Abstract: Detergents useful for cold-water cleaning and mid-chain headgroup and alkylene-bridged surfactants useful therein are disclosed. The mid-chain headgroup surfactant has a C14-C30 alkyl chain and a polar group bonded to a central zone carbon of the alkyl chain. The alkylene-bridged surfactant has a C12-C18 alkyl chain, a polar group, and a C1-C2 alkylene group bonded to the polar group and a central zone carbon of the C12-C18 alkyl chain. Preferred surfactants in these classes are alcohol sulfates, alcohol ethoxylates, ether sulfates, sulfonates, arylsulfonates, alcohol phosphates, amine oxides, quaterniums, betaines, and sulfobetaines. Surprisingly, detergents formulated with the surfactants provide outstanding cold-water performance in removing greasy stains such as bacon grease, butter, cooked beef fat, or beef tallow from soiled articles.

Abstract: Viscoelastic compositions are disclosed herein containing an effective amount of one or more random or structurally defined polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds for controlling the viscoelasticity of the composition. In at least one aspect, the present technology provides polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds comprising dissymmetric bis-quaternary compounds. In another aspect, the present technology provides viscoelastic compositions comprising polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds that comprise dissymmetric bis-quaternary compounds. In yet another aspect, the present technology provides polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds comprising a carboxylate functional polycationic quaternary ammonium compound. Preferred viscoelastic compositions of the present technology maintain viscoelasticity at a temperature greater than about 80° C., preferably greater than about 100° C. or about 110° C.

Abstract: Polyoxypropylamines, polypropylene oxide polymers endcapped on one or both ends with carbamate groups, di- or tri-carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid halides, or esters or mixtures comprising one of the above with a hydrophilic polyester copolymer having repeating segments of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-50% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units useful for imparting a durable hydrophilic coating to polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, cotton, polyamide or polyaramid fabric or fiber are disclosed.