EP1597343A1

EP1597343A1 - Fabric softening composition

Info

Publication number: EP1597343A1
Application number: EP04713130A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mark Laing; Laura Roscioli; Roberto Vanin
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser NV
Current assignee: Reckitt Benckiser NV
Priority date: 2003-02-22
Filing date: 2004-02-20
Publication date: 2005-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-20
Also published as: GB0304091D0; ES2305731T3; EP1597343B1; KR20050106445A; PL378205A1; WO2004074418A1; GB2398577A; KR101077800B1; ATE399841T1; DE602004014731D1; PL203995B1

Abstract

A composition comprising a cationic fabric conditioning agent, a water-soluble protein or derivative thereof, a thickener that is substantive to the fibres of a fabric, a fabric softening silicone and water. Preferably, the cationic fabric conditioning active is di-(tallow carboxyethyl) hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium X<-> and the water-soluble protein is selected from wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein and soya. The thickener is preferably a water-soluble polymer, more preferably a cationic carbohydrate, most preferably a guar gum. The silicone is preferably an aminosilicone or a methicone derivative and the balance of the composition is water. Most preferably, the composition additionally comprises a fatty compound as a co-softener. The composition has excellent fabric softening properties and also protects fabrics, especially wool from felting.

Description

FABRIC SOFTENING COMPOSITION

The present invention relates to fabric softening compositions that not only provide excellent fabric softening benefit but also protect the fabric, especially wool fabric, from felting. The fabric softening composition contains, in addition to common ingredients found in such compositions, at least one thickener that is substantive to the fabric, a fabric softening silicone compound and at least one protein or derivative thereof.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fabric conditioner composition which not only provides excellent fabric softening benefit but also protects the fabric, especially wool fabric, from felting. Felting is the process whereby fibres, in particular wool fibres, become impossibly matted. In particular it can be a problem with the use of warm/hot "soapy water" during the washing process, which opens up the wool fibre structure. When the wool fibres are cooled in the rinse cycle this can lock the fibre structure into a matted state. Clearly a product that can protect against felting, especially during the rinse cycle, has a major benefit in helping garments retain their original size and finish.

Such compositions preferably have a medium to high viscosity (by medium to high viscosity we mean from 50 to 50,000 cps, preferably from 100 to 1,500 cps, as measured using a Brookfield LVT viscometer, spindle no. 2 at 12 rpm and at 20°C.

The present invention may suitably be used for fabric comprising natural and/or man-made/synthetic fibres. Such fibres can be comprised of protein (for example wool, silk), cellulose (for example linen, cotton, jute), regenerated cellulose (for example viscose, lyocell), a cellulose derivative (for example acetate, triacetate), an acrylic, a polyamide or a polyester. Many fabrics will contain two or more such types of fibres. Preferably the compositions of the present invention are used for wool or wool mix fabrics. We present as a first feature of invention a (fabric softening/rinse cycle additive) composition comprising: a) a cationic fabric softening active in an amount of 3 to 45%, preferably from 4 to 20%, ideally from 4 to 15%, by weight; b) from 0.1 % to 20%, preferably from 0.15 % to 15%, and even more preferably from 0.2 % to 10%, by weight of a water-soluble (preferably at least two and/or ideally no more than three) protein or a chemically modified derivative, preferably the protein source is selected from; wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein, and soya; c) from 0.01% to 10%, preferably from 0.05% to 8%, and even more preferably from 0.1% to 5%, by weight of a thickener that is substantive to the fibre of fabric; d) from 0.1% to 15%, preferably from 0.2% to 10%, and even more preferably from 0.3% to 8% of a fabric softening silicone; and e) water.

Cationic fabric softener

A cationic fabric softening active is an essential ingredient of the invention. Typical levels within the compositions are from 3 to 45%, preferably from 4 to 20%, ideally from 4 to 15%, by weight of the composition.

The preferred, typical, cationic fabric softening actives include the water- dispersible quaternary-ammonium fabric softeners or amine precursors thereof:

Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds herein have the formula (I) or (la), and include a mixture thereof;

|RHCO> -R-N (-R''X RO) HX-R- <CO>R')pC (I) (RHCO>NH-R-N⁺(-R¹X^O)_rHX-R-NH CO>R')pC(la)

wherein: R is an alkylene or alkenylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

R' is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms; n is an integer having a value of 1 to 4;

R" is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydrogen; and

X^" is a softener-compatible anion.

Non-limiting examples of softener-compatible anions (X^") include chloride, formate, nitrate, sulfate or Cl-4alkyl sulfate, preferably methyl sulfate.

The alkyl or alkenyl R' ideally must contain at least 10 carbon atoms, preferably at least 14 carbon atoms, more preferably at least 16 carbon atoms. The group may be straight or branched.

Unsaturated fatty acid and partially hydrogenated fatty acid derived from vegetable oils are usually convenient and relatively inexpensive sources of long chain alkyl and alkenyl material. The preferred compounds wherein R'represents these mixtures of long chain materials includes, but is not limited to, rape-seed oil, canola oil, peanut oil and sunflower oil. A preferred, non- egetable sourced, R' group is tallow.

A specific example of quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use in the invention is di-(tallow carboxyethyl)hydroxyethylmethyl ammoniumX^".

The softener compatible anion (X^") is merely present as a counterion of the positively charged quaternary ammonium compound. The nature of the counterion anion is not critical at all to the practice of the present invention. The scope of this invention is not considered limited to any particular anion. By "amine precursors thereof is meant the secondary or tertiary amines corresponding to the above quaternary ammonium compounds, said amines being substantially protonated in the compositions due to the pH values of the composition. One or more of, at total levels of up to 20%, 10% or 5% by weight of the composition, the following may also be added alongside the cationic fabric softener as a co-softening ingredient;

i. fatty amine compound; ii. fatty amide compound; iii. fatty acids; iv. fatty alcohols;

Thickener

The thickener is present in the composition in amounts of from 0.01% to 10%, preferably from 0.05% to 8%, and even more preferably from 0.1% to 5%, by weight. The thickener preferably is substantive to the fibre of the fabric being treated, this means that the thickener associates with the fibre of the fabric treated, remaining, at least in part, on the fibre after rinsing and drying. It will be appreciated that the thickener selected will not necessarily be substantive to all possible types of fabric fibre, especially synthetic fibre. It is preferred that the thickener selected is one that is substantive to natural fibres, especially cotton or wool. Therefore, the thickener is preferably positively charged at the pH of the composition.

Examples of suitable thickeners are water soluble polymers.

By water-soluble we mean that the thickener is found in the majority, greater than 90%, in the water phase rather at 25°C than the oil phase of the composition.

Suitable water-soluble polymer thickeners are polyacrylates, co-polymers of polyacrylates and carbohydrates.

Suitable carbohydrates are high molecular weight materials whose mass- average molecular weight [Mw] (determined, for instance, by light scattering) is generally from 2,000 to 5,000,000, preferably from 5,000 to 3,000,000, more preferably from 100,000 to 1,000,000. The carbohydrate used is preferably a polygalactomannan (a polygalctomannan being a carbohydrate which is predominantly comprised of mannose and galactose units). Preferred carbohydrates are selected from; chitin and gum (including but not limited to; xanthan, locust bean, guar, honey locust and flame tree, preferably guar gum is used).

Guar gums are polygalactomannans and are defined in the Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12^th Edition, published by Von Nostrand Reinhold in 1993, and edited by E J Lewis, and these pages are incorporated herein by reference.

Preferred chemical modification of the carbohydrate is esterification or etherification on the free hydroxyl groups of the carbohydrate.

Preferred derivatives of carbohydrate, which includes hydrolysed forms are modified with a nonionic substituent, such as hydroxylCl-δalkyl, an anionic substituent, such as carboxyCl-6alkyl, or a cationic substituent, such as a primary amino, secondary amino, tertiary amino, quartenary ammonium, sulfonium or phosphonium group.

Cationically modified polymers are preferred. Quaternary ammonium derivatives of carbohydrates, especially of chitins and guar gums, are of particular interest, such as, quaternary ammonium guar gums. A preferred derivative includes those modified with a cationic group, which additionally may also be modified with a nonionic group first. A preferred cationic group is quartenary ammonium, ideally selected from one of the following;

[N(R1)(R2)(R3)(R4)]⁺X-

wherein Rl is a monohydroxylated or polyhydroxylated Cl-6alkyl; R2 and R3 are independently, Cl-6alkyl; R4 is a Cl-24alkyl group; and X^" is a counterion, as defined above. Methods of making such carbohydrate derivatives are described in WO9818828 and the specific examples 1 to 29 are each incorporated herein by reference.

Representative classes include quaternary ammonium group-containing glycogen, gum or chitin polysaccharides.

Preferred compounds are : guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride.

Protein or chemically modified derivatives

Present in the formulation in an amount of from 0.1% to 20%, preferably from 0.15 % to 15%, and even more preferably from 0.2 % to 10%, by weight. The composition comprises of at least one type of water-soluble protein or chemically modified derivative. The protein may be derived from either animal or vegetable sources or by fermentation. Ideally the protein is not an enzyme. Preferably the protein has been dematured. The term protein is used to include both native and hydrolysed proteins comprising proteins properly so-called and polypeptides, peptides and peptones (the latter can all be categorised as hydrolysed proteins).

Preferably the protein source is selected from; wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein, and soya.

By water-soluble we mean that the material is found in the majority, greater than 90%, in the water phase at 25°C rather than the oil phase of the composition.

Preferred chemical modification to produce the derivative includes, esterification or etherification of hydroxy or carboxy groups, acylation of amino groups, quartenisation of amino groups or covalent bonding to the amino groups of the protein. The Mw of the protein or chemically modified derivatives is preferably from 500 to 500,000 Daltons, ideally from 1,000 to 20,000 Daltons.

Preferred derivatives are alkyl quaternary derivatives or silicone derivatives.

Examples of quaternary ammonium derivatives which may be useful in the present invention include quaternary ammonium derivatives of wheat protein, keratin, silk, elastin and collagen, including as the starting materials natural materials per se, natural materials which have been hydrolysed, chemically modified, and fully synthetic materials .

Preferred derivatised proteins are :

cocodimethylammonium salt of hydrolysed protein, cocodimethylammonium salt of protein, lauryl dimethylammonium salt of hydrolysed protein, lauryl dimethylammonium salt of protein, stearyl dimethylammonium salt of hydrolysed protein, stearyl dimethylammonium salt of protein, stearyl dimethylammonium salt of hydrolysed protein, stearyldimonium propyl (or hydroxy propyl) salt protein, and condensate of a polyfunctional silicone and protein or a hydrolysed protein.

Preferred silicone derivatives are the examples described in EP0540357 and US5679819, the examples of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Fabric Softening Silicone

A preferred feature of the invention is the addition of a fabric softening silicone, preferably an aminosilicone or methicone based compounds, present in the formulation in an amount of from 0.1% to 15%, preferably from 0.2% to 10%, and even more preferably from 0.3% to 8%, by weight.

In industrial practice, the term "silicone" has become a generic term which encompasses a variety of relatively high molecular weight polymers containing siloxane units and hydrocarbyl groups of various types. The use of silicones for softening fabrics, i.e., providing lubrication between fibres and yarns so they move over one another more easily, has been well known for quite some time. The use of organomodified silicones for textile treatments has also been well documented over the years (See U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,620,878, Gee, issued Nov. 4, 1986; 4,705,704, Lane et al., issued Nov. 10, 1987; 4,800,026, Coffmdaffer et al., issued Jan. 24, 1989; 4,824,877, Glover et al., issued April 25, 1989; and 4,824,890, Glover et al, issued April 25, 1989). Silicones of this type are typically delivered to textiles in the form of an aqueous emulsion, either as a macro emulsion or a microemulsion.

Preferred fabric softening silicone are of the formula

R¹ Me Me R⁵

R² - SiO - (SiO)_x - (SiO)_y - SiO - R⁶

I I I I

R³ R⁸ R⁴ R⁷

wherein each R¹, R², R³, R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷ are independently selected from; phenyl, C_1-6 alkyl, a primary, secondary, tertiary or quartenary amine, polyether, C_2- alkenyl , hydrogen, hydroxy and hydroxyC_1-4alkyl;

R⁴ is -R⁹-NH-CH2CH₂-NH ; R9 is a C_3-6 alkylene and most preferably is propyl, isopropyl or isobutyl group;

R8 is Cι-₆ alkyl, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or mixture thereof, and wherein x and y may be any number provided that the Mw is between 200 and

20000.

Such compounds may be synthesised according to Syntheses and Reactions of Uniform Size Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) with Various Reactive End Groups" Polymer Journal Vol. 19, No. 9, pρl091-l 100, issued March 26, 1987. The silicone may be of any structure that gives rise to one or more of the desired benefits in use of the fabric softener formulation. Preferably the silicone is linear, but it also may be cyclic, such as the cyclic methicones.

A preferred class of silicones are the methicones (methylsiloxane), preferably the di or trimethicones, and their derivatives, such as, amodimethicone.

Preferably the silicone is emulsified by the one or more surfactants, such as a non-ionic surfactant. Preferably the silicone is pre-emulsified prior to addition to the composition .

In the final product, the weight ratio of total fabric softening agent to total fabric softening silicone is from 1:1 to 50:1, more preferably from 1.2:1 to 20:1, more preferably 1.5 : 1 to 10 : 1.

Water

Preferably deionised water is used. Preferred amounts of water are "to balance". Preferably there is at least 50%, 60%, 70% or 80%, by weight of water.

EH

For the preceding fabric softening agents, especially with biodegradable fabric softening agents, the pH of the liquid compositions herein is a preferred parameter of the present invention. Indeed, it influences the stability of the quaternary ammonium compounds, especially in prolonged storage conditions. The pH, as defined in the present context, is measured in the neat compositions at 20°C. For optimum hydrolytic stability of these compositions, the neat pH, measured in the above-mentioned conditions, must be in the range of from 2 to 5. The H of these compositions herein can be regulated by the addition of a Bronsted acid. Examples of suitable acids for adjusting the pH of the composition include inorganic mineral acids, carboxylic acids, in particular the low molecular weight (C_\- C₅) carboxylic acids. Suitable inorganic acids include HC1, H₂SO₄, HNO₃ and H₃PO₄. Suitable organic acids include formic, acetic, citric, tartaric. Preferred acids are citric, hydrochloric, phosphoric, formic, and benzoic acids.

Perfume

The products herein can also contain from 0 % to 10 %, preferably from 0.1 % to 5 %, more preferably from 0.2 to 4% by weight of the finished composition of perfume. Fabric softening products typically contain perfume to provide an olfactory aesthetic benefit and/or to serve as a signal that the product is effective.

Stabilisers

Stabilisers may also optionally be added. When used, said stabiliser will help achieve the desired finished product viscosity as well as stabilising the finished product upon storage. Stabilisers are typically selected from inorganic sulfites, single long chain alkyl cationic surfactants, non-ionic alkoxylated surfactants, amine oxides, fatty acids, and mixtures thereof, typically used at a level of from 0 to 15 % by weight of the composition.

Electrolyte Stabilisers

Inorganic viscosity control agents which can also act like or augment the effect of the stabilisers, include water-soluble, ionisable salts which can also optionally be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention.

A wide variety of ionisable salts can be used. Examples of suitable salts are the halides of the Group I A and IIA metals of the Periodic Table of the Elements, e.g., calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium bromide, and lithium chloride. The ionisable salts are particularly useful during the process of mixing the ingredients to make the compositions herein, and later to obtain the desired viscosity. The amount of ionisable salts used depends on the amount of active ingredients used in the compositions and can be adjusted according to the desires of the formulator. Typical levels of salts used to control the composition viscosity are from 20 to 2000 parts per million (ppm), preferably from 20 to 1100 ppm, by weight of the composition.

Alkylene polyammonium salts can be incorporated into the composition to give viscosity control in addition to or in place of the water-soluble, ionisable salts above. In addition, these agents can act as scavengers, forming ion pairs with anionic detergent carried over from the main wash, in the rinse, and on the fabrics, and may improve softness performance. These agents may stabilise the viscosity over a broader range of temperature, especially at low temperatures, compared to the inorganic electrolytes.

Specific examples of alkylene polyammonium salts include 1-lysine monohydrochlori.de and 1,5-diammonium 2-methyl pentane dihydrochloride.

Optional

The composition may also contain one or more optional components conventionally included in fabric conditioning compositions such as, surfactant concentration aids, emulsifiers, colourants, preservatives, optical brighteners, antifoam agents, chelating agents, natural and/or synthetic extracts, fluorescers, hydrotropes, anti-redeposition agents, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, anti-static agents, ironing aids and mixtures thereof.

Ideally the amount of optional ingredients that may be included in the composition is less than 15%, ideally less than 3%, by weight. Solvent

Preferably any solvents used are low molecular weight water-soluble or water-miscible solvents, preferably with MW <350, ideally less than 200MW . The solvents may be an organic solvent selected from, lower alcohol such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol, other low molecular weight alcohols include monohydric, dihydric (such as glycol) trihydric (such as glycerol) or a polyhydric (polyol) alcohol.

The solvent may also have the following formula:

R₁-O-[CH₂-CH(R)-(CH₂)_a-O]_n-H

wherein: a is 0 or 1 n is from 1 to 5

R each is independently selected from H or CH₃

Ri is H, linear or branched C_mH _2m+ι, (where m is 1 to 15, preferebly 1 to 10) or

The solvent may also be an ester oil such as isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate.

Non-limiting preferred solvents and levels are from 5% to 15% by weight of the total composition, as follows:

propylene, dipropylene or tripropylene glycol; propylene, dipropylene or tripropylene glycol ether; ethylene or propylene glycol phenyl ether; diethylene glycol monobutyl ether; propylene glycol monobutyl ether; butylene glycol; hexylene glycol; iso-propanol; ethanol; isopropyl myristate; isopropyl palmitate.

Antifoam Agents

The compositions of the present invention optionally comprise from about 0% to about 0.5%, preferably from about 0.01 % to about 0.4%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.2% by weight of the composition, of a silicone antifoam agent. The amount of the silicone antifoam agent present is in addition to the presence of any fabric softening silicone added to the composition.

The antifoam component of the present invention comprises a silicone. The silicone materials employed as the antifoam agents herein can be alkylated polysiloxane materials of several types, either singly or in combination with various solid materials such as silica aerogels and xerogels and hydrophobic silicas of various types.

Product Use

The present invention also encompasses a method for treating fabric, especially wool or mixed wool fabric, which comprises the step of contacting said fabric in a rinse cycle of a fabric washing machine with an aqueous medium containing a composition as defined hereinbefore. Preferably, the aqueous medium is at a temperature between 2 to 40 °C, more preferably between 5 to 25 °C.

The present invention also comprises the use of a composition as defined hereinbefore in the prevention of felting of wool or mixed wool fabric during the rinse cycle of a fabric washing process.

The invention is illustrated in the following non limiting example, in which all percentages are on an active weight % basis unless otherwise stated. EXAMPLE

TABLE 1. Sample Formulae

1 Esterquat 18 supplied by Undessa S A.

2 Jaguar C 14S supplied by Rhodia.

3 Coltide Cotton supplied by Croda Colloids Ltd.

4 Coltide HQS (wheat protein) supplied by Croda Colloids Ltd.

5 Silicone DC 2-8035 supplied by Dow Coming

6 Silicone HV495 supplied by Dow Corning

7 Coltide CySi supplied by Croda Colloids Ltd.

8 Flosoft supplied by SNF

Viscosity between 100 and 1,500 cps (at 20°C) with a Brookfield LVT Spindle 2 at 12rpm. Evaluation

Fabrics used for softness and felting evaluation

Pure wool 100% pastel colour (thick wool, knitted swatches)

Pure wool 100% pastel colour (thick wool, knitted swatches) Pure silk 100% uncoloured Mixed 30:70 silk wool blend

Typically four samples of each fabric are used, one each for evaluation after three, five, ten, fifteen and twenty repeated wash and rinse cycles.

Fixed test conditions

Four washing machines of the same model are used for the test. The test conditions described are controlled before to start the test for each of the four washing machines. During the testing products the towels are changed between the machines so that each product is used equally in each of the four washing machines. In this way all test swatches undergo the same treatment.

Washing

The washing machines are loaded with ballast and test swatches, paying attention to use the same procedure for all the products. The detergent is added as normal, according to the label instructions. The test fabric conditioner added into the rinse cycle.

After the wash and rinse cycles are completed the test swatches are line dried.

The other test swatches which undergo more than one wash are line dried between each wash cycles before the assessments. Evaluation

For test swatches which undergo more than one kind of assessments the order of the evaluation must be the following: instrumental evaluation, visual evaluation and lastly feel of fabrics.

Evaluation of softness

The softness evaluation (feel of fabrics) is measured by means of a panel test.

A panel of at least five trained techmcians was used. Softness evaluations are carried out after three, five, ten, fifteen and twenty repeated wash cycles.

For each fabric the samples washed with the various test products are compared to each other, using one of the products as a reference product, according to the following scale:

0 reference product

1 Very small difference 2 Perceivable difference

3 Clear difference

4 Strong difference

+positive (better than reference product) - worse than reference product

Evaluation of shrinking

This is tested in accordance with the Woolmark test method TM 628 September 1999. The level of shrinking is measured after three, five, ten, fifteen and twenty repeated wash cycles. For the measurements each of the IWS wool test specimen is left to soak/relax for one hour in the steel tray with lcm high cold tap water, successively, still in the water, length and width measurements are taken.

The degree of shrinkage is reported as % of reduction of surface area.

% reduction = 100 x {(Lu_W-Lw) x (W_uw - W_w)}/ (Lu_W x W_uw)

where:

Luw ⁼ length unwashed swatch

L_w = Length washed swatch W_uw = width unwashed swatch W_w = width washed swatch

Evaluation of felting

The degree of felting is measured by means of a panel test. A panel of at least five trained technicians is used obtain reliable result. The samples washed were compared to each other, using the corresponding unwashed fabric sample as a reference, according to the following scale:

1 As reference (unwashed fabric)

2 Very small difference 3 Perceivable difference

4 Clear difference

5 Strong difference

The results from the panel tests are treated according to the Kramer method, DIN 44983 part 50.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

a) a cationic fabric softening active in an amount of 3 to 45% by weight; b) from 0.1% to 20% by weight of a water-soluble protein or a chemically modified derivative; c) from 0.01 % to 10% by weight of a thickener that is substantive to the fibres of a fabric; d) from 0.1% to 15% of a fabric softening silicone; and e) water.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cationic fabric softening active is a compound of formula (I) or (la), or a mixture thereof;

jR'-<CO> -R-N(-R''X-^O)₁₁HX-R-O<CO>R') Φ

wherein:

R is an alkylene or alkenylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R' is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms; n is an integer having a value of 1 to 4;

R" is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or hydrogen; and X^" is a softener-compatible anion.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2 containing from 4 to 20% by weight of cationic fabric softening active.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 3 containing from 4 to 15% by weight of cationic fabric softening active.

5. A composition as claimed in any claim from 1 to 3 containing a thickener that is a water soluble polymer.

6. A composition as claimed in any claim from 1 to 5 containing from 0.1% to 5% by weight wherein the protein source is selected from; wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein, and soya.

7. A composition as claimed in any claim from 1 to 6 wherin the fabric softening silicone is an aminosilicone or a methicone based compound.

8. A composition as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the balance of the composition is water.

9. A composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cationic fabric softening active is di-(tallow carboxyethyl) hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium X^".

10. A composition as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the composition additionally comprises one or more of the following co-softening ingredients: i. fatty amine compound; ii. fatty amide compound; iii. fatty acid; iv. fatty alcohol.

11. A composition as claimed in claim 11 wherein the total levels of co-softening ingredient(s) is up to 20% by weight of the composition.

12. A composition as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the thickener is a derivatised carbohydrate.

13. A composition as claimed in claim 12 wherein the derivatised carbohydrate is one which has been cationically modified.

14. A composition as claimed in claim 13 wherein the carbohydrate is guar gum.

15. A composition as claimed in claim 13 wherein the carbohydrate is modified with a cationic group sleected from; primary amino, secondary amino, tertiary amino, quartenary ammonium, sulfonium or phosphonium group.

16. A composition as claimed in claim 15 wherein the carbohydrate is modified with a cationic group of fomula;

[N(R1)(R2)(R3)(R4)]⁺X-

wherein Rl is a monohydroxylated or polyhydroxylated Cl-6alkyl; R2 and R3 are independently, Cl-6alkyl; R4 is a Cl-24alkyl group; and X^" is a counterion.

17. A method of treating fabrics, especially wool or mixed wool fabrics, which comprises the step of contacting said fabrics in a rinse cycle of a fabric washing machine with an aqueous medium containing a composition as defined in any claim from 1 to 15.

18. Use of a composition as defined in any claim from 1 to 15 in the prevention of felting of wool or mixed wool fabrics during the rinse cycle of a fabric washing process.