Disclosed are multi-purpose polymers that are the polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising at least one amino-substituted vinyl monomer; at least one nonionic vinyl monomer; at least one associative vinyl monomer; at least one semihydrophobic vinyl surfactant monomer; and, optionally, comprising one or more hydroxy-substituted nonionic vinyl monomer, crosslinking monomer, chain transfer agent or polymeric stabilizer. These vinyl addition polymers have a combination of substituents, including amino substituents that provide cationic properties at low pH, hydrophobic substituents, hydrophobically modified polyoxyalkylene substituents, and hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene substituents. The polymers provide surprisingly beneficial rheological properties in acidic aqueous compositions, and are compatible with cationic materials. The multi-purpose polymers are useful in a variety of products for personal care, health care, household care, institutional and industrial care, and industrial applications.

Multi-purpose polymers, methods and compositions

A fabric conditioning composition comprising a cationic fabric softening compound dispersed in water is found to have surprisingly improved viscosity stability if a stabilising system comprising at least one salt of a multivalent inorganic anion or non-sequestering multivalent organic anion is present. The invention is particularly suitable for use with quaternary ammonium material comprising a compound having two C12-18 alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to the molecule via at least one ester link. Preferably, the mixture comprises sodium chloride and sodium sulphate. Preferably, there is additionally at least one salt of a univalent anion.

Fabric conditioning compositions

The present invention relates to a graft polymer having a backbone moiety and at least one moiety grafted onto the backbone moiety where the backbone and grafted moieties are a hydrophobe and an amine or amide. The graft copolymer may have either a hydrophobic backbone or a mixed amine/hydrophobic backbone with a grafted amine or amide moiety; or an amine functional backbone with a grafted hydrophobic moiety. The backbone may be polymeric or non-polymeric. The graft copolymer may be used to deliver an active ingredient onto a substrate. The active ingredient may be associated, coated or encapsulated by the graft copolymer. The graft copolymer can be designed to have a pH triggerable solubility, providing a means to control the release of an active ingredient at a desired pH level.

Hydrophobe-amine graft copolymer

This invention relates to a method of providing control of microorganisms at a locus comprising a) providing a removable liquid coating composition comprising: i) a film-forming water soluble or water -dispersible agent; ii) at least one antimicrobial agent; iii) an inert solvent;and iv) a surfactant that lowers the surface tension of the liquid coating composition is below40mN/m;and b) applying said composition to the locus.

Removable antimicrobial coating compositions and methods of use

A free-flowing surfactant composition comprising at least one anionic surface-active agent, an alkanolamide, an electrolyte, and water is described. In particular, the composition is a surfactant composition that has free-flowing non-Newtonian shear thinning properties and the ability to suspend components and is stable under at least one freeze/thaw cycle.

Stable surfactant compositions for suspending components

The present invention relates to thickened personal care compositions which utilize a thickening amount of an acrylate-based polymeric rheology modifier prepared by polymerization of a C1-C6 alkyl ester of acrylic acid and/or a C1-C6 alkyl ester of methacrylic acid a monomer chosen from a vinyl-substituted heterocyclic compound containing at least one of a nitrogen or sulfur atom (meth)acrylamide a mono- or di- (C1-C4)alkylamino (C1-C4)alkyl (meth)acrylate a mono or di-(C1-C4)alkylamino (C1-C4)alkyl (meth)acrylamide and optionally an associative monomer.

Thickened personal care composition

The present invention relates to acrylate-based, associative polymeric rheology modifier prepared by polymerization of a C1-C6 alkyl ester of acrylic acid and/or a C1-C6 alkyl ester of methacrylic acid, a monomer chosen from a vinyl-substituted heterocyclic compound containing at least one of a nitrogen or sulfur atom, (meth)acrylamide, a mono- or di- (C1-C4)alkylamino (C1-C4)alkyl (meth)acrylate, a mono or di-(C1-C4)alkylamino (C1-C4)alkyl (meth)acrylamide, and an associative monomer.

Polymeric rheology modifiers

Novel mono- and multi-functional non-ionic urethane monomers are prepared from surfactants comprising poly(ethylene oxide)(butylene oxide) copolymers, preferably C 1 -C 4 alkoxy-terminated, monohydric, ethylene oxide/butylene oxide block polymers and monoethylenically unsaturated aliphatic isocyanates. When polymerized with, e.g. acrylic acid or alkyl acrylates, these monomers provide copolymers exhibiting greatly enhanced thickening efficiency.

Associative monomers and polymers

A thickened aqueous fabric softener composition comprising at least one surfactant and a polymeric rheology modifier, wherein said polymeric rheology modifier is the polymerization product of (i) an alkyl ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid; (ii) a monomer selected from the group consisting of a vinyl-substituted heterocyclic compound containing at least one nitrogen or sulfur atom, (meth)acrylamide, a mono- or di-alkylamino alkyl(meth)acrylate, and a mono or di-alkylamino alkyl(meth)acrylamide; and (iii) an associative monomer. The polymeric rheology modifier does not require a make down step to slurry or disperse it into a fabric softener composition. The thickened fabric softener compositions do not affect rewettability, nor do they build up on cloth in multi-cycle washing. In addition, the thickened fabric softener compositions provide softening and reduce the formation of wrinkles.

Associative thickener for aqueous fabric softener

The present invention is directed to associative thickener compositions which are
urethane/urea polymers comprising at least two low molecular weight hydrophobic groups,
at least one of which is terminal. The polymers may also comprise one or more internal
hydrophobic groups. The terminal hydrophobic groups are separated from the polymer
chain by a hydrophilic spacer moiety which is linked to the chain by a urea or urethane
linkage. The polymers are prepared by the reaction of a prepolymer formed from the
reaction of a hydrophilic diol or alkoxy based amine and diisocyanate, with an alkoxylated
amine substituted hydrophobic radical.

Daniel W. Verstrat

Papers

Thickened personal care composition

Polymeric rheology modifiers

Associative monomers and polymers

Associative thickener for aqueous fabric softener

Associative thickeners for aqueous systems