PL203995B1 - Fabric softening composition - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a fabric softening composition. These fabric softening compositions not only benefit from excellent fabric softening but also protect fabric, especially wool fabric, from felting. The fabric softening composition, in addition to the usual ingredients found in such compositions, comprises at least one thickening agent which is substantive to the fabric, a silicone fabric softening compound, and at least one protein or derivative thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fabric conditioning composition which not only provides an excellent fabric softening benefit but also protects fabric, especially wool fabric, from felting. Felting is the process by which fibers, especially wool fibers, become impossibly matted. In particular, this can be a problem when using warm / hot soapy water during the washing process, which opens up the wool fiber structure. When the wool fibers are cooled in the rinse cycle, this may close the fiber structure in a non-entangled state. It is clearly seen that a product that can protect against felting, especially during the rinse cycle, provides a significant benefit in helping to maintain the original size and finish of the garment.

Such compositions preferably have a medium to high viscosity (by medium to high viscosity the inventors mean viscosity values of 0.05 to 50 Pa · s, preferably 0.1 to 1.5 Pa · s, as measured using a Brookfield LVT viscometer, 2, at 12 rpm and a temperature of 20 ° C).

The compositions according to the invention can conveniently be applied to fabrics containing natural and / or artificial / synthetic fibers. Such fibers may consist of protein (e.g. wool, silk), cellulose (e.g. linen, cotton, jute), regenerated cellulose (e.g. viscose, lyocell), a cellulose derivative (e.g. acetate, triacetate), acrylic, polyamide or polyester. Many fabrics will contain two or more of these types of fibers. Preferably the compositions according to the invention are applied to wool or wool blend fabrics.

The fabric softening composition according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises

a) a cationic fabric softening agent in an amount of 3% to 45% by weight, wherein the cationic fabric softening agent is a compound of formula (I) or (Ia), or a mixture thereof:

[R ^' - (CO) -ORN ⁺ (-R) (- (RO) nH) (- RO- (CO) -R')] X ^- (I)

[R '- (CO) -NH-RN ⁺ (-R ¹ ) (- (RO) nH) (- R-NH- (CO) -R')] X ^- (Ia) where:

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

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

R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

R ¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom; and X ^- is an anion compatible with the fabric softener;

b) from 0.1% to 20% by weight of a water-soluble protein or a chemically modified derivative, wherein the protein source is selected from wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein and soy;

c) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a thickening agent which is substantive to the fibers of the fabric, the thickening agent being a carbohydrate derivative;

d) from 0.1% to 15% of a silicone fabric softening agent, wherein the silicone is an aminosilicone or methicon based compound; and

e) water.

Preferably, the composition comprises from 4% to 20% by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent.

More preferably, the composition comprises from 4% to 15% by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent.

Preferably, the composition comprises a thickening agent which is a water-soluble polymer.

Preferably, the composition comprises from 0.1% to 5% by weight of water-soluble protein.

Preferably, the cationic fabric softener is di- (tallow carboxyethyl) hydroxyethylmethyl X ^-.

Preferably, the composition additionally comprises one or more of the following additional softening ingredients:

PL 203 995 B1

i. a fatty amine compound;

ii. fatty amide compound;

iii. fatty acid;

iv. fatty alcohol.

Preferably, the total content of the additional softening ingredient (s) is up to 20% by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition comprises a cationically modified carbohydrate derivative.

More preferably, the carbohydrate is guar gum.

More preferably, the carbohydrate is modified with a cationic group selected from a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, a quaternary ammonium group, a sulfonium group, or a phosphonium group.

Most preferably, the carbohydrate is modified with a cationic group of the formula:

[N (R1) (R2) (R3) (R4)] ⁺ X ^- wherein R1 is a monohydroxylated or polyhydroxylated C1-6alkyl group; R2 and R3 independently represent a C1-6alkyl group; R4 is a C1-24alkyl group; and X ^- is a counterion.

The composition (fabric softener / rinse cycle additive) according to the invention comprises:

a) a cationic fabric softening agent in an amount of 3% to 45%, preferably 4% to 20%, ideally

4% to 15%;

b) 0.1% to 20%, preferably 0.15% to 15%, even more preferably 0.2% to 10%, by weight of a water-soluble protein or a chemically modified derivative (preferably at least two and / or or ideally no more than three), wherein the protein source is selected from wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein and soy;

c) from 0.01% to 10%, preferably from 0.05% to 8%, even more preferably from 0.1% to 5% by weight of a thickening agent which is substantive to a fabric fiber;

d) from 0.1% to 15%, preferably from 0.2% to 10%, even more preferably from 0.3% to 8% of a silicone fabric softening agent; and

e) water.

Cationic fabric softener

The cationic fabric softening agent is an essential ingredient of the invention. Typical amounts in the compositions are from 3% to 45%, preferably from 4% to 20%, ideally from 4% to 15% by weight.

Typical cationic fabric softeners include water-dispersible quaternary ammonium fabric softeners or amine precursors thereof.

The quaternary ammonium compounds included in the composition of the invention are of formula (I) or (Ia), and also include a mixture thereof.

[R '- (CO) -ORN ⁺ (-R) (- (RO) nH) (- RO- (CO) -R')] X ^- (I)

[R '- (CO) -NH-RN ⁺ (-R ¹ ) (- (RO) nH) (- R-NH- (CO) -R')] X ^- (Ia) where

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

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

R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

R ¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom; and X ^- represents an anion compatible with the fabric softener.

Non-limiting examples of anions compatible with the fabric softeners (X ^- ) include chloride, formate, nitrate, sulfate or C1-4alkyl sulfate, preferably methyl sulfate.

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

Unsaturated fatty acids and partially hydrogenated fatty acids derived from vegetable oils are usually suitable and relatively inexpensive sources of long chain alkyl and alkenyl material. Preferred compounds where R 'is these mixtures of long chain materials include, but are not limited to, rapeseed oil, canola oil, peanut oil and sunflower oil. A preferred R 'group of non-vegetable origin is tallow.

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

PL 203 995 B1

The fabric softener compatible anion (X ^- ) is merely present as the counterion of the positively charged quaternary ammonium compound. The nature of the counterion anion is not at all critical to the practice of the invention. The scope of the invention is not considered to be limited to any particular ion. By the term amine precursors thereof, it is meant the secondary or tertiary amines corresponding to the above quaternary ammonium compounds, said amines being substantially protonated in the compositions due to the pH of the compositions.

Together with the cationic fabric softening agent, one or more of the following may also be added as an additional fabric softening agent, for total contents of up to 20%, 10% or 5% by weight of the composition:

i. a fatty amine compound;

ii. fatty amide compound;

iii. fatty acids;

iv. fatty alcohols.

Thickening agent

The thickening agent is present in the composition in amounts ranging from 0.01% to 10%, preferably from 0.05% to 8%, even more preferably from 0.1% to 5% by weight. The thickening agent is preferably fiber substantive to the treated fabric, that is, the thickening agent associates with the fiber of the treated fabric, remaining, at least in part, on the fiber after rinsing and drying. It should be understood that the selected thickener will not necessarily be substantive to all possible types of fabric fibers, especially synthetic fiber. Preferably the selected thickener is substantive to natural fibers, especially cotton or wool. Thus, preferably the thickening agent is positively charged at the pH of the composition.

Examples of useful thickeners are water-soluble polymers.

By water-soluble it is meant that at 25 ° C the thickener is mostly, greater than 90%, in the water phase and not in the oil phase of the composition.

Useful water-soluble polymeric thickeners are polyacrylates, polyacrylate copolymers, and carbohydrates.

Useful carbohydrates are high molecular weight materials whose average molecular weight [mw] (determined, for example, by light scattering) is generally from 2,000 to 5,000,000, preferably from 5,000 to 3,000,000, more preferably from 100,000 to 1,000,000. The carbohydrate used is preferably polygalactomannan (wherein polygalactomannan is a carbohydrate which consists mainly of mannose and galactose units). Preferred carbohydrates are selected from chitin and gum (including, but not limited to, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, pine needle gum and Australian Brachychiton acerifolium gum, preferably guar gum is used) .

Guar gums are polygalactomannans and are defined in Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th Edition, edited by Van Nostrand Reinhold in 1993, edited by E. J. Lewis, which pages are hereby incorporated by reference.

The preferred chemical modification of the carbohydrate is the esterification or etherification of the free hydroxyl groups of the carbohydrate.

Preferred carbohydrate derivatives, which include the hydrolyzed forms, are modified with a non-ionic substituent such as a hydroxyC1-6alkyl group, an anionic substituent such as a carboxyC1-6alkyl group, or a cationic substituent such as a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, quaternary ammonium, sulfonium or phosphonium group.

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

[N (R1) (R2) (R3) (R4)] ⁺ X ^- wherein R1 is a monohydroxylated or polyhydroxylated C1-6alkyl group; R2 and R3 independently represent a C1-6alkyl group; R4 is a C1-24alkyl group; and X ^- is a counterion as defined above.

PL 203 995 B1

Methods for making such carbohydrate derivatives are described in WO9818828 and each of the specific examples 1 to 29 is incorporated herein by reference.

Representative classes include polysaccharides of the glycogen, gum or chitin type containing a quaternary ammonium group.

Preferred compounds are: guar gum hydroxypropyl triammonium chloride.

Chemically modified protein or derivatives

Present in the formulation in an amount ranging from 0.1% to 20%, preferably from 0.15% to 15%, and even more preferably from 0.2% to 10% by weight. The composition comprises at least one type of water-soluble protein or chemically modified derivative. The protein may be derived from animal or vegetable sources or from fermentation. Ideally, the protein is not an enzyme. Preferably the protein is denatured. The term protein is intended to encompass both naturally derived and hydrolyzed proteins, including intrinsic proteins and polypeptides, peptides, and peptones (the latter can all be classified as hydrolysed proteins). Preferably the protein source is selected from wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein and soy.

By water-soluble it is meant that at 25 ° C the material is mostly, greater than 90%, in the water phase and not in the oil phase of the composition.

Preferred chemical modification to derivatize includes esterification or etherification of hydroxyl or carboxyl groups, acylation of amino groups, quaternization of amino groups, or a covalent bond with amino groups of a protein.

M.cz. the protein or chemically modified derivatives is preferably from 500 to 500,000, ideally from 1,000 to 20,000.

Preferred derivatives are alkyl quaternary derivatives or silicone derivatives.

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

The preferred protein derivatives are:

hydrolyzed protein cocodimethylammonium salt, protein cocodimethylammonium salt, hydrolysed protein lauryldimethylammonium salt, protein lauryldimethylammonium salt, hydrolyzed protein stearyldimethylammonium salt, protein stearyldimethylammonium salt, and polydimethylammonium condensate, or hydrolysed-hydroxypropearyl ammonium protein, or hydrolysedpropearyl diammonium protein, or hydrolysed ammonium hydroxypropearyl ammonium.

Preferred silicone derivatives are the examples described in EP-0540357 and US-5,679,819, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Silicone fabric softener

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

In industrial practice, the term silicone has become a generic term that encompasses a variety of relatively high molecular weight polymers containing siloxane units and hydrocarbyl groups of various types. It has been known for some time to use silicones to soften fabrics, i.e., to provide lubrication between fibers and yarns so that they slide more easily over one another. The use of organically modified silicones in textile treatment has also been well documented over the years (see patents: US-4,620,878, Gee, issued November 4, 1986; US-4,705,704, Lane et al., Issued November 10, 1987; US-4,800,026 to Coffindaffer et al. ., issued Jan. 24, 1989; US-4,824,877, Glover et al., issued Apr 25, 1989; and US-4,824,890 by Glover et al., issued Apr 25, 1989). These types of silicones are usually supplied to textiles in the form of an aqueous emulsion, either as a macroemulsion or a microemulsion.

Preferred silicone fabric softeners are patterned

PL 203 995 B1

wherein each of R ^1, R ^2, R ^3, R ^5, R ^6, and R ⁷ is independently selected from a phenyl group, 1-6 alkyl, a primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amino group, a polyether group, a C2 4alkenyl, hydrogen, hydroxy and hydroxyC1-4alkyl;

R ⁴ is a group -R ⁹ -NH-CH 2 CH 2 -NH 2;

R ⁹ is a C 3-6 alkylene group, and most preferably a propyl, isopropyl or isobutyl group;

₈

R ⁸ represents a C 1-6 alkyl group, an ethylene oxide group, a propylene oxide group, or a mixture thereof, and wherein x and y can be any number provided that the MW is in between

200 and 20,000.

Such compounds can be synthesized according to Syntheses and Reactions of Uniform Size Poly (Dimethylsiloxane) with Various Reactive End Groups Polymer Journal, Vol 19, No. 9, pp. 1091-1100, published March 26, 1987.

The silicone can be of any structure that results in one or more of the desired benefits of using the fabric softening agent formulation. Preferably, the silicone is linear, but it can also be cyclic such as cyclic meticons.

A preferred class of silicones are methicones (methylsiloxanes), preferably di- or trimethicone, and their derivatives such as amodimethicone.

Preferably, the silicone is emulsified by one or more surfactants, such as nonionic surfactants. Preferably, the silicone is pre-emulsified before being added to the composition.

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

Water

Preferably demineralized water is used. A preferred amount of water is to supplement the composition. Preferably, water is at least 50%, 60%, 70% or 80% by weight.

pH

For the previously discussed fabric softeners, especially with biodegradable fabric softeners, the preferred parameter of the liquid compositions according to the invention is the pH value. In fact, it influences the stability of the quaternary ammonium compounds, especially under long-term storage conditions. The pH as defined in the present context is measured in undiluted compositions at 20 ° C. For optimal hydrolytic stability of these compositions, the undiluted pH measured under the above-mentioned conditions must be in the range of 2 to 5. The pH of these compositions can be adjusted by adding a Bronsted acid.

Examples of acids useful for adjusting the pH of the composition include inorganic mineral acids, carboxylic acids, in particular low molecular weight (C1-C5) carboxylic acids. Useful inorganic acids include HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, and H3PO4. Useful organic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid. Preferred acids are citric, hydrochloric, phosphoric, formic, and benzoic acid.

Fragrance

The products in question may also contain from 0% to 10%, preferably from 0.1% to 5%, more preferably from 0.2 to 4% by weight of perfume in the final composition. Fabric softener products typically contain a perfume to provide a fragrance and / or signal that the product is effective.

Stabilizers

Optionally, stabilizers can also be added. When used, the stabilizer helps to achieve the desired viscosity of the finished product as well as to stabilize the finished product during storage. The stabilizers are typically selected from inorganic sulfites, single long chain alkyl surfactants, nonionic alkoxylated surfactants, amine oxides, fatty acids, and mixtures thereof, typically used in an amount of 0 to 15% by weight of the composition.

PL 203 995 B1

Electrolyte stabilizers

Inorganic viscosity-regulating agents which may also act as or enhance the action of the stabilizers include water-soluble ionizing salts, which may optionally also be included in the compositions of the invention.

A wide variety of ionizing salts can be used. Examples of useful salts are the metal halides of Groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements, e.g., calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium bromide, and lithium chloride. Ionizing salts are particularly useful in mixing the ingredients to prepare the compositions described herein, and thereafter to obtain the desired viscosity. The amount of ionizing salt used depends on the amount of active ingredients used in the compositions and can be regulated as intended by the formulator. Typical amounts of salt used to control the viscosity of the composition are from 20 to 2000 parts per million (ppm), preferably from 20 to 1100 ppm, by weight of the composition.

To control the viscosity, alkylene polyammonium salts can be included in addition to or in place of the water-soluble ionizing salts described above. In addition, these agents can act as ion scavengers to form ionic pairs with the anionic detergent transferred from the main bath, rinse and onto fabrics, and can improve softening performance. Compared to inorganic electrolytes, also these agents can stabilize the viscosity over a wider temperature range, especially at low temperatures.

Specific examples of the alkylene polyammonium salts include 1-lysine monohydrochloride and 1,5-diammonium-2-methylpentane dihydrochloride.

Ingredients optional

The composition may also contain one or more optional ingredients customary in fabric conditioners, surfactant concentration aids, emulsifiers, dyes, preservatives, optical brighteners, antifoams, chelating agents, natural and / or synthetic extracts, fluorescent agents, hydrotropes , anti-settling agents, anti-shrink agents, anti-wrinkles, anti-staining agents, anti-rust agents, stiffening agents, anti-static agents, ironing aids, and mixtures thereof.

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

Solvent

The preferred solvents used are low molecular weight water-soluble or water-miscible solvents, preferably of MWth. <350, ideally less than 200. The solvent may be an organic solvent selected from a lower alcohol such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol, other low molecular weight alcohols including monohydric, dihydric (such as glycol) alcohols (such as glycerin) or polyols.

The solvent may also have the following formula:

R1-O- [CH2-CH (R) - (CH2) a-O] n-H wherein: a is 0 or 1 n is from 1 to 5 each R is independently selected from H or CH3,

R1 is H, linear or branched CmH2m + 1 (where m is 1 to 15, preferably 1 to 10) or

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

Preferably, non-limiting solvents used in amounts of from 5% to 15% by weight of the composition are as follows:

propylene, dipropylene or tripropylene glycol;

propylene, dipropylene or tripropylene glycol ether;

ethylene or propylene glycol phenyl ether; diethylene glycol monobutyl ether;

propylene glycol monobutyl ether;

Butylene glycol; hexylene glycol; isopropanol; ethanol; isopropyl myristate; isopropyl palmitate.

Antifoams

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

The anti-foam component of the invention includes silicone. The silicone materials used as defoamers can be several types of alkylated polysiloxane materials, either singly or in combination with various solid materials such as silica aerogels and xerogels, and hydrophobic silicas of various types.

Use of the product

The method of treating a fabric, especially a woolen or blended wool fabric, comprises the step of contacting the fabric in the rinse cycle of the washing machine with an aqueous medium containing the composition of the invention, as defined above. Preferably, the aqueous medium is at a temperature between and 40 ° C, more preferably between 5 and 25 ° C.

The composition as defined above is used to prevent felting of a wool or wool blend fabric during the rinse cycle of a fabric washing process.

The invention is illustrated by the following example in which all percentages, unless otherwise stated, refer to% by weight of active ingredient. Compositions numbered 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 are not compositions according to the invention.

P r z k ł a d

T a b e l a 1. Sample compositions

% by weight of the component 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Quaternary fabric softener ¹ 4.5 4.5 7.5 7.5 10 10 7.5 Cationically modified guar gum ^{1 2} 0 0.3 0.225 0.225 0.225 0.225 0 Cationic acylamide thickener ⁸ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 Cotton protein hydrolyzate ³ 0 0 0.7 0 0 0 0.7 Cationically modified wheat protein hydrolyzate ⁴ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.3 Amine functional silicone ⁵ 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 Water-based silicone emulsion ⁶ 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cysteine-silicone copolymer ⁷ 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 PH modifier - citric acid / Na citrate 0.36 0.4 0.275 0.275 0 0 0 Aroma and color <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 Defoamer 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Water supplement

Esterquat 18 from Undessa SA.

Jaguar C14S from Rhodia.

Coltide Cotton from Croda Colloids Ltd.

Coltide HQS (Wheat Protein) from Croda Colloids Ltd.

Silicone DC 2-8035 available from Dow Corning.

Silicone HV4 95 from Dow Corning.

Coltide CySi from Croda Colloids Ltd.

Flosoft from SNF.

Viscosity between 0.1 and 1.5 Pa <(at 20 ° C), measured using a Brookfield LVT with a No. 2 spindle at 12 rpm.

Rating

Fabrics used to assess softness and felting.

Pure wool 100%, pastel color (thick wool, knit samples)

Pure wool 100%, pastel color (thick wool, knit samples)

Pure silk 100%, not dyed

A blend of 30:70 silk and wool

PL 203 995 B1

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

Procedure

Fixed test conditions

Four washing machines of the same model are used for the test. For each of the four washing machines, the described test conditions are controlled prior to starting the test. When testing the products, the towels are transferred from one washing machine to the next so that each product is used evenly in each of the four washing machines. In this way, all test samples are subjected to the same treatment.

Washing

The washing machines are filled with ballast and test samples, taking care to follow the same procedure for all products. Detergent is added as normal according to the instructions on the label. The test fabric conditioner composition is added during the rinse cycle.

At the end of the washing and rinsing cycles, the test specimens are line dried. Other test specimens which receive more than one wash are rope dried between each wash cycle prior to evaluations.

Rating

For test specimens that are subject to more than one type of assessment, the order of the assessments must be as follows: instrumental assessment, visual assessment, and finally fabric tactile assessment.

Softness rating

The softness (feel of the fabrics) is assessed with the help of an evaluation team. A team of at least five trained technicians is used. Softness ratings are made after three, five, ten, fifteen and twenty repeated washing cycles.

Each fabric, samples washed with different test products are compared with each other, using one of the products as the reference product is assessed according to the following scale:

Reference product

Very little difference

A noticeable difference

A clear difference

Strong difference + positive (better than the reference product)

- worse than the reference product

Shrinkage rating

It is tested according to the Woolmark TM 628 test method, September 1999. The degree of shrinkage is measured after three, five, ten, fifteen and twenty repeated washing cycles. For measurement, each IWS wool test specimen is allowed to soak / relax for one hour in a steel tray containing 1 cm cold tap water, after which, while still in the water, length and width measurements are taken.

The shrinkage rate is described as% reduction in surface area.

% reduction = 100 x {(Luw - Lw) x (Wuw - Ww)} / (Luw x Wuw) where:

Luw = length of the unwashed sample

Lw = length of the washed sample

Wuw = width of the unwashed sample

Ww = width of the washed sample

Felting rating

The degree of felting is measured by an evaluation team. A team of at least five trained technicians is used to obtain a reliable result. The washed samples were compared with each other using the appropriate unwashed fabric sample as a reference according to the following scale:

As reference (unwashed fabric)

Very little difference

A noticeable difference

A clear difference

A big difference

Panel test results are compiled according to the Kramer method, DIN 44983, part 50.

Claims (12)

A fabric softening composition characterized in that it comprises a) a cationic fabric softening agent in an amount of 3% to 45% by weight, wherein the cationic fabric softening agent is a compound of formula (I) or (Ia), or a mixture thereof: [R '- (CO) -OR-N + (- R) (- (RO) nH) (- RO- (CO) -R')] X ^- (I) [R '- (CO) -NH-R -N + (- R1) (- (RO) nH) (- R-NH- (CO) -R ')] X ^- (Ia) where: R is an alkylene or alkenylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R 'is an alkyl or alkenyl group of 8 to 22 carbon atoms; n is an integer with value 1 to 4; R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R ¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom; and X ^- is an anion compatible with the fabric softener; b) from 0.1% to 20% by weight of a water-soluble protein or a chemically modified derivative, wherein the protein source is selected from wheat, cotton, silk, keratin, collagen, elastin, casein and soy; c) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a thickening agent which is substantive to the fibers of the fabric, the thickening agent being a carbohydrate derivative; d) from 0.1% to 15% of a silicone fabric softening agent, wherein the silicone is an aminosilicone or methicon based compound; and e) water. 2. A composition according to claim 1 The composition of claim 1, comprising from 4% to 20% by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent. 3. A composition according to p. The composition of Claim 2 comprising from 4% to 15% by weight of a cationic fabric softening agent. 4. A composition according to p. The composition of claim 1, wherein the thickening agent is a water-soluble polymer. 5. A composition according to p. A water-soluble protein as claimed in any of the preceding claims. 6. A composition according to p. 1, characterized in that the cationic fabric softener is di- (tallow carboxyethyl) hydroxyethylmethyl X ^-. 7. The composition according to p. 4. A composition according to any of the preceding claims, additionally comprising one or more of the following additional softening ingredients: i. a fatty amine compound; ii. fatty amide compound; iii. fatty acid; iv. fatty alcohol. 8. A composition as claimed in p. The composition of claim 7, wherein the total content of the additional softening ingredient (s) is up to 20% by weight of the composition. 9. A composition according to p. The process of claim 1, wherein the carbohydrate derivative is cationically modified. 10. A composition according to claim 1 9. The carbohydrate of claim 9, wherein the carbohydrate is guar gum. 11. The composition according to p. 9. The process of claim 9, wherein the carbohydrate is modified with a cationic group selected from a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, a quaternary ammonium group, a sulfonium group, or a phosphonium group. 12. A composition as claimed in p. The process of claim 11, wherein the carbohydrate is modified with a cationic group of formula: [N (R1) (R2) (R3) (R4)] ⁺ X ^- wherein R1 is a monohydroxylated or polyhydroxylated C1-6alkyl group; R2 and R3 independently represent a C1-6alkyl group; R4 is a C1-24alkyl group; and X ^- is a counterion.