CA2311176A1

CA2311176A1 - Use of partly oxidized polyethylene as an ironing aid in liquid water-containing fabric softeners

Info

Publication number: CA2311176A1
Application number: CA 2311176
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rainer Jeschke; Karl-Heinz Scheffler; Wolf Eisfeld; Thomas Vienenkoetter; Jacques Breyer
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-12
Filing date: 2000-06-12
Publication date: 2000-12-12
Also published as: DE19926863A1; AU5219400A; WO2000077134A2; WO2000077134A3

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of partly oxidized polyethylene in liquid water-containing fabric softener formulations containing 0.1 to 80%
by weight of cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners for significantly improving the gliding behavior of irons in the ironing of laundry treated with the fabric softener compositions.

Description

Use of Partly Oxidized Polyethylene as an Ironing Aid in Liquid Water-containing Fabric Softeners Field of the Invention This invention relates to the use of partly oxidized polyethylene in liquid water-containing fabric softener formulations containing 0.1 to 80%
by weight of cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners for significantly improving the gliding behavior of irons in the ironing of laundry treated with the fabric softener compositions.
Background of the Invention In the ironing of laundry, there is a general wish to minimize the effort involved in the ironing process. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide compounds which reduce the friction of the iron on the laundry to be ironed and which therefore improve the gliding behavior of the iron. In addition, it is desirable to achieve this by a composition with which the laundry is treated in the washing machine itself or during handwashing and through which the laundry is additionally provided with a pleasantly soft feel.
It is known from Russian patent application SU-A-912 795 that oxidized polyethylene wax in quantities of 0.05 to 0.5% by weight in formulations additionally containing polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of 1470 to 1600 in quantities of 0.5 to 2% by weight, sodium hydrogen carbonate, 0.1 to 0.3% by weight formalin, 0.1 to 0.2% by weight perfume, 0.05 to 0.1 % by weight of a mixture of polyethylene glycol ethers of higher fatty alcohols and water serves as an ironing aid for cotton and linen fabrics. The composition is sprayed onto the laundry after washing, drying and optionally starching. The disadvantage is that the composition has to be sprayed on in a separate step after washing and drying which requires additional time and energy.
US A-3,992,332 discloses a water-soluble composition for treating laundry which contains at least 1 % by weight of water-soluble silicone/glycol copolymer, at least 5% by weight of an antistatic agent containing a phosphate derivative, for example alkyl phosphate ester, and at least 70% by weight water. This composition is used as a conditioner which improves the washing and bleaching performance of detergents, softens fabrics and inter alia makes ironing easier. Unfortunately, this composition does not satisfy consumer demand for environmentally friendly phosphate-free formulations.
Polyethylene wax is known as a lubricant from US A-4,556,498 where is it used as a film former for the combined coating and "over-ironing" of metal substrates, for example in the production of hollow cylindrical vessels with bases, for example food cans.
Polyethylene is also known as an anti-scratch coating on steel plates, such as iron plates, from US-A-4,027,070.
US-A-3,536,643 describes a process for the production of aqueous polyethylene dispersions in which the polymer is initially prepared at suitable temperatures and pressures in the presence of persulfate initiator and a perfluorofatty acid salt containing at least 6 carbon atoms per molecule. A nonionic emulsifier is then added to stabilize the dispersion, even in the absence of the perfluorofatty acid salt. After treatment of the dispersion in an ion exchanger, a stable aqueous polyethylene dispersion free from the perfluorofatty acid salt is ultimately obtained. The resulting aqueous polyethylene dispersions are useful for the size adjustment or for the filling of paper and in the production of an ironing aid, the resistance of the polymer to melting preventing polymer growth. In addition, the dispersions are used for regulating opacity in dye applications. However, there is no teaching in the document in question on the use of these poly-ethylene dispersions or on their application in fabric softener compositions to improve the gliding behavior of irons on laundry treated with these compositions.
In addition, polyethylene dispersions are used for finishing and aftertreatment in the production of yarns and textile fibers in order to deliver an increased lubricating effect during processing with the relevant machinery and to prevent damage to the fibers. This use of polyethylene dispersions is known from patent applications DE-A-37 34 931, DE-A-38 76 210, DE-A-42 06 714, EP-A-0 416 917, WO-A-92107132 and from US-A-4,960,431. In addition, organic polymers, such as polyethylene, are used for encapsulating solid particles or liquid droplets of the type used, for example, in detergents and fabric softeners. A process for encapsulating water-soluble or water-sensitive materials with polyethylene as encapsulating material is described, for example, in European patent application EP-A-0 382 464.
Fabric softener formulations containing polyethylene are also known.
In all these fabric softener formulations, however, the role of the poly-ethylene is either merely to enhance the softening effect of the fabric softener or to regulate the viscosity of the compositions.
Thus, British patent application GB-A-2,281,316 describes a laundry treatment composition containing at least one softener and a wax. No explicit function or effect is assigned to the wax which is preferably oxidized, may be polyethylene wax and is preferably added to the softener-containing formulation in the form of an emulsion or dispersion together with a surfactant, acid or alkali and a dispersant. The effects of the plasticizer are merely stated to include soft feel, water absorption, reducing the scratching of the fabrics, fluffiness and an antistatic effect.
Patent application WO 97146654 describes fabric softener composi-tions containing at least one cationic fabric softener with at least two long chains, at least one dispersible polyolefin and at least one cationic dye fixing agent. The polyolefin enables the dye fixing agent to be used in relatively small quantities.
Liquid fabric softener compositions for the final rinse cycle are described in patent application WO 97/28239. These compositions contain a fabric softener, for example a quaternary ammonium compound or amine precursor, and a dispersible polyolefin, such as polyethylene or oxidized polyethylene. In addition, the compositions contain a liquid carrier, such as water, a monohydric C~~4 alcohol, a polyhydric C2E6 alcohol, propylene carbonate, liquid polyethylene glycols or mixtures thereof. In addition, the amphoteric surfactant content is below 1 % by weight. The composition may optionally contain 0 to 30% by weight of a dispersibility modifier. The composition prevents creasing, has antistatic properties, improves the appearance of colors, absorbs water and imparts a soft feel.
US patent US-A-4,115,281 discloses a stable liquid fabric softener composition containing 0.5 to 25% by weight of fatty acid amide as softener, 3 to 50% by weight of an acidifying agent and 25 to 96.5% by weight of water. The document in question also discloses a process for the production of the liquid composition, mentioning that partly oxidized poly-ethylene may also be used as the softener.
German patent application DE-A-38 42 571 describes hydrophilic softeners for fibrous materials which, besides typical ingredients, contain a water-soluble ammonium salt containing at least one fatty acid residue, a quaternary ammonium compound - different from this first compound - con-taining at least one long-chain alkyl group and dispersed polyethylene wax which is preferably oxidized.
Finally, German patent application DE-A-44 35 386 discloses water-containing fabric softener dispersions containing esterquats and polyolefin waxes for viscosity adjustment and optionally other surfactants and/or auxiliaries and additives. Esterquats in the context of this document are understood to be quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts. The polyolefin waxes are predominantly linear polyolefins of wax-like character, for example polypropylene waxes and, in particular, polyethylene waxes with relatively low molecular weights of 500 to 20,000. Modified polyolefin waxes can be produced by copolymerization of ethylene with suitable other monomers such as, for example, vinyl acetate or acrylic acid. Finally, the dispersibility of polyolefins can be improved by oxidative surface treatment.
In addition, patent application WO 9810472 describes fabric care compositions which reduce the creasing of textiles during wearing and during subsequent washing. At the same time, the reduction of creasing 5 and pilling and the durability of colors are enhanced. This is achieved by a process in which a composition containing a polycarboxylic acid or polycarboxylic acid derivative is applied to the fabric and preserved by a household process. This composition may be added to a fabric conditioner for the rinse cycle of a domestic washing machine or to an ironing aid and may be applied to the fabrics by spraying. It is assumed that the creasing of textiles is reduced by the creation of an ester bond between the carboxylic acid residues, the addition of catalysts promoting the formation of such ester bonds. Fabric conditioner compositions in which the poly-carboxylic acids mentioned are incorporated contain cationic and/or non-ionic softeners and optionally polyethylenes, paraffin waxes or silicones which enhance the effect according to the invention. The fabrics can be preserved by brief exposure to moderate heat applied, for example, in a tumble dryer or by an iron.
Now, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a fabric softener which, in the ironing of correspondingly treated laundry, would significantly improve the gliding behavior of the iron and would reduce the effort involved in the ironing process.
Summary of the Invention It has now been found that the addition of partly oxidized polyethylene to fabric softener formulations containing cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners produces a significant improvement in the gliding behavior of the iron in the ironing of laundry treated with these fabric softeners so that there is no need for the ironing aid to be added in a separate step after removal of the laundry from the washing machine. In addition, an increased percentage content of cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners provides the textiles with a soft feel.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of partly oxidized polyethylene in liquid water-containing fabric softener composi-tions which contain 0.1 to 80% by weight of cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners and optionally other ingredients for improving the gliding behavior of the iron in the ironing of laundry treated with the fabric softener compositions.
Detailed Description of the Invention By "partly oxidized polyethylene" are meant predominantly linear polyethylene waxes which are products with relatively low molecular weights of 500 to 50,000. The polyethylene waxes are generally produced by direct low-pressure polymerization or, preferably, high-pressure poly-merization of the monomers or by selective depolymerization of products of relatively high molecular weight. The modified polyethylene waxes used may be produced by polymerization of ethylene, preferably in the absence of a catalyst for early termination of the polymerization reaction, and subsequent oxidation, for example by introduction of air, or by copolymerization of ethylene with suitable other monomers, such as acrylic acid for example, the percentage content of the acrylic acid units preferably not exceeding 20%, more particularly 10%. Finally, the dispersibility of polyolefins can be improved by oxidative surface treatment. Overviews on this subject can be found, for example, in Ullmanns Enzyklopadie der technischen Chemie, 4th Edition, 24, 36 and in Encycl. Polym. Sci.
Eng. 17, 792f.
Oxidized high-density polyethylene wax with an average molecular weight of 500 to 50,000 and, more particularly, 2000 to 10,000 is preferred for the use according to the invention. The polyethylene waxes are normally marketed as aqueous dispersions and have a solids content of up to 45% by weight and preferably of up to 25% by weight.
Preferred fabric softener compositions contain partly oxidized poly-ethylene in quantities of 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably in quantities of 0.05 to 10% by weight and more preferably in quantities of 0.1 to 5% by weight active substance.
In another embodiment, the partly oxidized polyethylene may essentially be a copolymer of ethylene units and acrylic acid units, the partly oxidized polyethylene preferably having a molar content of acrylic acid units of at most 20% and, more particularly, at most 10%.
The fabric softeners used are cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners, the cationic softeners being substances where the high molecular weight hydrophobic group responsible for surface activity is present in the cation during the dissociation process in aqueous solution.
The most important representatives of cationic softeners are quaternary ammonium compounds with the general formula (R4N+) X-. Cationic softeners generally provide the fibers with a positive charge. This behavior is used to absorb the cationic softeners above all onto natural fibers which is the basis of their softening effect. Preferred cationic softeners are compounds corresponding to the following formulae:
R' R' -N+- (CH2)n-T-R2 (I) R' R' R' -N+- (CH2)"-T-R2 (II) (CH)n_T-R2 (CHZ)"_T-R2 R' -N I-(CI-12)n-T-R2 (III) (CH2)n-T-RZ

R' R' -N''- (CH2)n-CH-CH2 (I~
R' T T

R' R3 -N+-(CH2)n-T-R2 in which the groups R' independently of one another are selected from C~~
alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups; the groups R2 independently of one another are selected from C8X28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; R3 = R' or (CH2)n-T-R2; R4 = R' or R2 or (CH2)n-T-R2; T = CH2-, -O-CO-, -CO-O-, -NH-, -NH-CO- or -CO-NH- and n is an integer of 0 to 5. In one preferred embodiment, alkyl amidoammonium compounds are used as the cationic softeners.
Particularly important cationic softeners are those in which the central nitrogen atom of the ration is substituted by two long and two short chains. They show pronounced wetting, emulsifying and dispersing power.
Particularly preferred representatives are ammonium diester compounds.
In one preferred embodiment, the compositions contain quaternary ammonium diester compounds and/or quaternary alkyl amidoammonium compounds as fabric softeners. Because it has been found that the gliding behavior of the iron are further improved by a combination of quaternary ammonium compounds, the compositions according to the invention in one particularly preferred embodiment contain at least two quaternary ammonium compounds, of which one is a quaternary di-Csxzs-acyl-substituted triethanolamine, as fabric softeners. The other quaternary ammonium compounds may comprise, for example, an alkyl amidoammonium compound.
Suitable nonionic softeners are, above all, nonionic alkoxylated alkyl and/or alkylaryl compounds.
Preferred nonionic softeners of this type are alkoxylated, advantage-ously ethoxylated, above all primary alcohols preferably containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms and on average 1 to 12 moles ethylene oxide (EO) per mole alcohol, more preferably 1 to 6 EO and most preferably 1 to 3 EO, in which the alcohol residue may be linear or, preferably, 2-methyl-branched or may contain linear and methyl-branched residues in the form of the mixtures typically present in oxoalcohol residues. In other embodiments, alcohol ethoxylates containing linear residues of alcohols of native origin with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example coconut, palm, palm kernel, tallow or oleyl alcohol, and on average 2 to 8 EO per mole alcohol are preferred.
Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C~2_~4 alcohols containing 3 EO or 4 EO, C9_» alcohols containing 7 EO, C~3_~5 alcohols containing 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C,2x,s alcohols containing 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of C~2_~4 alcohol containing 3 EO and C~2_~a alcohol containing 7 EO. The degrees of ethoxylation mentioned are statistical mean values which, for a special product, may be a whole number or a broken number. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrow homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, fatty alcohols containing more than 12 EO may also be used. Examples of such fatty alcohols are (tallow) fatty alcohols containing 14 EO, 16 EO, 20 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO.
In addition, alkyl glycosides corresponding to the general formula RO(G)x, in which R is a primary linear or methyl-branched, more particularly 2-methyl-branched, aliphatic radical containing 8 to 22 and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms and G stands for a glycose unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose, may also be used as further nonionic softeners. The degree of oligomerization x, which 5 indicates the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is a number of 1 to 10; x preferably has a value of 1.1 to 1.4.
Another class of preferred nonionic softeners, which may be used either as sole nonionic softener or in combination with other nonionic softeners, more particularly together with alkoxylated fatty alcohols and/or 10 alkyl glycosides, are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, more particularly the fatty acid methyl esters which are described for example in Japanese patent application JP 581217598 or which are preferably obtained by the process described in International patent application WO-A-90113533. C~2_~8 fatty acid methyl esters contain-ing on average 3 to 15 EO and, more particularly, 5 to 12 EO are particu-larly preferred.
Fatty compounds such as, for example, esters, glycerides, acids, alcohols etc. may also be used as nonionic softeners.
Preferred compositions contain cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners in quantities of 3 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 40% by weight and more preferably 10 to 30% by weight.
In addition, other ingredients, such as surfactants and other auxiliaries and additives, may be present.
The compositions may contain anionic, cationic, nonionic and/or amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants as surfactants.
Typical examples of anionic surfactants are alkyl benzenesulfonates, alkane sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, glycerol ether sulfonates, a-methyl ester sulfonates, sulfofatty acids, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, glycerol ether sulfates, hydroxy mixed ether sulfates, mono-glyceride (ether) sulfates, fatty acid amide (ether) sulfates, mono- and di-alkyl sulfosuccinates, mono- and dialkyl sulfosuccinamates, sulfotri-glycerides, amide soaps, ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, acyl lactylates, acyl glutamates, acyl tartrates, alkyl oligoglucoside sulfates and alkyl (ether) phosphates, If the anionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they may have a conventional homolog distribution although they preferably have a narrow homolog distribution.
Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, mixed ethers, alk(en)yl oligoglycosides, fatty acid-N-alkyl glucamides, polyol fatty acid esters, sugar esters, sorbitan esters and polysorbates. If the nonionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they may have a conventional homolog distribution although they preferably have a narrow homolog distribution.
Typical examples of other cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds.
Typical examples of amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants are alkyl betaines, alkyl amidobetaines, aminopropionates, aminoglycinates, imida zolinium betaines and sulfobetaines.
The surfactants mentioned are all known compounds. Information on the structure and production of these compounds can be found in relevant synoptic works, cf. for example J. Falbe (Ed.), "Surfactants in Consumer Products", Berlin, Springer Verlag, 1987, pages 54 to 124 or J. Falbe (Ed.), "Katalysatoren, Tenside and Mineraloladditive", Stuttgart, Thieme Verlag, 1978, pages 123 to 217.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the compositions may contain anionic surfactants of the alkyl and/or alkenyl sulfate type. These anionic surfactants are understood to be the sulfation products of primary alcohols which correspond to formula (I~:
[R5 -O-S03~m Ym+
where m is the number 1 or 2 and R5 is a linear or branched, aliphatic alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 6 to 22 and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms and Y is an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium.
Typical examples of alkyl sulfates which may be used in accordance with the invention are the sulfation products of caproic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol, 2-ethyl hexyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and erucyl alcohol and the technical mixtures thereof obtained by high-pressure hydrogenation of technical methyl ester fractions or aldehydes from Roelen's oxo synthesis. The sulfation products may advantageously be used in the form of their alkali metal salts, more particularly their sodium salts. Alkyl sulfates based on C~6/C~g tallow alcohols or vegetable fatty alcohols of comparable C chain distribution in the form of their sodium salts are particularly preferred.
The compositions according to the invention may contain typical auxiliaries and additives such as, for example, perfume oils, dyes and preservatives. Preferred additives are soil-repellent polymers, i.e. polymers preferably containing ethylene terephthalate and/or polyethylene glycol terephthalate groups, the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene glycol terephthalate being in the range from 50:50 to 90:10.
The molecular weight of the linking polyethylene glycol units is preferably in the range from 750 to 5000, i.e. the degree of ethoxylation of the polymers containing polyethylene glycol groups may be about 15 to 100. The polymers are distinguished by an average molecular weight of about 5000 to 200,000 and may have a block structure, although they preferably have a random structure.
Preferred polymers are those with molar ratios of ethylene tere phthalate to polyethylene glycol terephthalate of about 65:35 to about 90:10 and preferably in the range from about 70:30 to 80:20. Other preferred polymers are those which contain linking polyethylene glycol units with a molecular weight of 750 to 5000 and preferably in the range from 1000 to about 3000 and which have a molecular weight (of the polymer) of about 10,000 to about 50,000. Examples of commercially available polymers are the products Milease TM T (ICI) and Repelotex TM SRP 3 (Rhone Poulenc). The sulfonated types marketed by BASF are also suitable. In one preferred embodiment, modified polyethylene glycols, more particularly butyl-diglycol-modified polyethylene glycols, are used.
Where the compositions according to the invention are used in washing machines, it can be of advantage to add typical foam inhibitors to them. Suitable foam inhibitors are; for example, soaps of natural or synthetic origin which have a high percentage content Of C~g_24 fatty acids.
Suitable non-surfactant foam inhibitors are, for example, organopolysilox-anes and mixtures thereof with microfine, optionally silanized silica and paraffns, waxes, microcrystalline waxes and mixtures thereof with silanized silica or bis-stearyl ethylenediamide. Mixtures of different foam inhibitors, for example mixtures of silicones, paraffins or waxes, may also be used with advantage. The foam inhibitors, more particularly silicone- and/or paraffin-containing foam inhibitors, are preferably fixed to a granular water-soluble or water-dispersible support. Emulsions of polymerized modified siloxane, more particularly polydimethyl siloxane emulsions, are preferred and are advantageously used in quantities of 0.001 to about 0.5% by weight.
If the water-containing fabric softener dispersions do not already have a low starting viscosity, for example through the use of quaternary ammonium compounds with a high cisarans ratio, it is advisable to establish a low viscosity by addition of an electrolyte. Suitable electrolytes are, for example, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate or calcium chloride and, more particularly, magnesium chloride. Where a low starting viscosity is established by addition of an electrolyte, small quantities are again sufficient. The electrolyte is present in the dispersion in concentrations of, for example, 0.001 to 3% by weight, based on the final dispersion.
The other surfactants, auxiliaries and/or additives together preferably make up from 0.1 to 10% by weight and more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition.
The compositions according to the invention are stable in storage and are suitable for the softening of fibers, yarns and sheet-form textiles in general and laundry in particular. The advantages of the invention lie in a distinct reduction in the effort involved in ironing and in the elimination of a separate laundry treatment step after removal of the laundry from the washing machine to achieve this easier ironing.
Embodiments of the invention are described by reference to the following examples which are not to be construed as limiting.
Examples Formulations for fabric softeners are set out in Table 1. Example 3 is a composition according to the invention while Examples 1 and 2 are Comparison Examples.
Table 1:
Formulations for fabric softeners with and without ironing aids, quantities in by weight Formulation Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 5 Cationic surfactant' 18.0 26.6 24.4 Polyethylene dispersion2 --- --- 3.0 MgCl2 ~ 6 H20 0.55 0.55 0.55 Perfume, dye, thickener, defoamer,Balance Balance Balance water to 100 to 100 to 100 Ironing force at 4295 g weightlN 3.34 3.19 2.94 Stepantex VL 90 A~, N-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N-(ditallow acyl-oxyethyl)-ammonium methosulfate, containing as additive Stepanquat X
9124~ (Stepan Europe), 3-tallow amidopropyl dimethyl ammonium methosulfate, 90% in isopropanol Adalin K~ (Henkel), 20% by weight dispersion in water, corresponding to 0.6% by weight polyethylene, active substance The weight of 4295 g was obtained by applying a weight of 2595 g to the iron, which itself weighed 1700 g, in order to simulate the pressure normally applied to the iron during ironing.
The fabric used was a coarse cotton fabric which is known by the name of bleached cotton cloth and which is used for table and bed linen.
After removal of the finish, the pieces of cloth were treated with the corresponding fabric softeners in a quantity of 10.3 g/kg dried laundry.
The pieces of laundry thus treated were ironed with a precision measuring arrangement developed by applicants themselves. A Rowenta iron (Rowenta Professional DE-811 Inox steam iron) adjusted to setting III
was drawn over a length of 670 mm of the test fabric at a constant speed of 800 mm/min. The forces required for this purpose were determined using a Zwick universal testing machine (type 2.5/TN1P).
The easy-iron effect of the polyethylene dispersion is clear from the Examples. An increase in the quantity of esterquat from 18.0% by weight in Example 1 to 26.6% by weight in Example 2 had relatively little effect (reduction in ironing force 0.15 N = 4.5%). When the quantity of esterquat of Example 1 was increased to only 24.4% by weight in Example 3 and 0.6% by weight of partly oxidized polyethylene (pure substance) was also added, the necessary ironing force was reduced by 0.40 N (12%).
Accordingly, partly oxidized polyethylene produces a distinct reduction in the ironing force and thus significantly improves the gliding behavior of the iron.

Claims

1. The use of partly oxidized polyethylene in liquid water-containing fabric softener compositions which contain 0.1 to 80% by weight of cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners and optionally other ingredients for improving the gliding behavior of irons in the ironing of laundry treated with the fabric softener compositions.

2. The use claimed in claim 1, wherein the compositions contain partly oxidized polyethylene in quantities of 0.01 to 20% by weight active substance.

3. The use claimed in claim 2, wherein the compositions contain partly oxidized polyethylene in quantities of 0.05 to 10% by weight active substance.

4. The use claimed in claim 3, wherein the compositions contain partly oxidized polyethylene in quantities of 0.1 to 5% by weight active substance.

5. The use claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the partly oxidized polyethylene has a molecular weight of 500 to 50,000.

6. The use claimed in claim 5, wherein the partly oxidized polyethylene has a molecular weight of 2000 to 10,000.

7. The use claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the partly oxidized polyethylene is essentially a copolymer of ethylene units and acrylic acid units.

8. The use claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the partly oxidized polyethylene has a molar content of acrylic acid units of at most 20%.

9. The use claimed in claim 8, wherein the partly oxidized polyethylene has a molar content of acrylic acid units of at most 10%.

10. The use claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the compositions contain cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners in quantities of 3 to 50% by weight.

11. The use claimed in claim 10, wherein the compositions contain cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners in quantities of 5 to 40% by weight.

12. The use claimed in claim 11, wherein the compositions contain cationic and/or nonionic fabric softeners in quantities of 10 to 30% by weight.

13. The use claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the compositions contain as fabric softeners cationic fabric softeners.

14. The use claimed in claim 13, wherein said cationic fabric softeners are compounds corresponding to the following formulae:

in which the groups R1 independently of one another are selected from C1-6 alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups; the groups R2 independently of one another are selected from C8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; R3 = R1 or (CH2)n-T-R2;
R4 = R1 or R2 or (CH2)n-T-R2; T = CH2-, -O-CO-, -CO-O-, -NH-, -NH-CO- or -CO-NH- and n is an integer of 0 to 5.

15. The use claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the compositions contain quaternary ammonium diester compounds and/or quaternary alkyl amidoammonium compounds as fabric softeners.

16. The use claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the compositions contain at least two quaternary ammonium compounds, of which one is a quaternized di-C8-28-acyl-substituted triethanolamine, as fabric softeners.