DE2614635A1 - PRODUCT FOR TREATMENT OF TEXTILES - Google Patents

Description

PATENTAN WÄ LT E

DR. A. VAN DERWERTH DR. FRANZ LEDERER REINER F. MEYER

DiPL-ING. (1934-1974) DIPL-CHEM. DIPL-ING.

26H635

8000 MUNICH 80 LUCILE-GRAHN-STRASSE 22

TELEPHONE: (089) 472947 TELEX: 524624 LEATHER D TELEGR .: LEATHER PATENT

1 . April 1976 c. 770

UNILEVER N.V.

Burgeineester s ¹ Jacobplein 1, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Product for treating textiles

The invention relates to a product for treating textiles rait Konditxoniermitteln. The products are particularly suitable for use in tumble dryers or tumble dryers, ie in machines in which damp textiles are tumbled while warm air is passed around them so that the moisture is removed.

It has been found that the practice of washing clothes and textiles has an effect of hardening or Hardening of the hand of the textiles during subsequent wear or use, especially in the case of Cotton textiles and towels. It has therefore already been suggested to soften the textiles by using textile softeners in tauraeltdryers or tumble dryers were treated. For example, it has already been proposed to apply a fabric softening agent to the inside of the drum

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a tumble dryer before placing the textiles in the tumble dryer to spray, so that the fabric softening Agent is rubbed from the drum onto the textiles during the drying process in the tumble dryer. However, this can lead to the build-up of a sticky residue on the drum. Furthermore, it has already been proposed to use a piece of textile to impregnate a fabric softener and then put it in the tumble dryer with the clothes or textiles to be softened admit, so that the softening smock from the piece of textile on the clothes or other textiles during the drying process is transferred in the tumbler. However, this is not convenient since a newly impregnated piece of textile usually takes place every time must be used and it is relatively expensive.

The object of the invention is to reduce or avoid the disadvantages of the previously known modes of operation.

A new, improved product for treating textiles in tumble dryers has now been found which has these disadvantages does not have.

The invention therefore relates to a product which is suitable for treating textiles in a tumble dryer, the Product is formed from at least one piece of a resiliently flexible carrier or substrate, which with a Textile conditioning agent is impregnated, and wherein the piece or pieces are fastened in Ilehrfachlagen mxt each other. The construction of products in this way facilitates the progressive application of the conditioning agents the textiles during the use of the products. Furthermore, it is possible in this way to use relatively inexpensive carrier materials or to use substrate materials, but with the problem of sticking of the carrier or substrate to the

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Sides of the tumbler dryer or blocking the outlet of the tumbler dryer, such as this with individual, impregnated Pieces can easily occur is avoided.

By using a product according to the invention it is possible, a substantially uniform distribution of the textile conditioning agent over the textiles to be treated to achieve and by adjusting the amount of fabric conditioning agent In the products, it is possible to use them for more than one work process in a tumble dryer.

The products of the invention may take a variety of physical forms, each embodiment nevertheless having the essential feature that it consists of at least is formed from a piece of resiliently flexible substrate. The preferred substrate or the preferred carrier is a film or strips of foamed plastic or rubber, these preferably being highly porous and very flexible. A suitable one Foam is a product of open-cell structure, since foams with closed cells are not sufficiently porous, and preferably such a foam has a density of about 20 to 30 kg / nm and a pore number of 10 to 30 cells per cm. Such foils or sheets or strips of foam preferably have a thickness of no more than about 2.5 cm, e.g. B. from about 0.25 cm to about 2 cm.

Specifically preferred supports or bases, which may be mentioned, are polyurethane foams that are in sheet form with a thickness from about 0.5 to 1 cm and a number of pores from about 15 "to 25 cells per cm are available. It has been found that polyether type polyurethane foams are better than those of the polyether type Polyester type in terms of maintaining its shape at the elevated temperatures that occur when tumbling dry

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appear. The foam plastic material used can optionally being a reticulated foam, d. H. a foam in which the cell walls are torn open, but overall the cell network is left intact. Alternatively, laminated foam sheets can also be used; H. Large pore size foams laminated to one or two layers of fine pore structure foam. This can result in a product that is more resistant to surface damage and the finer structure of the outer pores facilitate an even application of the textile conditioning agent to the textiles to be treated.

Alternatively, the carrier or the base can be a textile material be either a woven or knitted material or a non-woven material, but such a textile material should be treated to make it resiliently flexible, e.g. B. by coating or laminating with a rubber or the like Material. If normal textile material, i. H. without a tendency to Retaining its shape, the products have a tendency to roll up during the drying process in the tumbler and to be relatively ineffective. Furthermore, if only individual, open plates of such substrates are used for the textile treatment, these can be more easily between them trapped rotating drum and the body of the tumble dryer or clog the hot air outlet from the tumble dryer during use.

The product as a whole should have a certain three-dimensional shape so that the contact of its external surfaces with the textiles during the drying process in the tumbler is facilitated and thus a uniform application of the Textile conditioning agent is improved on the textiles. Specific forms of the product mentioned by way of example include those that were formed from individual plates of the carrier or substrate, these being folded or

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wrapped and then in a "special riehrfachlage form, especially in the area of tying, are tied together. Optionally, the plates can be used before or after Lacing can be cut. Specific shapes of the products made from single panels are folded fan shapes and rolled, cylindrical shapes. Instead of tying the plates or strips together in another way be attached, e.g. B. by treatment with glue or a heat treatment, but this will be in such cases better done before impregnating the carrier or the base with the conditioner.

Alternatively, the product can consist of more than one plate or a strip of the carrier or substrate, which in turn can be folded or wrapped and then in a Bundles or a bundle may be tied or otherwise fastened, the overall shape of which depends on the The shape of each piece and the way they are linked together. For example, strips of flexible Straps tied together at their ends to form an octopus-like shape with two to about twelve or more arms be. Alternatively, bundles of the strips can be tied together in the middle to form a mop-like structure with two ends to build. Instead of strips, which can be rectangular, round or of other cross-section, plates made of flexible Straps can be strapped together in a variety of ways, with a particularly preferred form being a Bundle together number from about two to twelve pieces of foam sheet in such a way that they form a total have a ball-like appearance. For example, oval-shaped Pieces of foam sheets used to make "leaves" or to form "burt sheets" of the wearer by one common center protruding from, where this may have the appearance of a flower, z. B. a rose.

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Various forms of the product according to the invention are described in more detail below with reference to FIG Drawing described. The "preferred forms are those that for free tumbling or tumbling with textiles in the tumble dryer are suitable, but it is also possible to use the products according to the invention on the inner surfaces Attach the tumble dryer, either by pressure sensitive Adhesives or by other means or devices, e.g. B. by to be brought into engagement, woven Hook and eye fastening, e.g. B. of the "Velcro type", or by Ribbons or hooks. The products may also have bows or ribbons around the products in a suitable manner to wear or to hang up between uses.

It should be noted that the products according to the invention can be colored, or that they have patterns or lettering can wear, e.g. B. Instructions for use of the product. Furthermore, the products are attractive for packaging particularly suitable e.g. B. in transparent containers or by wrapping with compression, so that the voluminous nature of the Products is controlled in a suitable manner for transport and storage. The products can also be used for another application after being used for textile treatment, e.g. B. as a bath sponge, as Cleaning agent for foils and as a sponge for a car wash.

As previously described, the product contains a fabric conditioning agent impregnated into the flexible carrier or substrate, either before or after the plates or strips of the carrier or substrate have been formed into the finished product. Preferably, the conditioning agent at room temperature is solid, but melts or softens at a temperature, as is achieved during the treatment of textiles, usually in the range of about 38 ⁰ C to about 80 ⁰ C

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during normal drying processes in the tumbler. The conditioning agent can then be more easily transferred to the textiles during use, and the progressive migration of the Conditioning agent from the inner parts of the product to its outer surface is lightened. Alternatively can the conditioning agent is a viscous liquid or a paste Be material, however, this is not desirable, and because of the sticky nature of the product and the relatively low levels of conditioning agent that result of which can be used.

As described above, the product according to the invention for the treatment of textiles with condition is determined during the Used for drying in a tumbler. The preferred conditioning agents are so-called emollients, which are treated Giving textiles a softer feel when touched. Numerous fabric softening agents are quaternary ammonium compounds of the following general formula:

CN (R ₁ R ₂ R ₃ R ₄ )] _n , Χ "(I)

wherein R. is a Cg-Cpo -alkyl group, Rp is a C.-C ^ -alkyl group and R ₇ T and iL are the same groups as R _x , or Rp and any of the radicals R ^, Rp, R * and R _{4 may be} saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl groups, or these may contain substituting groups, e.g. B. hydroxyl groups, or R _x ., Rp ₁ R * and R ^ can be connected to the nitrogen atom via bonding groups, e.g. B. amide, ester or ether bonds, or two or three of the radicals R ^, R, and R ₁ , 1-önn.en be linked to the N atom to form a heterocyclic ring of a horpholinyl ring, X is

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is an anion and η is the valence of X. Suitable anions (X ") are Cl", HSO ^, SO ^, C ₂ H ₅ SO ", CH ₅ SO", HCOO ", CH ₃ COO"",Br", J ~ and H ₂ PO ^, the chloride, sulfate, bromide and acetate ions being preferred. Typical commercial products of this type are di-tallow dimethylammonium chloride, di-coconut dimethylammonium chloride, di- (stearoyloxyethyl) -dimethylammonium chloride and 3-behenoylo: xy-2-hydroxypropyl-trimethylammonium chloride.

Other preferred plasticizing agents are the reaction products of about 2 Hol of a fatty acid of the formula R ^ COOH and of a hydroxyalkyldiamine of the following general formula:

KEI ₀ -Rc-IiHIL- (II)

wherein R ^ is a C ^ - CQ alkyl group, Rc is a divalent Q -C, hydrocarbon group and Rg is a hydroxyalkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms. A typical, commercially available product of this type is the reaction product of 2 moles of stearic acid with Λ moles of hydroxyethylethylenediamine, which has a mixed chemical structure because of the multifunctional nature of the diamine. Similar products include quaternized products of about 2 moles of oleic acid reacted with

1 mole of hydroxyethylethylenediamine, and the product of about

2 moles of a mixture of oleic acid and stearic acid, implemented with 1 mole of hydroxyethylethylenediamine. The softening agents are preferably mixed with a non-ionic, surfactants used.

Other types of fabric softening agents that can be used in accordance with the invention are known in the art known and they are described in the literature, e.g. B. in: Proceedings of the American Association of Textile Chemists

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and Colorists ", American Dyestuff Reporter, January 28, 1957, P. P42 / P4-3.

Other fabric conditioning agents included in the invention Products can be used either alone or in a mixture, in particular mixed with those described above fabric softeners include:

(1) optical brighteners, e.g. B. fluorescent brighteners such as substituted, disulfonated diaminostilbene compounds such. As described in US Patent 2,612,501, further triazole compounds of the I type described in US Patent ² 183 2 78;

(2) essential oils and fragrances;

(3) antistatic agents, which in many cases are compounds having the same general structures as before explained with reference to fabric softening compounds became. Specific antistatic agents which can be exemplified are ethoxylated compounds and ethoxylated amines, ethoxylated, quaternary ammonium compounds, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols and alkylphenols, ethoxylated carbohydrates such as sorbitol ethoxylates, ethoxylated aliphatic mono- and di-carboxylic acids and amides and esters thereof and polyethylene glycols. The antistatic Properties of the preferred quaternary ammonium compounds as well as of other fabric softening agents can especially by combining these materials with ethoxylated ones Amides in tallow ethanol amides or ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols are improved;

(4-) Germicides such as halogenated salicylanilides, e.g. B. tribromosalicylanilide, Hexachlorophene, neomycin sulfate, quaternary Benzalkonium compounds and the like;

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(5) body-giving products such as carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, Starch, polyvinyl acetate and the like. · Polyvinyl acetate also acts to facilitate the Bügeins and can be used for this purpose;

(6) dirt releasing agents such as z. B. in U.S. Patent J 377 249 described polyacrylic-polyvinyl alcohol compositions, and fluorocarbons or copolymers of ethylene glycol with terephthalic acid, which are used for Treating polyester fabrics for this purpose are beneficial;

(7) Ironing aids, e.g. B. Silicones such as dimethyl silicone;

(8) surfactants used in admixture with other conditioning agents, e.g. B. non-ionic, surfactants used with softening agents in the form of quaternary ammonium compounds. In this case it is preferred to have a ratio of the cationic, quaternary ammonium compound to the nonionic compound of about 2: 1 to about 20: 1 and in particular from about 3: 1 to about 10: 1, in parts by weight, to have available.

It should be noted that several of the conditioning agents described above are normally solid, non-meltable Materials are, d. H. both at elevated and room temperatures, in such a case either in aqueous solution or dispersion or together with other conditioning agents, that are liquids or fusible solids should be used. If the condition! Determine in the Carrier or the substrate are impregnated, they should be in liquid form, either as a result of melting or as a result of the presence of a solvent that subsequently can be vaporized.

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The amount of textile conditioning agent used in a product according to the invention depends of course on the type the means and the type of product, in particular whether multiple use of the product is intended, and the optimal values or amounts can be determined in a simple manner by experiment. For example, in the case of a Fabric softening agent normally preferred, about 1 g to about 5%, and preferably about 2 to 4 g of the softening agent To have means for the order with a typical load of household laundry in a tumble dryer. For Products intended for multiple use should contain proportionally more fabric softening agent. Not there the entire fabric softening agent is released from the product is, it is generally preferred to add a total of from about 25 g to about 50 g of the fabric conditioning agent in to have a product intended for multiple use, usually for 5 to 10 dryer cycles. In general an amount of about 0.1 g of Textilkonditioniermxttel per he of the plastic foam has proven to be suitable for highlighted an optimal delivery from the product.

It is possible to have more than one product in a tumble dryer machine at the same time, so that one after the other Release of textile conditioning agents is ensured during the drying cycle, e.g. B. by use of emollients that operate at different temperatures melt, or for a simultaneous treatment of different types of textiles. For example, it can be special be beneficial to the release of certain conditioning agents like germicides and perfumes towards the end of the textile treatment, especially if they use other conditioning agents disturb or be inhibited by other textile conditioning tools.

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The products according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing; in the drawing are:

Jig. 1 is a perspective view of a generally ball-shaped product;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a flower-shaped product;

3 is a perspective view of another product; which is in the form of a constricted bundle of strips of substrate;

Fig. 4- is a plan view of another, generally ball-shaped Product;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the product of Figure 4-; and

6 shows a perspective view of a further, ball-shaped product.

Referring to Figure 1, there are twelve pieces of soft, open cell polyurethane foam, each piece about 0.5 cm thick and generally oval in shape with a maximum length of about 12.5 cdi and a minimum width of about 10 cm possesses, with an alcoholic solution of a mixture of a textile softening agent in the form of a quaternary acimonium compound, in this case di-hardened tallow alkyldimethylammonium chloride, recrystallized from acetone, and a non-ionic ethylene oxide-propylene oxide condensate (trade name Ethylan PB) in a ratio of 90 : 10, also impregnated with a fragrance. The mixed conditioners v / ground at about 4-3 ⁰ C flowable, and deposited on the in each case a product processed plates amount was about 20 g. The impregnated pieces 1 were dried and then wound with a nylon cord around the center of the pieces

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was tied together, ie perpendicular to and about halfway along the maximum dimensions, in such a way that the whole product 2 assumed a ball-like appearance with the edges of the pieces Λ from a more densely packed and more folded center 3 excelled. It should be understood that the foam pieces can be impregnated with the fabric softening agent in sheet form before they can be cut into shape, if so desired, or that they can be soaked after being strung to form the finished product. All of the pieces 1 can optionally be tied into a single bundle, but it is preferred to tie them together in two bundles of six each having a generally hemispherical shape, the bundles then being tied back to back to provide a better shape of the final product. ' keep.

In a practical experiment that shown in FIG. 1 was used Product with regard to its properties of softening textiles and its antistatic properties with a j conventional, im. Commercially available liquid fabric softener for textiles of the type that were put into the final rinse water by hand; in a spin dryer after normal washing of textiles I

is given, as well as with a commercially available fabric softener Product of the type of impregnated non-woven material for use in the tumble dryer compared. at In this test, the conventional product in the form of the soft,

spülers and the other commercially available fabric softener | Product under the specified conditions in a household washing machine j with a spin dryer or in a household \ tumblertrockner used. The product according to the invention was applied in the same household tumble dryer for 4-5 minutes wherein the outlet temperature was from 24 C to 78 ⁰ C at the end of the drying cycle, both for the treatment of

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Baunwolllhandt Ichern as well as from KyIon garments «It was found that the product according to the invention 2.7 S des textile softening agent during the first drying process released in the tumbler, and that progressively smaller amounts of the softening agent in the subsequent studies were released until the product was no longer sufficiently effective after five cycles of use. The other two products had to be changed every time they were used.

The fabric softening properties were judged by an arbitration tribunal by experienced professionals regarding the handle of Textiles examined, and the antistatic properties according to a standard antistatic stick test, in which, a A 6 kV static charge was applied to the treated fabrics, and the time it took for them to be measured was then measured needed to fall off a grounded metal plate.

In these investigations it was found that the softening and antistatic properties of the product according to the invention were approximately the same as those when a conventional fabric softener was used, although there were noticeable advantages over the untreated textiles. The product according to the invention achieved this without the disadvantage of special rinsing before drying in the centrifuge at Terwenddung the conventional product. Both the product according to the invention and the liquid product used for comparison were far superior to the known product in the form of impregnated fleece material in terms of the softness of the textiles. The antistatic properties were particularly good, with the time up to. Clinging was reduced from about 50 seconds to only 3 seconds when the 6 kV charge was initially applied by treatment with the product of the invention.

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Further beneficial results were obtained when the product according to FIG. 1 with an 80:20 mixture of the same plasticizing agent Means, namely di-hardened tallow-dimethylammonium chloride, with another non-ionic surfactant, namely a condensate product of a secondary linear one Cv. ^ - C.c alcohol with 12 moles of ethylene oxide (trade name Tergitol 15-S-12) was impregnated. Good results have been also achieved when adding 1% perfume to this fabric softener composition was added, whereby the treated textiles with multiple dryer cycles an attractive, lasting, fresh fragrance was granted.

Further tests were also carried out with other fabric softeners, namely 80 parts by weight of J-alkyloxy ^ -hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (the alkyl group was derived from apssaat oil and contained about 64% C 1, p-alkyl groups, about 22% C _x . o-alkyl groups and about 12% C ^ Q-alkyl groups) or a condensation product of 2 Hol stearic acid with 1 mole of N-hydroxyethylenediamine, and 20 parts by weight of sec.-linear-C ..- Cp-alcohol-12Ä0- Condensate. (EO = ethylene oxide unit) 35 g of these mixtures were used in the product constructed according to FIG. 1, which was made of sheets of laminated foam with a 6 mm inner layer with large pore dimensions and two outer layers of 1 mm of a foam with small pore size . These products were used to tumble dry fabrics in five successive cycles, and in each case the softening effect was readily noticeable when compared to untreated fabrics.

The product according to Fig. 2 is in the shape of a flower, under certain circumstances. an appearance similar to a rose, and consists of ten "petals" 4, each of which is oval in shape and which together by tying them with nylon cord to form a

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Handle section 5 are attached, the handle section 5 possibly covered by a plastic show cap, not shown, to promote its appearance «The petals 4 (and, if present, the cap) are each made of soft, open-cell polyurethane foam of about 0.5 cm Starch impregnated with the same second mixture of textile conditioning agents as described for the product of FIG except that the ratio was varied from 80:20 to 70:30.

In Fig. 3 is a bundle of seven strips 6 of soft polyurethane foam, each about 5 inches wide and about 0.5 a is thick, from a winding strip 7 of the same foam material held together around the middle sections of the strips wrapped around and secured by stapling (not shown). The product was treated with the same textile conditioner, as previously described for Figure 2, by treating the foam in the form of flats prior to building the shape shown of the product impregnated.

Both products of Figures 2 and 3 gave satisfactory results fabric softening and antistatic properties during use,

In Figs. 4 and 5, eight hexagonal pieces are made of thick Foam panels 8 placed one on top of the other, with two larger ones Pieces 8a are adjacent and the progressively smaller pieces 8b, 8c and 8d are towards the outer ends of the products to be located, so that overall a ball-shaped appearance is obtained. The eight pieces of plastic foam are through an elastic cord held together by their midpoints and they are held in place by a thin plastic disk 10 at each end. Before their arrangement in the The shape shown was the plastic foam pieces with a fabric conditioning agent impregnated.

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During the use of the product, the conditioning agent melts at the elevated temperatures that occur in the tumble dryer during drying, and a small part of the Conditioning agent on the surface of the product removed by contact with the textiles to be treated. Both the interfacial tension and that due to the elastic The pressure exerted through the product then encourages the movement of the remaining textile condensation agent to the Surface of the product for more effective use and multiple uses of the product.

In a practical test of the product, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a polyurethane foam with a thickness of 12 mm per plate was used, the diameter of the product at the widest point being about 15 cm. The total amount of fabric softener used was 45.5 g of a mixture of 58 % di-hardened tallow-dimethylammonium chloride, 22 % sec-linear C 1-4 alcohol-12-0 condensate and 20 % water. This product was used to treat fabrics in a household tumble dryer using the recommended procedure, the product being found to have about 5 1/2 fabric softener on the first drying cycle, about 2 g during the next cycle and then gradually decreasing amounts between about 1 and 2 g for each of the next ten cycles. It was found that the treated textiles were noticeably softer than the non-treated textiles used for comparison.

Further investigations were still carried out, with different ones Fabric conditioning agents were used. In one test, a 15% strength aqueous dispersion of a copolymer was used of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, produced by reacting 2 hols of ethylene glycol with 1 hol of terephthalic acid

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and then reacting the product with additional polyethylene, glycol (commercially available under the trade name Permalose T) used to impregnate the Schauni panels, these were then dried. The product obtained, containing 30 g of the antifouling aid was used to treat polyester fabrics in a tumble dryer, and it was found satisfactory, improved, antistatic properties and anti-soiling properties to those treated Textiles were given during five consecutive drying cycles.

In a further test, the product was treated with 20 g of a 24: 1 mixture by weight of tallow alcohol-5Qa0-condensate and Dinatriuia-4, '4- ^l -di (2 "-anilino-4" -diethanolaminotriazine-6 ^ll -ylamino) -stirDen-2.2 ^l -disulfonate (trade name Photine C) impregnated. Cotton sheets were tumble dried using this product, and it was found that the apparent whiteness was improved under artificial lighting for several tumble dryer cycles.

In a variation of the shape of the product of FIGS. 4 and 5 it is possible to produce a hollow center that can optionally be filled with fabric softening agent.

The product shown in FIG. 6 is constructed in a certain way similar to the product of FIG. 3, except however, the shape of the piece of plastic foam. With this one The product will be six pieces 11 made of plastic foam sheets used, each of which has the shape of a rectangle of which two triangular parts have been cut off from the two longer sides, so that hexagonal pieces are formed each with a "waist" in the middle. The six pieces were in the lütte 12 with ITylon cord

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tied together _} so that overall a ball-like appearance was obtained. The sheets of plastic foam were impregnated with a textile conditioning agent, as described in FIGS. 4- and 5, before being cut out. The fabric conditioning agent can either be in molten, liquid form or as a solution in a solvent, e.g. B. in isopropyl alcohol, which is then evaporated, can be applied.

In a practical embodiment of a product according to FIG. 6, polyurethane sheet material of 6 mm thickness was used, and the total maximum length of the product was 12.5 cm, "the maximum width (i.e. at the end of each piece of foam plastic sheet) was 10 cm. The pieces of foam plastic were with about 4-3 g of the same mixture of fabric softener as it was used for the product of Figures 4- and 5, impregnated. When this product is used in a tumble dryer, it has been found that textiles are more satisfactory Manner for at least five drying cycles.

When a comparative test was carried out using a single sheet of the same plastic foam impregnated with the same fabric conditioning agent, it was found that, although a satisfactory amount of fabric conditioning; by means of in the first drying cycle, only insufficient textile conditioning agents were subsequently available for satisfactory properties when used repeatedly. Another comparison test was performed using a commercially available product with a single plate of this foam of about 20 cm χ 7? 5 cm, was approximately '' 2J5 g Textilweichniacher. It was found that only about 0.5 S of the fabric softening agent was transferred to the drying textiles during a normal process in the tumble dryer, this being insufficient to obtain a satisfactory fabric softening effect or any worth mentioning antistatic properties. Furthermore, there was no benefit in attempting to reuse the product.

Claims (12)

26U635 patent claims 1.Product for treating textiles in a tumble dryer, wherein the product consists of a flexible, with a condition! determined in the impregnated substrate or carrier is produced, characterized in that one or more pieces of resiliently flexible, impregnated substrate or carrier in several layers with one another be attached. 2. Product according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastically flexible substrate or the elastically flexible The carrier is a sheet of foam plastic that has a thickness of about 0.25 "to about 2 cm and in particular about 0.5 to about 1 cm. 3 · Product according to claim 2, characterized in that the Foam plate has a pore number of about 10 to about 30 cells per centimeter and especially from about 15 "to about 25 cells has per centimeter. 4-, product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the resiliently flexible substrate or the resiliently flexible carrier is a crosslinked plastic foam is, 5- Product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the resiliently flexible substrate or the resiliently flexible carrier is formed from laminated plastic foam sheets. 609843/081 5 - 21 - 26H635 6. Product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastically flexible substrate or
the least flexible carrier is formed from sheets of polyurethane foam. 7. Product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of about 2 to about 12 pieces
Substrate or carrier is formed, which are fastened to one another to form an overall ball-like shape. 8. Product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textile conditioning agent is a textile softening agent Contains funds. 9. Product according to claim 8, characterized in that the fabric softening agent a quaternary ammonium compound is. 10. Product according to claim 9 »characterized in that the quaternary ammonium compound with a non-ionic,
surfactant gowns in the ratio of about 2: 1 to
about 10: 1 parts by weight is mixed together. 11. Product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textile-softening smock is an antistatic Contains funds. 12. Product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric softening agent is a normally is a solid material that melts at elevated temperatures while drying in the tumbler. 6098A3 / 0815 Le first