Title of Invention

MIXTURES OF FLUORESCENT WHITENING AGENTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mixture of fluorescent whitening agents comprising 11 to 20 % by weight of a compound of formula and 80 to 89 % by weight of a compound of formula wherein R<SUB>1</SUB> denotes hydrogen, C<SUB>1</SUB>-C<SUB>6</SUB>alkyl, C<SUB>5</SUB>-C<SUB>14</SUB>aryl or C<SUB>6</SUB>-C<SUB>24</SUB> aralkyl and X is a bivalent radical of formula (3), (4) or (5) compositions containing the mixture and the use of the compositions for whitening synthetic fibres, in particular, polyester.

Full Text

The present invention relates to mixtures of fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) based en dicyano-1,4-bis-styrylbenzenes and bisbenzoxazoles. Fluorescent whitening agents are often used in the form of mixtures of two or more components, since such mixtures may exhibit a higher degree of whiteness than that of the sum of the individual components alone. Thus, for example, GB 2200660 describes mixtures of 2,3'-, 2,4'- and 4,4'-dicyano-1,4-bis-styrylbenzenes, although the composition is restricted by the method of preparation, whilst US 5695686 describes similar asymmetric mixtures containing further isomers again due to the process of preparation. According to EP 44 996, high degrees of whiteness can also be achieved by application of mixtures of specific bisbenzoxazoles. The constitution of such mixtures of FWAs is important not only in regard to their whitening effects, but also with regard to the shade, which may be more or less bluish, reddish or greenish, the desirability being a matter of utmost importance to the end user. It has now, surprisingly, been found that high degrees of whiteness in especially desirable bluish shades are obtained from mixtures of fluorescent whitening agents comprising 11 to 20 % by weight of a compound of formula Furthermore, mixtures comprising 13 to 17 % by weight, more preferably 14 to 16 % by weight, of the compound of formula (1) and 83 to 87 % by weight, more preferably 84 to 86 % by weight, of the compound of formula (2) are of particular interest. The compounds of formulae (1) and (2) are well-known FWAs and commercially available or can be prepared according to well-known methods. Ci-C6alkyl as R^ includes for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, amyl, tert-amyl (1(1-dimethylpropyl) n-pentyl, neopentyl, and n-hexyl. Examples for C5-C14aryl are phenyl, tolyl, mesityl, isityl, xylyl, naphthyl, anthryl and phenanthryl. Further particularly preferred mixtures according to the invention contain 13 to 17 % by weight, most preferably 14 to 16 % by weight, of a compound of formula (1a) and 83 to 37 % by weight, most preferably 84 to 86 % by weight, of a compound of formula (2c). Further objects of the present invention are the use of the mixtures of the compounds of the formulae (1) and (2) for whitening synthetic fibres, in particular polyester fibres, said compositions containing a mixture comprising 5 to 60% by weight of a compound of formula 1 and 40 to 95% of a compound of formula (2). As is customary with mixtures of fluorescent whitening agents, the individual components can be processed to the commercial form by dispersing them in a liquid medium, preferably water. This can be done by dispersing the individual components and then combining the dispersions so obtained. However, it is also possible to mix the individual components together in substance and then to disperse them jointly. The dispersing operation is carried out in a conventional manner in ball mills, colloid mills, bead mills or the like. The present invention thus further provides brightener compositions containing water and, in each case based on the weight of the formulation, from 3 to 25% by weight, preferably from 10 to 20% by weight of the above defined fluorescent whitening agent mixture and also 0 to 60%, preferably 5 to 50% by weight, of auxiliaries. Suitable auxiliaries include, for example, dispersing and wetting agents, antifreezes, antifoams, thickeners/stabilizers and biocides. Examples for anionic dispersants are condensates of aromatic sulfonic acids as well as ligninsulfonates, alkyl an/I sulfonates, aikyl diphenyl oxide sulfonates, sulfates or phosphates of ethoxylated alkyl phenols, di-or tristyrylphenols. Examples for non-ionionic dispersants are ethylene oxide adducts with fatty alcohols, higher fatty acids, alkyl phenols, sorbitol esters, di- and tristyrylphenol; copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide or ethylenediamine ethylene oxide/propylene oxide adducts. Examples for thickeners/stabilizers are copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with 3-vinylpropionic acid, polyvinylalcohols or non-ionic/anionic polysaccharides. All types of formulation auxiliaries are described in McCutcheon's year books of Emulsifiers & Detergents and Functional Materials. The mixtures of this invention and the compositions containing them are suitable for whitening textile materials made from synthetic fibres, in particular, those made from linear polyesters. However, these mixtures and compositions can also be used for whitening blends that contain linear polyesters. The mixtures of this invention are applied by the methods normally employed for the application of fluorescent whitening agents, for example, by the exhaust dyeing process in dyeing machines or by pad-thermofixation. The treatment is conveniently effected in an aqueous medium in which the compounds are present in finely particulate form as suspensions, microdispersions or, as the case may be, solutions. If appropriate, dispersants, stabilisers, wetting agents and other assistants can be added during the treatment. The treatment is normally carried out in the temperature range from about 20°C to 140°C, preferably 110 to 130°C, for example, at the boiling temperature of the bath or in the proximity thereof. Where the mixtures are applied by the pad-thermofixation process, tho thormnftYinn is nreferablv carried out at a temoerature of between 170 and 200°C. Example 1 a) Application on Polyester in Exhaust Process A polyester fabric (prescoured, heat-set at 195°C, 165 g/m2) is treated, in a dyeing apparatus, at room temperature and at a liquor ratio of 1:20, with an aqueous bath containing a mixture of the optical brightening agents of formula (1a) and (2c) in the ratios given in Table 1, in finely dispersed form and in the presence of 1g/l of a fatty alcohol polyglycol ether as dispersing agent. The temperature is raised from room temperature to 13Q°C over 30 minutes, held for a further 30 minutes at this temperature and subsequently cooled to 40°C during 15 minutes. The textile material is then rinsed for 30 seconds under running water and dried at 7Q°C. Claims 1. A mixture of fluorescent whitening agents comprising 11 to 20 % by weight of a compound of formula and 80 to 89 %by weight of one or more compounds of formula 2. A mixture according to claim 1 comprising 13 to 17 % by weight of the compound of formula (1) and 83 to 87% of the compound of formula (2). 4, A mixture accordingto any of claims 1 to 3 comprising a compound of formula (2a) wherein R14 and X are as defined in claim 1. 5. A mixture according to claim 4 comprising a compound of formula (2a) wherein R1 denotes hydrogen or C1-C6alkyi. 6. A mixture according to claim 4 comprising a compound of formula (2a) wherein R, denotes methyl and X is a bivalent radical of formula (3). 7. A mixture according to claim 4 comprising a compound of formula (2a) wherein R, denotes hydrogen and X is a bivalent radical of formula (4). 8. A composition, which contains water, mixtures of fluorescent whitening agents according to any one claims 1 to 7 and, optionally, auxiliaries. 9. A composition according to claim 8 containing water and, in each case based on the total weight of the formulation, from 3 to 25% by weight, preferably from 10 to 20% by weight of the above defined fluorescent whitening agent mixture and 0 to 60%, preferably 5 to 50% by weight, of auxiliaries. 10. Use of a mixture according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or a composition according to claim 8 or 9 for whitening synthetic fibres. 11. Use of a mixture according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or a composition according to claim 8 or 9 for whitening polyester fibres.

Documents:

1513-chenp-2005 abstract-duplicate.pdf

1513-chenp-2005 claims-duplicate.pdf

1513-chenp-2005 description (complete)-duplicate.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-abstract.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-claims.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-correspondnece-others.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-correspondnece-po.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-description(complete).pdf

1513-chenp-2005-form 1.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-form 18.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-form 3.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-form 5.pdf

1513-chenp-2005-pct.pdf

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