EP0052517B1

EP0052517B1 - Concentrated fabric softening compositions

Info

Publication number: EP0052517B1
Application number: EP81305438A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Eugene Burns
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1980-11-18
Filing date: 1981-11-17
Publication date: 1985-04-24
Also published as: JPS57154463A; MX157118A; AU7755981A; EP0052517A1; ATE12947T1; JPH0152507B2; DE3170187D1; AU544660B2

Abstract

An aqueous concentrated cationic fabric softening composition wherein the cationic softener system comprises a mixture of a mono nitrogen quaternary ammonium salt, a di(2-amidoethyl)methyl quaternary ammonium salt and an imidazolinium salt, the said cationic system having an Iodine Value of at least 4.2.

Description

This invention relates to fabric softening compositions and, in particular, to compositions in aqueous medium which contain a relatively high proportion of cationic fabric softening ingredients.
Conventional rinse-added fabric softening compositions contain fabric softening agents which are substantially water-insoluble cationic materials usually having two long alkyl chains. Typical of such materials are distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and imidazolinium compounds substituted with two stearyl groups. These materials are normally prepared in the form of an aqueous dispersion or emulsion, and it is generally not possible to prepare such aqueous dispersions with more than about 6% of cationic materials without taking special precautions to ensure acceptable viscosity and stability characteristics. Indeed, with cationic levels in excess of about 8% the problems of physical instability and high viscosity become, in the case of conventional fabric softening products, almost intractable. The formulation of fabric softener compositions with low levels of the active softener ingredients adds substantially to distribution and packaging costs.
In addition to shipping and packaging economy, another advantage of a more concentrated fabric softening composition is that it permits the consumer to exercise choice in the type of performance desired, in that the concentrated product can either be used as such or can be diluted to a conventional concentration before use. This opens up the possibility of supplying the concentrated fabric softening composition in a more economically packaged form intended for making up by the consumer into a conventional bottle.
The problem of preparing fabric softening compositions in concentrated form suitable for consumer use has already been addressed in the art, but the various solutions proposed have not been entirely satisfactory. US-A-3,681,241 utilizes a combination of quaternary ammonium softener, saturated imidazolinium softener, unsaturated imidazolinium softener and ionizable salts to formulate concentrated softeners, but the maximum concentrations achieved in that patent is only 13%. The use of certain special processing techniques for reducing viscosity has also been suggested (for example, in US-A-3,954,634) but again this does not provide a complete and satisfactory solution, and it is not an easy matter to adopt this type of process on a commercial scale.
In US-A-4,155,855, concentrated fabric softeners are disclosed which comprise three active softening ingredients, one of which is a highly soluble cationic fabric substantive agent. While such compositions do allow a high concentration of active ingredient, their overall softening performance is less cost effective than is the case with compositions containing predominantly a water-insoluble cationic softener. In US-A-4,149,978, mixtures of cationic softener and paraffinic materials are proposed in a certain ratio which can allow the preparation of concentrated softening compositions when relatively high proportions of paraffinic materials are employed. Paraffins are not essential components of the compositions of the present invention and are preferably absent therefrom. NL-A-6706178 relates to viscosity control in fabric softening compositions with up to 12% of cationic softener, and suggests the use of low molecular weight hydrocarbons for this purpose. GB-A-1,538,094 discloses a complex softener/disinfectant composition in which a long-chain fatty alcohol used at a relatively low ratio of cationic softener to alcohol is suggested as a solubilization aid. EP-A-0013780 discloses concentrated aqueous fabric softener compositions comprising a cationic softener and a viscosity control agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, fatty acids, fatty acid esters and fatty alcohols. EP-A-0018039 discloses concentrated aqueous fabric softening compositions comprising an insoluble cationic softener, a water-soluble nonionic or cationic surfactant and a hydrophobic adjunct selected from C₁₂ to C₂₀ paraffins and esters of C₁₂ to C₂₄ fatty acids and C, to C_s fatty alcohols. Water-insoluble fatty nonionic materials are not essential to the compositions herein and are preferably absent therefrom.
The object of the present invention is to provide highly concentrated aqueous fabric softening compositions, based on cationic softener systems, which do not require substantial quantities of materials other than the cationic softeners to ensure physical stability and acceptable viscosity.
The invention relates to highly concentrated aqueous liquid fabric softener compositions which comprise a mixture of specific types of cationic softeners and an ionizable salt, wherein the mixture of cationic softeners has an Iodine Value of at least 4.2.
In accordance with the present invention it has been found that when certain cationic softeners are formulated within certain proportions, highly concentrated aqueous fabric softening compositions are prepared which contain from 15% to 22.5% by weight of cationic softener ingredients. Specifically, the present invention is directed to concentrated aqueous fabric softener compositions which are pourable at 4.4°C (40°F), the said compositions comprising:

A. from 2% to 11 % by weight of a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula
wherein R₁ and R₂ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, R₃ and R₄ can be the same or different and are selected from C₁ to C₃ alkyl or―(C_nH_2nO)_xH groups wherein n is 2 or 3, x is from 1 to 3, and wherein X- is an anion selected from halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;
B. from 2% to 14% by weight of a di(2-amidoethyl) methyl quaternary ammonium salt having the formula
wherein R₅ and R₆ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein R₇ is selected from H, methyl, ethyl and (C_nH_2nO)_xH wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is from 1 to 5 and wherein X- is selected from halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;
C. from 2% to 13% by weight of an imidazolinium salt selected from compounds having the formulas
wherein R₈ and R₉ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein X- is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;
wherein R₁₀ and R₁₁ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl and X- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;
wherein R₁₂, R₁₃, and R₁₄ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl, wherein X^- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate; and mixtures of (1), (2) and (3);
D. from 0.05% to 0.6% by weight of an inorganic water-soluble ionizable salt; and
E. water;

The compositions of the invention are stable and pourable at normally encountered temperatures (4.4°C-37.8°C) and are easily dispersible in water. In the context of the present invention, "pourable" means having a viscosity below 5000 mPa's as measured by a Brookfield Synchro-lectric Viscometer with Spindle #4 at 60 rpm. The compositions provide excellent fabric softening and antistatic performance in laundry rinse solutions containing from 25 ppm to 90 ppm of the combination of Components A, B and C.
The mono nitrogen quaternary ammonium salt softener of the compositions herein has the structure:
wherein R₁ and R₂ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups and R₃ and R₄ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁ to C₃ alkyls, or―(C_nH_2nO)_xH wherein n is 2 or 3, x is from 1 to 3, and wherein X^- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate. It is preferred that X- be halide, and the preferred halides are chloride and bromide. It is preferred that R, and R₂ be alkyl, i.e., it is preferred that the unsaturation in the cationic active system come from Components B or C, or mixtures thereof. Exemplary compounds are dimyristyldimethyl ammonium chloride, dipalmityldiethyl ammonium bromide, distearyldimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyldimethyl ammonium bromide, distearyldiisopropyl ammonium bromide, diarachidyldimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl-2-hydroxypropylmethyl ammonium chloride, oleylstearyldimethyl ammonium ethylsulfate and distearyl-2-hydroxyethylmethyl ammonium methylsulfate. Preferably the R₁ and R₂ groups are derived from tallow and the R₃ and R₄ groups are methyl. The tallow can be hydrogenated or unhydrogenated. Hydrogenated (i.e., saturated) tallow is preferred, and halides are the preferred anions. Accordingly, preferred mono nitrogen quaternary ammonium salt softener compounds herein are dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium chloride and dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium bromide. Hydrogenated tallow often has some residual degree of unsaturation such that the lodine Value of hydrogenated ditallowdimethyl ammonium salts can be up to about 5.
Examplary commercial quaternary ammonium salts which are suitable for use as Component A in the compositions herein are dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium chloride sold under the name Adogen (RTM) 442, and ditallowdimethyl ammonium chloride (I.V. about 20-30) sold under the name Adogen (RTM) 470, both from Sherex Chemical Company.
The quaternary ammonium salts are used in the compositions herein at levels of from 2% to 11%, preferably from 5% to 10%. (All percentages and proportions herein are "by weight" unless specified otherwise).
The di(2-amidoethyl) methyl quaternary ammonium salt of the invention herein has the structure
wherein R₅ and R₆ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein R₇ is selected from H, methyl, ethyl and ―(C_nH_2nO)_xH wherein n is 2 to 3 and x is from 1 to 5 (preferably 3), and wherein X- is an anion selected from halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate. Preferably R₅ and R₆ are alkyl and R₇ is ―(C_nH_2nO)_xH. These compounds are used at levels of from 2% to 14%, preferably from 5% to about 10%, in the compositions herein. This class of compounds is disclosed in US-A-4,134,840.
Exemplary compounds are di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl) ethoxylated (2 ethoxy groups) methyl ammonium methylsulfate, di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl) dimethyl ammonium ethylsulfate, di(2-palmitylamidoethyl) methyl ammonium chloride, di(2-oleylamidoethyl) propoxylated (3 propoxy groups) methyl ammonium bromide, di(2-palmitoleylamidoethyl) dimethyl ammonium ethylsulfate and di(2- stearylamidoethyl) propoxylated (2 propoxy groups) methyl ammonium methylsulfate.
Exemplary commercial materials suitable for use as Component B herein are di(2-hydrogenated- tallowamidoethyl) ethoxylated methyl ammonium methylsulfate sold under the name Varisoft (RTM) 110, and di(2-tallowamidoethyl) ethyoxylated methyl ammonium methylsulfate (I.V. about 31).sold under the name Varisoft (RTM) 222, both from Sherex Chemical Company.
Component C, which is present at a level of from 2% to 13% (preferably from 3% to 10%) of the compositions of the present invention is a cationic softener selected from three different types of imidazolinium salts. These Component C materials are designated herein as C.(1), C.(2) and C.(3).
Component C.(1) has the formula:
wherein R₈ and R₉ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein X^- is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate. Preferably R₈ and R₉ are a mixture of alkly and alkenyl groups such that Component C.(1) has an I.V. of from 25 to 125, more preferably from 25 to 45.
Exemplary compounds of this type are: 1-methyl-1-tallowamidoethyl-2-tallowimidazolinium methylsulfate, 1-methyl-1-oleylamidoethyl-2-oleylimidazolinium chloride, 1-methyl-1-palmitoleylamidoethyl-2-palmitoleylimidazolinium ethylsulfate, 1-methyl-1-soyaamidoethyl-2-soyaimidazolinium methylsulfate and 1-methyl-1-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl-2-hydrogenatedtallowimidazolinium methylsulfate. Exemplary commercial materials are 1-methyl-1-tallowamidoethyl-2-tallowimidazolinium methylsulfate (I.V. about 42) sold under the name Varisoft (RTM) 475, and 1-methyl-1-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl-2-hydrogenated- tallowimidazolinium methylsulfate sold under the name Varisoft (RTM) 445, both available from Sherex Chemical Company.
Component C.(2) has the formula:
wherein R₁₀ and R₁₁ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl and X- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate.
Exemplary compounds of this type are: 1-ethylene bis(2-stearyl, 1-methyl, imidazolinium methylsulfate), 1-ethylene bis(2-oleyl, 1-methyl, imidazolinium methylsulfate) and 1-ethylene bis(2-tallow, 1-methyl, imidazolinium methylsulfate). The tallow derivative, in hydrogenated or unhydrogenated form, is commercially available from Sherex Chemical Company under the name Varisoft (RTM) 6112. The unhydrogenated material has an I.V. of about 29.
Component C.(3) has the formula:
wherein R₁₂, R₁₃, and R₁₄ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl, wherein X- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate.
Exemplary compounds of this type are: 1-methyl-2-stearyl-3[(stearylamidoethyl-stearylamino)-ethylene]imidazolinium ethylsulfate, 1-methyl-2-oleyl-3[(oleylamidoethyl-oleylamino)ethylene]imidazolinium ethylsulfate and 1-methyl-2-tallow-3[tallowamidoethyl-tallowamino)ethylene]imidazolinium ethylsulfate. The tallow derivative (I.V. about 32) is sold under the name Varisoft (RTM) 3012 by the Sherex Chemical Company.
Components C.(1), C.(2) and C.(3) can be used singly or in mixtures with each other.
Preferably Component C in the compositions herein is Component C.(1), wherein R₈ and R₉ are a mixture of alkenyl and alkyl groups such that the compound has an I.V. of from 25 to 125. Preferably Components A and B will be saturated compounds and the weight ratio of Component C to Components A + B will be at least 0.2:1 and the sum of Components A + B + C will be from 15% to 21%.
An essential feature of the compositions herein is that the cationic active system in the composition has an lodine Value (LV.) of at least 4.2, i.e., a substantial amount of unsaturation must be present. In accordance with the invention it has been found that high active compositions which are based on substantially water-insoluble cationic softeners, such as those of the invention, cannot be made without having a substantial amount of unsaturation in the cationic active system. When using all-saturated active systems, the compositions will gel and become unusable at room temperature and below. Preferably the I.V. is at least 10.5 and is most preferably from 10.5 to 34. The unsaturation can come from Component A, B or C, or any combination thereof. I.V. is a direct measure of the unsaturation and is based upon the reaction of iodine with unsaturated bonds in a molecule. The I.V. is defined as the number of decigrams of iodine which will react with one gram of the cationic active system. The standard technique for determining I.V. is well known in the art. If one knows the LV. of the individual components which are used in the active system, then the I.V. of the system can simply be calculated by multiplying the I.V. of each component by the percentage of that component in the composition and then dividing by the total percentage of components in the composition. For example, in a composition of the invention which contains 10% Component A, 5% Component B and 5% Component C, wherein Components A and B have I.V.'s of 0 and Component C has an I.V. of 40, the I.V. of the cationic active system is 10 (i.e., 5 x 40 - 20).
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that not all possible combinations of Components A, B and C throughout the total active level range of 15% to 22.5% will produce 4.4°C (40°F)-pourable compositions throughout the range of I.V.'s specified. Generally at the higher active levels, or at higher proportions of Component A in the system, higher I.V.'s are required. Also, if the unsaturation comes from Component A, a higher I.V. will be required than if the same quantity of unsaturation comes from Component B or C. Generally higher cationic system I.V.'s in the composition give a higher degree of pourability. However, excessively high I.V.'s (i.e., above 40) should be avoided since these can result in gelling in some instances during the making process.
Some formulation guidelines are given below.

1. A minimum I.V. of 4.2 provides suitable 4.4°C (40°F)-pourable compositions at 15% total cationic active when the ratio of Component A to Components B + C is from 0.2 to 1.14.
2. A minimum I.V. of 6.2 provides suitable 4.4°C (40°F)-pourable compositions at 18% total cationic active when the ratio of Component A to Components B + C is from 0.3 to 1.25.
3. A minimum I.V. of 6.5 provides suitable 4.4°C (40°F)-pourable compositions at 19% total cationic active when the ratio of Component A to Components B + C is from 0.4 to 1.1.
4. A minimum I.V. of 6.4 provides suitable 4.4°C (40°F)-pourable compositions at 20% total cationic active when Component A constitutes one-fourth of the cationic active.
5. A minimum I.V. of 7.7 provides suitable 4.4°C (40°F)-pourable compositions at 20% total cationic active when Component A constitutes 50% of the cationic active.
6. A minimum I.V. of 10.7 provides suitable 4.4°C (40°F)-pourable compositions at 22.5% total cationic active when Component A constitutes 49% of the cationic active.

Examples of various compositions of the invention wherein the total cationic level and the source and amount of unsaturation are varied are illustrated in the following table.
A wide variety of ionizable salts can be used as Component D in the compositions herein. The particular salt should be sufficiently soluble in the compositions to produce a concentration in solution of from 500 to 6000 ppm (preferably 500 to 4000 ppm) and should not adversely interact with the fabric softener compounds. Examples of suitable salts are the halides of the Group 1A and 2A metals of the Periodic Table of Elements, e.g., sodium chloride, potassium bromide, lithium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. The ionizable salts provide viscosity control, particularly during the process of mixing the ingredients to make the compositions herein.
The water used in the compositions herein is preferably distilled or deionized water and is generally present at levels of from 76% to 84%.
Preferred compositions of the invention are those wherein Components A and B are substantially saturated and Component C is unsaturated and is of the type identified herein as C.(1). These preferred compositions can be defined as follows.

A. from 3.75% to 10.5% (preferably from 5% to 10%) of a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula
wherein R₁ and R₂ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl groups, R₃ and R₄ can be the same or different and are selected from C₁ to C₃ alkyl groups and wherein X^- is halide;
B. from 3.75% to 10.5% (preferably from 5% to 10%) of a di(2-amidoethyl) alkoxylated methyl quaternary ammonium salt having the formula
wherein R₅ and R₆ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl groups, wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is a number of from 1 to 5 and wherein X- is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;
C. at least 2.5% (preferably from 3% to 10%, and most preferably from 3.75% to 5.25%) of an imidazolinium salt having the formula
wherein R_e and Rg are the same or different from each other and are selected from alkenyl groups or a mixture of alkyl and alkenyl groups, each containing from 14 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein X- is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate, and wherein said Component C has an lodine Value of from 25 to 125, preferably from 25 to 45;
D. from 0.05% to 0.4% of an inorganic water-soluble ionizable salt; and
E. water;

Various optional materials such as are ordinarily used in fabric softening compositions can be used in the compositions herein. These include, for example, perfumes at 0.1 % to 1.0%, antimicrobials at 0.01 % to 0.1% and dyes at 0.001% to 0.01%.
In general, it is conventional to include lower aliphatic alcohols such as ethanol and isopropanol in liquid fabric softener compositions; in fact, the softening ingredients are normally sold to the formulator in the form of 70% to 90% pastes in which a lower alcohol is a diluent. It has been found that the compositions herein should preferably be substantially free of lower aliphatic alcohols, and that in any event these alcohols should not be present in said compositions at levels in excess of about 3%. If the softener ingredients are purchased as dispersions in amounts of alcohol which would produce alcohol levels in excess of about 3% in the finished compositions herein, some or all of the alcohol should be removed (e.g., by heat-assisted evaporation) before use in preparing the compositions herein. Lower alcohols tend to cause viscosity increase during storage (particularly at higher storage temperatures) and if the alcohol is isopropanol, the odor imparted to the finished product is undesirable.
Agents which facilitate recovery of the compositions to a stable homogeneous liquid condition after having been subjected to freezing can be included in the compositions. Preferred freeze-thaw recovery agents are the di-polyethoxy monoalkyl amines of the formula
wherein R₁₉ is an alkyl or alkenyl group of from 14 to 20 carbon atoms and the sum of m + n is from 10 to 25. A preferred material is sold under the name Varonic (RTM) T220 by Sherex Chemical Company wherein R₁₉ is unhydrogenated tallow and the sume of m + n is about 20. Freeze-thaw agents are used in the compositions herein at levels of about 1%.
Care must be exercised in the preparation of the compositions herein. The order of addition and manner of mixing the components can have a significant effect on the physical characteristics of the composition. A particularly preferred method of preparation is as follows. Components A, B and C (and dyes, if used) are heated and blended together to form a melt at 79.4-85°C (175-185°F). This melt is then added gradually to 43.3°C (110°F) water with vigorous agitation. A portion of the ionizable salt is added to the water concurrently with the melted softeners at a rate necessary to keep the aqueous mix fluid and stirrable. Upon completion of the addition of the melted softeners, the remainder of the ionizable salt is added to produce the desired viscosity. Optional ingredients such as perfume, etc., are added after the viscosity of the mix has been reduced by the addition of most of the ionizable salt. After completion of the addition of ionizable salt the composition is cooled to room temperature before filling into containers.
It is desirable that the compositions herein have a pH of from 5.5 to 6.5. Acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric or citric or bases such as sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate can be added, as needed, to the compositions to achieve the desired pH. Normally, only very small amounts of such pH adjusting agents are required.
The invention will be further illustrated by the following example.

Example I

This example illustrates the preparation of a 90.7 kg (200 Ib) batch of a composition of the present invention.
Materials:

10.4 kg (23 lbs) of 87% active dihydrogenatedtallowdimethylammonium chloride (DTDMAC)¹
6.0 kg (13.3 lbs) of 75% active di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl) ethoxlated methyl ammonium methylsulfate (Varisoft (RTM) 110)²
5.0 kg (11.1 lbs) of 90% active 1-methyl-1-unsaturatedtallowamidoethyl-2-unsaturatedtallowimidazo- linium methylsulfate (Varisoft (RTM) 475, I.V. 42)³
0.54 kg (1.2 lbs) 1.35% solution of Polar Brilliant Blue dye in water
960 ml 25% w/v CaCl₂ in water
0.68 kg (1.5 lbs) perfume
66.7 kg (147 lbs) deionized water
120 g 20% w/v NaOH in water
' Contains 8% ethanol.
²Contains 12% isopropanol.
³Contains 10% isopropanol.

Equipment:

90.9 litre (20 gallon) capacity steam-jacketed pre-mix tank
227.1 litre (60 gallon) capacity main-mix tank equipped with vertically mounted, variable speed (50-500 rpm) mixer with impeller.

Procedure:

The pre-mix tank was charged with the molten softener actives in the sequence DTDMAC, Varisoft (RTM) 110, Varisoft (RTM) 475. The resulting mixture was heated with stirring to 76.7°C (170°F), at which time the dye solution was added. Heating of the mixture then continued until a temperature of 85°C (185°F) was reached.
The main-mix tank was charged with 66.6 litre (17.6 gal) of deionized water which was then heated to 43.3°C (110°F). The agitator was set at 150 rpm and the contents of the pre-mix tank (at 85°C) were pumped into the main-mix tank over a period of 5 minutes. During this 5 minute period the agitator speed was gradually increased to 275―300 rpm as the main-mix thickened. Also, beginning at the point where about one-half of the premix had been added, the CaCI₂ solution was added in portions (see table below) at such a rate as to maintain a stirrable, flowable mixture. As the viscosity decreased the agitator speed was gradually reduced back to 150 rpm. The 120 g of 20% NaOH solution was added about 7 minutes after the start of addition of the active pre-mix to the main-mix tank. (This solution of NaOH serves to adjust the final product pH to 6.0 and also reduces product viscosity:)
The perfume was added 20 minutes after the start of addition of the active pre-mix to the main-mix tank. Addition of CaCl₂ solution continued until the viscosity of the warm product was 0.14 Pa.s (140 cP). This required a final concentration of 2650 ppm (0.265% CaCl₂). Upon cooling to room temperature the resulting 90.7 kg (200 lbs) of product had a viscosity of 0.095 Pa.s (95 cP).
The following table records the chronology of CaCl₂ solution addition to the main-mix tank and corresponding viscosity readings, where taken.
The composition above had the following approximate formula:
The lodine Value of the total cationic active system was 10.5.
This composition exhibits excellent softening and antistatic performance and has excellent physical stability and pourability between 4.4°C (40°F) and 37.8°C (100°F). Another formula which exhibits comparable performance, physical stability and pourability is made as above except that the active system consists of 5% dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium chloride, 10% di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamido- ethyl)ethoxylated methyl ammonium methylsulfate and 5% 1-methyl-1-tallowamidoethyl-2-tallowimidazo- linium methylsulfate (Varisoft 475). This formula also has an lodine Value of 10.5 for the total cationic active system.

Claims

1. A concentrated homogeneous aqueous fabric softener composition which is pourable at 4.4°C (40°F), the composition comprising:

A. from 2% to 11 % by weight of a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R₁ and R₂ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, R₃ and R₄ can be the same or different and are selected from C₁ to C₃ alkyl and ―(C_nH_2nO_x)H groups wherein n is 2 or 3, x is from 1 to 3, and wherein X- is an anion selected from halide, methylsulfate and ethylsulfate;

C. from 2% to 13% by weight of an imidazolinium quaternary salt selected from compounds having the formulas

wherein R₈ and R₉ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein X- is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;

wherein R₁₀ and R₁₁ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl and X- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;

wherein R₁₂, R₁₃, and R₁₄ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl, wherein X- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate; and mixtures of (1), (2) and (3);

D. from 0.05% to 0.6% by weight of an inorganic water-soluble ionizable salt; and

E. water;
characterised in that the composition additionally comprises

B. from 2% to 14% by weight of a di(2-amido-ethyl) methyl quaternary ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R₅ and R₆ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein R₇ is selected from H, methyl, ethyl and (C_nH_2nO)_xH wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is from 1 to 5 and wherein X" is selected from halide, ethylsulfate and methylsulfate;

wherein the total amount of Components A + B + C is from 15% to 22.5% by weight, and wherein there is unsaturation present on at least one of Components A, B or C such that the cationic active system, Components A + B + C, has an Iodine Value of from 4.2 to 40.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 characterized in that the lodine Value is at least 10.5, preferably from 10.5 to 34.

3. A composition according to Claim 1 or 2 characterized in that Component A is present in the composition at a level of from 5% to 10% by weight.

4. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 3 characterized in that R₁ and R₂ are C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl groups and R₃ and R₄ are C₁ to C₃ alkyl groups.

5. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 4 characterized in that Component B is present in the composition at a level of from 5% to 10% by weight, wherein R₇ is―(C₂H₄₀)_xH and wherein x is from 1 to 5.

6. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 5 characterized in that Component C is C(1) and is present at a level of from 3% to 10% by weight.

7. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the ionizable salt is a halide of a Group 1A or Group 2A metal of the Periodic Table of Elements.

8. A composition according to Claim 1 characterized by:

from 3.75% to 10.5% by weight of Component A wherein R, and R₂ can be the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl groups, R₃ and R₄ can be the same or different and are selected from C₁ to C₃ alkyl groups and wherein X- is halide;

from 3.75% to 10.5% by weight of Component B wherein R₅ and R₆ are the same or different from each other and are selected from C₁₄ to C₂₀ alkyl groups, and R₇ is (C_nH_2nO)_x wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is a number of from 1 to 5;

at least 2.5% by weight of Component C(1) wherein R₈and R₉ are the same or differont from each other and are selected from alkenyl groups or a mixture of alkyl and alkenyl groups, and wherein said Component C(1) has an lodine Value of from 25 to 125; and

from 0.05% to 0.4% by weight of the inorganic water-soluble ionizable salt;

the total amount of Components A + B + C in said composition being from 15% to 21 % by weight.

9. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the weight ratio of Component C to Components A + B is at least 0.2:1, preferably from 0.2:1 to 1:1.

10. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 9 characterized in that Component A is dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium chloride, Component B is di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl) ethoxylated methyl ammonium methylsulfate preferably having about 3 ethoxy groups, and Component C is 1-methyl-1-tallow-amidoethyl-2-tallowimidazolinium methylsulfate having an lodine Value of about 40.