[0001] This invention relates to fabric softening compositions and, in particular, to'compositions
in aqueous medium which contain a relatively high proportion of cationic fabric softening
ingredients.
[0002] Conventional rinse-added fabric softening compositions contain fabric softening agents
which are substantially water-insoluble cationic materials usually having two long
alkyl chains. Typical of such materials are distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and
imidazolinium compounds substituted with two stearyl groups. These materials are normally
prepared in the form of an aqueous dispersion or emulsion, and it is generally not
possible to prepare such aqueous dispersions with more than about 6% of cationic materials
without taking special precautions to ensure acceptable viscosity and stability characteristics.
Indeed, with cationic levels in excess of about 8% the problems of physical instability
and high viscosity become, in the case of . conventional fabric softening products,
almost intractable. The formulation of fabric softener compositons with low levels
of the active softener ingredients adds substantially to distribution and packaging
costs.
[0003] In addition to shipping and packaging economy, another advantage of a more concentrated
fabric softening composition is that it permits the consumer to exercise choice in
the type of performance desired, in that the concentrated product can either be used
as such or can be diluted to a conventional concentration before use. This opens up
the possibility of supplying the concentrated fabric softening composition in a more
economically packaged form intended for making up by the consumer into a conventional
bottle.
[0004] The problem of-preparing fabric softening compositions in concentrated form suitable
for consumer use has already been addressed in the art, but the various solutions
proposed have not been entirely satisfactory. U.S. Pat. No. 3,681,241, Rudy, issued
August 1, 1972, utilizes a combination of quaternary ammonium softener, saturated
imidazolinium softener, unsaturated imidazolinium softener and ionizable salts to
formulate concentrated softeners, but the maximum concentration achieved in that patent
is only 13%. The use of certain special processing techniques for reducing viscosity
has also been suggested (for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,634, Monson, issued May
4, 1976) but again this does not provide a complete and satis-' factory solution,
and it is not an easy matter to adopt this type of process on a commercial scale.
[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,855, Goffinet et al., issued May 22, 1979, concentrated fabric
softeners are disclosed which comprise three active softening ingredients, one of
which is a highly soluble cationic fabric substantive agent. While such compositions
do allow a high concentration of active ingredient, their overall softening performance
is less cost effective than is the case with compositions containing predominantly
a water-insoluble cationic softener. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,978, Goffinet, issued
April 17, 1979, mixtures of cationic softener and paraffinic materials are proposed
in a certain ratio which can allow the preparation of concentrated softening compositions
when relatively high proportions of paraffinic materials are employed. Paraffins are
not essential components of the compositions of the present invention and are preferably
absent therefrom. Dutch Patent Application No. 6706178 relates to viscosity control
in fabric softening compositions with up to 12% of cationic softener, and suggests
the use of low molecular weight hydrocarbons for this purpose. British Patent No.
1,538,094, Hoechst, published January 17, 1979, discloses'a complex softener/ disinfectant
composition in which a long-chain fatty alcohol used at a relatively low ratio of
cationic softener to alcohol is suggested as a solubilization aid. European Patent
Application 0013780, published August 6, 1980, discloses concentrated aqueous fabric
softener compositions comprising a cationic softener and a viscosity control agent
selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, fatty acids, fatty acid esters
and fatty alcohols. European Patent Application 0018039, published October 29, 1980,
discloses concentrated aqueous fabric softening compositions comprising an insoluble
cationic softener, a water-soluble nonionic or cationic surfactant and a hydrophobic
adjunct selected from C
12 to'C20 paraffins and esters of C
12 to C
24 fatty acids and C
1 to C
a fatty alcohols. Water-insoluble fatty nonionic materials are not essential to the
compositions herein and are preferably absent therefrom.
[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide'highly concentrated aqueous fabric
softening compositions, based on cationic softener systems, which do not require substantial
quantities of materials other than the cationic softeners to ensure physical stability
and acceptable viscosity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention relates to highly concentrated aqueous liquid fabric softener compositions
which comprise a mixture of specific types of cationic softeners and an ionizable
salt, wherein the mixture of cationic softeners has an Iodine Value of at least about
4.2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] In accordance with the present invention it has been found that when certain cationic
softeners are formulated within certain proportions, highly concentrated aqueous fabric
softening compositions can be prepared which contain in the order of 15% to 22.5%
cationic softener ingredients. Specifically, the present invention is directed to
concentrated aqueous fabric softener compositions which are pourable at 40°F, the
said compositions comprising:
A. from about 2% to about 11% of a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, R3 and R4 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C1 to C3 alkyl or -(CnH2n0)xH groups wherein n is 2 or 3, x is from 1 to about 3, and wherein
X is an anion selected from halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;
B. from about 2% to about 14% of a di(2-amido- ethyl) methyl quaternary ammonium salt
having the formula

wherein R5 and R6 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl and (CnH2nO)xH wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is from 1 to about 5 and wherein X- is selected from halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;
C. from about 2% to about 13% of an imidazolinium salt having the formulas

wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein X is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;

wherein R10 and R11 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl and X is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;

wherein R12, R13' and R14 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl or alkenyl, wherein X- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;
D. from about 0.05% to 0.6% of an inorganic water-soluble ionizable salt; and
E. water;
wherein the total amount of Components A + B + C is from about 15% to about 22.5%
(preferably about 18% to about 21%), wherein there is unsaturation present on at least
one of Components A, B or C such that the cationic active system has an Iodine Value
of at least about 4.2, preferably at least about 10.5, and most preferably from about
10.5 to about 34.
[0009] The compositions of the invention are stable and pourable at normally encountered
temperatures (40°-100°F) and are easily dispersible in water. In the context of the
present invention, "pourable" means having a viscosity below about 5000 cP as measured
by a
Brookfield Synchro-lectric Viscometer with Spindle #4 at 60 rpm. The compositions provide
excellent fabric softening and antistatic performance in laundry rinse solutions containing
from about 25 ppm to about 90 ppm of the combination of Components A, B and C.
[0010] The mono nitrogen quaternary ammonium salt softener of the compositions herein has'the
structure:

wherein R
1 and R
2 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C
14 to C
20 alkyl and alkenyl groups and R
3 and R
4 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C1 to C
3 alkyls, or -(C
nH
2nO)
xH wherein n is 2 or 3, x is from 1 to about 3, and wherein X is halide, methylsulfate
or ethylsulfate. It is preferred that X be halide, and the preferred halides are chloride
and bromide. It is preferred that R
1 and R
2 be alkyl, i.e., it is preferred that the unsaturation in the cationic active system
come from Components B or C, or mixtures thereof. Exemplary compounds are dimyristyldimethyl
ammonium chloride, dipalmityldiethyl ammonium bromide, distearyldimethyl ammonium
chloride, distearyldimethyl ammonium bromide, distearyldiisopropyl ammonium bromide,
diar- achidyldimethyl ammonium chloride, distearyl-2-hydroxypropylmethyl ammonium
chloride, oleylstearyldimethyl ammonium ethylsulfate and distearyl-2-hydroxyethylmethyl
ammonium methylsulfate. Preferably the R
1 and R
2 grbups are derived from tallow and the R
3 and R
4 groups are methyl. The tallow can be hydrogenated or unhydrogenated. Hydrogenated
(i.e., saturated) tallow is preferred, and halides are the preferred anions. Accordingly,
preferred mono nitrogen quaternary ammonium salt softener compounds herein are dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl
ammonium chloride and dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium bromide. Hydrogenated
tallow often has some residual degree of unsaturation such that the Iodine Value of
hydrogenated ditallowdimethyl ammonium salts can be up to about 5.
[0011] Exemplary commercial quaternary ammonium salts which are suitable for use as Component
A in the compositions herein are dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium chloride sold
under the name Adogen 442, and ditallowdimethyl ammonium chloride (I.V. about 20-30)
sold under the name Adogen 470, both from Sherex Chemical Company.
[0012] The quaternary ammonium salts are used in the compositions herein at levels of from
about 2% to about 11%, preferably from about 5% to about 10%. (All percentages and
proportions herein are "by weight" unless specified otherwise).
[0013] The di(2-amidoethyl) methyl quaternary ammonium salt of the invention herein has
the structure

wherein R
5 and R
6 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C
14 to C
20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein R7is selected from H, methyl, ethyl and -(C
nH
2nO)
xH wherein n is 2 to 3 and x is from 1 to about 5 (preferably 3), and wherein X is
an anion selected from halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate. Preferably R
5 and R
6 are alkyl and
R7 is -(C
nH
2nO)
xH. These compounds are used at levels of from about 2% to about 14%, preferably from
about 5% to about 10%, in the compositions herein. This class of compounds is disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,840, Minegishi et al., issued January 16, 1979, incorporated
herein by reference.
[0014] Exemplary compounds are di(2-hydrogenated- tallowamidoethyl) ethoxylated (2 ethoxy
groups) methyl ammonium methylsulfate, di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamido- ethyl) dimethyl
ammonium ethylsulfate, di(2-palmityl- amidoethyl) hydromethyl ammonium chloride, di(2-oleyl-
amidoethyl) propoxylated (3 propoxy groups) methyl ammonium bromide, di(2-palmitoleylamidoethyl)
dimethyl ammonium ethylsulfate and di(2-stearylamidoethyl) propoxylated (2 propoxy
groups) methyl ammonium methylsulfate.
[0015] Exemplary commercial materials suitable for use as Component B herein are di(2-hydrogenatedtallow-
amidoethyl) ethoxylated methyl ammonium methylsulfate sold under the name Varisoft
110, and di(2-tallowamido- ethyl) ethoxylated methyl ammonium methylsulfate (I.V.
about 31) sold under the name Varisoft 222, both from Sherex Chemical Company.
[0016] Component C, which is present at a level of from about 2% to about 13% (preferably
from about 3% to about 10%) of the compositions of the present invention is a cationic
softener selected from a group consisting of three different types of imidazolinium
salts. These Component C materials are designated herein as C.(l),
C.(2) and C. (3).
[0017] Component C.(l) has the formula:

wherein R
8 and R
9 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C
14 to C
20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein X is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate. Preferably
R
8 and R
9 are a mixture of alkyl and alkenyl groups such that Component C.(l) has an I.V. of
from about 25 to about 125, more preferably from about 25 to about 45.
[0018] Exemplary compounds of this type are: 1-methyl- l-tallowamidoethyl-2-tallowimidazolinium
methylsulfate, 1-methyl-1-oleylamidoethyl-2-oleylimidazoliniuin chloride, l-methyl-l-palmitoleylamidoethyl-2-palmitoleylimidazo-
linium ethylsulfate, 1-methyl-1-soyaamidoethyl-2-soya- imidazolinium methylsulfate
and 1-methyl-l-hydrogenated- tallowamidoethyl-2-hydrogenatedtallowimidazolinium methylsulfate.
Exemplary commercial materials are 1-methyl-l-tallowamidoethyl-2-tallowimidazolinium
methylsulfate (I.V. about 42) sold under the name Varisoft 475, and 1-methyl-1-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl-2-hydrogenatedtallowimidazolinium
methylsulfate sold under the name Varisoft 445, both available from Sherex Chemical
Company.
[0019] Component C.(2) has the formula:

mixture of alkenyl and alkyl groups such that the compound has an I.V. of from about
25 to about 125. Preferably Components A and B will be saturated compounds and the
weight ratio of Component C to Components A + B will be at least about 0.2:1 and the
sum of Components A + B + C will be from about 15% to about 21%.
[0020] An essential feature of the compositions herein is that the cationic active system
in the composition has an Iodine Value (I.V.) of at least about 4.2, i.e., a substantial
amount of unsaturation must be present. In accordance with the invention it has been
found that high active compositions which are based on substantially water-insoluble
cationic softeners, such as those of the invention, cannot be made without having
a substantial amount of unsaturation in the cationic active system. When using all-saturated
active systems, the compositions will gel and become unusable at room temperature
and below. Preferably the I.V. is at least about 10.5 and is most preferably from
about 10.5 to about 34. The unsaturation can come from Component A, B or C, or any
combination thereof. I.V. is a direct measure of the unsaturation and is based upon
the reaction of iodine with unsaturated bonds in a molecule. The I.V. is defined as
the number of decigrams of iodine which will react with one gram of the cationic active
system. The standard technique for determining I.V. is well known in the art. If one
knows the I.V. of the individual components which are used in the active system, then
the I.V. of the system can simply be calculated by multiplying the I.V. of each component
by the percentage of that component in the composition and then dividing by the total
percentage of components in the composition. For example, in a composition of the
invention which contains 10% Component A, 5% Component B and 5% Component C, wherein
Components A and B have I.V.'s of 0 and Component C has an I.V. of 40, the I.V. of
the cationic active system is 10 (i.e., 5 x 40 T 20). wherein R
10 and R
11 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C
14 to C
20 alkyl and alkenyl and X is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate.
[0021] Exemplary compounds of this type are: 1-ethylene bis(2-stearyl, 1-methyl, imidazolinium
methylsulfate), 1-ethylene bis(2-oleyl, 1-methyl, imidazolinium methylsulfate) and
1-ethylene bis(2-tallow, 1-methyl, imidazolinium methylsulfate). The tallow derivative,
in hydrogenated or unhydrogenated form, is commercially available from Sherex Chemical
Company under the name Varisoft 6112. The unhydrogenated material has an I.V. of about
29.
[0022] Component C.(3) has the formula:

wherein R
12. R
13' and R
14 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C
14 to C
20 alkyl or alkenyl, wherein X
- is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate.
[0023] Exemplary compounds of this type are: 1-methyl-2-stearyl-3[(stearylamidoethyl-stearylamino)ethylene]imidazolinium
ethylsulfate, l-methyl-2-oleyl-3[(oleylamido- ethyl-oleylamino)ethylene]imidazolinium
ethylsulfate and 1-methyl-2-tallow-3[tallowamidoethyl-tallowamino) ethylene]imidazolinium
ethylsulfate. The tallow derivative (I.V. about 32) is sold under the name Varisoft
3012 by the Sherex Chemical Company.
[0024] Components C.(l), C.(2) and C.(3) can be used singly or in mixtures with each other.
[0025] Preferably Component C in the compositions herein is Component C.(1), wherein R
8 and R
9 are a
[0026] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that not all possible combinations
of Components A, B and C throughout the total active level range of 15% to 22.5% will
produce 40°F-pourableecompo- sitions throughout the range of I.V.'s specified. Generally
at the higher active levels, or at higher proportions of Component A in the system,
higher I.V.'s are required. Also, if the unsaturation comes from Component A, a higher
I.V. will be required than if the same quantity of unsaturation comes from Component
B or C. Generally higher cationic system I.V.'s in the composition give a higher degree
of pourability. However, excessively high I.V.'s (i.e., above about 40) should be
avoided since these can result in gelling in some instances during the making process.
[0027] Some formulation guidelines are given below.
1. A minimum I.V. of 4.2 provides"suitable 40°F-pourable compositions at 15% total
cationic active when the ratio of Component A to Components B + C is from about 0.2
to about 1.14.
2. A minimum I.V. of 6.2 provides suitable 40°F-pourable compositions at 18% total
cationic active when the ratio of Component A to Components B + C is from about 0.3
to about 1.25.
3. A minimum I.V. of 6.5 provides suitable 40°F-pourable compositions at 19% total
cationic active when the ratio of Component A to Components B + C is from about 0.4
to about 1.1.
4. A minimum I.V. of 6.4 provides suitable 40°F-pourable compositions at 20% total
cationic active when Component A constitutes one-fourth of the cationic active.
5. A minimum I.V. of 7.7 provides suitable 40°F-pourable compositions at 20% total
cationic active when Component A constitutes 50% of the cationic active.
6. A minimum I.V. of 10.7 provides suitable 40°F-pourable compositions at 22.5% total
cationic active when Component A constitutes 49% of the cationic active.
[0028] Examples of various compositions of the invention wherein the total cationic level
and the source and amount of unsaturation are varied are illustrated in the following
table.
Component A is ditallowdimethyl ammonium chloride
Component B is di(2-tallowamidoethyl)ethoxylated methylammonium methylsulfate
Component C is 1-methyl-l-tallowamidoethyl-2- tallow imidazolinium methylsulfate
All compositions are adjusted to about pH 6 with NaOH or HC1 as needed.

[0029] A wide variety of ionizable salts can be used as Component D in the compositions
herein. The particular salt should be sufficiently soluble in the compositions to
produce a concentration in solution of from about 500 to about 6000 ppm (preferably
about 500 to about 4000 ppm)and should not adversely interact with the fabric softener
compounds. Examples of suitable salts are the halides of the Group lA and 2A metals
of the Periodic Table of Elements, e.g., sodium chloride, potassium bromide, lithium
chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. The ionizable salts provide viscosity
control, particularly during the process of mixing the ingredients to make the compositions
herein.
[0030] The water used in the compositions herein is preferably distilled or deionized water
and is generally present at levels of from about 76% to 84%.
[0031] Preferred compositions of the invention are those wherein Components A and B are
substantially saturated and Component C is unsaturated and is of the type identified
herein as C.(l). These preferred compositions can be defined as follows.
A. from about 3.75% to about 10.5% (preferably from about 5% to about 10%) of a quaternary
ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R1 and R2 can be-the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl groups, R3 and R4 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C1 to C3 alkyl groups and wherein X is halide;
B. from about 3.75% to about 10.5% (preferably from about 5% to about 10%) of a di(2-amido-
ethyl) alkoxylated methyl quaternary ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R5 and R6 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl groups, wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is a number of from 1 to about 5 and wherein
X is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;
C. at least about 2.5% (preferably from about 3% to about 10%, and most preferably
from about 3.75% to about 5.25%) of an imidazolinium salt having the formula

wherein R7 and R8 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of alkenyl groups or a mixture of alkyl and alkenyl groups, each containing from about
14 to about 20 carbon atoms, wherein X- is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate, and wherein said Component C has an Iodine
Value of from about 25 to about 125, preferably from about 25 to about 45;
D. from about 0.05% to about 0.4% of an inorganic vater-soluble ionizable salt; and
E. water;
the total amount of Components A + B + C in said composition being from about 15%
to about 21% and the Iodine Value of the total cationic system being at least about
4.2.
[0032] Various optional materials such as are ordinarily used in fabric softening compositions
can be used in the compositions herein. These include, for example, perfumes at 0.1%
to 1.0%, antimicrobials at 0.01% to 0.1% and dyes at 0.001% to 0.01%.
[0033] In general, it is conventional to include lower aliphatic alcohols such as ethanol
and isopropanol in liquid fabric softener compositions; in fact, the softening ingredients
are normally sold to the formulator in the form of 70% to 90% pastes in which a lower
alcohol is a diluent. It has been found that the compositions herein should preferably
be substantially free of lower aliphatic alcohols, and that in any event these alcohols
should not be present in said compositions at levels in excess of about 3%. If the
softener ingredients are purchased as dispersions in amounts of alcohol which would
produce alcohol levels in excess of about 3% in the finished compositions herein,
some or all of the alcohol should be removed (e.g., by heat- assisted evaporation)
before use in preparing the compositions herein. Lower alcohols tend to cause viscosity
increase during storage (particularly at higher storage temperatures) and if the alcohol
is isopropanol, the odor imparted to the finished product. is undesirable.
[0034] Agents which facilitate recovery of the compositions to a stable homogeneous liquid
condition after having been subjected to freezing can be included in the compositions.
Preferred freeze-thaw recovery agents are the di-polyetboxy monoalkyl amines of the
formula

wherein R
19 is an alkyl or alkenyl group of from about 14 to 20 carbon atoms and the sum of m
+ n is from about 10 to about 25. A preferred material is sold under the name Varonic
T220 by Sherex Chemical Company wherein R
19 is unhydrogenated tallow and the sum of m + n is about 20. Freeze-thaw agents are
used in the compositions herein at levels of about 1%.
[0035] Care must be exercised in the preparation of the compositions herein. The order of
addition and manner of mixing the components can have a significant effect on the
physical characteristics of the composition. A particularly preferred method of preparation
is as follows. Components A, B and C (and dyes, if used) are heated and blended together
to form a melt at about 175-185°F. This melt is then added gradually to 110°F water
with vigorous agitation. A portion of the ionizable salt is added to the water concurrently
with the melted softeners at a rate necessary to keep the aqueous mix fluid and stirrable.
Upon completion of the addition of the melted softeners, the remainder of the ionizable
salt is added to produce the desired viscosity. Optional ingredients such as perfume,
etc., are added after the viscosity of the mix has been reduced by the addition of
most of the ionizable salt. After completion of the addition of ionizable salt the
composition is cooled to room temperature before filling into containers.
[0036] It is desirable that the compositions herein: have a pH of from about 5.5 to about
6.5. Acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric or citric or bases such as sodium hydroxide
or sodium carbonate can be added, as needed, to the compositions to achieve the desired
pH. Normally, only very small amounts of such p
H adjusting agents are required.
[0037] The invention will be further illustrated by the following example.
EXAMPLE I
[0038] This example illustrates the preparation of a 200 lb. batch of a composition of the
present invention. Materials:
123 lbs. 87% active dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl- ammonium chloride (DTDMAC)
213.3 lbs 75% active di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamido- ethyl) ethoxylated methyl ammonium
methylsulfate (Varisoft 110)
311.1 lbs 90% active 1-methyl-l-unsaturatedtallow- amidoethyl-2-unsaturatedtallowimidazolinium
methylsulfate (Varisoft 475, I.V. 42)
1.2 lbs. 1.35% solution of Polar Brilliant Blue dye in water
960 ml 25% w/v CaCl2 in water
1.5 lbs. perfume
147 lbs. deionized water
120 g. 20% w/v NaOH in water
1Contains 8% ethanol.
2Contains 12% isopropanol.
3Contains 10% isopropanol.
Equipment:
20 gallon capacity steam-jacketed pre-mix tank
60 gallon capacity main-mix tank equipped with vertically mounted, variable speed
(50-500 rpm) mixer with impeller
Procedure:
The pre-mix tank was charged with the molten softener actives in the sequence DTDMAC,
Varisoft 110, Varisoft 475. The resulting mixture was heated with stirring to 170°F,
at which time the dye solution was added. Heating of the mixture then continued until
a temperature of 185°F was reached.
The main-mix tank was charged with 17.6 gal. (147 lbs.) of deionized water which was
then heated to 110°F. The agitator was set at 150 rpm and the contents of the pre-mix
tank (at 185°F) were pumped into the main-mix tank over a period of 5 minutes. During
this 5 minute period the agitator speed was gradually increased to 275-300 rpm as
the main-mix thickened. Also, beginning at the point where about one-half of" the
premix had been added, the CaCl2 solution was added in portions (see table below) at such a rate as to maintain a
stirrable, flowable mixture. As the viscosity decreased the agitator speed was gradually
reduced back to 150 rpm. The 120 g. of 20% NaOH solution was added about 7 minutes
after the start of addition of the active pre-mix to the main-mix tank. (This solution
of NaOH serves to adjust the final product pH to 6.0 and also reduces product viscosity.)
The perfume was added 20 minutes after the start of addition of the active pre-mix
to the main-mix tank. Addition of CaCl2 solution continued until the viscosity of the warm product was 140 cP. This required
a final concentration of 2650 ppm (0.265% CaCl2). Upon cooling to room temperature the resulting 200 lbs. of product had a viscosity
of 95 cP.
The following table records the chronology of CaCl2 solution addition to the main-mix tank and corresponding viscosity readings, where
taken.

[0039] The composition above had the following approximate formula:

[0040] The Iodine Value of the total cationic active system was 10.5.
[0041] This composition exhibits excellent softening and antistatic performance and has
excellent physical stability and pourability between 40°F and 100°F. Another formula
which exhibits comparable performance, physical stability and pourability is made
as above except that the active system consists of 5% dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl
ammonium chloride, 10% di(2-hydrogenatedtallowamidoethyl) ethoxylated methyl,ammonium
methylsulfate and 5% 1-methyl- l-tallowamidoethyl-2-tallbwimidazolinium methylsulfate
(Varisoft 475). This formula also has an Iodine Value of 10.5 for the total cationic
active system.
1. A concentrated homogeneous aqueous fabric softener composition which is pourable
at 40°F, the said composition being characterized by:
A. from about 2% to about 11% of a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, R3 and R4 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C1 to C3 alkyl and -(CnH2nO)xH groups wherein n is 2 or 3, x is from about 1 to about 3, and wherein X is an anion
selected from halide, methylsulfate and ethylsulfate;
B. from about 2% to about 14% of a di(2-amido- ethyl) methyl quaternary ammonium salt
having the formula

wherein R5 and R6 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl and {CnH2nO)xH wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is from 1 to about 5 and wherein X is selected from halide,
ethylsulfate and methylsulfate;
C. from about 2% to about 13% of an imidazolinium quaternary salt having the formulas

wherein R8 and R9 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl groups, wherein X- is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;

wherein R10 and R11 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl and alkenyl and X is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate; and

wherein R12, R13' and R14 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl or alkenyl, wherein X is halide, methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;
D. from about 0.05% to 0.6% of an inorganic water-soluble ionizable salt; and
E. water;
wherein the total amount of Components A + B + C is from about 15% to about 22.5%,
wherein there is unsaturation present on at least one of Components A, B or C such
that the cationic active system, Components A + B + C, has an Iodine Value of at least
about 4.2.
2. A composition according to Claim l characterized in that the Iodine Value is at
least 10.5, preferably from 10.5 to 34.
3. A composition according to Claim 1 or 2 characterized in that Component A is present
in the composiiton at a level of from 5% to 10%.
4. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 3 charac- terized in that R1 and R2 are C14 to C20 alkyl groups and R3 and R4 are C1 to C3 alkyl groups.
5. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 4 characterized in that Component
B is present in the composition at a level of from 5% to 10%, wherein R7 is -(C2H4O)xH and wherein x is from 1 to about 5.
6. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 5 characterized in that Component
C is C.(l) and is present at a level of from 3% to 10%.
7. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the ionizable
salt is a halide of a Group lA or Group 2A metal of the Periodic Table of Elements.
8. A concentrated aqueous fabric softener which is pourable at 40°F, said composition
being characterized by:
A. from about 3.75% to about 10.5% of a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl groups, R3 and R4 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C1 to C3 alkyl groups and wherein X is halide;
B. from about 3.75% to about 10.5% of a di(2- amidoethyl) alkoxylated methyl quaternary
ammonium salt having the formula

wherein R5 and R6 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of C14 to C20 alkyl groups, wherein n is 2 or 3 and x is a number of from 1 to about 5 and wherein
X is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate;
C. at least about 2.5% of an imidazolinium salt having the formula

wherein R7 and R8 are the same or different from each other and are selected from the group consisting
of alkenyl groups or a mixture of alkyl and alkenyl groups, each containing from about
14 to about 20 carbon atoms, wherein X is halide, ethylsulfate or methylsulfate, and
wherein said Component C has an Iodine Value of from about 25 to about 125;
D. from about 0.05% to about 0.4% of an inorganic water-soluble ionizable salt; and
E. water;
the total amount of Components A + B + C in said composition being from about 15%
to about 21% and the Iodine Value of the total cationic system being at least about
4.2.
9. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the weight
ratio of Component C to Components A + B is at least 0.2:1, preferably from 0.2:1
to 1:1.
10. A composition according to any of Claims 1 to 9 characterized in that Component
A is dihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl ammonium chloride, Component B is di(2-hydrogen-
atedtallowamidoethyl) ethoxylated methyl ammonium methylsulfate preferably having
about 3 ethoxy groups, and Component C is l-methyl-l-tallow-amidoethyl-2-tallowimidazo-
linium methylsulfate having an Iodine Value of about 40.