US Patent 7160947 Polymers and laundry detergent compositions containing them

Graft copolymers providing soil release benefits in laundry detergent compositions contain backbone units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, hydrophilic uncharged side chains, and cationically chargeable or charged side chains containing a tertiary or quaternary nitrogen atom. Preferred copolymers have a methacrylate backbone with polyethylene oxide and 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) side chains. The graft copolymers may be prepared by radical polymerisation.