CZ284457B6 - Liquid composition for treating textile materials - Google Patents

Abstract

A liq. fabric care compsn. comprises: (1) a suitable microemulsified amine functional silicone for improved reduction of fibre-fibre/yarn-yarn friction; (2) an effective amt. of fabric softener; and (3) a suitable carrier for (1) and (2). Pref. the compsn. comprises 0.05-25 (esp. 0.5-10) wt% of the microemulsified amine functional silicone which has an ave. mol. wt. 1,000-100,000 (esp. 1,500-20,000). The fabric softener is present in an amt. of 2-3 to 35 (esp. 4-27) wt% of the compsn. The wt. ratio of the silicone to the fabric softener is 17:1 to 1:350 (esp. 1:5 to 1:10). The microemulsion is made by emulsion polymerisation of lower mol. wt. silicone polymers and or silicone monomers (esp. lower mol. wt. silicone polymers). The fabric softener is selected from: i) quat. ammonium cpds.; (ii) fatty amine fabric softening cpds.; (iii) fatty amide cpds.; (iv) fatty acids; and/or (v) fatty alcohols. (Esp. quat. ammonium cpd. more esp. a mixt. of amide, amine and quaternary ammonium cpds.; most esp. amine cpd.). Suitable carrier is primarily water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to fabric care compositions and methods for processing textiles in order to improve the various properties of a fabric, in particular to reduce friction between fibers and yarns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of silicones to soften fabrics, i.e. to provide a fabric softening action between the fibers and the threads so that they move more easily one after another, has been well known for some time. In addition, the use of organomodified silicones for textile processing has also been well documented in the literature (see U.S. Patent 4,620,878, issued November 11, 1986, U.S. Patent No. 4,705,704, issued November 10, 1989, U.S. Pat. U.S. Patent No. 4,800,026, issued January 24, 1989, U.S. Patent No. 824,877, issued April 25, 1989, U.S. Patent No. 4,824,890, issued April 25, 1989, of which the British is also of interest. Patent Application 87-29 489, published Dec. 18, 1987). All of these documents are incorporated herein by reference. Silicones of this type are typically supplied to textiles in the form of an aqueous emulsion.

Recently, much work has been focused on delivering these systems through microemulsions in an aqueous environment. In the above known state, it is stated that microemulsions have two advantages over conventional "macro" emulsions, that they are more stable and that they require less mechanical energy to produce.

Although manual evaluation of softness testing textiles is still widely practiced, about 20 years ago, Dr. Wagner began testing the softness of textiles. Sueo Kawabata et al. evaluate textiles mechanically. They designed tools for measuring low deformation forces, typical for manual analysis, on textiles. Although these tools (commonly known as the Kawabata Evaluation System or KES) were designed as quality control tools for fabric acceptability, these tools were also used to study the effect on fabric processing. Two such studies have been published by Union Carbide Co. .: Sabia, A.J. and Pagluighi, A.M., Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 19, No. 3, March 1987, p. 5, and Bamdt, H.J., Sabia, A.J. and Pagluighi, A.M., Textile Chemist and Colorist, Vol. 21, No. 12, December 1989, p. 16. It is believed that shear measurements, particularly shear hysteresis measurements, are representative of the ease with which the fibers and / or threads move over each other. The lower the shear hysteresis value, the better the fabric softener (lubricant).

The term "reduced friction between fibers and reduced friction between threads", or "reduced friction between fiber-thread / thread-thread" (reduced friction between individual fibers within the thread as well as between threads), as used herein, means that the fabric exhibits a lower shear hysteresis value as measured by the KES shearing tool. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that reducing the fiber-thread / thread-thread friction provides better removal of folds, handles and wrinkles during drum drying and ironing processes as the fibers more easily move over each other.

Many patents have been published in the field of silicone microemulsions over the past five years (U.S. Patent Nos. 4,620,878, 4,705,704, 4,824,877, 4,824,890, and British Patent 87-29). 489, all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

In this literature, silicone microemulsions are described as translucent silicone emulsions with an average particle size of less than 0.14 microns. It is said that microemulsions have advantages over conventional "macro" emulsions both in that they are more stable and in that they require less mechanical energy to produce. Nor is there any mention that microemulsions can reduce friction between fibers and / or friction between threads when compared to macroemulsions when used

-1GB 284457 B6 with fabric softener. Since microemulsions have inferior properties as compared to macroemulsions when used alone, any investigation that starts logically with individual dispersions would discourage further investigation in this regard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a liquid fabric treatment composition comprising silicone, a fabric softener in an amount of from 2 to 35 wt%. the total weight of the composition, wherein the emollient is selected from quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty amines, fatty amides, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof, and a carrier selected from water and C1-C4 alcohols or mixtures thereof, characterized in that the silicone is microemulsified an aminofunctional silicone having a particle size of less than 0.14 microns, having an average molecular weight of from 1000 to 100,000, and wherein the weight ratio of the microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to the fabric softener is from 17: 1 to 1: 350. Preferably, the liquid composition comprises from 0.05 wt. % to 25 wt.%, preferably from about 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. % and most preferably from 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. microemulsified aminofunctional silicone.

The weight ratio of said microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to fabric softener is from 10: 1 to 1: 100, preferably from 1: 1 to 1: 10, and most preferably from 1: 5 to 1:10.

Surprisingly, the microemulsified aminofunctional silicone (MAFS) incorporated into the liquid fabric softener exhibits synergistic behavior compared to the corresponding " macro " emulsified material. In other words, this means that the effectiveness of MAFS to reduce friction between fibers and / or yarns is not as good as a macro-emulsified system when used alone, but in the liquid fabric softener composition of the MAFS composition, it reduces shear hysteresis values, than the corresponding macroemulsion in an analogous fabric softening composition.

The invention therefore makes it possible to achieve a reduction in the friction between fibers and / or threads in fabrics during processing, wherein said fabrics are contacted with an effective amount of the above composition diluted with water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First, some characteristics and explanations regarding silicone microemulsions will be presented.

Aminofunctional silicones according to the invention have an average relative molecular weight of from about 1000 to 100,000, preferably from about 1000 to about 50,000, and most preferably from about 1500 to about 20,000, and can be prepared by emulsion polymerization of low relative molecular weight polymers and / or monomers. %, more preferably low molecular weight polymers. Emulsion polymerization can provide a high concentration of microemulsified silicone.

A preferred composition of the invention is an aqueous dispersion comprising a microemulsified aminofunctional silicone, wherein the weight ratio of the microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to the fabric softener is from about 17: 1 to about 1: 100. Even more preferred weight ratios of the microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to the fabric softener are from about 1: 1 to about 1:10. These compositions are added to wash water to reduce friction between the fibers and / or between the yarns and to soften the fabric.

-2GB 284457 B6

Suitable fabric softener (s) are selected from the group consisting of:

- quaternary ammonium compounds,

- fatty amine compounds,

- fatty amide compounds,

- fatty acids,

fatty alcohols, and

their mixtures.

In certain liquid compositions of the invention added during rinsing, the amount of fabric softener may range from about 2 wt. % to about 35 wt.%, preferably from about 4 wt. % to about 27 wt. the total weight of the composition. The lower limits are the amounts required to contribute to the fabric softening effect when added to the rinse baths in the manner customary in household washing practice. Higher limits are suitable for more concentrated liquid products that use either smaller volume use or dilution prior to use. Preferred levels of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone in such a composition may range from about 0.05% by weight. % to about 40 wt. preferably from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % and most preferably from about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. weight of the concentrate.

Suitable softening compounds for fabric softening include quaternary amine salts as well as non-quaternary amines and amine salts.

Compositions containing cationic nitrogen compounds in the form of quaternary amine salts and substituted imidazolinium salts having two long chain acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon groups provide favorable fabric softening properties when used in the rinse wash processes (see, for example, U.S. Patent 3,644,203, issued February 22, 1972 and U.S. Patent 4,426,299, issued January 17, 1984, as well as the article " Cationic Surfactants as Fabric Softeners " by RR Egen in the Joumal of the American Oil Chemist Society, January 1978, pp. 118-121 , and "How to Choose Cationic Fabrics for Textile Softeners" (JA Ackerman in Joumal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, June 1983, pp. 1166-1169).

Other suitable fabric softening compounds are non-quaternary amides and non-quaternary amines. The commonly reported material is the reaction product of higher fatty acids with hydroxyalkyl-alkylene diamines. An example of these materials is the reaction product of higher fatty acids and hydroxyethylethylenediamine (see "Condensation products of beta-hydroxyethylethylenediamine and fatty acids or their alkyl esters and their use as textile softeners in laundry detergents", HW Eckert at Fettv Seifen-Anstrichmittel, September 1972, p. 527 -533). These materials are commonly referred to as other cationic quaternary ammonium salts and imidazolinium salts as softening active ingredients in fabric softening compositions. (See U.S. Patent No. 4,460,485, issued July 17, 1984, U.S. Patent No. 4,421,792, issued December 20, 1983, and U.S. Patent No. 372,133, issued April 27, 1982).

A particularly preferred fabric softener is in the form of an aqueous dispersion containing from about 3 wt. % to about 35 wt. mixtures consisting of:

a) from about 10 wt. % to about 92 wt. a higher fatty acid reaction product with a polyamine selected from the group of hydroxyalkylalkylenediamines and dialkylenetriamines and mixtures thereof, and

b) from about 8 wt. % to about 90 wt. cationic nitrogen salts having only one C15-C22 long chain acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and optionally

-3GB 284457 B6

c) from 0 wt. % to 80 wt. cationic salts having two or more C15-C22 long chain acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, or one of said groups, and an arylalkyl group having from about 15 to about 22 carbon atoms in its alkyl chain.

For a detailed description of some preferred fabric softeners, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,269 for the sake of completeness.

In the terminology used herein, for example, a plasticizer compound generally means such a compound in both the singular and plural unless otherwise indicated.

Preferred carriers are liquids selected from the group consisting of water and mixtures of water and alcohols with short chain Q-C4 and one hydroxyl group in the molecule. The water to be used may be distilled, deionized and / or tap water. Also suitable as carrier liquid are mixtures of water and up to about 10 wt%, preferably less than about 5 wt%, of a short chain alcohol such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol, and mixtures thereof. Carriers which are primarily water are desirable.

AND

Some short-chain alcohols are present in quaternary ammonium compound products available on the market. Such products can be used in the preparation of the preferred aqueous compositions of the invention. Short chain alcohols are present in such products in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the aqueous composition.

Compatible ingredients may be added to the disclosed compounds for their known purposes. Such ingredients include, but are not limited to, viscosity control agents, perfumes, emulsifiers, preservatives, stabilizers, antioxidants, bactericides, opacifiers, fungicides, dyes, fluorescent dyes, melting and solidifying agents, soil release agents, shrinkage control agents and other ironing aids (e.g. starches, etc.). These additives, when used, are added in their usual content, usually up to about 5% by weight. preferred liquid compositions.

The viscosity control agents may be organic or inorganic in nature. Examples of organic viscosity changers are fatty acids and esters, fatty alcohols, and water miscible solvents such as short chain alcohols. Examples of inorganic viscosity control agents are water-soluble ionizable salts. A wide variety of ionizable salts can be used. Examples of suitable salts are Group II and IIA metal halides of the Periodic Table of the Elements, for example calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium bromide and lithium chlorides. Most preferred is calcium chloride. Ionizable salts are particularly useful during additive mixing processes to form the liquid compositions discussed herein and later to obtain the desired viscosity. The amount of ionizable salts used depends on the amount of active ingredients used in such compositions, and can be adjusted to suit where it is formulated. Typical levels of salts used to control the viscosity of the composition are from about 20 to about 6000 parts per million, preferably from about 20 to about 4000 parts by weight of the composition per million.

Soil release agents, usually polymers, are desirable additives at levels of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. Suitable soil release agents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857, issued Oct. 27, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,730, issued Dec. 8, 1987, No. 4,713,194, issued Dec. 15, 1987. 1987, and mixtures thereof. These publications are incorporated herein by reference. Other soil release additives are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,596, issued June 7, 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,213, issued December 23, 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,038, U.S. Pat. And U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,267, issued Apr. 28, 1987, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

-4GB 284457 B6

Typical levels of compatible bactericides used in the compositions of the invention are from about 1 to about 1500 parts per million by weight of the composition.

Examples of antioxidants that can be added to the compositions of the invention are propyl gallate, available from Eastman Chemical Products Inc. under the tradename Tenox PG and Tenox S1, and butylated hydroxytoluene, available from the UOP Process Division under the tradename Sustane BHT.

The compositions may contain additional silicone fluids to provide additional beneficial effects, such as improved fabric feel. The preferred adjunct silicones are polydimethylsiloxanes of viscosity of 10 ^-4 m ² s ^-1 (100 centistokes - cs) to about 0.1 mV (100,000 cs), preferably from about 2.1 θ ^'2 to ⁴ m ^_1 (200 cs) to about 0.06 nA ^-1 (60,000 cs). Supplementary silicones may be used as such or may be conveniently added to the softening compositions in a pre-emulsified form obtainable directly from suppliers. Examples of these preemulsified silicones are 60% emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane 3,5.1 θ ^'4 mV (350 cs) sold by Dow Corning Corporation under the trade name DOW CORNING® 1157 Fluid and 50% emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane 0.01 mV (lOOOOcs) sold by General Electric Company under the trademark designation General Elextric SM 2140 Silicones. The optional silicone component may be used in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 6% by weight of the composition.

A preferred composition comprises from about 1 to about 1000 ppm bactericide, from about 0.2 wt. % to about 2 wt.%, from about 0% to about 3 wt. % polydimethylsiloxane, from 0% to about 0.4 wt. calcium chloride, from about 10 to about 100 ppm dye, and from about 0% to about 10% short chain alcohol based on the total weight of the composition.

The pH of the preferred compositions of the invention is generally adjusted to be in the range of about 2 to about 11, preferably about 2 to about 8. The pH adjustment is normally accomplished by incorporating a small amount of free acid or free base into the formulation. . Any acidic material can be used. Its selection can be made by anyone skilled in the art of plasticizer based on cost, availability, safety, etc. Any suitable acid can be used to adjust the pH. Hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric and formic acid are preferred. Similarly, any suitable base, for example sodium hydroxide, may also be used to adjust the pH. For purposes of the invention, pH is measured with a glass electrode in a full strength plasticizer composition as compared to a standard calomel reference electrode.

The compositions of the invention can be prepared in a number of ways. Some suitable and satisfactory methods are described in the following non-limiting examples.

All parts, percentages and ratios herein are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1

Procedure

A liquid fabric softening composition comprising microemulsified amine curable silicone as follows. About 4.33 parts of di (tallow residue in hydrogenated form) dimethylammonium chloride (DTDMAC), about 1.00 parts of methyl 1-tallow-amidoethyl-2-ol residue-imidazolinium methyl sulfate, and about 0.025 parts of 1% dye solution are weighed into a pre-mixing vessel.

The term "tallow residue" means a residue (within the meaning of a group of compounds) of higher fatty acids as a mixture of acids released by hydrolysis of bovine or

Tallow fat, typically the acids in a mixture of oleic, palmitic, stearic, myristic and linoleic acids. As is common in the art of fatty acids, they are often referred to by the collective designation of the type of oil from which they are originally derived for their designation.

For heating to a temperature of about 75 ° C and mixing, the premixed mixture is added to a mixing vessel (44 ° C) containing about 88.14 parts of distilled water and about 0.025 parts of the antioxidant solution while stirring and shaking. Then about 0.45 parts of perfume is added to this "main" mixture. The main mixture is then cooled to a temperature of about 21 ° C, to which about 7.15 parts of an aminofunctional silicone microemulsion (about 14% silicone) is added under stirring.

Procedure B

It is carried out in the same way as procedure A, except that the aminofunctional microemulsion is introduced into the main mixture before the mixture is cooled to 21 ° C.

Table 1 Component AaB Approx. DTDMAC ^{1 ;} 4.33 Methyl 1- (tallow residue) ethyl 2- (tallow residue) imidazolinium methyl sulfate 1.00 Alcohol (from active) 0.80 Perfume 0.45 Dye solution ⁴ 0,025 Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ² 7.15 Anioxidant ³ 0,025 Distilled water 86.12

¹ Di (tallow residue) dimethylammonium chloride ² Special aqueous microemulsion X2-8406, issued by Dow Corning Company. It contains about 14% of Dow Corning Q2-8075 aminofunctional silicone and the company's emulsifying system.

³ Tenox Sl, supplied by Eastman Kodak ⁴ 1% polar brilliant blue solution.

Example II

A composition of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and fabric softener is prepared for use in Procedure A. Approximate component levels are: 2.00 parts of Mazamide 6, 0.80 parts of MTTMAC, 4.03 parts of DTDMAC (as defined above), 1.00 parts of the imidazolinium salt of Example I, 0.42 parts perfume, 1.28 parts alcohol (from active), 10.00 parts 14% aminofunctional silicone, and the rest is distilled water (see Table 2 and Example 1 for a recapitulation of ingredients and preparation method).

Example III

The composition of the microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and fabric softener is prepared using Method A. Approximate component levels are: 17.50 parts of Mazamide 6, 6.50 parts of DTDMAC, 1.32 parts of perfume, 2.07 parts of alcohol (from active), 12, 00 parts of 14% microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and the rest is distilled water (see Table 2 and Example I for the recapitulation of the components and the preparation method).

-6GB 284457 B6

Table 2

Component Example II Approx. % wt. Example III Approx. % wt. Mazamid 6 ¹ 2.00 17.50 MTTMAC ² 0.80 - DTDMAC ³ 4.03 6.53 Perfume 0.42 1.32 Polar brilliant blue Dye solution 0,025 0,072 Alcohol (from active) 1,28 2.07 Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ⁴ 10.00 12.00 Distilled water Residue Residue

¹ Reaction product of 2 mol of hydrogenated tallow higher fatty acid with 1 mol of N-2-hydroxyethylenediamine.

² Mono (tallow residue) trimethylammonium chloride (MTTMAC) ³ Di (tallow residue) dimethylammonium chloride ⁴ Dow Coming X2-8406 (described above)

Example IV

The intrinsic ability of the substance Q2-7224 (Q2-8075 macroemulsion, 35% silicone) verse is studied. X2-8406 (Q2-8075 microemulsion, 14% silicone). 9.34 grams of Q2-7224 and 23.35 grams of X2-8406 are used as fabric softeners when added to the rinse to process synthetic and cotton fiber fabrics (65% / 35%) at a concentration of about 50 parts per million in steep water. The fabrics are treated with a single soak (non-detergent wash) / rinse / drying. Shear hysteresis measurements are performed on four fabrics at each treatment. The results below show that Q2-7224 is a better softening system for reducing friction between fibers and yarns.

Tab. AND

Average shear hysteresis (gf / cm) at 2-1 / 2o and 400 g division

X2-8406 02-7224

1.53 1.35

Values are valid at a confidence of> 95% based on paired t-test.

Example V

Product C

The composition of the microemulsified aminofunctional silicone and plasticizer is prepared using Method A. Approximate component levels are: 3.75 parts DTDMAC, 3.40 parts imidazoline, 0.57 parts MTTMAC, 0.60 parts perfume, 0.025 parts dye, 0.77 parts alcohol (from active), 0.4 to 0.9 parts HCl, 7.15 parts MAFS (14 wt%) and the rest is distilled water.

-7GB 284457 B6

Comparative product

The fabric softener is prepared as in Product C, except that about 3.03 parts of the aminofunctional silicone microemulsion (33 wt% silicone) is added. This composition contains about 1 wt. liquid aminofunctional silicone. A recapitulation of the components for products C and D is given in Tab. 3. Both products C and D contain about 1 wt. Q2-8075 liquid aminofunctional silicone.

Products C and D are used as fabric softeners added during rinse to process textiles of synthetic and cotton fibers (65% / 35%). The fabrics are treated with one wash / rinse / drying. The detergents used are TIDE and LIQUID TIDE. Six sample sets (DOWNY, DOWNY plus X2-8406, and DOWNY plus Q2-7224) were in contact only with TIDE, 6 sets (DOWNY plus X2-8406 and DOWNY plus Q2-7224) were in contact only with LIQUID TIDE. While keeping fabrics washed with LIQUID TIDE and TIDE separately, the fabrics were subjected to shear hysteresis measurements. The results below show that the X2-8406 fabric softener composition is better for reducing shear hysteresis than the corresponding Q2-8075 composition.

Tab.B

Average shear hysteresis (gf / cm) at 2-1 / 2 ° and 400 g strength

DOWNY DOWNY + Q2-7224 DOWNY + X2 washing TIDE 0.69 0.71 0.65 (a) LIQUID TIDE 0.88 0.78 0.76 b Diameter 0.79 0.74 0.71 (c)

(a) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at a confidence of> 95% based on paired t-test comparisons. Significantly lower than DOWNY at a confidence of> 95% based on paired t-test comparisons.

(b) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at a confidence level of> or = 70%. Significantly lower than DOWNY at> 95% confidence.

(c) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at a confidence level of> 95%. Significantly lower than DOWNY at> 95% confidence.

Tab. 3

Example V

Component Product C Approx. % wt. Article D Approx. % wt. MTTMAC ¹ 0.57 0.57 DTDMAC ² 3.75 3.75 Imidazoline ³ 3.40 3.40 Perfume 0.40 0.40 Polar brilliant blue-dye solution 0,025 0,025 Alcohol (from active) 0.77 0.77 Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ⁴ (14%) 7.15 -

-8EN 284457 B6

Example V

Product C Product D

Approx. % wt. Approx. % wt.

Tab. 3

Component

Microemulsified aminofunctional silicone ⁵ (31.5 wt%)

HCl (31.5 wt%) 0.4-0.9

Distilled water residue

3.03

0.4-0.9 residue ¹ Mono (hydrogenated tallow in form) trimethyl ammonium chloride ² Di (tallow) dimethyl ammonium chloride ³ l- (tallow in hydrogenated form) amidoethyl-2- (hydrogenated tallow in form) imidazoline ⁴ Dow Coming X2-8406 (described above) ⁵ Dow Corning Q2-7224, a macroemulsion analogous to microemulsified X2-8406, also containing Dow Corning Q2-8075 silicone fluid.

The inclusion of microemulsified aminofunctional silicone in front of the liquid fabric softener exhibits an improved reduction in shear hysteresis on the synthetic and cotton fiber fabrics relative to the traditional macroemulsion delivered through the liquid fabric softener matrix.

PATENT CLAIMS

Claims (3)

Liquid fabric care composition comprising silicone, fabric softener in an amount of from 2 to 35% by weight. the total weight of the composition, wherein the emollient is selected from quaternary ammonium compounds, fatty amines, fatty amides, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof, and a carrier selected from water and C ₁ -C ₄ alcohols or mixtures thereof, characterized in that the silicone is microemulsified aminofunctional silicone a particle size of less than 0.14 micrometers having an average molecular weight of from 1000 to 100,000, and wherein the weight ratio of the microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to the fabric softener is from 17: 1 to 1: 350. 2. A liquid textile treatment composition according to claim 1, comprising from 0.05 wt. % to 25 wt.%, preferably from about 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. % and most preferably from 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. microemulsified aminofunctional silicone. Liquid fabric treatment composition according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the weight ratio of said microemulsified aminofunctional silicone to the fabric softener is from 10: 1 to 1: 100, preferably from 1: 1 to 1:10 and most preferably from 1: 1 to 1:10. 1: 5 to 1:10.