WO1997045510A1 - Foaming acidic detergent/cleansing gel - Google Patents

Abstract

An acidic cleansing gel having a desirable viscous gel texture, excellent foaming/cleansing detergency, exceptional mildness, good rinse-off characteristics, and/or effective solid surface wetting on substrates. The cleansing gel includes surfactants that are preferably of amphoteric or nonionic types and inorganic, organic and/or polyelectrolyte acid to acidify the gel and gelling agents made up of water swellable/soluble anionic, cationic or nonionic polysaccharides or synthetic cationic, anionic, or nonionic polymer types which are combined in a ratio to enable ionic, hydrophobic and hydrogen bonded associative interpolymer gel networks.

Description

FOAMING ACIDIC DETERGENT/CLEANSING GEL

This is a continuation-in-part application of my pending United States Provisional

application, Application Serial No. 60/018,651 filed May 30, 1996 entitled "Foaming Acidic

Detergent/Cleansing Gel."

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

United States Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/018,651 filed May 30, 1996 entitled

"Foaming Acidic Detergent/Cleansing Gel" is incorporated herein by reference.

This invention pertains to the formation of cleansing gels and, more particularly, to acidic

cleansing gels having a desirable viscous gel texture, excellent foaming/cleansing detergency,

exceptional mildness, good rinse-off characteristics, and effective solid surface wetting on

substrates such as skin, fibers, metal, glass/ceramic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Alkali saponified fats or oils, i.e. soaps, have historically been the fundamental cleansing

agent until the early to mid 20th century. Soaps, although good foamers, are chemically reactive

with divalent metals, which are often present in ground water sources, resulting in a reduction of

the soap's detergency and also resulting in the depositing of insoluble Ca or Mg soaps, commonly

known as "soap scum," on solid surfaces. More recently, synthetic anionic detergents, e.g. alkyl,

alkyl ether, alkyl benzene, and alpha olefin sulfates or sulfonates have replaced soap in most

cleansing/detergent products since these anionic detergents have superior detergency in nearly all

types of water. These anionic detergents are relatively inexpensive and can be easily formulated

with additives to enhance foaming, viscosity, surface conditioning, or specific performance features such as germicidal and bleaching activity. In addition, these anionic detergents are

compatible with hypochlorites. The deficiencies of these detergents lay in their anionic and

alkaline nature. These detergents are harsh to biological barriers and can cause skin and eye

irritation. These detergents are also incompatible with cationic actives such as quaternary

surfactants or polymeric fiber/skin conditioners or biocides and lose detergency/stability in

moderate - to - highly acidic solutions. To improve the mildness of skin cleansers, a blend of low

critical micellar concentration, CMC, (generally nonionic and amphoteric types) with high CMC

(alkyl sulfate or olefin sulfonate anionic types) surfactants has been added to anionic detergents.

U.S. Patent No. 3,223,647, assigned to P&G, discloses a synergistic mildness to the skin cleanser

when amine oxides are blended with more irritating surfactants. United States Patent No.

5,290,471, to Green et al., discloses skin cleansing formulas incorporating surfactant blends

predominated by fatty esters of isethionic acid (low CMC anionic surfactant) and other anionic and

amphoteric surfactants. United States Patent No. 5,503,779, to Adamy et al., discloses a high

foaming, mild light duty liquid detergent composition containing a blend of alkyl ether sulfate

anionic surfactant, two glucoside nonionic surfactants, two zwitterionic betaine surfactants, and a

hydrophobic nonionic surfactant.

Several nonionic and amphoteric surfactants have found applications in mild or acidic

product niches, but foaming/cleansing and product viscosity are compromised. United States

Patent No. 3,055,836, to Masci et al., and 3,950,417, to Verdicchio et al., discloses a mild, non-

irritating shampoo formulation containing nonionic and amphoteric surfactants for mildness. This

shampoo requires an anionic/amphoteric surfactant mixture, e.g. sodium salt of an alkyl ether sulfate, to produce the desired foaming. In the '417 patent, it is disclosed that low eye irritation

resulting from the addition of nonionic surfactant Polysorbate 20 and that the nonionic surfactant

resulted in a drastic decrease in foaming and viscosity - two benchmarks by which consumers

judge the shampoo's performance.

Additionally, polymeric ingredients have been formulated into shampoos, skin cleansers,

and other foaming products to improve mildness, foam quality, and conditioning. Goddard in

"Applications of Polymer-Surfactant Systems," Interactions of Surfactants with Polymers and

Proteins, ed. E.D. Goddard and K.P. Ananthapadmanabhan, CRC Pub. 1993; discloses that the

presence of polymer aggregates of surfactant can form at concentrations lower than CMC and that

lowered monomer concentrations of the surfactant can correspond to lower irritation. United

States Patent No. 4,228,277, to Landoll, discloses that a group of modified nonionic cellulose

ethers possess sufficient foam stabilizing activity for their usefulness in personal care foams. The

adsorption of quaternized derivatized polysaccharides onto hair fibers for conditioning purposes is

disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,472,840 to Stone et al. and United States Patent No.

3,589,978 to Kamal.

Anionic surfactants, e.g. sulfate or sulfonate detergents, still play a predominant role in cleaning/cleansing products due to good foaming properties, despite their harshness, poor rinsing,

and physicochemical incompatibility with acidic or cationic functional ingredients. However,

anionic detergents tend to absorb onto the solid surfaces they clean and leave a significant anionic

or negative electrical charge which is particularly noticeable on fibers (natural or synthetic), skin,

hair and non-conductive surfaces (glass and plastics). This condition results in the formation of a rough or a raised surface texture and leads to strong triboelectric charges on these surfaces causing

"static cling" in fibers, uncontrollable/"flyaway" hair, and an annoying, sometimes dangerous,

buildup of electrical charges on non-conductive surfaces.

To combat the charge buildup on fibers, "anti-static or conditioner" post cleaning products

have been developed. These products are typically acidic dispersions of alkyl quaternary

ammonium salts and a hydrophobic film former (e.g. fatty alcohols, ester, ether or hydrophobic

polymer) and can be thickened with a "long chain alkylated water-soluble polymer" as taught in

United States Patent No. 5,104,646 by Bolich et al. Additionally, sterically isolated cationic/

lipophilic conditioners suspended or emulsified in anionic detergents used in "2 in 1 " hair, skin or

fabric cleaners are presently used to counter the static charge build-up on textiles, hair, skin, and

many non-conductive surfaces. United States Patent Nos. 3,533,955 by Pader et al.; 4,364,837 by

Pader; 4,788,006 and 4,902,499 by Bolich et al; and J.P. 2,262,507 by Imaki et al. teach that the

use of cationic and/or hydrophobic surfactants with silicone polymers absorb onto the negatively

charged synthetic or raised keratin surfaces. These absorbed agents neutralize and counteract these

undesirable static charges or mitigate via surface coating rough skin or fiber surfaces caused by

cleaning with alkaline to mildly acidic solutions of anionic detergents. The resultant effect is that

high foaming anionic detergent formulas clean the surface (skin, hair, fiber, or non-conductive

solid) but require an adsorptive treatment to smooth and reduce static charge. These adsorptive

treatments cover up the defective washed surface, eventually building up upon repeated use

thereby resulting in heavy or matted, water repellant, dull, and coarse textured hair or fiber. Therefore, a need exists for a thickened, good foaming, moderately - to - mildly acidic

detergent/cleansing product that gently cleans and, and for fibrous surfaces also leaves the cleansed

solid surface healthy, smooth, soft, conditioned and nearly static free with little adsorptive buildup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the formation of acidic cleansing gels. The cleansing gels

are preferably thickened, good foaming, acid compatible cleaning/cleanser liquid suspensions.

The acidic cleaning gels have a desirable viscous gel texture, excellent foaming and cleansing

detergency, exceptional mildness, good rinse off characteristics, effective solid surface wetting on

substrates such as skin, fibers, metal, glass and ceramics, forms little adsorptive buildup and leaves

a near neutral net charge (static free).

In accordance with the principal feature of the present invention, the acidic cleansing gel

include amphoteric or nonionic surfactants, an acid and a gelling agent forming an associative

interpolymer gel network. The acidic cleansing gels have increased fluid viscosity, enhanced foam

quality/quantity, improved surface rinsing, excellent surface wetting or conditioning, heightened

mildness yet effective cleaning as compared to current mild cleansers/detergent preparations.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the acidic cleansing gels are

preferably an amphoteric or nonionic gel acidified to a pH of less than about 7 and more

preferably, less than about 5. The acidic cleansing gel is preferably acidified by an inorganic,

organic and/or polyelectrolyte acid.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the gelling agents preferably

are combinations of water swellable/soluble anionic, cationic, or nonionic polysaccharides (natural or synthetically derivatized) and/or synthetic cationic, anionic, or nonionic polymer types.

Preferably, the gelling agents are combined in a ratio to enable limited ionic and hydrogen bonded

associated interpolymer gel networks. Strong bonding of these types would result in polymer

precipitation. It is believed that defined combinations of water soluble polysaccharides and

synthetic polymers maximize thickening, foam stability, cleansing, and mildness via a

predominance of hydrophobic polymer-polymer and polymer-surfactant interactions or

associations. These gel networks improve fluid viscosity by maintaining a gel structure in harsh

acidic, and highly ionic solutions compared to non-associative polymeric networks; and are

compatible with most detergents, forming weak complexes with the surfactants enhancing

mildness and improving foam structure/stability. Preferably, the gel networks are not precipitated

or hydrolyzed in an acidic solution.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the cleansing gels include

functional additives for solid surface cleaning. Such functional additives include the addition of

ionic surfactants, enzymes, strong acids, etc.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a cleansing gel having a

desirable viscous gel texture, excellent foaming qualities, excellent cleansing detergency,

exceptional mildness, desirable rinse-off characteristics, and effective solid surface wetting.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a cleansing gel which forms little

adsorptive buildup.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a cleansing gel which leaves

a near neutral net charge on the surface of a cleansed substrate. Still yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a cleansing gel which

provides the desired cleansing and conditioning of fibers without the need for conditioning and/or

anti-static additives.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art

upon the reading of the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The cleansing gel is a thickened, good foaming, acid compatible cleaning/cleanser liquid

suspension or gel. The cleansing gel preferably contains amphoteric and/or nonionic surfactants,

an acid, a water swellable/soluble polysaccharide, synthetic hydrophilic and/or amphipathic

polymer mixture forming an associative interpolymer gel network. The cleansing gels may also

include various functional additives for solid surface cleaning. The surfactants in the cleansing

gels are present in an amount of about 0.2 to about 40 percent by weight of the gel. Preferably, the

surfactant concentration is about 2 to about 15 weight percent for slightly diluted applications (1-

lOx) and preferably about 8 to about 25 weight percent for highly diluted applications (> lOx).

Dilution is measured by the amount of gel to the amount of liquid (typically water) in the type of

application. The primary surfactant component is preferably an amphoteric and zwitterionic

surfactant such as, but not limited to, alkyl, alkyl dimethyl, alkylamido, alkyl amide,

alkylamidopropyl, or alkyl dimethyl ammonium betaine; alky amidopropyl or alkyl sulfobetaine;

alkyl, alkylampho, or alkylamphocarboxy glycinate; alkyl, or alkyl substituted imidazoline mono-

or di-carboxylate; sodium salts of alkyl mono-or dicarboxylates; alkyl beta amino acids; alkyl

amidopropyl, or alkyl ether hydroxysultaine; alkyl amidopropyl dimethyl ammonia acetate; alkyl ampho mono- or diacetate; alkyl, or alkyl ampho, or alkyl imino dipropionate; alkyl

amphopropionate; alkyl beta amino propionic acid; alkyl dipropionate; alkyl beta

iminodipropionate; branched or n-alkyl dimethylamidopropionate; alkyl carboxylated propionate;

alkyl, or methyl alkyl imidazoline; fluorinated alkyl amphoteric mixtures; and/or nonionic

surfactants such as, but not limited to, alkyl, alkyl dimethyl, alkyl amidopropylamine, or bis 2-

hydroxy ethyl alkyl amine oxides; alkanolamides; alkyl superamides; polyoxyethylene glycol

(PEG) of monoglycerides, of sorbitan esters, of branched or linear fatty alcohol ethers, of branched

or linear fatty acid ethers, of thioethers; alkyl oxoalcohol PEG; PEG fatty esters; polyoxyethlyene

glycol/polyoxypropylene glycol block copolymers; alkyl phenol PEG ethers; alkyl polyglucosides,

or polysaccarides; and polysiloxane polyethoxylene ether. These surfactants are the principle

detergents incorporated into the cleansing gel.

A secondary surfactant may be added to the cleansing gel. The secondary surfactant may

be an ionic detergent such as, but not limited to, anionic detergents, alkyl ether carboxylate,

phosphate, or sulfate; metallic or ammonium salts of mono-/di-alky sulfo succinate; sodium alkyl

benzene or alpha-olefin sulfonate; sodium alkyl methyl taurate; acyl sarcosine or sarcosinate; alkyl

esters of glutamic or isethionic acid, or their salts. Also cationic detergents of mono-, di,-and tri-

alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl benzyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium salts, polyglycol

(e.g. polypropoxylated) quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl or alkyl polyglycol (e.g. polyethylene

oxide) fatty amines or diamines, tetraalkylammonium salts (e.g. alkyl trimethyl quaternary

ammonium methosulfates or acetates, dialkyl ethoxylated dimethyl quaternary ammonium salts),

heterocyctic ammonium salts (e.g. alkyl amidoamines, pyridinium, or imidazoline salts), amino functional polysiloxanes with or without fatty acid condensates, polyamine condensates, or DL-

pyrrolidone carboxylic acid salts of N, N, alkyl L-arginine ethyl esters. If an ionic detergent is

used, the detergents are present in an amount less than about 20% by weight of the gel and

preferably less than about 5% by weight. The secondary surfactant is preferably added to the gel in

an amount which is less than the amount of the primary surfactant in the gel.

The acid in the cleansing gel typically makes up at least about 0.01 wt.% of the gel and

preferably about 0.05 to about 60 wt.% and more preferably about 0.3 to about 15 wt. %. The acid

includes organic, inorganic, and/or polyelectrolyte acids. The acids which can be used in the

cleansing gel include, but are not limited to, inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hypochlorous,

hydrobromic, boric, nitric, nitrous, hypophosphorous, phosphoric, sulfuric, sulfurous and/or

sulfamic acids; organic alkyl/aryl carboxylic or dicarboxylic acids such as carbonic, formic, acetic,

chloroacetic, propionic, butyric, benzoic, adipic, and/or succinic; and/or organic hydroxyl-

alkyl/aryl carboxylic or dicarboxylic acids such as hydroxyacelic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric,

and/or salicylic acids and/or polyelectrolytes or polycarboxylic acids (e.g. polyacrylic,

acrylic/maleic acid copolymers). The acid is added to the cleansing gel to cause the gel to have a

pH of less than 7 and more preferably less than about 5. The acid or acids incorporated into the gel

are selected depending on the application of the gel.

The cleansing gel is thickened into a fluid to semi-solid viscous gel by the use of a binary

or ternary blend of cationic, anionic, nonionic, or hydrophobically modified types, water

swellable/soluble polymers. The gelling agents are preferably added in an amount of about 0.5 to

about 10 wt.% of the cleansing gel and more preferably, about 0.1 to about 5 wt.% and more preferably, about 0.1 to about 2 wt.%. The blend of polymer is combined into water or water

miscible polar solvents, in a manner familiar to those with the art. At defined ratios, these blends

form intermolecular associative structures through ionic, hydrophobic, or hydrogen bonding.

These associating polymer networks remain soluble or dispersible in the solvent to form an

efficient thickened dispersion or gel structure. These thickened fluid structures enable the

formation of stable networks in highly acidic and ionic solutions without the loss of fluid viscosity

due to polymer precipitation or hydrolysis during extended storage at ambient and elevated (40 °C)

temperature.

Water swellable/soluble cationic polymers that can be used to include quaternized

polysaccharides such as trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide of hydroxyethylcellulose, diallyldimethyl ammonium salts of hydroxyethylcellulose, deacylated chitin or chitosan,

dihydroxypropyl chitosan trimonium chloride, hydroxypropltrirnethyl ammonium chloride guar,

locust bean, or konjac mannan gum; quaternized synthetics such as acrylamide dimethyl diallyl

ammonium chloride copolymers, acrylamide/dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride/acrylic acid

terpolymer, quaternized poly (vinyl pyrrolidone/dimethyl amino ethyl-methacrylate), poly

(vinylpyrrolidone/methacrylamidopropyl trimethylammonium chloride), polyvinyl

pyrrolidone/methylvinyl-imidazolinium chloride or methyl sulfate copolymer,

chloroethylether/dimethylaminopropyl-amine/adipate or azelate terpolymer,

vinylpyrrolidone/methacrylamido-propyl trimethylammonium chloride, acrylonitrile/acrylic

acid/dimethylpropanediammonium acrylates sulfate terpolymer. These polymer aggregates bond

interpolymerically via ionic, hydrogen, or hydrophobic bonding with water swellable/soluble; anionic or nonionic polysaccharide polymers such as gum tragacanth, sodium or propylene glycol

alginate, kappa-, iota-, or lambda-carrageenan, guar or hydroxy propyl guar gum, karaya gum, gum

arabic, locust bean gum, konjac mannan gum, gellan, xanthan, succinoglycan or its acidic or

enzymatic hydrolysates, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, methycellulose, hydroxylethylcellulose,

hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and hydroxypropylcellulose; and/or hydrophobically modified

anionic, cationic, or nonionic polymers such as, but not limited to, alkyl and/or aryl substituted

hydroxyethylcellulose, lauryl dimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide of hydroxyethycellulose,

propoxylated cellulosic, xanthan, succinoglycan, or polygalactomannoses, alkyl

methacrylates/crosslinked acrylic acid copolymer and/or acrylonitrile/acrylates block copolymer.

The ratio of cationic to anionic and/or nonionic polymers is about 0.001 : 10 to about 5:1 and

more preferably about 0.5:5 to about 3:2. The ratio of anionic and nonionic to hydrophobically

modified anionic and nonionic is preferably about 1 :5 to about 8:1. The polymers are combined

and dispersed into an acidic buffered solution in a manner familiar to those in the art of water

swellable/soluble polymer compounding to obtain a single phase, homogeneous viscous

dispersion. The precise selection of oppositely charged polymer chemistries is important to

obtained controlled intrepolymer association without resulting in precipitation or a multiphase

separation. The type and concentration of hydrophobically modified anionic or nonionic are

determined by their interaction with the concentrated surfactant micellar solution of the detergents

in the formulation.

The following examples are exemplatory of the wide number of uses for the cleansing gel. EXAMPLE 1 : LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR COLOR

PROTECTION AND DELICATE FABRICS

10.0 wt. % Citric Acid

14.0 wt. % Amphoterge J-2, 50% solids (Lonza Chem.) 4.0 wt. % Propylene glycol

4.5 wt. % Varisoft 432-CG, 68% solids (Witco)

10.0 wt. % Tergitol 15-S-7, 100% solids (Union Carbide)

0.1 wt. % Rhodicare Xanthan Gum (Rhone-Poulenc)

0.3 wt. % N-Hance 3000 Cationic Guar Gum (Aqualon) 0.6 wt. % Enzymes :Termamyl 300L DX and Savinase 16L

DX (Novo Nordisk) balance Deionized water q.s NaOH to pH 5.0

The laundry detergent is formed by dispersing the gums in water in manner typical for

these thickeners. The citric acid is dissolved in water and then the gum mixture is added to the

dissolved citric acid. The glycol, surfactants, alkali, and enzymes and then add to slightly

thickened citric acid solution. The ratio of cationic to anionic polymers in the laundry detergent is

about 3:1. This liquid detergent gently, yet effectively, cleans the most delicate colored fabrics,

leaving the fabric clean yet soft.

EXAMPLE 2: AEROSOL "NON-SOAP" SHAVE FOAM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

72.0 wt. % Deionized water

6.1 wt. % Mackam ISA, 33% solids (Mclntyre Chem.)

1.0 wt. % Mackam IC, 45% solids (Mclntyre Chem.)

3.6 wt. % Glucopon 600CS, 50% solids (Henkel Chem.) 10.0 wt. % Sorbitol, USP

0.2 wt. % Ucare Polymer JR40M (Union Carbide Chem.)

0.2 wt. % Jaguar HP- 120 (Rhone-Poulenc Chem.)

0.1 wt. % Carrageenan (TIC Gum)

2.5 wt. % Lactic acid, 88% FCC 0.8 wt. % Triethanolamine, >99% purity

3.5 wt. % Aerosol Propellant A-46 The shave form is formed by dispersing the polymers and gums into water in manner

typical to these thickeners. Sorbitol, surfactants are then added and evenly mixed into gel. The

acid and amine finally are added and then charged into an aerosol container with propellant. The

ratio of cationic to anionic polymers in the shave foam is about 2: 1. The ratio of anionic to

hydrophobically modified anionic polymer is about 1 :2. The shave foam has a pH 3.9 - 4.1 , has a

stable rich foam upon dispensing, causes less irritation than alkali soap save foams and gels, has

better lubricity on skin surface for razor glide, and has improved softening of facial or body hair

for ease of shaving.

EXAMPLE 3: MILD CONDITIONING SHAMPOO

44.2 wt. % Deionized water

34.5 wt. % Mirataine CB, 35% solids (Rhone - Poulenc)

6.0 wt. % Plantareen 2000, 50% solids (Hcnkel)

10.0 wt. % Propylene Glycol

3.0 wt. % Citric acid, FCC 1.0 wt. % Aminomethylpropanol, 95% (ANGUS)

0.2 wt. % Keltrol RD (Kelco)

0.4 wt. % Ucare Polymer JR40M (Union Carbide Chem.)

0.2 wt. % N-Hance HP-40 (Hercules Chem.)

0.5 wt. % Preservative

The shampoo is formed by dispersing Keltrol, Ucare, and N-Hance polymers into water in

manner appropriate to methods used by those familiar in the art. Glycol, detergents, and acid are

then added and slowly mixed together. Finally, the amine and preservative is added to the

solution. The ratio of cationic to anionic polymer in the shampoo is about 2:1. The ratio of

anionic to hydrophobically modifed polymer in the shampoo is about 1 : 1. The shampoo has a pH

3.5-3.8; which is at the isoelectric point of hair keratin. The shampoo effectively cleans hair without leaving the hair fibers having a strong anionic charge, unmanageable, and harsh to the

touch if shampooing with anionic detergents.

COMPOSITION VISCOSITY fcps.i* FOAM DRAIN TIME (secΛ+

Example 3. Mild conditioning 1800 25 shampoo

Mild conditioning shampoo without <50 13 polymers (Keltrol RD, Ucare Polymer JR40M,

& N-Hance HP-40)

*Brookfield Rotoviscometer LVT (0.5 rpm.)

+Method: J.R. Hart and M.T. DeGeorge, "The Lathering Potential of Surfactants - a Simplified Approach to Measurement", J. Soc. Cosmetic Chem. 31, 223-236 (SeptVOct. 1980)

EXAMPLE 4: ANTI-BACTERIAL MILD SKIN CLEANSER

20.0 wt. % Mackam 35, UL, 35% solids (Mclntyre)

8.0 wt. % Plantaren 2000, 50% solids (Henkel)

10.0 wt. % Propylene Glycol 0.4 wt. % Rhodicare Gum (Rhone-Poulenc)

0.4 wt. % Jaguar HP- 105 Gum (Rhone-Poulenc)

0.4 wt. % Lactic Acid, 70%, USP

0.25 wt. % Hyamine 1622, (Lonza)

0.1 wt. % Versene Acid (Dow) balance Deionized Water

The skin cleanser is formed by dispersing the gums in eionized water. Surfactants, glycol,

acids and Hyamine, benzethonium chloride are then mixed with the gums. The ratio of anionic to

hydrophobically modified polymer in the skin cleanser is about 1 :1. The slightly acid hand or skin cleanser forms a thick, rich foam which effectively cleans the skin and further deposits an anti¬

bacterial quaternary ammonium agent on the surface of the skin.

EXAMPLE 5: FOAMING ACIDIC LIQUID BATHROOM CLEANER

2.0 wt. % Hampoyl C, 100% solids (Hampshire Chem.) 2.5 wt. % Mackamine CO, 30% solids (Mclntryre)

6.0 wt. % Arcosolv DPTB (ARCO Chem.)

0.6 wt. % Carbopol 1610 (BFGoodrich)

1.0 wt. % NaOH (10 wt. % solution)

1.0 wt. % Gafquat HS-100 (ISP), 20% solids (ISP) 1.0 wt. % citric acid balance deionized water

The bathroom cleaner is formed by combining water with propylene glycol ether and then

dispersing Carbopol into the ether solution and rapidly agitate the solution. The solution is then

neutralized by the addition with NaOH. Water, Gafquat, Hampoly C and Mackamine CO

surfactants are then added until a homogeneous mixture is formed. Finally, the mixture is

thickened by the addition of propylene glycol ether/water solution and then acidifying the solution

with citric acid. The ratio of cationic to anionic polymer in the bathroom cleaner is about 1 :3.

This moderately thickened sprayable, acidic, detergent solution contains chelating acids and an

oily dirt dissolving solvent that readily cuts bathroom surface mineral and organic soils, yet is mild

when in contact with the skin.

EXAMPLE 6. ACIDIC TOILET BOWL DISINFECTING CLEANER GEL

0.7 wt. % Natrosol Plus 330 CS (Hercules Chem.)

0.7 wt. % Ticaxan Technical grade (TIC Gum)

2.0 wt. % Makon 12 100% solids (Stepan Chem.) 7.0 wt. % Ammonyx LO, 30% solids (Stepan Chem.)

4.0 wt. % BTC 885m 50% actives (Stepan Chem.)

25.0 wt. % Hydrochloric Acid (38%)

60.6 wt. % Deionized water

The toilet bowl cleaner is formed by combining dry resin and gum in water using rapid

agitation until fullly dispersed. The remaining ingredients are then added and mixed together by

slow agitation of the solution. The ratio of an ionic to hydrophobically modified polymer in the

toilet bowl cleaner is about 1:1. The thickened toilet bowl cleaner has a viscosity of approximately

1500 cps., and can be easily dispensed from a squeeze bottle. The cleaner has sufficient yield

strength to cling to vertical portions of a ceramic toilet bowl.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiments and alternates

thereof. It is believed that many modifications and alterations to the embodiments discussed herein

will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the

detailed description of the invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and

alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A gel composition comprising:

a) about 0.2 to about 40% by weight primarily surfactant consisting essentially

of an amphoteric surfactant, nonionic surfactant and mixtures thereof;

b) at least about 0.01% by weight acid to reduce the pH of said cleansing gel

below about 7;

c) at least about 0.05% by weight a water swellable/soluble polymer mixture

consisting essentially of a polysaccharide polymer, synthetic hydrophilic polymer, amphipathic

polymer and mixture thereof; and,

d) water.

2. A gel composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein said surfactant is about 0.2 to

about 40% by weight of said gel composition.

3. A gel composition as defined in claim 2, wherein said surfactant is less than or

equal to about 0.2 to about 30% by weight of said gel composition.

4. A gel composition as defined in claim 3, wherein said surfactant is about 2 to about

15% by weight of said gel composition when the ratio of solid components to liquid components in

said gel composition is up to about 1 :10. 5. A gel composition as defined in claim 3, wherein said surfactant is about 8 to about

25% by weight of said gel composition when the ratio of solid components to liquid components in

said gel composition exceeds about 1:10.

6. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said surfactant includes an

amphoteric surfactant selected from the group consisting essentially of alkyl, alkyl dimethyl,

alkylamido, alkyl amide, alkylamidopropyl, or alkyl dimethyl ammonium betaine; alky

amidopropyl or alkyl sulfobetaine; alkyl, alkylampho, or alkylamphocarboxy glycinate; alkyl, or

alkyl substituted imidazoline mono-or di-carboxylate; sodium salts of alkyl mono-or

dicarboxylates; alkyl beta amino acids; alkyl amidopropyl, or alkyl ether hydroxysultaine; alkyl

amidopropyl dimethyl ammonio acetate; alkyl ampho mono- or diacetate; alkyl, or alkyl ampho, or

alkyl imino dipropionate; alkyl amphopropionate; alkyl beta amino propionic acid; alkyl

dipropionate; alkyl beta iminodipropionate; branched or n-alkyl dimethylamidopropionate; alkyl

carboxylated propionate; alkyl, or methyl alkyl imidazoline; fluorinated alkyl amphoteric mixtures

and mixtures thereof.

7. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said surfactant includes a nonionic

surfactant including a surfactant selected from the group consisting essentially of alkyl, alkyl

dimethyl, alkyl amidoopropylamine or bis 2-hydroxy ethyl alkyl amine oxides; alkanolamides;

alkyl superamides; polyoxyethyl ene glycol (PEG) of monoglycerides, of sorbitan esters, of

branched or linear fatty alcohol ethers, of branched or linear fatty acid ethers, of thioethers; alkyl oxoalcohol PEG; PEG fatty esters; polyoxyethlyene glycol/polyoxypropylene glycol block

copolymers; alkyl phenol PEG ethers; alkyl polyglucosides, or polysaccarides; polysiloxane

polyethoxylene ether and mixtures thereof.

8. A gel composition as defined in claim 6, wherein said surfactant includes a nonionic

surfactant including a surfactant selected from the group consisting essentially of alkyl, alkyl

dimethyl, alkyl amidoopropylamine or bis 2-hydroxy ethyl alkyl amine oxides; alkanolamides;

alkyl superamides; polyoxyethylene glycol (PEG) of monoglycerides, of sorbitan esters, of

branched or linear fatty alcohol ethers, of branched or linear fatty acid ethers, of thioethers; alkyl

oxoalcohol PEG; PEG fatty esters; polyoxyethlyene glycol/polyoxypropylene glycol block

copolymers; alkyl phenol PEG ethers; alkyl polyglucosides, or polysaccarides; polysiloxane

polyethoxylene ether and mixtures thereof.

9. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, including a secondary surfactant, said

secondary surfactant less than about 10% by weight of said gel composition and said weight

percent of said secondary surfactant being less than the weight percent of said primary surfactant.

10. A gel composition as defined in claim 9, wherein said secondary surfactant is less than about 5% by weight of said gel composition.

11. A gel composition as defined in claim 9, wherein said secondary surfactant includes

an anionic surfactant, said anionic surfactant including a surfactant consisting essentially of anionic

detergents, alkyl ether carboxylate, phosphate, or sulfate; metallic or ammonium salts of mono-

/di-alky sulfo succinate; sodium alkyl benzene or alpha-olefin sulfonate; sodium alkyl methyl

taurate; acyl sarcosine or sarcosinate, alkyl esters of glutamic, isethionic acid and mixtures

thereof.

12. A gel composition as defined in claim 9, wherein said secondary surfactant includes

a cationic surfactant, said cationic surfactant including a surfactant consisting essentially of mono-,

di- and tri-alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl benzyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium salts,

polyglycol (e.g. polypropoxylated) quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl or alkyl polyglycol (e.g.

polyethylene oxide) fatty amines or diamines, tetraalkylammonium salts (e.g. alkyl trimethyl

quaternary ammonium methosulfates or acetates, dialkyl ethoxylated dimethyl quaternary

ammonium salts), heterocyclic ammonium salts (e.g. alkyl amidoamines, pyridinium, or

imidazoline salts), amino functional polyalloxanes with or without fatty acid condensates,

polyamine condensates, or DL-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid salts of N, N, alkyl L-arginine ethyl

esters and mixtures thereof.

13. A gel composition as defined in claim 11, wherein said secondary surfactant

includes a cationic surfactant, said cationic surfactant including a surfactant consisting essentially

of mono-, di- and tri-alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl benzyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium salts, polyglycol (e.g. polypropoxylated) quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl or alkyl

polyglycol (e.g. polyethylene oxide) fatty amines or diamines, tefraalkylammonium salts (e.g. alkyl

trimethyl quaternary ammonium methosulfates or acetates, dialkyl ethoxylated dimethyl

quaternary ammonium salts), heterocyclic ammonium salts (e.g. alkyl amidoamines, pyridinium,

or imidazoline salts), amino functional polyalloxanes with or without fatty acid condensates,

polyamine condensates, or DL-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid salts of N, N, alkyl L-arginine ethyl

esters and mixtures thereof.

14. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said acid is about 0.05 to about

60% by weight of said gel composition.

15. A gel composition as defined in claim 14, wherein said acid is about 0.3 to about

15% by weight of said gel composition.

16. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said acid consists essentially of

organic acids, inorganic acids, polyelectrolyte acids and mixtures thereof.

17. A gel composition as defined in claim 16, wherein said inorganic acid including an

inorganic compound selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrochloric, hypochlorous,

hydrobromic, boric, nitric, nitrous, hypophosphorous, phosphoric, sulfuric, sulfurous, sulfamic

acids, polyelectrolytes and mixtures thereof; said organic acid including an organic compound selected from the group consisting essentially of organic alkyl/aryl carboxylic or dicarboxylic

acids, organic hydroxyl-alkyl/aryl carboxylic or dicarboxylic acids and mixtures thereof, said

organic alkyl/aryl carboxylic or dicarboxylic acid including an acid selected from the group

consisting essentialy of carbonic, formic, acetic, chloroacetic, propionic, butyric, benzoic, adipic,

succinic acids and mixtures thereof, said organic hydroxyl-alkyl/aryl carboxylic or dicarboxylic

acid including an acid selected from the group consisting essentially of hydroxyacetic, lactic,

malic, tartaric, citric and/or salicylic acids, said polyelectolytes including an acid selected from the

group consisting essentially of polycarboxylic acids.

18. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said water swellable/soluble polymer mixture is about 0.05 to about 10% by weight of said gel composition.

19. A gel composition as defined in claim 18, wherein said water swellable/soluble

polymer mixture is about 0.1 to about 5% by weight of said gel composition.

20. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said water swellable/soluble

polymer mixture consists essentially of quaternized polysaccharide polymers, quaternized

synthetic polymers, anionic or nonionic polysaccharide polymers, hydrophobically modified

polymers and mixtures thereof.

21. A gel composition as defined in claim 20, wherein said water swellable/soluble

polymer mixture includes a quartemized polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of

trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide of hydroxyethylcellulose, diallyldimethyl ammonium salt

of hydroxyethylcellulose, deacylated chitin or chitosan, dihydroxypropyl chitosan trimonium

chloride, hydroxypropltrimethyl ammonium chloride guar, locust bean, konjac mannan gum and

mixtures thereof.

22. A gel composition as defined in claim 20, wherein said water swellable/soluble

polymer mixture includes a quartemized synthetic polymer consisting essentially of acrylamide

dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride copolymers, acrylamide/dimethyl diallyl ammonium

chloride/acrylic acid terpolymer, quaternized poly (vinyl pyrrolidone/dimethyl amino ethyl-

methacrylate), poly (vinylpyrrolidone/methacrylamidropropyl trimethylammonium chloride),

polyvinyl pyrrolidone/methylvinyl-imidazolinium chloride or methyl sulfate copolymer,

chloroethylether/dimethylaminopropyl-amine/adipate, azelate terpolymer,

vinylpyriOlidone/methacrylamide-propyl trimethylammonium chloride, acrylonitrile/acrylic

acid/dimethylpropanedi ammonium acrylates sulfate terpolymer and mixtures thereof.

23. A gel composition as defined in claim 20, wherein said water swellable/soluble

polymer mixture includes an anionic or nonionic polysaccharide polymer consisting essentially of

gum tragacanth, sodium or propylene glycol alginate, Kappa-Iota or lambda-carrageenan, guar or

hydroxyl propyl guar gum, karaya gum, gum arabic, locust bean gum, konjac mannan gum, gellan, xanthan, succinoglycan or its acidic or enzymatic hydrolysates, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,

methycellulose, hydroxylethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose

and mixtures thereof.

24. A gel composition as defined in claim 20, wherein said water swellable/soluble

polymer includes a hydrophobically modified polymer consisting essentially of alkyl and/or aryl

substituted hydroxyethylcellulose, lauryl dimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide of

hydroxyethycellulose, propoxylated cellulosic, xanthan, succinoglycan, or polygalactomannoses,

alkyl methacrylates/crosslinked acrylic acid copolymer, acrylonitrile/acrylates block copolymer

and mixtures thereof.

25. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of cationic

polymers to anionic and nonionic polymers in said gel composition is about 0.001:10 to about 5:1.

26. A gel composition as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of cationic

polymers to anionic and nonionic polymers in said gel composition is about 0.001 : 10 to about 3:2.

27. A gel composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of anionic and

nonionic polymers to hydrophobically modified anionic and nonionic polymers in said gel

composition is about 1 :5 to about 8:1.