FORM - 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2006
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)


A FABRIC TREATMENT COMPOSITION AND A METHOD OF TREATMENT OF FABRIC
HINDUSTAN UNILEVER LIMITED, a company incorporated under
the Indian Companies Act, 1913 and having its registered office
at 165/166, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai -400 020, Maharashtra, India
The following specification describes the invention


TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a fabric treatment composition and a method of treatment of fabric.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.
Conventional cleaning methods are directed towards effective cleaning of soils from the fabrics. Some cleaning formulations include soil release agents that make it easier for oily soils to be cleaned from fabrics. However, conventional cleaning formulations do not help much in reducing subsequent post-wash soiling of the fabric.
On the other hand, various industrial treatments for fabric modification are known to render the fabric hydrophobic by lowering surface energy or by providing a surface texture with optimum roughness or by a combination of both the approaches. The fabric modification of this type is normally carried out during textile manufacture and involves elaborate processes using expensive chemicals such as fluoropolymers. Further, these processes are relatively difficult to be conveniently used in household.
Thus there is an unfulfilled need for a fabric treating method that can be used in household for reduction of subsequent soiling of fabrics.
One such method, disclosed in our pending application 1691 /MUM/2007 (Hindustan Unilever Limited), is a multi-step method of treating a fabric with a compound of alkaline earth metal, titanium or zinc, with a water-soluble compound of aluminium, and with C8-C24 soap, in presence of an aqueous carrier. However, the multi-step method disclosed therein is relatively less
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convenient and relatively less user-friendly. Furthermore, for the method to be used effectively, it must be communicated to the end-user to apply the ingredients to the fabric in a stepwise manner. End-users may not have adequate level of education to follow the instructions correctly and there is a need for a single step method for imparting hydrophobicity and reducing subsequent cleaning.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a method and a composition for treating a fabric to render the fabrics relatively more hydrophobic.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and a composition for treating a fabric to impart relatively better stain-resistance to the fabric.
Present inventors have surprisingly found that a composition comprising clay, silicone oil and fatty acid when contacted with a fabric in presence of water under specific pH conditions, renders the fabric hydrophobic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fabric treatment composition comprising day, silicone oil, and fatty acid, characterized in that
a. the composition comprises at least 30% by weight of clay, and
b. pH of the composition is less than or equal to 6.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of treatment of fabric comprising a step of contacting the fabric with the fabric treatment composition of the first aspect in presence of water.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The fabric
The fabric that can be treated includes synthetic as well as natural textiles. Fabrics may be made of cotton, polycotton, polyester, silk or nylon. It is envisaged that the method of the present invention can be used to treat garments and other clothing and apparel materials that form typical wash-load in household laundry. The household materials that can be treated according to the process of the present invention include, but are not limited to, bedspreads, blankets, carpets, curtains and upholstery. Although the process of the present invention is described primarily for treatment of a fabric, it is envisaged that the process of the present invention can be advantageously used to treat other materials such as jute, denim and canvass. It is envisaged that the process of the present invention can be used to treat articles such as shoes and jackets.
Clay
The fabric treatment composition comprises at least 30% by weight of clay. The
clay is preferably from 30% to 90%, more preferably from 50% to 90% by weight
and most preferably from 60% to 85% by weight of the fabric treatment
composition.
Although any type of clay can be used, it is preferred that the clay is a 2:1 clay. 1:1 clays that can be used include kaolinite, dickite, halloyside, nacrite, chrysolite, lizardite, and amesite. Preferred 2:1 clays are montmorrilonite, bentonite, and smectite.
Silicone oil
The silicone oil is preferably from 3% to 50%, more preferably from 3% to 30% by weight and most preferably from 5% to 10% by weight of the fabric treatment composition. Preferred silicone oil is polydimethylsiloxane.
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Some examples of commercially available silicone oils that can be used include Q2-1607(Dow Corning), 1107(Dow Corning), SF8417(Dow Corning), Q2-8166(Dow Corning), 2-8630, Q2-8460(Dow Corning), 3-0213(Dow Corning), 2-8040(Dow Corning) and ARA-222 (Dyetech, Inc), SM2125 (Momentive performance materials), SMW32( Momentive performance materials), SM2059(Momentive performance materials) and ANlOI(Resil), AE104(Resil) andAE112(Resil)
Fatty acid
The fatty acid is preferably from 5% to 50%, more preferably from 5% to 30% by
weight and most preferably from 5% to 20% by weight of the fabric treatment
composition.
The number of carbon atoms in the fatty acid is preferably from 8 to 50, more preferably from 10 to 48, most preferably from 12 to 22.
Although both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids can be used, it is preferred that the fatty acid is a saturated fatty acid. The saturated fatty acid is preferably selected from lauric acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, or mixtures thereof.
Examples of unsaturated fatty acids include oleic acid, linoleic acid, linoleinic acid, ricinoleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselenic acid, erucic acid, palmitoleic acid, myrostoleic acid, and 12-hydroxyoleic acid.
Fatty acid may be directly added to the composition, Alternatively, it is envisaged that a corresponding fatty acid soap and an inorganic or organic acid are added to the composition for in situ generation of the fatty acid in the composition.
Preferably the mass ratio of clay to fatty acid is greater than 1.
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DH of the fabric treatment composition
pH of the fabric treatment composition refers to pH of a mixture obtained by adding 1 part of the fabric treatment composition to 99 parts of water. It is essential that pH of the composition is less than or equal to 6. The fabric treatment composition preferably comprises an acid other than the fatty acid in order to ensure that pH of the fabric treatment composition is less than or equal to 6. The acid other than fatty acid is preferably from 0.1% to 20%, more preferably 0.5 to 10% and most preferably from 1% to 5% by weight of the fabric treatment composition.
Surfactant
The composition may comprise a surfactant. However the surfactant if present, is preferably not greater than 5%, more preferably not greater than 2% and most preferably not greater than 1 % by weight of said composition.
Optional ingredients
The fabric treatment composition may comprise other optional ingredients
including fluorescer, perfume, and preservative.
The method of treating fabric
The method of treating fabric comprises a step of contacting the fabric with the
fabric treatment composition in presence of water.
It is essential the step of contacting the fabric with the fabric treatment composition in presence of water is at a pH less than or equal to 6. pH may be maintained by adding an acid to the fabric treatment composition. Alternatively, an acid may be added during the step of contacting so as to ensure that the pH during the step of contacting the fabric is less than or equal to 6.
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EXAMPLES
The invention will now be demonstrated with examples. The examples are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the scope of the invention in any
manner
The method of treatment of fabric
Fabric treatment compositions were prepared by mixing clay, poydimethylsiloxane (Q2-1607 emulsion from Dow Corning) and fatty acid and adding citric acid solution to adjust pH to 5 unless specified otherwise. The % by weight of polydimethylsiloxane in the composition is given on water-free basis unless specified otherwise. The fabric treatment composition was added to water (1.4 g of the composition in 200 ml of water) to prepare an aqueous suspension. A fabric swatch (size 10 cm X 10 cm) made of desized cotton, polycotton or polyester (all obtained from Bombay Dyeing, India) was dipped in the above suspension. The liquor to cloth ratio of about three was maintained. After 15 minutes of soaking, the fabric swatch was removed from the suspension and dried at 40°C for about 1 hour. The dried swatches were then ironed.
Evaluation of hvdrophobicity of fabrics
Contact angle was measured using Kruss Contact Angle Measurement Unit.
Fabric swatch (either treated or untreated) was placed and a 20 nL drop of
deionized water was placed on the fabric using a syringe. Contact angle was
determined using digital photographs captured at interval of 2 seconds for a
period of 2 minutes. Fabric was rated as hydrophobic if the contract angle of
greater than 90° of the drop was maintained for a period of 2 minutes. Fabric was
rated as not hydrophobic if the drop spreaded on the fabric before 2 minutes.
Effect of amount of clay:
The fabric treatment compositions are tabulated below. All the fabric treatments
were at pH 5. The results of evaluation of hydrophobicity are also tabulated
below.
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Table 1: Effect of amount of clay

Ex No Sodium bentonite (% by weight) Stearic acid (% by weight) Silicone oil (% by weight) Clay/ Fatty acid ratio Hydrophobicity

cotton poiycotton polyester
1 79 16 5 5 Y Y Y
2 70 23 7 3 Y Y Y
3 43.5 43.5 13 1 N Y Y
A 28 56 16 0.5 N N Y
From the results, it is clear that the fabric treatment composition comprising at least 30% clay provides hydrophobicity on cotton, poiycotton and polyester swatches whilst the fabric treatment composition comprising less than 30% by weight provides hydrophobicity only on polyester swatches. It can be further seen that the hydrophobicity of treated fabrics improves as the mass ratio of clay to fatty acid in the composition exceeds 1.
Effect of pH
Fabrics were treated with a composition similar to the composition of Ex No 1 except that myristic acid was used instead of stearic acid. The treatments were carried out at different values of pH as tabulated below. All the experiments were at clay to fatty acid mass ratio of 5. The results of evaluation of hydrophobicity are tabulated below.
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Table 2: Effect of pH during the treatment

Ex No PH Hydrophobicity on cotton Hydrophobicity on polycotton Hydrophobicity on polyester
4 3 Y Y Y
5 4 Y Y Y
6 5 Y Y Y
7 6 Y Y Y
B 7 Y N N
From the results, it is clear that the fabric treatment at a pH of 6 or less than 6 provides hydrophobicity on cotton, polycotton and polyester swatches whilst the fabric treatment at pH greater than 6 provides hydrophobicity only on cotton swatches.
Effect of type of clay
The treatment composition used in Ex No 8 is same as that used in Ex No 1 in all respects except that 1:1 clay was used instead of 2:1 clay. The treatment was at pH of 5. The results of evaluation of hydrophobicity are tabulated below. The results of Ex No 1 are reproduced below for convenience
Table 3: Effect of type of clay

Ex No Clay Hydrophobicity on cotton Hydrophobicity on polycotton Hydrophobicity on polyester
1 Sodium bentonite (2:1 clay) Y Y Y
8 Kaolinite (1:1 clay) N Y Y
From the results, it is clear that the fabric treatment composition comprising 2:1 clay provides hydrophobicity on cotton, polycotton and polyester swatches whilst the fabric treatment composition comprising 1:1 clay provides hydrophobicity only on polycotton and polyester swatches.
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Effect of type of fatty acid
The treatment compositions were same as those used in Ex No 1 except for the type of fatty acid used, which are given in the table below. All the treatments were at pH of 5. The results of evaluation of hydrophobicity are tabulated below.
Table 4: Effect of type of fatty acid

Ex No Fatty acid Hydrophobicity on cotton Hydrophobicity on polycotton Hydrophobicity on polyester
9 Laurie acid Y Y Y
10 Palmitic acid Y Y Y
11 Oleic acid N Y Y
From the results, it is clear that the fabric treatment composition comprising saturated fatty acid provides hydrophobicity on cotton, polycotton and polyester swatches whilst the fabric treatment composition comprising unsaturated fatty acid provides hydrophobicity only on polycotton and polyester swatches.
Effect of amount of fatty acid in the composition
The fabric treatment compositions comprised stearic acid, silicone and sodium bentonite as tabulated below. All the treatments were at pH of 5. The results of evaluation of hydrophobicity are tabulated below.
Table 5: Effect of amount of fatty acid in the composition

Ex No Bentonite (% by weight) Stearic acid (% by weight) Silicone oil (% by weight) Hydrophobicity

cotton polycotton polyester
12 86 9 5 Y Y Y
13 90 4.5 5.5 Y Y Y
C 93 2 5 N Y Y
It can be seen that the ompositions comprising at least 5% fatty acid by weight provide hydrophobicity on all substrates including cotton.
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Evaluation of stain repellencv
Staining of fabrics
Three types of stains were used, prepared using following method.
1. Mud stain - 1g red soil obtained locally from Bangalore India (average particle size 180 micron,) was suspended in 200 mL deionized water.
2. Ketchup stain - 5 mL Kissan® (Hindustan Unilever Limited) tomato sauce was mixed in 200 mL deionized water
3. Tea stain - 3 Taj Mahal® (Hindustan Unilever Limited) tea-bags (6 g total) were dipped in 300 mL deionized water maintained at 80 °C for 20 minutes.
1 mL of above staining solution was poured drop by drop (from a height of 0.5 cm) using a micropipette over treated (according to Ex No 1) and untreated fabric swatch placed on a flat surface inclined at 40° from the horizontal. The behaviour of drops was observed to vary between two extremes. In some cases the drop of the staining solution rolled off from the fabric and in some cases the staining solution spread completely on the fabric instead of rolling off. The resulting staining of fabric was evaluated by a panel of 7 persons, who graded the staining on a scale of 0 to 5, with a score of 0 indicating no staining and a score of 5 indicating maximum staining. A low score indicates high stain repeilency and vice versa. The results of evaluation of stain repellency are tabulated below.
Table 6: Stain repellencv of treated fabrics

Fabric type Mud Tea Ketchup

Treated Untreated Treated Untreated Treated Untreated
Cotton 0.2 4.4 1.1 3.9 1.3 3.9
Polycotton 1.0 4.4 0.9 3.8 0.1 3.6
Polyester 2.5 4.4 1.6 3.3 1.8 3.2
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From the results, it can be seen that the fabrics treated by the method and the composition of the present invention have relatively higher stain-resistance.
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It will be appreciated that the method and composition of fabric treatment according to the present invention render the fabrics relatively more hydrophobic and impart relatively better stain-resistance to the fabric.