Low viscosity bilayer disrupted softening composition for tissue paper

• Main Authors: McKay, David D, Rice, John Ernest, Vinson, Kenneth Douglas, McFarland, James Robert, Hamilton, Amy Jo, Wahl, Errol Hoffman, Frankenbach, Gayle Marie
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.09.2004

This invention relates, in general, to softening cellulosic structures with cationic bond inhibiting compounds; and more specifically, to a composition having rheological properties which facilitate its use for enhancing the softness thereof. Most particularly, the invention relates to softening tissue paper webs and methods of producing such softened webs. Disclosed is a composition for softening a wet laid cellulosic structure. A particularly preferred structure is an absorbent tissue. Further disclosed are tissue structures softened using the composition. The composition includes an effective amount of a softening active ingredient; a vehicle in which the softening active ingredient is dispersed; an electrolyte dissolved in the vehicle; and a bilayer disrupter. The electrolyte and the bilayer disrupter cooperate to cause the viscosity of the composition to be less than the viscosity of a dispersion of the softening active ingredient in the vehicle alone. Preferably, the softening active ingredient quarternary ammonium compound with the formula:the vehicle is water, the electrolyte is calcium chloride, and the bilayer disrupter is a nonionic surfactant. Also disclosed is a method of using the compound by adding it at a use concentration to the wet end of a papermaking process.