30 micrometers, even more preferably 5 to 25 micrometers, still more preferably 8 to 20 micrometers, and most preferably 10 to 18 micrometers. Preferably, the filler is silica having a D50 particle size of 0.01 to 100 micrometers, preferably 0.1 to 50 micrometers, more preferably 1 to 30 micrometers, even more preferably 5 to 25 micrometers, still more preferably 8 to 20 micrometers, and most preferably 10 to 18 micrometers. The D50 particle size of the particulate material is a particle diameter at which 50% by weight of the particles have a larger diameter and 50% by weight have a smaller diameter. In the context of this invention, particle size is measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000.

[0093] The filler may be porous. Preferably, the filler has an apparent density of 0.05 to 0.5 g / ml, more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 g / ml, even more preferably 0.15 to 0.35 g / ml, and most preferably 0.2 to 0.3 g / ml. Preferably, the filler is silica having an apparent density of 0.05 to 0.5 g / ml, more preferably 0.1 to 0.4 g / ml, even more preferably 0.15 to 0.35 g / ml, and most preferably 0.2 to 0.3 g / ml.

[0094] Using a high filler content in the granules is undesirable. More filler may cause the granules to become brittle and tend to break into unwanted small pieces. Furthermore, when a high filler content is present in the granules, the dissolution time of the granules during the washing process may also increase.

[0095] Disintegrant The particles of the present invention may contain a disintegrant. As used herein, a disintegrant is a material added to the particles to cause them to disintegrate and release a beneficial agent upon contact with water. The particles of the present invention preferably contain 0.1 to 20% by weight of a disintegrant, more preferably 0.5 to 15%, even more preferably 1 to 10%, still more preferably 1 to 5%, and most preferably 1.5 to 3% by weight of a disintegrant.

[0096] Preferably, the disintegrant is a non-effervescent disintegrant. Suitable examples of non-effervescent disintegrants include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone, starch derivatives, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, clays (e.g., bentonite, alginate), gums (e.g., agar, gum arabic, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, kalaya gum, pectin, tragacanth gum), non-carbonates (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, calcium silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate) or mixtures thereof.

[0097] Preferably, the disintegrant is cellulose or a cellulose derivative. Examples of suitable cellulose derivatives include, but are not limited to, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, propylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcarboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylethylhydroxyethylcellulose, calcium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the disintegrant is selected from calcium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, or mixtures thereof.

[0098] Preferably, the disintegrant is a starch derivative, also known as modified starch. Examples of suitable starch derivatives include, but are not limited to, sodium glycolate starch, carboxymethyl starch, sodium carboxymethyl starch, hydroxypropyl starch, pregelatinized starch, or mixtures thereof.

[0099] Preferably, the disintegrant is selected from croscarmellose sodium, sodium carboxymethyl starch, sodium glycolate starch, and mixtures thereof. Croscarmellose sodium is particularly preferred. An example is croscarmellose sodium, commercially available from Anhui Shanhe Pharmaceutical Excipients Co., Ltd.

[0100] Preferably, the particles of the present invention contain 0.1 to 20% by weight of croscarmellose sodium, more preferably 0.5 to 15%, even more preferably 1 to 10%, still more preferably 1 to 5%, and most preferably 1.5 to 3% by weight of croscarmellose sodium.

[0101] The disintegrant may be an effervescent disintegrant. Suitable effervescent disintegrants include carbonates and acids. Preferably, the acid is selected from organic acids, organic acid salts, inorganic acid salts, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the acid is an organic acid. The organic acid suitable for the compositions of the present invention can be any organic acid. Particularly good results are achieved when the organic acid is a polyacid (i.e., an acid having more than one carboxylic acid group), particularly dicarboxylic or tricarboxylic acid organic acids. The organic acid used in the present invention has a weight-average molecular weight of up to 500 Daltons, more preferably up to 400 Daltons, and most preferably up to 300 Daltons, based on free acid equivalents. In any case, it is preferred that the organic acid is not a polymer-based acid. The organic acid used according to the present invention preferably contains 3 to 25 carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 15 carbon atoms.

[0102] Given consumer acceptance and the need to reduce environmental impact, the organic acid is preferably one that is also found in nature, such as in plants. Suitable examples of organic acids include acetic acid, citric acid, aspartic acid, lactic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, glycolic acid, their salts, or mixtures thereof. Of particular interest are citric acid, aspartic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, gluconic acid, their salts, or mixtures thereof. Most preferably, the organic acid is citric acid, succinic acid, their salts, or mixtures thereof.

[0103] Preferably, the carbonate comprises sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium glycine carbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium glycine carbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, or a mixture thereof. More preferably, the carbonate comprises sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, or a mixture thereof. Most preferably, the carbonate comprises sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or a mixture thereof.

[0104] Particularly preferred is that the effervescent disintegrant is a combination of sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and succinic acid.

[0105] Preferably, the amount of carbonate is related to the amount of acid. More specifically, it is desirable that the weight ratio of carbonate to acid is 1:10 to 10:1, more preferably 1:5 to 5:1, and even more preferably 1:3 to 3:1.

[0106] Colorant The particles of this invention may contain a colorant. The colorant may be a dye or pigment, or a mixture thereof. The purpose of the colorant is to impart color to the particles; it does not necessarily mean that it is an opaque dye or that it imparts color to washed fabrics. A single colorant or a mixture of colorants may be used.

[0107] Preferably, the colorant is a dye, more preferably a polymer dye. Non-limiting examples of suitable dyes include the LIQUITINET series of dyes available from Millicken Chemical.

[0108] Preferably, the particles of the present invention contain 0.001 to 2% by weight, more preferably 0.005 to 1%, and most preferably 0.005 to 0.6% by weight of a colorant.

[0109] water Water may be included to enhance the processability of the composition during production. Preferably, the particles contain 0.1 to 10% by weight of water, more preferably 0.5 to 8% by weight of water, even more preferably 1 to 6% by weight of water, and most preferably 2 to 5% by weight of water.

[0110] Particle form The hollow granules have a flat base and a longitudinal length perpendicular to the base, as well as a hollow channel extending along the longitudinal length throughout the entire granule. The hollow channel of the granule enters the base of the granule and extends continuously along the longitudinal length through the other surface of the granule. The hollow granules of the present invention can be in any suitable form, including pellets, tablets, granules, pasteurees, etc.

[0111] Each individual hollow particle has a base diameter (D, as shown in the figure) Figure 1 (As shown). In the context of this invention, the base diameter refers to the maximum length of the particle base in the base plane. Preferably, the hollow particle has an average base diameter of no more than 20 mm, more preferably 1 to 15 mm, even more preferably 2 to 10 mm, and most preferably 4 to 8 mm. Each individual hollow particle has a longitudinal length (L, e.g., perpendicular to the base). Figure 2 (As shown). In the context of this invention, longitudinal length refers to the maximum length of the particle in the direction perpendicular to the flat substrate. Preferably, the hollow particle has an average longitudinal length of 0.01 to 5 mm, more preferably 0.1 to 3 mm, and most preferably 0.2 to 2.5 mm. Preferably, the hollow particle has an average base diameter of 1 to 15 mm and an average longitudinal length of 0.01 to 5 mm. Preferably, the ratio of the longitudinal length to the base diameter of the hollow particle is 0.01 to 0.5, more preferably 0.05 to 0.4.

[0112] Each individual particle has a hollow channel with a channel diameter (d, e.g.) Figure 1 (As shown). In the context of this invention, channel diameter refers to the maximum length of the cross-section of the hollow channel in a direction parallel to the flat substrate. Preferably, each individual particle has the same channel diameter throughout the entire particle. Preferably, the hollow particle has an average channel diameter of not less than 0.5 mm, more preferably 1 mm to 10 mm, even more preferably 2 mm to 8 mm, and most preferably 3 mm to 6 mm.

[0113] The size of the particles in this invention can be measured using calipers.

[0114] Preferably, the ratio of the channel diameter to the base diameter of the hollow particle is 0.1 to 0.8, more preferably 0.2 to 0.7, even more preferably 0.3 to 0.65, and most preferably 0.4 to 0.55.

[0115] The hollow particles may have one or more hollow channels. Preferably, each individual hollow particle has one hollow channel.

[0116] The hollow particles can have various shapes. The shape of the particles can be selected from hemispherical, compressed hemispherical, lentil-shaped, rectangular, cubic, cylindrical, plate-shaped, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the particles are plate-shaped particles. The flat base of the particles can have various shapes selected from circular, rectangular, heart-shaped, flower-shaped, star-shaped, petal-shaped, tree-shaped, garment-shaped, cloud-shaped, and mixtures thereof. The cross-section of the hollow channel of the particles in the direction parallel to the flat base can also have various shapes, which can be the same as or different from the shape of the flat base. Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the hollow channel can be selected from circular, rectangular, heart-shaped, flower-shaped, star-shaped, petal-shaped, tree-shaped, garment-shaped, cloud-shaped, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the particles are plate-shaped particles with a base shape that is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the hollow channel.

[0117] The granules can have any size suitable for dissolving during the washing process. Preferably, each individual granule has a mass of 0.95 mg to 5 g, more preferably 0.005 to 1 g, even more preferably 0.005 to 0.5 g, and most preferably 0.01 to 0.1 g.

[0118] Preferably, the granules of the present invention are formed using extrusion equipment. The extrusion equipment can be a single-screw extruder or a twin-screw extruder, preferably a twin-screw extruder having screws rotating in the same or opposite directions. The present invention also relates to a method of forming granules, comprising the following steps: (i) Combining the components of a composition to form a mixture; (ii) Feeding the mixture into an extruder and extrudeing it to form an extrudate; (iii) Cut the extrudate to form granules; (iv) dried granules; and (v) Optionally, the granules are dusted with an anti-caking agent.

[0119] Preferably, the method is carried out at a temperature of 10 to 50°C, more preferably 15 to 40°C, and even more preferably 20 to 30°C. Preferably, the method is carried out at room temperature (25°C) and one atmosphere.

[0120] Preferably, the mixture in step (i) is homogeneous. Homogeneity means that the mixture before extrusion has a uniform texture, so that the extrudate obtained from the mixture has a uniform mass. When the composition includes flavor microcapsules, it is preferable to add the flavor microcapsules as the last component of the mixture, which can reduce the breakage of flavor microcapsules during mixing.

[0121] In step (ii), the extruder includes an extrusion die having a die orifice and an insert disposed within the die orifice. The die orifice and the insert each have a predetermined shape and diameter. During the extrusion process in steps (ii) and (iii), the mixture from step (i) is extruded from the extruder through the extrusion die.

[0122] The extruder is equipped with a cutter blade, which allows the extrudate to be cut at the die exit to form granules. The desired granule height can be achieved by changing the speed at which the extrudate is fed into the cutter and the rate at which the extrudate is cut.

[0123] The drying step (iv) can be performed before, during, or after step (iii). Preferably, drying is carried out at room temperature (25°C), relative humidity (RH) <50%, and one atmosphere, which can reduce the evaporation loss of beneficial agents such as fragrances.

[0124] Following step (iv), the method may include step (v) of dusting the granules with an anti-caking agent. The anti-caking agent may be applied to the outer surface of the granules to reduce the likelihood of the granules sticking together. Examples of suitable anti-caking agents include, but are not limited to, silica, zeolite, unmodified starch, cellulose, stone powder, clay, calcium and magnesium stearates, silica, silicates, talc, flour, starch, tricalcium phosphate, powdered cellulose, sodium bicarbonate, sodium ferrocyanide, potassium ferrocyanide, calcium ferrocyanide, calcium phosphate, sodium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, talc, sodium aluminosilicate, potassium aluminum silicate, calcium aluminosilicate, bentonite, aluminum silicate, stearic acid, polydimethylsiloxane, or mixtures thereof.

[0125] This method eliminates the need to heat the mixture above its melting point to shape it into the desired form and then cool it again, which greatly simplifies the production process and reduces the loss of beneficial agents such as flavorings during production.

[0126] The particles of the present invention are preferably of a homogeneous structure. A homogeneous structure means that a continuous phase exists throughout the entire particle. There is no core-shell structure. The components of the particles, such as beneficial agents, are distributed or dispersed in the continuous phase. When the beneficial agent is a fragrance, it can improve the stability of the fragrance against oxidation and evaporation loss during storage. The continuous phase is mainly provided by a carrier material.

[0127] How to use The granules of this invention are used in the laundry process. They can be added to the wash or rinse sub-cycle of a washing machine's washing cycle. Preferably, they are added to the wash sub-cycle. Alternatively, the granules can be used for hand washing fabrics. The granules can be used in addition to other laundry products, or they can be used as a standalone product.

[0128] The particles of the present invention are typically added directly to the drum of a washing machine and need to dissolve within a typical wash cycle time (preferably no more than 20 minutes, more preferably no more than 15 minutes, and even more preferably no more than 10 minutes). If the dissolution rate of the particles is too slow, undissolved residues may be left on the washed fabric at the end of the wash, which is undesirable for consumers, and there may also be insufficient beneficial agents deposited on the washed fabric after washing. The dissolution rate of the particles is preferably not less than 1 minute, more preferably not less than 2 minutes, and even more preferably not less than 3 minutes. If the dissolution rate of the particles is too fast, most of the beneficial agents may be released prematurely and washed away before they can be delivered to the washed fabric to provide various benefits. Preferably, the particles have a dissolution rate of 1 to 20 minutes, more preferably 2 to 15 minutes, and even more preferably 3 to 10 minutes.

[0129] The granules of the present invention are preferably fed in a quantitative amount of 1 g to 50 g, more preferably 10 g to 45 g, and most preferably 15 g to 40 g. Consumers can feed the granules directly from the packaging into the washing machine or into the quantitative feeding compartment of the washing machine.

[0130] The present invention also relates to a method for treating clothing, comprising the following steps: (i) Providing fabric in the washing machine; (ii) Dispensing the laundry composition into the washing machine; and (iii) Contact the fabric with the washing composition during the washing cycle of the washing machine.

[0131] Uses of granules Typically, the primary use of the particles of the present invention is to provide fabric care benefits to washed fabrics during the laundry process. Preferably, the particles are used to impart fragrance to washed fabrics during the laundry process.

[0132] The following embodiments are provided to facilitate understanding of the invention. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0133] Example The granules were prepared as shown in Table 1. All ingredients are expressed as a percentage by weight of the total formulation.

[0134] Table 1

[0135] The process of manufacturing granules Sample A is a non-hollow particle prepared according to the following process: The ingredients, except for the flavor microcapsules, were added to a kneader and uniformly mixed using a three-roll mill. Then, the flavor microcapsules were added to the kneader, and the resulting mixture was uniformly mixed. The mixture was fed into a twin-screw co-rotating extruder equipped with a die with a heart-shaped orifice and a cutting blade. The mixture was extruded to form an extrudate with a base diameter of approximately 10 mm. The extrudate was cut into granules approximately 2 mm thick. The granules were dried at room temperature (25°C) and one atmosphere.

[0136] Sample 1 is a hollow particle prepared according to the following process: The ingredients, except for the flavor microcapsules, were added to a kneader and uniformly mixed using a three-roll mill. Then, the flavor microcapsules were added to the kneader, and the resulting mixture was uniformly mixed. The mixture was fed into a twin-screw co-rotating extruder equipped with a die containing orifices and inserts disposed in die cavities, as well as a cutter. The die cavities and inserts were each heart-shaped. The mixture was extruded to form an extrudate with a base diameter of approximately 10 mm and a hollow channel diameter of approximately 5 mm. The extrudate was cut into granules approximately 2 mm thick. The granules were dried at room temperature (25°C) and one atmosphere.

[0137] Residue assessment The 0.3 kg ballast load consisted of one cotton T-shirt and two terry towelling squares (30 × 30 cm). The towelling squares and the cotton T-shirt were mixed in the washing machine in a random order so that they were not all together.

[0138] Add a 20g sample to the drum of a front-loading washing machine, then add the mixed fabric, and finally add 20g of liquid detergent (commercial OMO detergent) to the machine's drawer. Close the door and set the machine to a standard wash. The wash time is 15 minutes, including one wash and two rinses. Once the wash is complete, take photos of the clothes, the washing machine door glass, and any residue on the rubber seal.

[0139] The entire washing process was repeated three times, and the residue was recorded and observed. No visible residue was observed after washing with sample 1, while obvious residue was observed after washing with control sample A.

Claims

1. A laundry composition comprising a plurality of hollow particles, wherein the hollow particles comprise: a) 20 to 95% by weight of a water-soluble carrier, said water-soluble carrier being selected from carbohydrates, inorganic alkali metal salts, organic alkali metal salts, inorganic alkaline earth metal salts, organic alkaline earth metal salts, urea, and mixtures thereof; and b) 0.1 to 30% by weight of beneficial agents; And the hollow particles described therein have: (i) a flat base and a longitudinal length perpendicular to the base; and (ii) A hollow channel extending along the longitudinal length direction through the entire particle; The water-soluble carrier comprises a sugar selected from dextrose, sucrose, fructose, glucose, isoglucose, rhamnose, fucose, deoxyribose, ribose, trehalose, xylose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, isomaltose, melibiose, gentiobiose, maltotriose, raffinose, panose, and mixtures thereof; and The beneficial agent mentioned therein is a fragrance.

2. The laundry composition according to claim 1, wherein the average base diameter of the hollow particles does not exceed 20 mm, preferably 1 to 15 mm.

3. The laundry composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the average longitudinal length of the hollow particles is 0.01 to 5 mm, preferably 0.1 to 3 mm.

4. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the longitudinal length of the hollow particles to the base diameter is 0.01 to 0.5, preferably 0.05 to 0.

4.

5. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the average channel diameter of the hollow channels of the particles is not less than 0.5 mm, preferably 1 to 10 mm.

6. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the channel diameter to the base diameter of the hollow particles is 0.1 to 0.8, preferably 0.2 to 0.

7.

7. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beneficial agent is dispersed within the carrier.

8. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the beneficial agent is a combination of free fragrance and fragrance microcapsules.

9. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow particles comprise 0.5 to 20% by weight of fragrance.

10. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow particles are plate-shaped particles.

11. The laundry composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particles comprise polyethylene glycol.

12. A method for forming a laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the following steps: (i) Combining the components of the composition to form a mixture; (ii) The mixture is fed into an extruder and extruded to form an extrudate; (iii) Cut the extrudate to form granules; (iv) Dry the particles; and (v) Optionally, the particles are powdered with an anti-caking agent.

13. The use of the laundry composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 in providing fabric care benefits to washed fabrics during the washing process, preferably imparting fragrance to washed fabrics.

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