NO132053B - - Google Patents

Abstract

auxiliary plasticizer.

Description

The present invention relates to fabric softener or antistatic agent preparations for textiles which mainly consist of a textile softener (also mixtures of two or more textile softeners which are miscible with each other), and which are absorbed in an absorbent material with a suitable absorption capacity.

Certain chemical compounds have long been known in washing technology to have the desired property of giving textiles a certain softness. The property softness or being soft is well defined within the subject in question and, as it is used here, indicates the property of a treated textile product, whereby its grip or structure feels smooth, flexible and airy and not uneven or rough. These compounds have long been used in household washing and by the textile industry to soften finished textile goods and are generally known under the term fabric softeners, fabric softeners or antistatic agents.

Many of these compounds also act to reduce

the "static adhesion" of treated materials. Stubborn-

Technical adhesion is generally the phenomenon that a material adheres to another or partly to itself as a result of static, electrical charges on

the surface of the textile material. It can also re-

understand the adhesion of lint, dust and other similar unwanted substances to a material due to these static charges. It is noticeably present in materials that have been freshly washed and

dried in an automatic dryer. By softening and reducing static adhesion in a textile material, this is more comfortable to wear. Such treated materials are also easier to iron and have fewer creases to remove when ironing.

Softening agents are usually used in liquid form and powder forms, tablet forms and granular forms are known. However, all such softening agent mixtures have in common their limitation with regard to use in household washing, textile material washing and

- cleaning.

Use of these mixtures results in many disadvantages. E.g. the housewife very often forgets to add the fabric softener during the rinsing process in the washing process, and thus repeated rinsing is necessary until the fabric softener is remembered and added. Moreover, these softener mixtures are usually not measured in advance, and the result is that the housewife often uses an amount insufficient to properly soften the material, or she wastes the softener mixture by using too much of it.

It has previously been proposed to coat or impregnate cellulosic materials with a plasticizer with the aim of softening or otherwise treating the cellulosic material itself. Thus, only small amounts (5% by weight or less of the dry cellulosic material) of the plasticizer have been used for this purpose. Recently, the use of significantly larger amounts of softener-coated paper has been proposed for use as a softening mixture added to a dryer. However, this composition has the serious disadvantage of causing noticeable staining of the treated materials due to the too rapid release of the plasticizer from the paper substrate. The significance of regulating the release of the plasticizer from the substrate by regulating the absorption capacity of the material used as a substrate has not previously been understood.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a new softening agent preparation for textile materials which can be used in a standard automatic drying apparatus for clothes, and which eliminates or substantially reduces staining on the textile material.

It is a further object of the invention to provide softening agent preparations as stated above which give the material a soft grip, which approaches or is equal to that of materials that have been softened by aqueous dispersion methods.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide softening agent preparations which are measured in advance, and which do not need to be limited to use during the rinsing period in an automatic washing machine.

It is also an object to provide a method for softening textile materials in a standard automatic drying device for clothes, by which method the aforementioned object is achieved.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a preparation which can be used to impart antistatic properties to a number of textile materials, in particular synthetic textile materials used as upholstery in car seats and certain pieces of furniture.

It is also an aim to provide a preparation that can be used as a surface-active agent to clean objects made of wood (furniture), plastic and the like.

These and other purposes, which the expert in the field will recognize, are achieved by the present invention, which relates to a softening agent preparation essentially consisting of a softening agent for textile materials or a mixture of two or more compatible softening agents which are impregnated into an absorbent material which is also referred to here as a substrate. Preferably, the absorbent substrate is cellulosic, in particular a multi-layer absorbent paper or an absorbent non-woven cloth. The term "cloth" shall here denote a woven or non-woven textile material or cloth that is used as a substrate to separate

derive this component from the term "textile material", which here shall mean a textile material to be softened. Large amounts, usually in excess of 200 wt% of the dry substrate, of the plasticizer are required. When a single softening agent is used in accordance with the present invention, up to 20-30% of the amount impregnated into the substrate is available for softening the textile material. When mixtures of compatible softening agents are used, as described below, it has surprisingly been found that up to ^0% is available for softening the textile material.

The absorbent substrate prevents too rapid release of the softener and thereby eliminates staining on the textile material.

The softening agent preparations As described here, although they are effective when used to soften textile materials in rinse water, especially during the rinse period in a standard automatic clothes washer, find particular use for effectively softening textile materials in a standard automatic clothes dryer.

Preferably, the softener preparation comprises a softener or a mixture of compatible softeners which is impregnated into an absorbent paper or non-woven cellulosic cloth and made up into a roll or individual sheets. A desired length of the treated paper is torn from the roll or a sheet is removed from the package and placed in the clothes dryer, where the textile materials to be treated have been placed.-The clothes dryer is then operated in the usual way and softening occurs when the textile material is in direct contact with the treated substrate, whereby the softener is transferred from the absorbent substrate to the textile material. The necessary contact between the textile material and the softener-impregnated substrate is caused by the rotating or swirling action of a standard automatic clothes dryer.

The most important aspect of the plasticizer preparations according to the invention relates to the absorption capacity of the substrate used. When a plasticizer is coated on a "dense substrate" such as in a previously known mixture (e.g. one-layer kraft paper or fine paper), the plasticizer, when it melts at the drying temperature, is not sufficiently held back by the non-absorbent substrate, but is released in place quickly. Thus, when a textile material comes into contact with the coated substrate, too much of the softener adheres to the fibers of the textile material at the point of contact. The result is that the textile material appears heavily discolored, feels greasy or waxy to the touch at the locations of the textile material contact points and substrate, and is unevenly softened. The discoloration is particularly severe on dyed, polyester/cotton textiles, and discoloration on a textile material becomes more pronounced when ironing. Furthermore, a preparation containing such a non-absorbent substrate cannot be used more than once.

Thus, by using an absorbent substrate, discoloration on textile materials is eliminated or substantially reduced. The absorbent substrate acts to retain the fabric softener, but allows the smooth and continuous release of the softening medium from the substrate. By regulating the absorbency of the substrate, the softening caused by a mixture added to a drier can be regulated, so that the release of sufficient softening agent is correct to soften textile materials without the accompanying discoloration as with previously known mixtures. Furthermore, when the plasticizer preparation uses an absorbent substrate, the new preparation can be reused several times before it is discarded.

If the softener preparation is used in a washing machine, a sheet is taken out; from the package or a risked length is torn off from the roll and

placed in the rinse water, e.g. in the final rinse period. The softening agent is 'dispersed in the rinse water and' is then absorbed by the textile material. When used in this way, the curry preparation is not used again.

Essential to the present invention is the use of an 'absorbent' substrate. It is; known that most substances have the ability to absorb is<i> liquid to some extent. However, the term "absorbent", as used, is intended to mean a substance with an absorbent capacity (i.e., values representing a substrate's ability to absorb and retain liquid) from 5?5 to 12, preferably 7 to 10 times its own weight in water.

Determination of absorption capacity values is done by application, of capacity test methods described in 1 U.S.-Federal Specifications UU-T-595b, modified as follows: (1) tap water is used instead of distilled water;

'(2)'the pfoven is submerged for 30 seconds instead of 3 minutes,

(3) the run-off time is 15^seconds'instead of 1 minute, and

(<*>f) the sample is immediately weighed on a torsion balance with a "'"bowl" with upward-facing edges.

The absorbency values are then calculated in accordance with the formula given in the said specification. Based;on•the sample has a single-layer, densely bleached paper (eg kraft or fine paper), which has a basis weight of approx. 52 g/m, an absorbency of 3.5 to h. Commercially available single-ply household paper towels have a value of 5 to 6, and a commercially available two-ply household paper towel ( a paper form that pre-

is subtracted here) has a value of 7 to approx. 9.5-

When using a substrate that has an absorbency of less than 5.5, this tends to cause too rapid release of the softener from the substrate, resulting in many disadvantages, one of which is poor softening of the textile material. The use of a substrate with an absorption capacity above 12 is undesirable, as too little softening agent is released to properly soften the textile material.

The substrate according to the present invention can also be defined with the expression "free space". Free space, also called "cavity volume" is used here to indicate the space within a structure that is not occupied. For example, certain multi-layered paper structures consist of layers which are embossed with protrusions, the ends of which are aligned and connected. This paper structure has a cavity or free space between the non-embossed parts of the layers, as well as between the fibers of the paper sheet itself. A non-woven cloth also has such space between each of its fibers. The free space in non-woven fabric or paper, which has matched physical dimensions, can be varied by modifying the density of the fibers in the paper or non-woven fabric. Substrates with large free space usually have low fiber density. Highly dense substrates usually have little free space. The substrates according to the present invention have from h0% to 90$, preferably approx. 55%, free space based on the total volume of the substrate structure. This free space is directly connected to and a result of the substrate having an absorbency value of 5.5 to 12.

The use of dense, single-ply or ordinary kraft or fine paper as a softener substrate as suggested previously causes discoloration of the treated textile materials. It has now been found that this ml staining is caused by the low absorbency of the paper substrate. Thus, the softener on such paper is quickly released in large quantities when it is exposed to normal drying temperatures, with the result that the treated textile material was discolored at the points of contact with the softener-coated paper. It has further been found that staining of textile material can be completely eliminated or significantly reduced by using a substrate that has an absorbency between 5.5 and 12, so that less of the softener is released at any given time and upon contact with the textile material being treated.

Consequently, suitable materials that can be used as a substrate in the present invention include, among others, sponges, paper and woven or non-woven cloth, all of which satisfy the necessary requirements for absorption capacity as defined above. The preferred substrates for the softening agent preparation according to the invention are cellulose-containing, in particular multi-layered paper and non-woven fabric.

In particular, the preferred paper substrate is a compressible, laminated, calendered, multi-layer absorbent paper. Preferably, the paper structure has 2 or 3 layers and a total basis weight of from 20 to 1<>>+5 g/m 2 and absorbency values in the range of 7 to 10. Each layer of the preferred paper structure has a basis weight of 11 to 50 g/m , and this paper structure can consist of layers that have the same or different basis weight. Each layer is preferably made from a creped or otherwise stretchable paper with a crepe percentage of approx. 15 to h- 0% and has a tensile strength in the machine direction (MD) and a tensile strength in the cross-machine direction (CD) of from 15.5 to 2^5 g/cm<2> paper width. The two outer layers of a 3-ply paper structure or each layer of a 2-ply paper structure are marked with identically repeated monsters, which consist

of 2 to 30 single outlets per cm 2 projecting to a height of 0.25 to 10 mm above the surface of the non-embossed paper sheet. From 10 to 60% of the paper sheet surface is projections. The ends of the protrusions facing away from the non-embossed paper surface of each sheet are matched and adhesively connected thereby providing a preferred paper structure exhibiting a compression modulus of from 108 - 12U- cm g/cn<r> and Handle-0- Meter (HOM) MD and.CD values from 10 to 130.

Suitable adhesives are known in the art and usually include, among others, water, starches, wet-strength resins and polyvinyl acetates. A particularly suitable adhesive is produced by

to heat from 2 to 1+ parts by weight of essentially solid

dig hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol resin in from 96 to 98 parts by weight of water. Preferably, approx. 0.05 g/m of the embossed layer, the adhesive being applied to the opposite surfaces of the protrusions on one or all layers.

The compression modulus values that define the compression deformation properties of a paper structure that is compressively loaded on its opposite surfaces and the HOM values that refer to the stiffness or grip of the paper structure, MD and CD The HOM values that refer to the HOM values obtained from the paper structure samples tested in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the machine , the methods for determining these values and the equipment used and a more detailed description of the paper structure preferred herein, as well as the methods for its application will be found in U.S. Pat. patent no. 3. kik.<1>+59.

The compression modulus values stated here define the compression-deformation properties for a sheet of paper or similar with load on opposing surfaces. The meaning of the compression modulus values is better understood by the fact that they are set up by dividing the compression force on the sheet by the compression deformation that occurs. A higher compression modulus therefore indicates a sheet of paper that exhibits less thickness reduction when subjected to a load. Paper sheets that have low compression modulus values will give the impression of softness when handled. A Handle-O-Meter, abbreviated as HOM, is used to determine the compression modulus values, and the higher the H0M values, the greater the stiffness of the paper. The Handle-O-Meter values are determined in the machine direction (MD) and in the cross direction (CD).

The preferred non-woven fabric substrates that can be used in the present invention can be generally defined as bonded fibrous or filament products, which have a pile or carded fiber structure (where the fiber strength can allow carding) or consist of fibrous mats, where the fibers or filaments are prepared arbitrarily or in an arbitrary row (i.e. a row of fibers in the carded pile, where partial orientation of the fibers frequently occurs as well as completely arbitrary distribution) or substantially in line. The fibers or filaments can be natural (e.g. wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, linen, sisal or ramie) or synthetic (e.g. rayon, cellulose ester, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides or polyesters.

i Methods for producing non-woven cloth are not part of the present invention and are well known in the field and are not described in more detail here. Typically, such fabrics are produced by air or water spinning processes, where the fibers or filaments are first cut to desired lengths from long strands, fed into a stream of water or air, and then deposited on a screen through which the fiber-laden air or water passes. The deposited fibers or filaments are then bonded together, dried, cured and otherwise treated as desired to provide the nonwoven fabric. Non-woven fabrics made from polyesters, polyamides, vinyl resins and other thermoplastic fibers can be bound together by spinning, i.e. the fibers are spun out on a flat surface and bound (fused) together by heat or by chemical reactions.

The absorbent properties required here are particularly easy to achieve with non-woven cloth and are obtained solely by building up the thickness of the cloth, i.e. by superimposing several carded webs or mats to a thickness adequate to achieve the necessary absorbent properties, or by allowing a sufficient fiber thickness to be deposited on the screen. Any diameter or denier for the fibers (usually up to approx. 10 denier) can be used as it is the free space between each fiber that means that the fabric thickness is directly related to the absorbent capacity of the fabric, and which further makes non-woven fabric particularly suitable for impregnation with a softening agent by means of capillary action. Thus, any thickness necessary to achieve the desired absorbency can be used.

The choice of binder resins used in the manufacture of nonwoven fabric can provide substrates that have a variety of desirable features. For example, the absorbency of the fabric can be increased, decreased or controlled by using, respectively, a hydrophilic binder resin, a hydrophobic binder resin or a mixture of these at the fiber bonding step. Moreover, the hydrophobic binder resin, when used alone or as a predominant proportion in a hydrophobic-hydrophilic mixture, provides non-woven fabrics, which are particularly useful as substrates when the softening preparations according to the invention are used in the rinse step of an automatic washing machine.

When the substrate for the fabric softener preparations according to the invention is a non-woven fabric made from fibers deposited in random order on the sieve, the preparations exhibit excellent strength in all directions and are not prone to tear apart or separate when used in the washing or drying apparatus.

Preferably, the nonwoven fabric is deposited from water or air and is made from cellulosic fibers, particularly from regenerated cellulose or rayon, which are lubricated with a standard textile lubricant. Preferably, the fibers are from k, 7 to 25 mm long and from 1.5 to 5 denier. Preferably, the fibers are at least partially randomly oriented, especially substantially randomly, and are adhesively bonded together with hydrophobic or substantially hydrophobic binder resins, especially with a non-ionic, self-crosslinking acrylic polymer or polymers. Preferably, the cloth consists of approx. ^ 0% fibers and 30$ binder resin polymer by weight and has a basis weight of 2h to <*>+5 g/m .

The absorbent substrates used in the plasticizer preparations presented here can have a number of forms. E.g. the substrate may be in the form of a ball or puff, or it may be a sheet or bundle of woven or non-woven fabric. When the substrate is paper or canvas, individual sheets of the desired length and width can be used, or if paper a continuous roll of the desired width, from which a measured length is torn off.

The fabric softeners in the softener preparations. according to the invention can be used alone or preferably in a mixture with one or more compatible textile softeners. The terms "softener", "textile softener", or "softening agent" are used interchangeably herein and are intended to include such mixtures. The fabric softeners, as they are described more specifically in the following, and which are used in the softener preparations according to the invention, can be from the following generally stated compound classes which contain at least one long-chain group: (1) cationic, quaternary ammonium salts including quaternary imidazolinium salts, and (2) zwitterionic quaternary ammonium compounds.

Essential for the preparations according to the invention is the use of a textile softener (or mixtures) which exhibits a softening point (hereinafter also referred to as "s.p.") below a temperature of 75°C.

The term "softening point" as used here means the temperature at which the textile softener, which is impregnated on the absorbent substrate, becomes completely liquefied or sufficiently liquefied to adhere to textiles that come into contact with the softener-impregnated substrate in the drying device.

Determination of the softening points of the fabric softener impregnated on the absorbent substrates is done by continuously passing water, the temperature of which is constantly measured with a thermometer or temperature measuring instrument, through a metal rc5r with a diameter of 2.5 cm, which has a carefully cleaned and polished surface and around which a sheet of plasticizer-impregnated substrate (i.e. plasticizer preparation according to the invention) has been tightly packed. The surface of the rudder is in equilibrium with the water temperature, and the water temperature is increased until a marked change is observed in the impregnated sheet. This change is characterized by the fact that the sheet with softener becomes moist when touched, by the ability to now allow the sheet to slide along the rudder and by the fact that the rudder feels "greased" when the impregnated sheet is removed. The water temperature at which this change is observed is the softening point for the fabric softener.

To ensure adequate softening of textiles in a drying device, the fabric softener must have a softening point within the temperature range of a standard automatic clothes dryer. The drying temperatures start at room temperature (approx. 20°C) and reach up to approx. 75°C, i.e. automatic electric dryers, containing an average weight of textiles (approx. 2.5 kg dry and approx. 5 kg wet), reach up to 65-70°C with the maximum temperatures occurring very close to the end of the drying period. Gas drying devices reach even higher temperatures, approx. 75°C. Consequently, the textile softener used must have a softening point below 75°C, preferably below 65°C. Particularly useful are textile softening agents that exhibit softening points at temperatures that occur early during the drying period, i.e. from room temperature (20°C) to approx. 60°C

Many fabric softeners have softening points above the required range. However, the softening points of these fabric softeners can be lowered to a desired temperature by adding a liquid, such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol or an isopropyl alcohol/water mixture. Where necessary, the softening agent's softening point is lowered to a temperature in the aforementioned ranges. Preferably, the plasticizer should have a softening point, or its softening point should be lowered to not below <i>fO°C. It is desirable that the preparations according to the invention are suitable for storage on shelves until use, and further that the preparations do not run out or drip, but are essentially solid at temperatures below <i>fO°C. The aforementioned liquids are particularly suitable for the purpose of lowering the plasticizer's softening temperature where this is necessary, as they are highly volatile compounds. Thus, large quantities (e.g. from 10 to 300 tbs of the textile softening agent) can be added to the softening agent, which is then impregnated on an absorbent substrate, and after drying the treated substrate over a suitable period of time, all but a remaining amount evaporates (f .eg from 0.1 to 7

by weight of the plasticizer) and leaves an essentially solid plasticizer preparation according to the invention. This remaining amount is sufficient to reduce the softening point of the fabric softener to within the required range.

Particularly preferred softening agents in the softening preparations according to the invention are the cationic, quaternary ammonium salts which have the general formula

where X denotes a chloride ion. Moreover, R and R, in the above formula each denote a methyl group, R 2 denotes an alkyl group of 12 - 20 carbon atoms or a 3-tallow fatty alkoxy-propyl radical, and R 1 denotes an alkyl group of 12 - 20 carbon atoms. The carbon chains in R 1 and R 2 can, when R 2 denotes a chain with 12 - 20 carbon atoms, be straight or branched and saturated or unsaturated.

Because of their known emollient action, the most preferred cationic emollients are dialkyldimethylammonium chloride or alkyltrimethylammonium chloride, where the alkyl contains from 12 to 20 carbon atoms and is derived from long-chain fatty acids, particularly from hydrogenated tallow. The terms "tallow" and "tallow alkyl" as used herein shall denote alkyls containing from 16 to 18 carbon atoms. The term "tallow alkoxy" as used herein means an alkyl ether radical wherein the alkyl contains from 16 to 18 carbon atoms. Particular examples of the particularly preferred cationic softeners include the following:

Tallow trimethylammonium chloride

Tallow Dimethyl (3-Tallow Alkoxypropyl) Ammonium Chloride Dieicosyldimethyl Ammonium Chloride.

Examples of other preferred cationic softeners which are suitable for use according to the invention include the following: Didodecyldimethylammonium chloride

Ditetradecyldimethylammonium chloride

Dipentadecyldimethylammonium chloride.

Cationic, quaternary amidazolinium compounds are also preferred as softeners in the present preparations. These compounds correspond to the formula where R^ is alkyl with from 1 to k, preferably from 1 to 2, carbon atoms, Rg is alkyl with from 1 to h carbon atoms or a hydrogen radical, R^ is alkyl with from 8 to 25, preferably at least 15, carbon atoms, R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl with from 8 to 25, preferably at least 15, carbon atoms, and X is an anion, preferably methyl sulfate or chloride ions. Other suitable anions include acetate, phosphate, nitrite and methyl sulfate radicals. Particularly preferred are the compounds of the formula (2), where both R 1 and Ry denote alkyl groups with 16-25, especially 16-18 and 20-22 carbon atoms. Other preferred plasticizers include zwitterionic quaternary ammonium compounds having the formula wherein R<9> and R10 are each methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl or 2-hydroxypropyl, R^ is alkyl or alkenyl having from 20 to 30 carbon atoms, and where the alkyl or alkenyl groups contain from 0 to 2 hydroxyl substituents, from 0 to 5 ether bonds and from 0 to 1 amide bond, and R<11> is an alkylene group with from 1 to k carbon atoms with from 0 to 1 hydroxyl substituents . Particularly preferred are compounds, where R Q is a carbon chain with from 20 to 26 carbon atoms from the group comprising alkyls and alkenyls, and where the alkyl and alkenyl groups contain from 0 to 2 hydroxyl substituents. Particular examples of particularly preferred compounds from this class include the following: 3-(N-eicosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-eicosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate

3-/N-eicosyl-N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonit>7- 2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate 3-(N-docosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane -1-sulfonate

3-(N-docosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate 3-(N-docosyl-N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio7-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3 - (N-1 e tra c o sy 1 - N, N - dim ythylammonio o)-2-hydr o c y prop an-1-sulfonate

3-(N-tetraeosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate 3-(N-tetracosyl-N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonio7-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate 3-(N -hexacosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-hexacosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate.

Examples of other preferred compounds from this class are the following: 3-(N-eicosyl-N-ethyl-N-methylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-docosyl-N-ethyl-N-methylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate 3-(N-tetracosyl-N-ethyl-N-methylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-heneicosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate 3-(N-tricosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-tricosyl-N-ethyl-N-methylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-tricosyl-N,.N-dimethylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate 3-(N-pentacosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-(2-Methoxydocosyl)-N,N-dimethylammonio7-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-heptacosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate 3-(N-octacosyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1

-sulfonate

3-(N-nonacosyl-N^N-dimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-/N-(3,5-dioxatetracosyl)-N,N-dimethylammonio7-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate

3-(N-triacontyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate.

The compounds of formula (3) are described in more detail in the British patents no. 1,222,686 and no. 1,222,687.

Other zwitterionic compounds which are useful as softeners in the present preparations are known and include zwitterionic, synthetic cleaning agents such as represented by derivatives of aliphatic, quaternary ammonium compounds, where one of the four aliphatic groups has 8 to 20 carbon atoms, another contains a water-solubilizing group, (eg carboxy, sulfato or sulfo groups), and any of these groups can be straight or branched. A more detailed description of these compounds can be found in U.S. Pat. patent No. 3,213,030.

Mixtures of textile softening agents can be used in the present preparations, and such mixtures are preferred over the use of a single softening agent in the preparation.

The textile softening agent preparations according to the invention comprise any of the textile softening agents in combination with any other suitable textile softening agent, including mixtures of different textile softening agents from the same class. Appropriately, the present compositions comprise the particularly preferred fabric softeners from compatible classes. In particular, the present mixtures comprise two compatible fabric softeners from different classes.

Any textile softening agent in the mixtures presented here can make up from 1 to 99 spoons by weight, as desired, of the mixture. Preferably, the mixtures present here comprise two textile softening agents in a weight ratio of from 5:1 to 1:5. Cationic, quaternary ammonium compounds, when they are a component of a mixture, preferably constitute 55 wt. or more of the mixture.

I Particular examples of particularly preferred mixtures include ! the following, where all percentages are by weight:

Other suitable mixtures, in which sometimes zwitterionic with zwitterionic and cationic with cationic, can be formulated from the compounds and in the quantities previously indicated.

The fabric softening agents and fabric softener blends described above provide an extensive list from which a blend of fabric softeners can be selected to achieve the properties of having a softening point in the range of 35 to 75°C.

Other additives can also be used in combination with the textile softening agent mixtures presented here. Although not essential to the invention, certain of these additives are particularly desirable and usable, e.g. perfumes and fresheners, agents that regulate shrinkage, anti-static agents and others.

Although not essential, liquids that serve as a carrier for the plasticizer may be used. Such liquids help to release

the softening agent from the absorbent substrate and to promote adhesion of the softening medium to the textile upon contact with

the plasticizer-impregnated substrate. Furthermore, the liquid carrier can be used to more evenly impregnate the absorbent substrate with the softening point of a softening agent below 75°C, preferably below 55°C and not below 35°C, which is necessary for proper softening of the textiles in a standard household clothes dryer. When a liquid carrier is used in this way, it should preferably be inert or stable to the fabric softener. Furthermore, the liquid carrier must be substantially evaporated at room temperature, and the residue (i.e. the plasticizer) must then be sufficiently cured so that it does not run or drip off the substrate or cause the substrate to stick together when folded. Isopropyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol/water mixtures are the preferred liquid carriers for these purposes. Methanol, ethanol or acetone can also be used.

Other additives may include anti-crease agents, finishing agents, disinfectants, lubricants, fungicides and adhesives. Specific examples of possible additives described herein can be found in any available yearbook of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. Any additive used must be compatible with the plasticizer.

The amount of the many additives (eg, perfume and fresheners) that can be used in combination with an emollient is usually small and is within the range of 0.01% to 3% by weight of the emollient.

The softening preparations according to the invention consist of a softening agent which has been impregnated into an absorbent substrate. The impregnation can be carried out in any suitable way and many methods are known in the field. E.g. the plasticizer in liquid form can be sprayed onto a substrate or added to a wood pulp slurry from which the substrate is made.

Impregnation instead of coating the substrate with a plasticizer is essential. The term "coating" indicates the application of one substance on the surface of another. "Impregnation" is intended to indicate penetration into the overall substrate structure, both internally and externally. One factor that affects the absorptive capacity of a given substrate is its free space. Accordingly, when a plasticizer is applied to an absorbent substrate it penetrates into the free space and consequently the substrate is referred to as impregnated. The free space in a substrate with low absorbency, such as a single-layer kraft or fine paper, is very limited. Such a substrate is therefore termed "dense". Thus, while a small portion of the plasticizer penetrates the limited free space available in a dense substrate, a fairly substantial portion of the plasticizer does not penetrate and remains on the surface of the substrate, so that it is termed an overcoat. The difference between coating and impregnation is believed to explain why the softener-impregnated absorbent substrate according to the invention eliminates or substantially reduces the discoloration of textiles that is observed when a softener-coated dense substrate is used.

In a preferred method of preparing the softener-impregnated absorbent substrate, the softener is applied to absorbent paper or non-woven cloth by a method generally known as the foulard method. The softening agent is preferably applied in liquid form to the substrate. Thus, softeners which are normally solid at room temperature must first be melted and/or solvent-treated with one of the liquid carriers mentioned above. Methods for melting the plasticizer and/or treating the plasticizer with a solvent are known and can be easily carried out to provide a satisfactory plasticizer-treated substrate.

In another preferred embodiment, the plasticizer is placed in liquid form in a pan or trough which can be heated, if necessary, to keep the plasticizer in liquid form. The desired additives are then added to the liquid plasticizer. A roll of absorbent paper is then placed in an apparatus so that it can be unwound freely. As the paper is unwound, it descends, dips, and passes through the pan or trough containing the liquid plasticizer at a low enough velocity to permit adequate impregnation. The absorbent paper then travels at the same speed upwards and through a pair of rollers, which squeeze out excess bath liquid and produce an absorbent paper with 35 to h- 0 g of softener/length meter, 28 cm wide. The impregnated paper is then cooled to room temperature, after which it can be folded, cut or perforated into uniform lengths and then packaged and/or used.

The rollers used are similar to "press rollers" used in the paper industry. They can be made of hard rubber or steel. Preferably the rollers are adjustable so that the gap between their respective surfaces can be adjusted to regulate the amount of softener liquid on the paper.

In another impregnation method, the plasticizer is sprayed in liquid form onto absorbent paper as it is unwound, and excess plasticizer is then pressed off using press rollers or a scraper. Other variations include the use of metal "nip" rollers on the joining or entry surface onto which the plasticizer is sprayed. These variations allow the absorbent paper to be treated, usually on one side only, just before it passes between the rollers, where excess softener is squeezed off. This variation includes a further use of metal rollers, which can be heated to keep the plasticizer in liquid phase. A further method is the separate treatment of a desired number of individual layers in a multi-layered paper and subsequent bonding of the layers with a known adhesive compound. This gives a preparation which can be untreated on one of its outer sides, but which nevertheless contains several other layers, each of which is treated on both sides.

When applying the softener to the absorbent substrate, the amount of softener that is impregnated into the absorbent substrate is within the weight ratio of 10:1 to 2:1 based on the dry untreated substrate. Preferably, the amount of the plasticizer that is impregnated is from approx. h:l to approx. 2:1, especially 3:1 based on the weight of the dry untreated substrate. When the plasticizer is a condensation product of a fatty alcohol with 1 to 5 mol of ethylene oxide, or a mixture containing more than about 50% thereof, the weight ratio between plasticizer and substrate is preferably from 3:1 to 2:1 based on the weight of the dry substrate to ensure optimal non-discoloring properties.

The mixing weight ratios stated above relate in particular to the amount of plasticizer present in each unit length of the substrate, and the amount of plasticizer that is impregnated depends on the weight of a unit length of the substrate regardless of width. Thus, e.g. requires one meter of a substrate, 28 cm wide, more impregnated softener than one meter of substrate 20 cm wide to achieve a given ratio, between softener and substrate. Usually, the amount of plasticizer is from approx. 10 g to approx. 120 g/metre of a substrate no wider than 28 cm, and smaller amounts of softener are used on light substrates (eg non-woven fabric) and larger amounts on heavy substrates, such as multi-ply paper.

The following examples will serve to further illustrate the production of the new plasticizer preparations according to the present invention.

In examples 1 to 5, the absorbent substrate is a paper which has the particularly preferred properties for the particularly preferred paper substrates which are described above and in the aforementioned patent. More specifically, the substrate is an impregnable, laminated and calendered absorbent paper consisting of two sheets of paper that can be folded.

2

Each sheet (or layer) has a base weight of approx. 26 g/m and an MD value of approx. 660, a CD value of approx. 380 and a 20% 1s torr crab. Each sheet is marked with identical monsters consisting of approx. 11 inwardly directed single protrusions per cm 2, which protrudes approx. 0.5 mm above the surface of the paper sheet. The protrusions make up approx. <*>+5% of the surface of each sheet and is adapted and adhesively connected with the polyvinyl alcohol resin. The paper structure exhibits a compression modulus of approx. 3^0 together with HOM MD/CD values of approx. 36/31 and has an absorption capacity of approx. 7. This paper is a particularly preferred paper substrate according to the invention and weighs approx. 3.7 g for a sheet 30.5 x 27.5 cm and approx. 2.8 g for a sheet 30.5

x 21.0 cm.

The non-woven fabric used as substrate in example <6> has been more generally described above. More specifically, material A is an air-laid, non-woven fabric consisting of 70% regenerated cellulose and 30% hydrophobic binder resins (Rhoplex HA-8 on one side of the fabric, Rhoplex HA-16).

The cloth has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.13 mm, a basic

weight of approx. 30 g/m2^ and an absorbency of 6. One meter of the cloth, 21 cm wide, weighs approx. 5.8 g. The fibers are 0.6 cm long, 1.5 denier and are essentially randomly oriented. The fibers were lubricated with sodium oleate.

Material B is a wet laid, non-woven cloth. The fibers are regenerated cellulose, approx. 0.9 cm long, approx. 1.5 denier and is lubricated with a similar standard textile lubricant. The fibers comprise approx. 70% of the non-woven fabric by weight and is essentially arbitrarily oriented. The binder resin (HA-8) makes up approx. 30 weight spoons of the cloth. Material B is approx. 0.1 mm thick and has a base weight of approx.

30 g/m and an absorbency of 5.7. One meter of the cloth, 21 cm wide, weighs approx. 5.^ g-

The fabric softeners used in the examples and which have trade names were used as commercially available. "Adogen Mf8" and "Arquad 2HT-75" are *essentially solid formulations of 75 parts cationic fabric softener, ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, 18 parts isopropyl alcohol and 7 parts water (parts are by weight). "Aliquat 26k" is a liquid formulation of (in parts by weight) 18 parts isopropyl alcohol, 6 parts water and 76 parts cationic fabric softener dimethyl ditalleum ammonium chloride, where the tall oil is unsaturated and has mostly C-^g, some <C>^g and carbon chain lengths.

In all examples, the preparations and plasticizer formulations are expressed as parts or percentages by weight unless otherwise stated.

Example 1

200 g of an emollient formulation consisting of 9.7% "Adogen Mf8" and 3% perfume was placed in a container and melted by immersing the container in a water bath heated to approx. 65°C. The absorbent paper substrate was a 21 cm wide roll wound on a hollow, rectangular cardboard core. A rod was quickly passed through the core and held so that the paper could be easily unwound.

A foulard machine was used to process the paper. This machine, an "Atlas Laboratory Wringer" (model No. LW.-391, type LW-1) is commercially available and particularly suitable for small-scale applications. The machine basically consists of two hard rubber rollers mounted so that the surfaces touch each other. Pressure can be applied to the rollers and regulated using weights. A trough-like vessel under the rollers is constructed to provide liners lengthwise thereof for feeding to feed the paper between j

the rollers.

The liquid softener was then added to the vessel which has been heated to approx. 65°C to keep the plasticizer in a liquid state. The paper was unwound and quickly immersed through the softening agent liquid in the tub. The paper, which is fed at a speed of 1.5 to 1.8 m/minute, is then directed upwards and through the turning rollers, on which a weight of 2.25 kg is applied, and which squeezes the excess of the plasticizer liquids. The turning rollers continuously pull the paper through the rollers and undergo a textile softener impregnation of approx. 2.7 to 1 weight sf on the basis of the dry, pretreated paper. After passing quickly through the rollers, the softening agent liquid, now impregnated into the paper, is rapidly cooled down and hardened after evaporation of essentially all the isopropanol and water mixture. This resulted in a softening agent composition (hereafter referred to as "composition A") which was substantially solid, stable to splitting, did not run or drip, and which, although waxy in feel, did not cause the paper to stick together when it folds. The impregnated and cooled paper had approx. 32 g of the fabric softener (m.p. approx. 51+°C) per meters of paper and was then wound up again on a hollow, rudder-shaped cardboard core. For the re-winding, the paper can be perforated at the desired unit lengths, or instead of being re-wound, the paper can be cut to the desired lengths and packed as sheets of paper.

A sheet, 30 x 21 cm, of this mixture was tested for softening effect in an automatic "Kenmore 800", electric clothes stork and good softening results were obtained without nit staining of the textiles, and the textiles had a pleasant perfume smell.

An equivalent mixture was obtained when "Arquad 2HT-75" replaced "Adogen Mf8".

Example 2.

The following softener preparation was prepared by replacing "Adogen Mf8" with fabric softeners described below and impregnating them into paper using the method

and the substrate in example 1:

Preparation B - A plasticizer formulation consisting of 98% "Ali quat-261!-" and 2% perfume was impregnated into the paper. A weight of h, 5 kg was applied to the rollers. "Aliquat-26^" was sufficiently liquid at room temperature. Thus, it is not necessary to melt the plasticizer or heat After the softener had been applied to the paper, the mixture was dried and substantially all of the isopropanol/water mixture evaporated by laying the treated paper open on aluminum foil for 2 hours to yield about 32.5 g of fabric softener (s.p. about < l>f9°C) per meter of paper.

Preparation c - 150 g of tallow dimethyl (3-tallow alkoxypropyl) ammonium chloride was treated with a bleaching agent with approx. 50 g of 2-propanol. 2g of perfume was added to the softener/alcohol formulation and the liquid impregnated into the paper using 3.5kg weight on the rollers. The mixture was dried for 2 hours,

in the course of which time all the alcohol evaporates and leaves an essentially solid softener preparation containing 3*t5l g of textile softener (m.p. approx. 5<1>+°C) per meters of paper.

Sheets 30 x 21 cm of the preparations B and C were examined for softening effect and gave good softening to the treated textiles without marked discolouration, and also a good smell.

Example

For the formation of multi-layered paper substrate according to this and previous examples, each sheet or layer of the paper substrate can be separately treated with softener and thereby produce a mixture capable of releasing effective amounts of softener to textiles over long periods of time or with repeated use when used in a drying device.

A roll 21 cm wide of the paper sheet or layer from which the aforementioned, particularly preferred paper structures are produced, is mounted for easy unwinding. The paper layer is unwound and treated with "Adogen Mf8" and perfume in the same quantities and using the same procedure as described in example 1. After treatment, the paper layer is laid out for drying for 2 hours and the process is repeated for another treated layer. Using pressurized rollers individually or in combination with a polyvinyl alcohol resin adhesive, the layers are then joined to obtain a two-<1>ci<g>s, essentially solid plasticizer preparation consisting of the particularly preferred paper substrate, each layer being impregnated on both sides with approx. 32.8 g fabric softener (s.p. approx. 5<!>+°C) per meters.

In a similar way, a third layer is used to produce a particularly preferred paper structure, which layer is not embossed, but treated with plasticizer in the same way as in example 3 and adhesively connected between the two previously treated layers to give a plasticizer preparation consisting of a three -layered, preferred paper structure, where each layer is treated with textile softening compound.

The adhesive compound is carried out by treating (e.g. spraying) the paper layers with the polyvinyl alcohol resin and passing the resin-treated layers through pressurized rollers. By spray-treating one of the paper layers with the softener formulation and using the untreated side of this layer as an outer exposed side, a multi-layer softener preparation is obtained, where only one outer side is treated and all the other layers are treated on both sides.

Example h

A 30.^ x 21.2 cm sheet of the paper substrate was immersed in a vessel containing approx. 11 g melted "Adogen M+8", to which approx. 25 g of acetone had been added to promote the dispersion and impregnation of the fabric softener in the paper. After drying for 2 hours and weighing, it was found that the paper had absorbed approx. 8.1 g of fabric softener (m.p. approx. 5^°C) and that essentially all the acetone had evaporated. The fabric softener preparation (hereinafter referred to as "preparation D") was similar to that in Example 1.

. Example 5

A particularly preferred plasticizer preparation (hereinafter referred to as "preparation E") was prepared by impregnating the following plasticizer formulation into a roll of 21 cm wide paper according to the method in example 1.

A 99:1 softener formulation/perfume mixture was impregnated into the paper. A nozzle (about 0.1 to 0.07 mm) between the surface of the rolls was created by twice wrapping a piece of plastic tape around the ends of the bottom roll. No weights were used on the rollers. After drying the mixture for 2k hours, approx. 62 g of the fabric softener (m.p. approx. 63°C) impregnated into each length of the paper of 1 metre.

By placing different weights on the tape-fed rollers, amounts of 52.8, U-353 and 30.2 g of the softener-perfume mixture were impregnated into the paper in a similar manner to obtain equivalent preparations.

This softening agent is particularly preferred, since such large quantities of the textile softening agent were impregnated into an absorbent substrate and the preparations softened the textiles in a textile machine without discolouring them.

Example 6

An emollient formulation consisting of $99 "Adogen M+8"

and 1$ perfume was impregnated into a 21 cm wide roll of nonwoven material A and nonwoven material B to obtain softener preparations (hereinafter referred to as "preparation F" and "preparation G") which are particularly preferred herein. The impregnation method used was that of example 5 without weights on the rollers. About. 17 A g respectively 10.95 g of textile softening agent (m.p. approx. 51+°C) were impregnated into each meter of the materials A and B.

Sheets of the mixtures were tested for softening effect in a drier and found to give good softening to the treated textiles.

Preferably, the preparations according to the present invention are in the form of a tube-shaped roll of absorbent paper perforated across the width of the roll in uniform lengths. Also preferred is the packaging of the preparations presented here in individual sheets of the desired length and width, similar to the usual packaged facial paper. When packaged in this way, the amount of fabric softener adsorbed on a given length or sheet of absorbent substrate is

measured in advance to be sufficient to soften an average load in a washing machine or clothes dryer. The fabric softeners impregnated into the absorbent" substrates in the amounts indicated above have been found to

be sufficient to soften such charges. Furthermore, the user can freely add or reduce the quantity of the fabric softener by cutting off the impregnated sheet or length. When using the preparations in pre-measured form, the user suffers little, if any loss due to excessive measurement or spillage, and the problem of too small a quantity is also eliminated.

While the softening agent preparation according to the present invention can be used, like other textile softening agents, during the rinse period in an automatic washing machine, these preparations are particularly suitable for effective use as an additive when drying laundry.

As mentioned above, the textile softener layers in the agents specified here, when impregnated with a given quantity, are released in larger quantities than single softeners which are impregnated in the same absorbent substrates and with the same quantities. Thus, the use of the admixtures makes the textile softener more available for textile softening per unit weight preparation.

A precise explanation of the observed effect for the textile-softener mixture is not known. It will be noted, however, that a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a textile softener mixture made up of two textile softeners, each of which has different softening points and/or different water solubilities. Thus, it is assumed that the textile softener in the mixture, which has a lower softening point, contributes to lowering the softening point for and/or extracting from the substrate the other textile softener in the mixture. Furthermore, the fabric softener with the greater water solubility is assumed to be drawn out of the substrate by the moist textile and in turn draw the less water-soluble fabric softener in the admixture out of the substrate.

Hi

IN

in

Thus, while other factors can also serve to make other textile softening agent admixtures described here suitable for use according to the present invention, those admixtures are preferred where at least two of the textile softening agents in the admixture exhibit different softening points and/or different water solubilities.

The following examples serve to further illustrate the text softening effect of the preparations present here, which

contains admixtures of softeners. These examples compare the softening and discoloration properties of the mixtures containing admixtures with similar compositions, which contain only one textile softener and/or with. aqueous dispersed, commercially available, liquid softeners.

The textile quantities • used in the comparisons are the same and, unless otherwise stated, they consist of a number of common items, (e.g. T-shirts for men, sheets, women's underwear and towels) <p>g a range of textile materials ..(f ..eg... cotton, nylon, polyester-cotton-1 and terry).. These, loads .weighed approx.

•2.5- kgvtort--and ;approx. H.5 kg wet., (i.e. average load weight) The textile loads were all first washed at least once. with 6:9 g of a. standard, anionic, . synthetic detergent in a "Kenmore 800" automatic, electric household washing machine for 10 minutes in water 50°C having a hardness of 119.7 mg/1; Where indicated, in the examples certain charges were also given a prior wash with 77 g of another anionic synthetic detergent under similar conditions as above. After one or two washes, each textile load underwent the rinse treatment (using water 38°C with a hardness of 119.7 mg/ 1), spin drying and was then dried in a "Kenmore 800" automatic electric household clothes dryer together with a sheet

of the plasticizer preparation, after which each charge was graded and compared by a panel of four people. The softening of the textiles was graded according to feel. A grading method was used, whereby the textiles treated with one preparation are graded against textiles treated with each of the other preparations, textiles treated with another preparation are graded against any of the other treated textiles, including the textiles treated with the first preparation , textiles treated with a third preparation are graded against each of the other treated textiles, including the textiles treated with the first two preparations, etc. v., depending on the number of plasticizer preparations under investigation.

Four judges each made the comparisons and their results were entered into a computer which, based on a scale from + h to - h, entered the average results for all the assessments in plus or minus seven separate numbers. From the figures it was possible to determine the ranking of each preparation's softening ability, as well as how each preparation compared to any of the other preparations in this respect.

Static adhesion, when assessed, was graded visually by feeling the fabric and noting whether the fabric "cracked". Discoloration was graded visually and the presence or absence of perfume odor was graded by smell. Categories for static adhesion, discoloration and odor were (a) none, (b) slightly noticeable, (c) noticeable and (d) very noticeable.

A representative selection of previously known preparations against which the present plasticizer preparations were compared essentially consisted of regular single-layer paper (absorption ionic strength approx. 2.5 to 3) coated with approx. 9>5 g of the fabric softener "Adogen M+8" per meter paper 21 cm wide. The preparation was KJ weight of softener and 55 weight of paper, and it was packed as a tube-shaped roll.

Example 7

A 30 x 28 cm sheet of preparation A (see example 1) was placed in a dryer containing a twice-washed textile load. The textile load was dried for h$ minutes, and the textiles were then examined for discoloration.

Another textile charge was added to a dryer together with a 30 x 21 cm sheet of the preparation according to prior art.

Visual examination of each of the two textile charges showed,

that the previously known preparation caused marked discoloration on the textiles, while the same softener impregnated into an absorbent paper which is preferred here, and in large quantities (approximately 32.8 kontro approximately 8.8 g per meter) did not cause discoloration.

Example 8

Two samples, 30.^ x 30.^ cm, were cut from a blue 65% polyester/35% cotton tablecloth. Four large terry bath towels were added to each of the samples to provide two textile loads. After one wash, rinse and cycle dry, each fabric load was dried separately for 5 minutes in the dryer, and different fabric softener formulations were placed in the dryer with each load. One of the fabric softener preparations was of the new type described here and was a 30, h- cm x 21.2 cm sheet of preparation D from example h. The other preparation was a 30 x 21.2 cm sheet of the preparation of the previous known technique.

After drying, all samples were taken out of the dryer and visually examined for discoloration. Marked fat-like spots appeared only on the sample that has been dried together with the preparation according to previously known techniques.

Example 9

A k 1/2 kg wet textile charge was placed in a dryer,

and a plasticizer preparation consisting of approx. 9 g of textile

j in the softening medium (from "Adogen Mf8") which is impregnated into a 30 x 21 cm sheet of the paper substrate used in example 1,

was added. After drying for h$ minutes, the charge was removed, remoistened and again placed in the dryer for h-5 minutes. The process was repeated two more times for a total of four trials, the same sheet of plasticizer preparation being used each time.

In a similar way, a textile load was run four times with a 30 cm length of the preparation according to previously known technique.

A comparison of the weight of the respective plasticizer preparations during the process in the table below showed that the use of an absorbent substrate provides a more constant plasticizer release than the previously known preparation and allows the absorbent substrate with plasticizer preparation to be reused if desired, while the previously known preparation cannot be used again and still provide good softening.

Example 10

The softening agent preparations described here give very good softening results when used in the washing rinse as well as in the dryer.

A textile load was made up and washed twice as in example 7. A sheet of a softener preparation present here consisting of a sheet 30 x 21 cm of the paper structure used in example 1, which is impregnated with a softener formulation of 99 wt.sf "Adogen hh8" and 1 weight of perfume, il! was produced. After drying, approx. 10 of the fabric softener (m.p. approx. 55°C) impregnated into the paper sheet. The sheet was added to the final rinse in the second wash process.

At the end of the rinse, the textile charge was removed and examined. The textiles had a very noticeable perfume smell and were noticeably softer than before washing and rinsing.

The preparations according to the invention can also be used in a number of other ways. E.g. sheets or a base of a preparation present here can be used to manually wipe textiles that are prone to exhibiting static electricity (e.g. polymeric vinyl textiles that are commonly used in automobile upholstery and cushions and in simulated leather covers or the like) . The agents can be used as formulated or can first be moistened with ordinary tap water (ie from a tap) for wiping, and this method is usually suitable for other synthetic fabrics, as is often found with furniture. After wiping with the preparations presented here, it is desirable to wipe off the cover or other substance that has been treated with a dry, ordinary kitchen cloth or the like to remove excess or non-dried fabric softener present on the cover.

Furthermore, the preparations according to the invention can be used in a dryer for the purpose of imparting anti-static properties to such items as socks, women's stockings, sweaters or other items made of synthetic textiles. When used in this way, it is not necessary for the articles of clothing to be moistened first. Thus, the clothing items can be treated without the change in the textile fibers that often occurs when such textiles are moistened.

Furthermore, the plasticizers (especially the cationic, quaternary ammonium compounds and zwitterionic ones with C^q - C2Q alkyl groups) used in the preparations according to the invention exhibit surface-active properties, which make the preparations very useful, e.g. to clean metallic surfaces and leather in such items as shoes and the like. For this purpose, the preparations are preferably moistened before use and the cleaned surface or leather is wiped dry.

Claims (3)

1. Textile softener preparation, mainly consisting of a textile softener, which is impregnated in an absorbent carrier material with an absorption capacity of 5.5 - 12 and with h0% to 90% void volume calculated on the total volume of the carrier material, characterized in that the textile softener has a softening point at 38 - 77°C and consists of dialkyldimethylammonium chloride, in which the alkyl group has 12 - 20 carbon atoms, tallow fatty alkyldimethyl(3-tallow fatty methoxy-propyl) ammonium chloride, cationic imidazolinium salt or zwitter-ionic, quaternary ammonium compound or a mixture of these, and that the carrier material is made of paper or a water-laid or air-laid non-woven fabric, consisting essentially of lubricated cellulose fibers with a length of 0.7 - 5.1 cm and a denier number of 1.5 - 5? which are at least partially randomly oriented and which are adhesively bonded to each other with a binder resin, the weight ratio between textile softener and dry carrier material varying from 10:1 to 2:1. 2. Preparation according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier material consists of non-woven cloth and that the fibers and the binder resin make up 70 henh. 30% calculated on the weight of the non-woven cloth, as the cloth has a base weight of 23.9 - 28.7 g per m<2>. 3. Preparation according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-woven cloth is formed in air and the fibers are regenerated cellulose with a length of 6 mm and a denier of 1.5 and are adhesively bonded together with a non-ionic, self-crosslinking acrylic polymer. h. Preparation according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent support material is a compressible, laminated and calendered paper structure with a basis weight of 20 to 1^-5 g/m and consisting of at least two, but no more than three stretchable paper sheets , each of which has a basis weight of from 11 to 50 g/m 2 , which paper structure has also been imprinted in its two outer stretchable paper sheets identically projecting monsters consisting of 2 to 30 inwardly directed single protrusions per cm, which protrusions make up 10 - 60% of the surface of each of the two outer stretchable paper sheets, in that the stretchable paper sheets are adhesively connected at the adapted longitudinal surfaces for the inwardly directed single protrusions which are impressed into the two outer paper sheets with any a third stretchable paper sheet therebetween, and in that the structure exhibits a compressive modulus of between 200 and 800, preferably <>>+00, together with MD/CD-HOM values of 10 to 130, preferably 30.