JP2551479B2 - Fabric conditioning composition - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fabric conditioning composition suitable for bringing fabrics into proper condition during the rinsing stage of a fabric laundering process or the drying stage in a tumble dryer.

It is known to treat fabrics with a fabric conditioning composition after the fabric washing process, which often involves the use of anionic surfactants.

It is known in the art to add one or more conditioning agents when treating the fabric in a tumble dryer. For example, to impart flexibility to a fabric, it is possible to interlock the fabric in a tumble dryer with a flexible substrate, which typically carries a solid fabric conditioning agent, Canadian Patent 1,005,204 (Procter and G
amble) is known from the specification. Also, European Patent No. 95,33
From 5, No. 144,186 and No. 204,484 it is known to add powder conditioning agents during the rotary drying of fabrics.

In the fabric treatment in the rinsing cycle of the fabric washing process,
It is known in the art to add one or more conditioning agents. For example, British Patent No. 1,260,584 (A
It is known from the RMOUR) specification to soften fabrics by using a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound and a tertiary amine oxide in the rinse cycle.

It is known that anionic surfactants introduced from the wash cycle of a fabric washing process adversely affect the effectiveness of fabric conditioning compositions containing fabric softeners used in the rinsing or drying steps of the fabric washing process. is there. This problem can be alleviated by rinsing the fabric thoroughly before treating it with a fabric conditioner, or perhaps by using a fabric conditioning composition that is less sensitive to the presence of anionic surfactants. can do. Furthermore, it is known from EP 63,899 (UNILEVER) to overcome the problem of anion carry-over by the use of an anionic scavenger, for example aluminum chlorohydrate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fabric conditioning composition that imparts an excellent softening effect to fabrics not only when there is no anion brought in, but when there is anion brought in.

Another object of the present invention is stability, especially viscosity 10
Easy to prepare when producing products of 0 mPas or more,
And to provide a fabric conditioning composition that has a nice creamy appearance.

Surprisingly, the inventors have found that combining a cationic fabric softener with certain other ingredients in a fabric conditioning composition can achieve one or more of the above objectives.

 Thus, there is provided a fabric conditioning composition comprising (i) a cationic fabric softener, (ii) an amine, and (iii) an amphoteric fabric conditioning material.

The fabric conditioning products of the present invention can be either liquid, semi-solid or solid. Preferred embodiments of the fabric conditioning composition include an aqueous liquid detergent composition, a fabric conditioning composition applied to a substrate for use in a tumble dryer, and a solid powder composition for use in a tumble dryer. The product form is preferred.

When the fabric conditioning composition is an aqueous liquid detergent composition, the weight of (i) is at least 20% and the weight of (ii) is at least 5% based on the total weight of components (i)-(iii). %, And the weight of (iii) is at least 5%
It is preferred that

Components (i)-(iii) when the fabric conditioning composition is applied to a support for use in a tumble dryer or when the fabric conditioning composition is a solid for use in a tumble dryer. It is preferred that each component be present at a level of at least 5%, based on the total weight of.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The fabric conditioning composition of the present invention comprises at least three active ingredients: (i) a cationic fabric softener, (ii) an amine, and (iii) an amphoteric fabric conditioning material.

Cationic Fabric Softener The cationic fabric softener material is preferably a water insoluble cationic material with a solubility of less than 10 g / l in water at pH 2.5 and a temperature of 20 ° C. A highly preferred material is a cationic quaternary ammonium salt with two C12-24 hydrocarbyl chains.

Known types of substantially water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds have the formula Wherein R ₁ and R ₂ are hydrocarbyl groups having about 12 to 24 carbon atoms, R ₃ and R ₄ are hydrocarbyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X is preferably Is an anion selected from halides, methylsulfates and ethylsulfates.

Representative examples of these quaternary softeners are ditallowdimethylammonium chloride; ditallowdimethylammonium methylsulfate; dihexadecyldimethylammonium chloride; di (hydrogenated tallow) dimethylammonium methylsulfate; dihexadecyldiethyl chloride. Ammonium; includes di (coconut) dimethyl ammonium chloride. Preferred are ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, di (tallow hydrogenated) dimethyl ammonium chloride, di (coconut) dimethyl ammonium chloride and di (coconut) dimethyl ammonium methosulfate.

Further suitable materials include dialkyl ethoxymethyl ammonium methosulfate based on soft fatty acids,
Dialkyl ethoxymethyl ammonium methosulfate based on hard fatty acids, and R ₃ and R ₄ are methyl, R ₁ is C _13-15 , R ₂ is CH ₂ CH ₂ OCOR (where R is stearyl and , And X is methosulfate. Each of R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ is methyl and R ₁ is Also suitable is a material wherein R is hardened tallow (also called beef tallow) and X is methosulfate. Preferred are ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, di (tallow alkyl hydride) dimethyl ammonium chloride, di (coconut alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride and di (coconut alkyl) dimethyl ammonium methosulfate.

Other preferred cationic compounds include European Patent No.
Materials such as those disclosed in US Pat. No. 239,910 (P & G) are included. The patents are incorporated herein by reference.

In the present specification, the hydrocarbyl group means -OH, -O.
It means an alkyl or alkenyl group optionally substituted or interrupted by a functional group such as-, -CONH, -COO-.

Other preferred materials include the formula A material commercially available from Stepan under the trademark Stepantex VPH 90, where R ₅ is partially hardened beef tallow; [Wherein R ₈ , R ₉ and R ₁₀ are each an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a benzyl group, and R ₆ and R ₇ are each 11 to 23 An alkyl group or an alkenyl group containing a carbon atom of
X ⁻ is a water-soluble anion substantially free of the corresponding monoester].

Other types of water-insoluble cationic materials include the formula [Wherein R ₁₃ is a hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and R ₁₁ is 8 to 25
A hydrocarbyl group containing 8 carbon atoms, wherein R ₁₄ is 8
A vitrocarbyl group containing ~ 25 carbon atoms, and
R ₁₂ is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and A ⁻ is preferably the anion of a halide, methosulfate or ethosulfate].

Preferred imidazolinium salts include 1-methyl-1-
(Tallowylamido-) ethyl-2-tallowyl-4,5
-Dihydroimidazolinium methosulfate and 1-
Included is methyl-1- (palmitoylamido) ethyl-2-octadecyl-4,5-dihydro-imidazolinium chloride. Other effective imidazolinium materials are 2-
Heptadecyl-1-methyl-1- (2-stearylamido) -ethyl-imidazolinium chloride and 2-lauryl-1-hydroxyethyl-1-oleyl-imidazolinium chloride. The imidazolinium fabric softening component of U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,489 is also suitable for the present invention, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference.

Arquad 2HT (manufactured by AKZO) for quaternary ammonium compounds; Noramium M2SH
(Made by CEKA); Aliquat 2HT (trademark of General Mills Inc.); Stepantex Q185 (made by Stepan); Stepantex VP85 (St
epan); Stepantex VRH90 (Stepan); Synprolam FS
(Manufactured by ICI), and Varisof for imidazolinium compounds
t 475 (Sherex Company, a trademark of Columbus, Ohio) and Rewoquat W7500 (a trademark of REWO).

In addition to the amine cationic fabric softener, the composition of the present invention comprises 1
Contains one or more amines.

In the present specification, the "amine" means the following (i) to (iv).

Formula (i) [Wherein R ₁₅ , R ₁₆ and R ₁₇ are defined below].

Formula (ii) [Wherein R ₁₈ , R ₁₉ , R ₂₀ and R ₂₁ , and n and m are defined below].

Formula (iii) [Wherein R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ and R ₁₄ have the same meanings as defined above].

(Iv) Condensates formed by reacting fatty acids with polyamines selected from hydroxyalkyl alkylene diamines and dialkylene triamines and mixtures thereof. European Patent Application No. 199 382 (Procter and Gamble)
Suitable materials are disclosed in the description. The patents are incorporated herein by reference.

When the amine is of formula I above, R ₁₅ is a C ₆ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl group, R ₁₆ is a C ₁ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl group and R ₁₇ is a C ₁ -C ₁₀ hydrocarbyl group. Suitable amines include materials that derive the above quaternary ammonium compounds where R ₁₅ is R ₁ , R ₁₆ is R ₂ and R ₁₇ is R ₃ . The amine is R ₁₅ and R ₁₆ are both C ₆ -C ₂₀ alkyl, most preferably alkyl with C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ and R ₁₇ is C _1-3 alkyl, or R ₁₅ is It is preferably an alkyl or alkenyl group having at least 22 carbon atoms and R ₁₆ and R ₁₇ are C _1-3 alkyl. For use in the fabric conditioning compositions of the present invention, these amines are preferably protonated with hydrochloric acid, orthophosphoric acid (OPA), C _1-5 carboxylic acids or other similar acids.

When the amine is of formula II above, R ₁₈ is a C ₆ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl group and R ₁₉ is an alkoxylation of the formula — (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) yH, where y is 0-6. R ₂₀
Is an alkoxylated group of formula — (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) zH, where z is 0-6, R ₂₁ is a C ₁₂ -C ₂₂ hydrocarbyl group, and m is 0-6. It is an integer, preferably 3, and n is an integer of 1 to 4. When m is 0, R ₁₈ is C
₁₆ -C ₂₂ alkyl, the sum of z and y is 1 to 6, is preferably preferably 1 to 3. When m is 1, R ₁₈
Is C ₁₆ -C ₂₂ alkyl, and the sum of y and z is preferably 3-10.

Typical commercial materials of this type include Ethomeen (Armour
Products) and Ethoduomeen (product of Armor).

The type (i) or (iii) amines are also preferably protonated for use in the fabric conditioning compositions of the present invention.

Particularly preferred materials when the amine is of type (iv) above are: [Wherein R ₂₂ and R ₂₃ are divalent alkenyl chains having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and R ₂₄ is an acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon chain having 15 to 21 carbon atoms] is there. Ceranine HC39 (Sandoz
Made).

Amphoteric Fabric Conditioning Materials Amphoteric fabric conditioning materials for use in the compositions of the present invention include fabric direct amphoteric materials.
amphotheric material). Suitable for this are amphoteric materials which disperse in particulate form at a concentration of less than 1 g / l at least at a temperature of 0 to 100 ° C. For purposes of this invention, a fabric direct amphoteric material is a zwitterionic or zwitterionic tertiary or quaternary cation having either a single very long chain hydrocarbyl side chain or two long hydrocarbyl chains. Quaternary ammonium compounds are preferred. Among these compounds, the use of amphoteric or zwitterionic ammonium compounds with two long hydrocarbyl chains is particularly preferred for a number of reasons including cost and ease of processing, stability and efficacy. .

It is already known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,335 (BASF Corp.), to use fatty amphoteric compounds with one hydrocarbyl long chain in liquid fabric softening ingredients.
A single very long chain amphoteric or zwitterionic material as used in the compositions of the present invention means that the very long chain hydrocarbyl chains contain substantially more carbon atoms. . For purposes of the present invention, this single very long chain hydrocarbyl long chain is preferably 16-50.
Carbon atoms, more preferably 22 to 50 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 24 to 40 carbon atoms.

The amphoteric or zwitterionic ammonium compound has two long hydrocarbyl chains each containing 8 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 20 carbon atoms, most preferably about 16 carbon atoms. Is preferred.

Fabric direct amphoteric materials suitable for use in the fabric treatment composition of the present invention include, for example: I) Formula: Ampholytes of formula II): Hydrocarbyl betaine, III) Formula: Hydrocarbylamide betaine, IV) Formula: Or A glycinate or propionate of formula V): [Wherein a) R ₂₅ and R ₂₆ are C _1-25 hydrocarbyl chains, R ₂₇ is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a group — (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n H, R _28, R ₂₉ and R _30, -O -, -
CONH, -COO-, etc. can be interrupted - (CH ₂₎ - a and, R ₃₁ is R _27, r is 0 or 1, n is an integer from 1 to 6, X, Y is SO ₃ , SO ^{2 −} or COO ⁻ , or b) R ₂₅ is a C _16-50 hydrocarbyl chain, and R ₂₆ and R ₂₇ are hydrocarbyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a group — (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n H- and R ₂₈ , R ₂₉ and R ₃₀ are -O-,
-CONH, -COO-, etc. can be interrupted - (CH _{2) n} -, and, R ₃₁ is R _27, r is 0 or 1, n is an integer from 1 to 6, X, Y is SO _3, SO ^2- or COO ^- is tertiary amine oxide of a.

The textile direct amphoteric material is preferably water insoluble and has a solubility in water at pH 2.5 and a temperature of 20 ° C. of less than 10 g / l.

 The HLB of the fabric direct amphoteric material is preferably less than 10.0.

Examples of amphoteric materials of the above type and methods for their preparation are disclosed in our co-pending European patent application No. 89200113.2.

Of the above-listed materials, the Group V materials are especially preferred, for example amine oxides containing two hydrocarbyl groups with at least 14 carbon atoms, such as di-cured tallow methyl amine oxide, or at least 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are amine oxides containing one hydrocarbyl group. It has been found that amine oxides provide a particularly beneficial softening effect, and that compositions containing amine oxides are generally easy to prepare, have a stable and attractive creamy appearance. Therefore, it is clearly preferable.

Optional Ingredients The compositions of the present invention are preferably substantially free of anionic materials, especially anionic surfactants. If such a material is present, the weight ratio of cationic fabric softener to anionic material is preferably greater than 5: 1.

Further, the composition comprises a non-aqueous solvent (eg C ₁ -C ₄ alkanol and polyhydric alcohol), a pH buffer (eg HCl, H ₂ S
Strong or weak acid such as O ₄ , phosphoric acid, benzoic acid, citric acid (pH of liquid composition is preferably less than 5.0), rewetting agent, viscosity modifier (eg electrolyte such as calcium chloride), gelation Inhibitors, fragrances, fragrance carriers, fluorescent agents, colorants, hydrotropes, defoamers, redeposition inhibitors, enzymes,
Optical brighteners, opacifiers, stabilizers (eg guar gum (gu
ar gum) and polyethylene glycol), emulsifiers, shrink-proofing agents, anti-wrinkle agents, fabric crisping agents.
agents), stain inhibitors, soil release agents, fungicides, linear or branched silicones, fungicides, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, preservatives (eg Bronopol ™, commercially available 2-
Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), dyes, bleaches and bleach precursors, drapers, antistatic agents, anti-redeposition agents, dye transfer inhibitors and ironing aids. It may contain one or more optional ingredients.

The optional ingredients, if added, are each present at a level of up to 5% by weight of the composition. The pH of the composition is preferably 5 or less, or adjusted to this.

A particularly preferred anti-redeposition agent for the compositions of the present invention is a polymer. Suitable polymers can include alkyl and hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers such as methylcellulose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

The compositions of the present invention may contain silicone as an iron aid, rewetting agent or defoamer.
Suitable silicones for use in the compositions of the present invention are predominantly linear polydialkyl or alkylaryl siloxanes in which the alkyl group has 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The siloxane can be amide or amino substituted. If the siloxane is amine substituted, the amine groups may be quaternized.

In addition to the cationic fabric softener, the composition may further contain other non-cationic fabric softeners, such as nonionic fabric softeners. Suitable nonionic fabric softeners include glycerol esters (eg glycerol monostearate), fatty alcohols (eg stearyl alcohol), alkoxylated fatty alcohols, C ₉ -C ₂₄ fatty acids and lanolin and derivatives thereof. European Patent Application No. 88 520 (Unilever PLC / NV Case C 132
5), 122 141 (Unilever PLC / NV Case C 1363) and 79 746 (Procter and Gamble) disclose suitable materials. The patents are incorporated herein by reference. Typically these materials are included in amounts of 0.5 to 10% by weight of the composition.

Liquid Compositions One of the preferred embodiments of the compositions of the present invention is an aqueous liquid fabric conditioning composition comprising a cationic fabric softener, an amine and an amphoteric softening material. The amphoteric soft material is preferably an amine oxide.

The total amount of the three components in the liquid composition is preferably 1 to 60% by weight of the composition, more preferably 3 to 30% by weight. Based on the total weight of the three active agents, the weight of the cationic softening agent is 90% or less, preferably 25 to 75%, more preferably 40 to 60%, particularly preferably about 50%. The weight is 70% or less, preferably 10 to 60%, more preferably 15 to 40%, particularly preferably about 25%, and the weight of the amphoteric material is 60% or less. If the amphoteric material is an amine oxide, this component is preferably less than 60%, more preferably 10-50%, particularly preferably 15-40%, most preferably about 10%, based on the weight of the three active agents. 25%.

The optimum weight ratio of the three active ingredients in the fabric conditioning composition depends on the level of anions introduced from the wash cycle. The present inventors have found that a weight ratio of cationic fabric softener to amine to amine oxide of about 2: 1: 1 gives good results under most conditions of use.

The liquid composition of the present invention can be prepared by various methods. One suitable method consists of forming a molten mixture of cationic fabric softener, amine and amphoteric material, which is added to water with stirring to form a dispersion, and then optional ingredients are added.

In use, the fabric conditioning composition of the present invention may be added to a large volume of water to form a solution that contacts the fabric to be treated. Generally, the total concentration of cationic fabric softener, amine and amine oxide in this solution is about 30-500 ppm. The weight ratio of fabric to solution is usually
40: 1 to 4: 1.

When the composition of the present invention is added to water containing a high level of anionic surfactant, the composition includes an anion scavenger such as a low molecular weight cationic material,
Better results are obtained. A suitable material for this is pH 2.
5 and solubility in water at a temperature of 20 ° C is greater than 5 g / l,
Cationic compounds preferably greater than 10 g / l, a particularly preferred material is Arquad 18 (Arquad 18 is a commercial form of hardened tallow trimethylammonium chloride.) Tumble dryer products Other preferred of the invention An embodiment is to combine a support with a mixture of active ingredients including a cationic fabric conditioner, an amine and an amphoteric material. Also in these compositions, the amphoteric material is preferably an amine oxide.

The support for use in the fabric conditioning products of the present invention can be in various forms such as blocks, bars, flakes, balls or sheets, but preferred is one or more flexible sheet supports. .

Such supports are well known in the art and include woven and non-woven supports, polymeric supports, extruded supports and the like. Suitable supports are disclosed, for example, in Canadian Patent 1,005,204 (Procter and Gamble).

The bond between the support and the fabric conditioner of the invention is
It can be prepared by any method of coating the active material on a support. For example, such methods include coating the support with a fabric conditioner or impregnating the support into the fabric conditioner. When using such methods, it is preferable to mix the active ingredients with a solvent for them, apply this solution to a support and evaporate said solvent, for example under low pressure.

Other suitable methods for associating the support with the fabric conditioner material include sprinkling the solid material onto the support or applying the material in molten form onto the support.

The ratio of addition of the fabric conditioning material to the support is
It is preferably 20: 1 to 1:20, more preferably 1: 1 to 10: 1. Particularly preferred is a total amount of conditioning material of 0.5 to 10 g, more preferably 0.75 to 7.5 g, particularly preferably 1 to 5 g, for binding the support and the fabric conditioning material.

Another preferred embodiment of the fabric conditioning composition of the present invention is a composition in solid, preferably powdered material form. These materials are preferably used during processing of the fabric in the tumble dryer. In this use, the composition may be included in, for example, a sachet or other dispensing container. Containers suitable for use in tumble dryers are eg EP 194,813 (Unilever NV)
As disclosed in the specification.

In use, the solid fabric conditioning composition of the present invention comprises the active material in an amount of 0.5 to 10 g, preferably 1 to 10.
It is used in an amount of 5 g, particularly preferably 1.5 to 3 g.

A fabric conditioning composition for application to a support or for use in solid form comprises a fabric softener of 5% or more, an amine of 5% or more and an amphoteric material of 5% or more, based on the weight of the three active materials. Consists of. The weight of the fabric softening material is preferably 5 to 90%, more preferably 20 to 85%, particularly preferably about 80%. The weight of amine is preferably 5
-50%, more preferably 5-40%, particularly preferably 5-5%
35%, most preferably about 10%. The weight of the amphoteric material is preferably 5 to 90%, and if the amphoteric material is an amine oxide, its weight is preferably 5 to 50%, more preferably 5 to 35%, particularly preferably 5 to 25%. , Typically about 10%.

The optimum weight ratio of the three active ingredients in the fabric conditioning composition containing amine oxide is 8: 1: 1 cationic material: amine: amine oxide.

The invention will now be described using non-limiting examples.
Examples 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B are included for comparison only. In all examples, all parts and percentages are by weight. Where reference is made to commercial materials, the percentages quoted are the percentages of active ingredients therein.

Examples 1-2 Compositions were prepared according to the formulations shown in the table below. A composition was prepared by co-melting the cationic fabric softener, amine and amine oxide at 80 ° C. (Amine is Armeen M2HT
At that time, orthophosphoric acid was added to the water before forming the co-melt. In contrast, when Ceranine HC39 was used, the components were dispersed before the acid was added. The co-melt thus formed was added to water at 80 ° C. and sonicated for a few minutes (soniprobe) to form a dispersion, which was cooled to room temperature.

 The composition was tested as follows.

Commercially available powder laundry detergent, UK Persil Automatic, in a tergotometer with Wirral water (10 ° FH)
Dissolve in 1 liter and add 40 grams of cotton terry towels to 50
Wash at 5 ° C. for 5 minutes. 5 grams of powder laundry was used.
After separating the wash liquor, the fabric sample is subjected to 25 ° C with Wirral water.
Rinse twice with 4 ml of test composition during the second rinse. After hanging on a rope and drying, the flexibility of the fabric samples was evaluated by a professional judge in comparison with a control test.

As a result, the flexibility of composition 1 was superior to that of compositions 1A and 1B. Thus, a tertiary system containing cations, amines and amine oxides provided the best flexibility. The same results were obtained when the compositions 2, 2A and 2B were compared.

Further comparison of Compositions 1 and 2 revealed that the product containing Ceranine HC39 dominated.

Examples 3-6 In these examples, a comparison was made between amine-protonated tertiary compositions and non-protonated tertiary compositions. The composition was prepared according to the above method according to the formulation in the table below.

The compositions were tested according to the methods described in Examples 1 and 2.

The results showed that composition 3 containing the protonated amine was superior to composition 4.

When Ceranine HC39 was used as the amine, the composition containing the protonated material, Example 5, and the composition containing the unprotonated material, Example 6, gave similar results.

Examples 7-15 The following compositions of the present invention were prepared by the above method.

5-di-cured tallow methyl imidazolinium salt 7-Chloride Hardened Tallow Trimethyl Ammonium 8-Dicoconut Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride 9-Di Hardened Tallow Imidazoline Amine Examples 16-21 The following compositions of the present invention were prepared by the above method.

Examples 22-29 Sheet products for tumble dryers were prepared as follows. Arquad 2HT, Ceranine HC39 and DHTMAO were used as active materials. The active ingredients are melted together, about 3 g of the mixture
Was mixed with 10 ml of chloroform. Activator, JRCrompt
Non-woven perforated polyester support from on plc was absorbed on 11 cm x 9 cm, then the support was dried.

In Example 28, a commercial tumble dryer product BOUN
CE (Procter & Gamble) was used for comparison.

In Example 29, no fabric conditioner was added to the tumble dryer.

Using a 1 meter long terry towel in front of the Miele front loading and unloading automatic washing machine, wash 8 times in 24 FH water at 60 ° C to make it stiff, hang it on a rope and dry it, ballast load 2kg Was used in a tumble dryer. The dryer was run at high temperature for 90 minutes. Judges measured flexibility. The higher the score, the higher the flexibility.

From the above table, it can be seen that Examples 22-27 released less active agent on the fabric, but all formulations were more flexible than the BOUNCE sheet.

Examples 30-37 The tertiary activator mixtures of Examples 22-29 were melted, cooled and ground to give a powder softening composition. This powder was placed in an open cup with a bottom compartment as shown in Figure 1 of EP 204,484 (Unilever NV).

BOUN the activator using chloroform for comparison
Extracted from CE sheet, dried and ground.

2 g of powdered material was added to the cup. Example of dryer conditions
Same as 22-29.

Example 37 did not use soft material to serve as a control experiment. The results are shown below.

Example 38 Di (hydrogenated tallow) dimethylammonium chloride [Arquad 2HT] 50% as component (i), Di (hydrogenated tallow) methylamine [Armeen M2HT] 25% as component (ii)
An aqueous dispersion containing 5% of the active ingredient consisting of 25% of amine oxide as component (iii) was prepared. The following four types were used as amine oxides: A: di-cured tallow methyl amine oxide B: dicocomethyl amine oxide C: hardened tallow dimethyl amine oxide D: behenyl (C ₂₂ ) dimethyl oxide amine Among these amine oxides, , B and D satisfy the requirements of the present invention, but C does not satisfy the requirements of the present invention in that it has only one hydrocarbyl chain of less than C ₂₂ .

40g of stiff terry towels were treated in a tergotometer under the following conditions: 3g of 5% dispersion in water, 3.5g / l of ABS (anionic surfactant for the simulation of anions brought in from the wash liquor) Agent) 10 ml, Wirral tap water, rinsed at 60 rpm for 5 minutes, and line dried.

Twelve expert panelists judged which of a pair of treated towels felt more flexible. The results were as follows.

AvB 12- 0 AvC 12- 0 AvD 11-1 BvC 12- 0 BvD 5-7 CvD 0-12 From the above results, the composition containing amine oxide A shows the highest flexibility among the tested compositions. It was The composition containing amine oxide B and the composition containing amine oxide D showed almost the same flexibility. The flexibility of the composition containing the amine oxide C was far inferior to that of the composition containing the amine oxide B or the composition containing the amine oxide D.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor William Frederik Suter Narey UK, Merseyside L 48.2 JT, Wilal, Coldy, Beaty, Close 2 (56) References JP-A-60-115511 (JP, A) JP-A-58-74799 (JP, A) JP-A-56-148970 (JP, A) JP-A-57-176261 (JP, A) JP-A-48-54300 (JP, A) JP 60-24223 (JP, B2) JP 60-44428 (JP, B2)

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. The solubility of (i) 20 to 90% by weight in water at pH 2.5 and 20 ° C. is less than 10 g / l, based on the total weight of the following components (i) to (iii) 2. A cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener having a C ₁₂ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl chain, (ii) 5 to 70% by weight amine, (iii) 5 to 60% by weight, pH 2.5 and 20 ° C. Having a solubility in water of less than 10 g / l and having one C ₂₂ -C ₅₀ hydrocarbyl long chain or two C ₈ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl long chains, a tertiary or quaternary zwitterionic or quaternary ion. A liquid fabric conditioning composition comprising 1 to 60% by weight of a combination of an amphoteric fabric conditioning material which is a quaternary ammonium compound. 2. The fabric conditioning composition of claim 1, wherein the amphoteric fabric conditioning material is an amine oxide. 3. Cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener, (i) 40-60% by weight, based on the total weight of said three components (i) to (iii), (ii) 15-40. A fabric conditioning composition according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: wt% amine, (iii) 15-40 wt% amine oxide. 4. A fabric conditioning composition according to claim 1, which contains from 3 to 30% by weight of the active ingredient. 5. The solubility of (i) 5 to 90% by weight in water of pH 2.5 and 20 ° C. is less than 10 g / l, based on the total weight of the following components (i) to (iii) 2. A cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener having a C ₁₂ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl chain, (ii) 5 to 50 wt% amine, and (iii) 5 to 90 wt% pH 2.5 and 20 ° C. solubility in water is less than 10 g / l, 1 pieces of C ₂₂ -C ₅₀ hydrocarbyl long chain or tertiary or quaternary amphoteric or zwitterionic having two C ₈ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl long chain of A fabric conditioning composition for application to a support of a fabric conditioning product or for use in solid form, comprising an amphoteric fabric conditioning material which is an ammonium compound. 6. A fabric conditioning product comprising a solid support to which the fabric conditioning composition of claim 5 has been applied. 7. The fabric conditioning product of claim 6, wherein the support is a flexible sheet. 8. The fabric conditioning composition of claim 5, which is in powder form. 9. A cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener, (i) 20-85% by weight, based on the total weight of said three components (i) to (iii), (ii) 5-35. 9. A fabric conditioning composition according to any of claims 5 to 8 comprising (wt) amine, (iii) 5 to 35 wt% amine oxide. 10. A method of treating a fabric, comprising the step of contacting the fabric with a water bath containing the fabric conditioning composition of any of claims 1 to 4, said cationic fabric softener, said amine. And the total concentration of the amine oxide is 30 to 500 ppm. 11. A method of treating a fabric comprising the step of contacting the fabric in a tumble dryer with a support comprising 1-5 g of the fabric conditioning composition of any of claims 5-9. 12. A method of treating a fabric comprising the step of contacting the fabric with a powdered fabric conditioning composition according to claim 8 or 9 in a tumble dryer.