WO2005059080A1

WO2005059080A1 - Fabric conditioning composition

Info

Publication number: WO2005059080A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/012510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurent Soubiran
Original assignee: Unilever Plc; Unilever Nv; Hindustan Lever Limited
Priority date: 2003-12-12
Filing date: 2004-11-03
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: GB0328846D0

Abstract

An aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprises (a) a quaternary ammonium cationic softening material, (b) a polymeric nanoparticle comprising one or more perfume ingredients and (c) a polymeric thickener.

Description

FABRIC CONDITIONING COMPOSITION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fabric conditioning compositions and preferably relates to fabric conditioning compositions comprising nanoparticles for improving perfume substantivity and/or longevity on fabrics.

Background of the Invention

Perfume deposition from conventional fabric conditioning compositions typically requires the provision of an adequate amount of the perfume ingredient in the composition to enable sufficient deposition onto fabrics without significant assistance from deposition aids. Thus, it is not unusual for only a small proportion, e.g. 30% or less, of the total perfume present in the composition to be deposited onto the fabric during the rinse stage, the remainder being undesirably lost when the rinse liquor is drained, with 80% of the deposited perfume then evaporating during the drying stage.

It is environmentally undesirable to lose such a significant proportion of the perfume both in the rinse liquor and during drying since this requires the higher levels of perfume to be present originally. Furthermore, this imposes additional unwanted expense. Perfumes for use in fabric conditioning compositions typically comprise a large number of ingredients, e.g. 50 or more. It is therefore often a problem to ensure compatibility of as many of the perfume ingredients with the other ingredients in the compositions . For instance, aqueous fabric conditioning compositions contain aqueous solvents which will generally be compatible with the more hydrophilic components of a perfume but not with more hydrophobic ingredients, with the result that the hydrophobic perfume ingredients will not disperse or dissolve in the composition. Such ingredients thus have a tendency to volatilize at an undesirably early stage, i.e. before the consumer desires that the perfume is released.

Furthermore, mixing together the large number of perfume ingredients with other materials in a fabric conditioning composition can adversely affect the stability (e.g. viscostability) of the composition. It is believed that this is because some of the wide range of perfume ingredients interact with, for example, charged materials such as cationic polymers to induce phase (structural) changes leading to product viscosity instability.

The problem of instability in fabric conditioning compositions due to perfume has previously been addressed in various ways.

US 5447644 discloses a means of controlling the liquid viscosity of rinse conditioner compositions by mixing perfume with a surfactant having an HLB greater than 12 and then adding this to a base. EP-A1-658616 discloses a method for fragrancing rinse conditioner composition liquids having improved stability by premixing perfume with a high HLB polyethoxylated alcohol or cholesterol.

EP-A1-466235 discloses incorporating perfume into a detergent product by combining the perfume with one or more nonionic emulsifiers to form a structured emulsion.

WO-Al-01/46360 discloses a method of improving the viscosity stability upon storage of a fabric softening composition comprising (a) 0.5% to 30% by weight of at least one ester- linked quaternary ammonium fabric softening compound, (b) perfume, and (c) an alkoxylated nonionic surfactant by the inclusion in the composition of at least one oily sugar derivative in a weight ratio of softening compound to sugar derivative in the range 30:1 to 1:1.

Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to address one or more of the abovementioned problems and/or to provide one or more of the benefits referred to herein.

Statement of Invention

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided an aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising:

(a) a quaternary ammonium cationic softening material; (b) a polymeric nanoparticle comprising one or more perfume ingredients; and (c) a polymeric thickener.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fabric conditioning composition, more preferably a fabric softening composition, most preferably a rinse cycle or tumble dryer cycle fabric softening composition.

In the context of the present invention, the term "comprising" denotes that the feature (s) to which it refers is/are not exhaustive and further features may be present.

Nanoparticles

The polymeric nanoparticles used in the compositions of the present invention include perfume ingredients.

The nanoparticles also bear an overall negative charge and may be referred to as anionic nanopoarticles .

Preferably the polymeric nanoparticles have a glass o temperature of greater than 50 C.

The perfume ingredients are preferably present in an amount of 5 to 50%, preferably 10 to 30% with respect to the dry polymer, and 1.4 to 14%, preferably 3.5 to 10.5% with respect to a latex dispersion of the polymer.

Furthermore, the perfume ingredients are preferably present in an amount from 0.01 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight, most preferably 0.5 to 4.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

The nanoparticles are typically obtainable by a) continuously adding a liquid monomer component and a perfume ingredient to an aqueous solution of a first initiator comprising an emulsifier and distributing the added components in the aqueous solution to obtain a reaction mixture while starting polymerisation of the monomer component in the reaction mixture at a first temperature and, while continuing the addition of the liquid monomer component and the perfume ingredient, adding a second initiator dropwise to the reaction mixture while maintaining the first temperature after terminating the addition of the liquid monomer component and the perfume ingredient increasing the temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature and dropwise adding a third initiator. Preferably, the addition of the monomer component and the perfume ingredient is continued during the whole step a) .

It is assumed that under these conditions the polymer particles used in the composition of the invention are imprinted by the molecules of the perfume ingredients, i.e. the polymer is formed around the individual perfume ingredients. Such polymers are also called template polymers. (Molecular) imprinting is characterised by an enhanced retention of the perfume ingredients in the particles and by a reduced diffusion of these perfume ingredients through the polymer.

The above process is also called semicontinuous batch polymerisation. The polymerisation takes place in a two phase system with homogenous distribution of the liquid monomer and the perfume composition in an aqueous solution of an emulsifier. The two phase polymerisation is either a dispersion, suspension or preferably an emulsion or mini- emulsion polymerisation. For the latter a pre-emulsion is prepared by admixing the monomer with the perfume ingredients and adding the pre-emulsion during step a) to the aqueous solution. Optionally the aqueous solution may comprise dispersed polymer seeds. Depending on the desired particle size, size distribution, fragrance release performance, etc., the steps of the above process can be modified. The rate of the addition and the droplet size of the perfume and the monomer component and the initiator can be varied to obtain the desired particle properties. In particular, step a) can be followed by the addition of additional monomers and initiators, in order to provide an outer layer or coating of desired character on the particles. Also, the composition of the monomer and the perfume ingredients can be continuously varied in order to provide a gradient of characteristics within the particles. Such variations include: (i) variation of the temperatures, (ii) changing one or more initiators and/or initiator concentrations, (iii) changing feed rate of the monomer and perfume ingredient and (iv) changing the period of the above steps. Polymers obtained by batch radical polymerisation, where the whole monomer component and perfume ingredient is present in the reaction mixture before polymerisation starts, are less desirable for use in the compositions off the present invention.

Nanoparticles obtained by absorbing a perfume ingredient into pre-formed nanoparticles are also less desirable because they yield a less controlled release profile than those formed by the process described above.

An advantage of the polymeric nanoparticle is the extremely low amount of monomers found.

The amount of the principal monomer component is typically found in an amount of 100 ppm or less. Preferably the principal monomer component is added during the process in a significantly higher amount than the other monomer (s).

The composition of the monomer is particularly relevant to the particle performance. Monomer yielding polymers with a high glass transition temperature are particularly suitable. These encompass for example, styrene, methyl (meth) acrylate, isobornyl (meth) acrylate, adamantyl (meth) acrylate and (meth) acrylic acid, acrylamide and monomers of the general formula =C (Rl) -CO- (CH 2)n-X+Y-, wherein Rlis H or CH3; n is 1 or 2, X is either a trimethyl quaternary ammonium or a dimethyl sulfonium radical and Y-is a counterion. Preferred monomers are styrene, methyl (meth) acrylate and (meth) acrylic acids. It is most preferred that the principal monomer is styrene.

Cross linking monomers particularly useful for the present invention comprise divinyl benzene, trivinyl benzene, divinyl toluene, trivinyl toluene, di- and tri-acrylates like diesters - formed by (meth) acrylic acid and diols - and higher esters - formed by (meth) acrylic acid and polyols. Preferred are divinyl benzene, triethylenglycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylenglycol dimethacrylate, allylmethacrylate, diallylmaleate, triallylmaleate and 1,4- butanediol diacrylate.

The choice of emulsifier is less critical. Useful emulsifiers for emulsion and mini-emulsion polymerisation can be anionic, cationic, zwitterionic or non-ionic.

Examples of useful emulsifiers include Rewoquat®RTM50 (Ricinoylamidopropyltrimethyl-ammoniummetho sulphate, RewoquatOCPEM (Cocopentylethoxymethyl-ammoniummetho sulphate), Ethoquat®C12 (Cocobis (2—hydroxyethyl) methylammonium chloride, Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Lexemul®AR (Glyceryl stearate (and) Stearamidoethyl diethylamine) , Disponil®A1080 (Mixture of ethoxylated linear fatty alcohols) , Disponal®A3065 (Mixture of ethoxylated linear fatty alcohols) , Mergital®LM4L (Mixture of C12-

C13fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 4 moles of ethylene oxide Lauropal®12 (Mixture of C12-C14fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 6-15 moles of ethylene oxide, Montane®60 (Sorbitan stearate, Tween®20 (Polysorbate 20) , Tween®80 (Polysorbate 80), SDS (Sodium dodecyl sulphate, Abex®EP-227 (Ammoniumnonoxynol-77 sulphate) Lexemul®AS (Glyceryl stearate (and) Sodium lauryl sulphate) , and Dowfax®2Al (a disulphonated surfactant with tetrapropylene hydrophobe source) .

Alternatively, polymer emulsifiers can be used, either as hydrocolloid stabilising agents or as emulsifiers. Hydrocolloids of interest are poly (vinylalcohol-co- vinylacetate) copolymers, modified cellulose, polyoxyethylene and polyvinylpyrrolidone. Polymer surfactants are for example multiblock copolymers and graft copolymers containing at least one hydrophilic block and at least on hydrophobic block, like polyoxyethylene- polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene copolymers (ex PLURONICS) , polyether-modified dimethicones and polyether-alkyl- dimethicones (ABIL) copolymers . Cationic silicones and polymers containing polyimide moieties may be also useful.

Initiators useful for emulsion polymerisation are preferably water soluble, for instance peroxodisulphates, organic peroxides, hydroperoxides and water soluble azo-compounds. Specific examples of suitable initiators are ammonium persulphate, sodium persulphate, potassium persulphate, 1,4- diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, 2, 2 ' -azobis (2- methylpropio-namidine) dihydrochloride and 4, 4 ' -azobis (4-cyanovaleric acid).

Particularly preferred initiators are the redox systems of ammonium- or sodium persulphates with iron (II) sulphate which allow thermic initiation at low temperatures. A typical nanoparticle for use in the compositions of the invention comprises: 67% by weight of a copolymer phase consisting e.g. of 92% by weight of styrene, 2% by weight of divinyl benzene and 6% by weight of raethacrylic acid, together with about 30% by weight perfume ingredients, and 0.6 to 3% by weight of the total composition of an emulsifier as stabiliser e.g. comprising SDS, Abex®3594, Dowfax®, 2A1, Lexemul®AS and Mergital®LM4L.

The nanoparticles may be supplied or used suspended in water as latex or in solid dried form. The latex form preferably contains not more than 70% by weight of the nanoparticles.

Surprisingly it has been found that, by choosing suitable functional monomers and emulsifiers, nanoparticles bearing an opposite charge with respect to the main surfactant of the fabric conditioning composition, provide excellent controlled release properties, without affecting the stability of the end product.

Thus, anionic hard, glassy nanoparticles can impart long lasting delivery of perfume ingredients on fabrics over a long period of time and fast release of the perfume ingredients upon heating when used in a fabric conditioning composition comprising a cationic softening material.

This is particularly surprising given the traditional understanding that oppositely charged materials are incompatible in such compositions. For instance, it is a long established problem in the field of laundry that anionic carryover due the detergent used in a main wash cycle reduces the effectiveness, e.g. softening results, of a cationic softening material in the rinse cycle of a washing machine operation.

Nanoparticles that are particularly suitable for use in the compositions of the invention are produced by polymerizing a mix containing 5 to 50%, preferably 10 to 30% of perfume ingredients, 40 to 95% styrene, 0 to 10% divinyl benzene, 0 to 10% (meth) acrylic acid and 0.5 to 3% anionic emulsifier by emulsion polymerisation.

Preferably the nanoparticles with sizes in the range of several hundred nanometers can be mixed directly with the fabric conditioning composition and deposited onto the fabrics.

The surface potential of the nanoparticles is believed to control the stability of the nanoparticles in the end product. The surface potential of a colloid particle depends on a number of factors like (i) the amount of ionised chemical groups present on the surface, (ii) the nature of the emulsifier adsorbed on the particle and (iii) the amount of counterions present in the vicinity of the nanoparticle. If the partially ionizable groups consist of weak acids or weak bases, the surface potential will be also controlled by the pH of the dispersion medium. The surface potential of colloid particles is usually measured by measuring the so-called zeta-potential of the particles. A complete definition of zeta-potential can be found for example in (R.J. Hunter. "Zeta Potential in Colloid

Science", Academic Press, London, 1981) . The zeta-potenial of particles in a diluted dispersion can be measured by electroosmosis and electrophoresis, whereas in concentrated dispersions, electrokinetic sonic amplitude measurements are preferred. It has been shown for optimal stability in end products containing electrically charged species, the zeta- potential should not exceed some critical values, which depend on the nature and composition of the end products.

In the fabric conditioning compositions of the present invention, it is preferred that the maximum value of the zeta-potential is -35mV or less.

The perfume which is incorporated into the nanoparticles comprises one or more perfume components in order to provide an odour desirable to consumers.

It is well known that perfume is typically provided as a mixture of components. Suitable components for use in the perfume include those described in "Perfume and Flavor Chemicals (Aroma Chemicals) by Steffen Arctander, published by the author, 1969, Montclait, N.J. (US), reprinted 1^st April 1982 Library of Congress Catalog Number 75-91398, incorporated herein.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the perfume comprises substantive perfume ingredients as described in US-A1- 2003/0050220 paragraphs 60 to 72, incorporated herein.

Additionally, perfume components as described above can be incorporated directly into the composition separately from the nanoparticles. This may be desirable where it is intended to provide fragrance release in the short

In the context of the present invention, "significant enhancement of deposition" means a measurable increase of the fragrance concentration on the substrate, "significantly improved sustained release of the perfume ingredients" means a perceivable fragrance concentration in the headspace surrounding the dry fabric after 5 days and "significantly improved fast release at higher temperature of the perfume ingredients" means an unambiguous increase of the concentration in the headspace surrounding the dry fabric during and after thermic treatment.

By encapsulating the perfume ingredients in the nanoparticles, there is reduced or even no undesirable interaction between the perfume ingredients and materials such as the quaternary ammonium fabric softening material or polymeric thickening material. Thus, instability such as thickening of the product upon storage can be avoided.

Cationic Fabric So tening Material

The fabric conditioning composition comprises a cationic softening material. The softening material is preferably a quaternary ammonium fabric softening material.

Particularly preferred quaternary ammonium fabric softening materials comprise two C₁2-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to the nitrogen head group, preferably via at least one ester link. It is more preferred if the quaternary ammonium material has two ester links present.

Preferably, the average chain length of the alkyl or alkenyl group is at least C14, more preferably at least C±Q . Most preferably at least half of the chains have a length of Cχ8.

It is generally preferred if the alkyl or alkenyl chains are predominantly linear, although a degree off branching, especially mid-chain branching, is within the scope of the invention.

The first group of cationic fabric softening compounds suitable for use in the invention is represented by formula (I) : t⁽CH₂)n(TR)]_m I ^x~ R¹-N⁺-[(CH₂)_n(OH)]₃__m (1)

wherein each R is independently selected from a C₅-3₅ alkyl 1 or alkenyl group, R represents a C1-₄ alk l, C2-4 alkenyl or a Cι_4 hydroxyalkyl group,

0 0

T is -O-C- or -C-0-, n is 0 or a number selected from 1 to 4, m is 1, 2 or 3 and denotes the number of moieties to which it relates that pend directly from the N atom, and X is an anionic group, such as halides or alkyl sulphates, e.g. chloride, methyl sulphate or ethyl sulphate.

Especially preferred materials within this group are di- alkenyl esters of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate. Commercial examples include Tetranyl AHT-1 (di-hardened tallow ester of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate 85% active in 15% IPA) , AT-1 (di-oleic ester of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate 90% active) , L5/90 (palm ester of triethanol ammonium methyl sulphate 90% active) , all ex Kao, and Rewoquat WE15 (C₁0-C₂₀ and Ci₆~Ci₈ unsaturated fatty acid reaction products with triethanolamine dimethyl sulphate quaternised 90 % active) , ex Witco Corporation.

The second group of cationic fabric softening compounds suitable for use in the invention is represented by formula (II) : TR²

(R^ ^"1" (CH₂)_n — CH X ( ii : CH₂TR²

wherein each R group is independently selected from C₁-₄ alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C₂-₄ alkenyl groups; and wherein each 2

R group is independently selected from Cs-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X are as defined above.

Preferred materials of this class such as 1,2 bis [tallowoyloxy] -3- trimethylammonium propane chloride and 1, 2-bis [oleyloxy] -3-trimethylammonium propane chloride and their method of preparation are, for example, described in US 4137180 (Lever Brothers) , the contents of which are incorporated herein.

A third group of cationic fabric softening compounds suitable for use in the invention is represented by formula (III) : R¹

R N — (CH₂) T — R X (III)

(CH₂)_n — T — R²

1 wherein each R group is independently selected from C₁-₄ 2 alkyl, or C₂-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R group is independently selected from Cs-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X are as defined above. A fourth group of cationic fabric softening compounds suitable for use in the invention is represented by formula (IV) :

R

R^J N — R (IV)

R

1 wherein each R group is independently selected from C1-4 2 alkyl, or C₂-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R group is independently selected from Cs-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and X is as defined above.

Iodine Value of the Parent Fatty Acyl group or Acid

The iodine value of the parent fatty acyl compound or acid from which the cationic softening material is formed is preferably from 0 to 140, more preferably from 0 to 100, most preferably from 0 to 60.

It is especially preferred that the iodine value of the parent compound is from 0 to 20, more preferably 0 to 9, most preferably 0 to 4, e.g. 2 or less or even 1.5 or less. Where the iodine value is 4 or less, the softening material provides excellent softening results and has improved resistance to oxidation and associated odour problems upon storage .

When unsaturated hydrocarbyl chains are present, it is preferred that the cis: trans weight ratio of the material is 50:50 or more, more preferably 60:40 or more, most preferably 70:30 or more, e.g. 85:15 or more.

The iodine value of the parent fatty acid or acyl compound is measured according to the method set out in WO-Al- 01/46513.

The softening material is preferably present in an amount of from 8 to 30% by weight of the total composition, more preferably from 10 to 40%, most preferably from 15 to 30% by weight.

Surprisingly it has been found that in the presence of a small amount of cationic softening material, e.g. less than 5wt%, more preferably less than 4wt%, most preferably less than 3wt%, e.g. less than 2wt%, excellent perfume substantivity on fabrics can still be achieved with the compositions of the invention. Thus, if it is only desired to provide fabrics with good perfume aroma and substantivity, then very low levels of cationic softening material - vide supra - can be used.

Polymeric thickener

The compositions comprise one or more polymeric thickeners for thickening the liquid composition. Suitable polymeric thickeners include nonionic polymers, such as hydrophobically modified cellulose ethers (e.g. Natrosol Plus 330/331, ex Hercules) , and cationic polymers such as cationically modified starches (e.g. Softgel BDA and Softgel BD, both ex Avebe) . A particularly preferred thickener is a copolymer of methacrylate and cationic acrylamide available under the tradename Flosoft 200 (ex SNF Floerger) .

Nonionic and/or cationic polymers are preferably present in an amount of 0.001 to 5wt%, more preferably 0.002 to 4wt% by weight of active ingredient, based on the total weight of the composition.

Other Polymers

The composition may also comprise other polymers, especially cationic polymers as disclosed in EP-A-931132.

Fatty Acids

The composition preferably comprises a fatty acid.

Preferred fatty acids include hardened tallow fatty acid (available under the tradename Pristerene, ex Uniqema) .

The fatty acid is preferably present at a level from 0.1 to 15% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, more preferably from O.3 to 10%, most preferably from 0.5 to 5%, e.g. 0.7 to 4% by weight. Silicone

The composition may comprise a silicone. For instance, a suitable silicone comprises a cyclic polydi- (Ci-β) alkyl siloxane.

Typical -silicones of this class have the general formula R_aSiO(₄-_a)/2 wherein each R is the same or different and is selected from hydrocarbon and hydroxyl groups, {aζ being from 0 to 3. In the bulk material, {aζ typically has an average value of from 1.85-2.2.

The silicone is preferably comprised of a homopolymer. Preferably the silicone is free of cross-linking. It is further preferred that the silicone is free of amine or amide linkages.

It has been found that cyclic silicones deliver excellent faster drying characteristics to fabrics and are thus preferred to linear or generally linear silicones.

A particularly preferred silicone comprises a cyclic poly- dimethyl-siloxane .

Suitable commercially available silicones include DC245 (polydimethylcyclopentasiloxane also known as D5) , DC246 (polydimethylcyclohexasiloxane also known as D6) , DC1184 (a pre-emulsified polydimethylpentasiloxane also known as L5) and DC347 (a pre-emulsified lOOcSt PDMS fluid) , all ex Dow Corning.

Silicone form

The silicone may be received and incorporated into the composition either directly as an oil or pre-emulsified.

Pre-emulsification is typically required when the silicone is of a more viscous nature.

Suitable emulsifiers include cationic emulsifiers, nonionic emulsifiers or mixtures thereof.

Fatty Alcohol - co-active softener

Optionally and advantageously, one or more un-alkoxylated fatty alcohols are present in the composition.

Preferred alcohols have a hydrocarbyl chain length of from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, more preferably 11 to 20 carbon atoms, most preferably 15 to 19 carbon atoms.

The fatty alcohol may be saturated or unsaturated, though saturated fatty alcohols are preferred as these have been found to deliver greater benefits in terms of stability, especially low temperature stability.

Suitable commercially available fatty alcohols include hardened tallow alcohol (available as Hydrenol S3, ex Sidobre Sinnova, and Laurex CS, ex Clariant) . The fatty alcohol content in the compositions is from 0 to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.005 to 5% by weight, most preferably from 0.01 to 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

It is particularly preferred that a fatty alcohol is present if the composition is concentrated, that is if more than 8% by weight of the cationic softening agent is present in the composition.

Other co-active softeners

Co-active softeners for the cationic surfactant may also be incorporated in an amount from 0.01 to 20% by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 10%, based on the total weight of the composition. Preferred co-active softeners include fatty esters, and fatty N-oxides .

Preferred fatty esters include fatty monoesters, such as glycerol monostearate (hereinafter referred to as "GMS"). If GMS is present, then it is preferred that the level of GMS in the composition is from 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

The co-active softener may also comprise an oily sugar derivative. Suitable oily sugar derivatives, their methods of manufacture and their preferred amounts are described in O-Al-01/46361 on page 5 line 16 to page 11 line 20, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein. Nonionic surfactant

It is preferred that the compositions further comprise a nonionic surfactant. Typically these can be included for the purpose of stabilising the compositions.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.

Any of the alkoxylated materials of the particular type described hereinafter can be used as the nonionic surfactant .

Suitable surfactants are substantially water soluble surfactants of the general formula:

R—Y— (C2H₄0)_Z — C2H4OH

where R is selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl and/or acyl hydrocarbyl groups; primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups; and primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl-substituted phenolic hydrocarbyl groups; the hydrocarbyl groups having a chain length of from 8 to about 25, preferably 10 to 20, e.g. 14 to 18 carbon atoms.

In the general formula for the alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, Y is typically:

--0— —C(0)0— -C(0)N(R) or -C(0)N(R)R- in which R has the meaning given above or can be hydrogen; and Z is preferably from 8 to 40, more preferably from 10 to 30, most preferably from 11 to 25, e.g. 12 to 22.

The level of alkoxylation, Z, denotes the average number of alkoxy groups per molecule.

Preferably the nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from about 7 to about 20, more preferably from 10 to 18, e.g. 12 to 16.

The nonionic surfactants are useful in the present compositions alone or in combination, and the term "nonionic surfactant" encompasses mixed nonionic surface active agents.

The nonionic surfactant is preferably present in an amount of from 0.01 to 10%, more preferably 0.1 to 5%, most preferably 0.35 to 3.5%, e.g. 0.5 to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Liquid Carrier

A liquid carrier is preferably employed in the instant compositions. The liquid carrier is at least partly water due to its low cost, relative availability, safety, and environmental compatibility. The level of water in the liquid carrier is more than about 50%, preferably more than about 80%, more preferably more than about 85%, by weight of the carrier. The level of liquid carrier is greater than about 50%, preferably greater than about 65%, more preferably greater than about 70%. Mixtures of water and a low molecular weight, e.g. <100, organic solvent, e.g. a lower alcohol such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol are useful as the carrier liquid. Low molecular weight alcohols including monohydric, dihydric (glycol, etc.) trihydric (glycerol, etc.), and polyhydric (polyols) alcohols are also suitable carriers for use in the compositions of the present invention.

Antifoaming Agent

It is particularly preferred that the composition comprises an antifoaming agent.

The antifoaming agent is preferably present at a level of from 0.001 to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.002 to 3% by weight, most preferably 0.003 to 1% by weight, e.g. 0.004 to 0.7% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

A typical antifoaming agent suitable for use in the composition is DOW CORNING® 1520 Silicone antifoam (a 20% active silicone emulsion) .

Further Optional Ingredients

The compositions may also contain one or more optional ingredients conventionally included in fabric conditioning compositions such as pH buffering agents, fluorescers, colourants, hydrotropes, bactericides, soil-releases agents, antiredeposition agents, polyelectrolytes, enzymes, optical brightening agents, pearlescers, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, antioxidants, sunscreens, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, dye fixatives, sequestrants, preservatives, anti-static agents, ironing aids and dyes.

Product Form

The fabric conditioning composition may be a liquid, such as an aqueous liquid, preferably an aqueous dispersion of the cationic softening material, a soft solid such as a gel, cream or paste, or a solid such as a granular material. Preferably the product is a liquid or soft solid.

Product Use

The composition is preferably used in a domestic laundry operation such as a washing machine, e.g. a top-loading or front-loading washing machine, or a hand-washing laundry operation.

Preparation

The compositions of the invention may be prepared by adding the anionic nanoparticles to an unperfumed fabric conditioning composition. Examples

The invention will now be illustrated by the following non- limiting examples. Further modifications will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.

All values are % by weight of the active ingredient unless stated otherwise.

Example 1

Firstly, a preparation of a latex containing nanoparticles is prepared as follows:

A pre-emulsion is prepared by mixing an aqueous phase, prepared by dispersing the surfactants Abex®3594 (8g) and SDS (4g) in water (lOOg) , with an organic phase containing styrene (276g) , methacrylic acid (18g) , divinylbenzene (6g) and Softline B53 - a perfume ex Givaudan Roure - (40g) . The aqueous and the organic phase are mixed, vortexed, homogenised (using an Ultraturrax®homogeniser) and flushed with nitrogen. A llitre reaction flask equipped with a stirrer, reflux condenser, thermometer and inlet tube for delivery from a peristaltic pump is placed in a water bath at 75 °C. During nitrogen rinsing, a first initiator (6 g Na2S208/ 30 ml water) is added dropwise into the reaction flask which contains 100 ml water, 0.3g buffer (NaHC03) , 0.5g Abex®3594 and a small amount of iron(II) sulphate. After 30 minutes the pre-emulsion and a second initiator (3g Na2S208/ 60 ml water) are separately added dropwise into the reaction flask under stirring at 420 rpm, using peristaltic pumps over a period of about 120 minutes. After terminating the addition, the reaction mixture is stirred for further 30 minutes and the bath temperature is increased up to 88 °C. Subsequently a third initiator (0.7g Na2S208/ 30 ml water) is added dropwise over a period of 30 minutes before the reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature. Finally the latex particles are filtered through a 150 micrometer sieve.

A composition according to the invention is shown in table 1.

Table 1

The composition was prepared by methods standard in the art.

Claims

l. An aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising:

(a) a quaternary ammonium cationic softening material;

(b) a polymeric nanoparticle comprising one or more perfume ingredients; and

(c) a polymeric thickener.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric thickener is an associative thickener.

3. A composition according to either of the preceding claims wherein wherein the polymeric thickener is a nonionic polymeric thickener.

4. A composition according to claim 3 wherein the polymeric thickener is a hydrophobically modified cellulose ether.

5. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the polymeric thickener is a cationic polymer.

6. A composition according to claim 5 wherein the cationic polymer comprises a quaternary ammonium headgroup.

7. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymeric nanoparticle carries an overall net negative charge.