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(11) | EP 1 205 538 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Fabric care composition |
| (57) A fabric care composition comprising a drying oil, a surfactant and or a fabric treatment
agent. The compositions may be used to treat fabric as part of a laundering process
and improve surface definition of fabrics during laundering, wrinkle removal, wrinkle
reduction, wrinkle resistance, fabric wear reduction, fabric wear resistance, fabric
pilling reduction, fabric colour maintenance, fabric colour restoration, fabric colour
fading reduction, together with fabric handle enhancement softness, crispness and
'body'. |
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to fabric care compositions and to methods of treating fabric using the compositions.
Background and Prior Art
[0002] The laundry process generally has several benefits for fabric, the most common being to remove dirt and stains from the fabric during the wash cycle and to soften the fabric during the rinse cycle. However, there are numerous disadvantages associated with repeated use of conventional laundry treatment compositions and/or the actual laundry process; one of these being a fairly harsh treatment of fabric in the laundry process.
[0003] There are problems relating to damage of fabric through normal use and laundering. The present invention is directed towards maintaining the new appearance of fabric and enhancing the feel despite the laundering process. Examples of retained fabric appearance are that the fabric retains its original colour, does not fuzz or pill and maintains its surface definition.
[0004] A further advantage of the present invention is that fabrics treated with the composition have a tendency to become less creased and/or wrinkled.
[0005] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that garments treated with the composition maintain their shape and garment seams do not distort or pucker.
Fabric treated with the present invention composition have an enhanced feel, soft and crisp with improved 'body'.
[0006] Laundry detergent compositions containing polyamide-polyamine fabric treatment agents are described in WO 98/29530. The compositions are claimed to impart improved overall appearance to fabrics laundered using the detergent compositions, in terms of surface appearance properties such as pill/fuzz reduction and antifading.
Definition of the Invention
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a fabric care composition comprising a drying oil and a textile compatible carrier selected from the group consisting of surfactants, fabric softening compounds and water, with the proviso that when the textile compatible carrier is solely water the composition further comprises a perfume
[0008] The invention also provides a method of treating fabric, as part of a laundering process, which comprises applying to the fabric a fabric care composition of the invention.
[0009] Further provided by the invention in another aspect is the use of a fabric care composition to mitigate fabric wear and to impart a soft and crisp feel to fabric of a fabric after washing with enhanced 'body'.
[0010] In another aspect, the invention provides the use of a drying oil in a fabric care composition to mitigate fabric fading and to impart a crisp feel to fabric to fabric treated with the fabric care composition during or after the laundering process.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0011] Compositions of the invention retain the appearance and feel of fabrics, which are treated therewith. This means that fabrics treated therewith have a reduction in the tendency of the fabric to become creased and/or wrinkled, the fabric retaining having enhanced feel and 'body', the fabric does not pill or fuzz, the fabric retains its surface definition, the fabric/garment maintains it shape, garment seams do not pucker, the colour and overall appearance of the fabric is retained resulting in a less worn look.
[0012] The compositions of the invention comprise a drying oil. Drying oils are naturally occurring unsaturated vegetable oils that when spread into thin films and exposed to oxygen self cross link to form elastic solvent-resistant coatings.
[0013] Suitable drying oils for use with the present invention are discussed in, The Science of Surface Coatings,(Ed. H.W.Chatfield, Publisher Benn), Chapter 3.
[0014] Especially preferred drying oils are wherein the drying oil is selected from the group consisting of tung oil, poppyseed oil, raw linseed oil, dehydrated caster oil and mixtures thereof.
[0015] The drying oil is preferably present in the product in a sufficient quantity to give an amount of 0.0005% to 5% by weight on the fabric based on the weight of the fabric, more preferably 0.001% to 2% by weight on fabric, most preferably the drying oil is present from 0.01 to 1 wt% by weight on fabric. The amount of the drying oil in the composition required to achieve the above % by weight on fabric will typically be in the range 0.1% to 45% by weight, preferably 10.o to 30.0% by weight.
[0016] A further advantage of compositions according to the invention is that when applied to the fabric they can retain the appearance of the fabric without a high temperature curing step. This means that line drying will suffice.
[0017] The compositions of the invention may comprise a textile compatible carrier. In the context of the present invention, the term "textile compatible carrier" is a component, which can assist in the interaction of the first component with the fabric. The carrier can also provide benefits in addition to those provided by the first component e.g. softening, cleaning etc.
[0018] The nature of the textile compatible carrier will be dictated to a large extent by the stage at which the composition of the invention is used in a laundering process, the compositions being capable of being used, in principle, at any stage of the process. For example, where the compositions are for use as main wash detergent compositions, the one or more textile compatible carriers comprise a detergent active compound. Where the compositions are for use in the rinsing step of a laundering process, the one or more textile compatible carriers may comprise a fabric softening and/or conditioning compound or, where the compositions are for use as rinse adjuncts, the textile compatible carrier may be water. However when the textile compatible carrier is solely water perfume must be present.
[0019] The compositions of the invention preferably comprise a perfume, such as of the type which is conventionally used in fabric care compositions. The compositions may be packaged and labelled for use in a domestic laundering process.
[0020] The laundering methods (or processes) of the present invention include the large scale and small scale (eg domestic) cleaning of fabrics. Preferably, the processes are domestic.
[0021] In the method of the invention, the composition of the invention may be used at any stage of the laundering process. Preferably, the composition is used to treat the fabric in the rinse cycle of a laundering process. The rinse cycle preferably follows the treatment of the fabric with a detergent composition.
Detergent Compositions
Surfactants
[0022] If the composition of the present invention is in the form of a detergent composition, the textile-compatible carrier may be chosen from a surfactant such as soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent active compounds, and mixtures thereof.
[0023] Many suitable detergent active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.
[0024] Particularly preferred are nonionic and anionic surfactants The preferred textile-compatible carriers that can be used are soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds.
[0025] Anionic surfactants are well-known to those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C8-C15; primary and secondary alkylsulphates, particularly C8-C15 primary alkyl sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates; olefin sulphonates; alkyl xylene sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates. Sodium salts are generally preferred.
[0026] Nonionic surfactants that may be used include the primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, especially the C8-C20 aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and more especially the C10-C15 primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Non-ethoxylated nonionic surfactants include alkylpolyglycosides, glycerol monoethers, and polyhydroxyamides (glucamide).
[0027] Cationic surfactants that may be used include quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula R1R2R3R4N+ X- wherein the R groups are independently hydrocarbyl chains of C1-C22 length, typically alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or ethoxylated alkyl groups, and X is a solubilising cation (for example, compounds in which R1 is a C8-C22 alkyl group, preferably a C8-C10 or C12-C14 alkyl group, R2 is a methyl group, and R3 and R4, which may be the same or different, are methyl or hydroxyethyl groups); and cationic esters (for example, choline esters) and pyridinium salts.
[0028] The total quantity of detergent surfactant in the composition is suitably from 0.1 to 60 wt% e.g. 0.5-55 wt%, such as 5-50wt%.
[0029] Preferably, the quantity of anionic surfactant (when present) is in the range of from 1 to 50% by weight of the total composition. More preferably, the quantity of anionic surfactant is in the range of from 3 to 35% by weight, e.g. 5 to 30% by weight.
[0030] Preferably, the quantity of nonionic surfactant when present is in the range of from 2 to 25% by weight, more preferably from 5 to 20% by weight.
Builder
[0032] The compositions of the invention, when used as main wash fabric washing compositions will generally also contain one or more detergency builders. The total amount of detergency builder in the compositions will typically range from 5 to 80 wt%, preferably from 10 to 60 wt%.
[0033] Inorganic builders that may be present include sodium carbonate, if desired in combination with a crystallisation seed for calcium carbonate, as disclosed in GB 1 437 950 (Unilever); crystalline and amorphous aluminosilicates, for example, zeolites as disclosed in GB 1 473 201 (Henkel), amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 473 202 (Henkel) and mixed crystalline/amorphous aluminosilicates as disclosed in GB 1 470 250 (Procter & Gamble); and layered silicates as disclosed in EP 164 514B (Hoechst). Inorganic phosphate builders, for example, sodium orthophosphate, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate are also suitable for use with this invention.
[0034] Preferred builders are crystalline aluminosilicate, preferably an alkali metal aluminosilicate, more preferably a sodium aluminosilicate.
[0035] The aluminosilicate may generally be incorporated in amounts of from 10 to 70% by weight (anhydrous basis), preferably from 25 to 50%. Aluminosilicates are materials having the general formula:
0.8-1.5 M2O. Al2O3. 0.8-6 SiO2
where M is a monovalent cation, preferably sodium. These materials contain some bound water and are required to have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO/g.
The preferred sodium aluminosilicates contain 1.5-3.5 SiO2 units in the formula above. They can be prepared readily by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature.
Bleaches
[0036] The detergent compositions may also suitably contain a bleach system. The compositions may contain peroxy bleach compounds capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution, for example inorganic or organic peroxyacids, and inorganic persalts such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates and persulphates.
[0037] The sodium percarbonate may have a protective coating against destabilisation by moisture. Sodium percarbonate having a protective coating comprising sodium metaborate and sodium silicate is disclosed in GB 2 123 044 (Kao).
[0038] The peroxy bleach compound, for example sodium percarbonate, is suitably present in an amount of from 5 to 35 wt %, preferably from 10 to 25 wt %.
[0039] The peroxy bleach compound, for example sodium percarbonate, may be used in conjunction with a bleach activator (bleach precursor) to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures. The bleach precursor is suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 8 wt %, preferably from 2 to 5 wt %. Preferred bleach precursors are peroxycarboxylic acid precursors, more especially peracetic acid precursors, pernoanoic acid precursors and peroxybenzoic acid precursors.
[0040] Especially preferred bleach precursors are N,N,N',N.-tetracetyl ethylenediamine (TAED) and sodium noanoyloxybenzene sulphonate (SNOBS). The novel quaternary ammonium and phosphonium bleach precursors disclosed in US 4 751 015 and US 4 818 426 (Lever Brothers Company) and EP 402 971A (Unilever), and the cationic bleach precursors disclosed in EP 284 292A and EP 303 520A (Kao) are also of interest.
[0041] The bleach system can be either supplemented with or replaced by a peroxyacid. Examples of such peracids can be found in US 4 686 063 and US 5 397 501 (Unilever). A preferred example is the imidoperoxycarboxylic class of peracids described in EP 325 288A, EP 349 940A, DE 3 823 172A and EP 325 289A. A particularly preferred example is phthalimido peroxy caproic acid (PAP). Such peracids are suitably present at levels of from 0.1 to 12%, preferably from 0.5 to 10%.
[0042] A bleach stabiliser (heavy metal sequestrant) may also be present. Suitable bleach stabilisers include ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA), the aminopolyphosphonates such as Dequest (Trade Mark), for example, ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate (EDTMP) and diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphonate (DETPMP), and non-phosphate stabilisers such as EDDS (ethylene diamine disuccinate). These bleach stabilisers are also useful for stain removal especially in products containing low levels of bleaching species or no bleaching species.
[0043] The compositions may also include a bleach catalyst, such as manganese cyclononane derivative.
Soil Release Polymers
[0044] The compositions may also contain soil release polymers, for example sulphonated and unsulphonated PET/POET polymers, both end-capped and non-end-capped, and polyethylene glycol/polyvinyl alcohol graft copolymers such as Sokolan (Trade Mark) HP22.
Enzymes
[0045] The detergent compositions may also contain one or more enzymes. Suitable enzymes include the proteases, amylases, cellulases, oxidases, peroxidases and lipases usable for incorporation in detergent compositions.
[0046] Preferred proteolytic enzymes (proteases) are catalytically active protein materials which degrade or alter protein types of stains when present as in fabric stains in a hydrolysis reaction. They may be of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial or yeast origin.
[0047] Proteolytic enzymes or proteases of various qualities and origins and having activity in various pH ranges of from 4-12 are available. Proteases of both high and low isoelectric point are suitable.
[0048] Other enzymes that may suitably be present include lipases, amylases, and cellulases including high-activity cellulases such as "Carezyme").
[0049] Detergency enzymes are commonly employed in granular form in amounts of from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt%. However, any suitable physical form of enzyme may be used.
[0050] The compositions may advantageously contain a powder structurant, for example, a fatty acid (or fatty acid soap), a sugar, an acrylate or acrylate/maleate polymer. A preferred powder structurant is fatty acid soap, suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 5 wt %.
[0051] Sodium carbonate may advantageously be present. This has the advantage that it provides powder structuring, acts to control the pH of the detergent composition when dissolved and acts as a builder. Preferably 5 to 30% by weight of sodium carbonate are present. Minor ingredients such as layering agents (for example zeolite, Alusil (trade mark) or clay) may be present, for example, at a level of from 0.1 to 10%.
[0052] Further optional ingredients include non-aqueous solvents, perfume carriers, fluorescers, colourants, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, antiredeposition agents, enzymes, optical brightening agents, opacifiers, dye transfer inhibitors, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-spotting agents, germicides, fungicides, anti-oxidants, UV absorbers (sunscreens), heavy metal sequestrants, chlorine scavengers, dye fixatives, anti-corrosion agents, drape imparting agents, antistatic agents and ironing aids. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Fabric Softening and/or Conditioner Compositions
[0053] If the composition of the present invention is in the form of a fabric conditioner composition, the textile-compatible carrier will be a fabric softening and/or conditioning compound (hereinafter referred to as "fabric softening compound"), which may be a cationic or nonionic compound.
[0054] The softening and/or conditioning compounds may be water insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds. The compounds may be present in amounts of up to 8% by weight (based on the total amount of the composition) in which case the compositions are considered dilute, or at levels from 8% to about 50% by weight, in which case the compositions are considered concentrates.
[0055] Compositions suitable for delivery during the rinse cycle may also be delivered to the fabric in the tumble dryer if used in a suitable form. Thus, another product form is a composition (for example, a paste) suitable for coating onto, and delivery from, a substrate e.g. a flexible sheet or sponge or a suitable dispenser during a tumble dryer cycle.
[0056] Suitable cationic fabric softening compounds are substantially water-insoluble quaternary ammonium materials comprising a single alkyl or alkenyl long chain having an average chain length greater than or equal to C20 or, more preferably, compounds comprising a polar head group and two alkyl or alkenyl chains having an average chain length greater than or equal to C14. Preferably the fabric softening compounds have two long chain alkyl or alkenyl chains each having an average chain length greater than or equal to C16. Most preferably at least 50% of the long chain alkyl or alkenyl groups have a chain length of C18 or above. It is preferred if the long chain alkyl or alkenyl groups of the fabric softening compound are predominantly linear.
[0057] Quaternary ammonium compounds having two long-chain aliphatic groups, for example, distearyldimethyl ammonium chloride and di(hardened tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, are widely used in commercially available rinse conditioner compositions. Other examples of these cationic compounds are to be found in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch. Any of the conventional types of such compounds may be used in the compositions of the present invention.
[0058] The fabric softening compounds are preferably compounds that provide excellent softening, and are characterised by a chain melting L to L transition temperature greater than 25°C, preferably greater than 35°C, most preferably greater than 450C. This L to L transition can be measured by DSC as defined in "Handbook of Lipid Bilayers", D Marsh, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1990 (pages 137 and 337). Substantially water-insoluble fabric softening compounds are defined as fabric softening compounds having a solubility of less than 1 x 10-3 wt % in demineralised water at 20°C. Preferably the fabric softening compounds have a solubility of less than 1 x 10-4 wt%, more preferably less than 1 x 10- 8 to 1 x 10-6 wt%.
[0059] Especially preferred are cationic fabric softening compounds that are water-insoluble quaternary ammonium materials having two C12-22 alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to the molecule via at least one ester link, preferably two ester links. An especially preferred ester-linked quaternary ammonium material can be represented by the formula II:
wherein each R1 group is independently selected from C1-4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups or C2-4 alkenyl groups; each R2 group is independently selected from C8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; and wherein R3 is a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, T is
and p is 0 or is an integer from 1 to 5.
[0060] Di(tallowoxyloxyethyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride and/or its hardened tallow analogue is especially preferred of the compounds of formula (II).
[0061] A second preferred type of quaternary ammonium material can be represented by the formula (III):
wherein R1, p and R2 are as defined above.
[0063] Preferred materials of this class such as 1,2-bis(hardened tallowoyloxy)-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride and their methods of preparation are, for example, described in US 4 137 180 (Lever Brothers Co). Preferably these materials comprise small amounts of the corresponding monoester as described in US 4 137 180, for example, 1-hardened tallowoyloxy-2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride.
[0064] Other useful cationic softening agents are alkyl pyridinium salts and substituted imidazoline species. Also useful are primary, secondary and tertiary amines and the condensation products of fatty acids with alkylpolyamines.
[0065] The compositions may alternatively or additionally contain water-soluble cationic fabric softeners, as described in GB 2 039 556B (Unilever).
[0066] The compositions may comprise a cationic fabric softening compound and an oil, for example as disclosed in EP-A-0829531.
[0067] The compositions may alternatively or additionally contain nonionic fabric softening agents such as lanolin and derivatives thereof.
[0069] Nonionic softeners include L phase forming sugar esters (as described in M Hato et al Langmuir 12, 1659, 1666, (1996)) and related materials such as glycerol monostearate or sorbitan esters. Often these materials are used in conjunction with cationic materials to assist deposition (see, for example, GB 2 202 244). Silicones are used in a similar way as a co-softener with a cationic softener in rinse treatments (see, for example, GB 1 549 180).
[0070] In fabric softening compositions nonionic stabilising agent. Suitable nonionic stabilising agents may be present such as linear C8 to C22 alcohols alkoxylated with 10 to 20 moles of alkylene oxide, C10 to C20 alcohols, or mixtures thereof.
[0071] Advantageously the nonionic stabilising agent is a linear C8 to C22 alcohol alkoxylated with 10 to 20 moles of alkylene oxide. Preferably, the level of nonionic stabiliser is within the range from 0.1 to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight, most preferably from 1 to 4% by weight. The mole ratio of the quaternary ammonium compound and/or other cationic softening agent to the nonionic stabilising agent is suitably within the range from 40:1 to about 1:1, preferably within the range from 18:1 to about 3:1.
[0072] The composition can also contain fatty acids, for example C8 to C24 alkyl or alkenyl monocarboxylic acids or polymers thereof. Preferably saturated fatty acids are used, in particular, hardened tallow C16 to C18 fatty acids. Preferably the fatty acid is non-saponified, more preferably the fatty acid is free, for example oleic acid, lauric acid or tallow fatty acid. The level of fatty acid material is preferably more than 0.1% by weight, more preferably more than 0.2% by weight. Concentrated compositions may comprise from 0.5 to 20% by weight of fatty acid, more preferably 1% to 10% by weight. The weight ratio of quaternary ammonium material or other cationic softening agent to fatty acid material is preferably from 10:1 to 1:10.
[0073] The fabric conditioning compositions may include silicones, such as predominately linear polydialkylsiloxanes, e.g. polydimethylsiloxanes or aminosilicones containing amine-functionalised side chains; soil release polymers such as block copolymers of polyethylene oxide and terephthalate; amphoteric surfactants; smectite type inorganic clays; zwitterionic quaternary ammonium compounds; and nonionic surfactants.
[0074] The fabric conditioning compositions may also include an agent, which produces a pearlescent appearance, e.g. an organic pearlising compound such as ethylene glycol distearate, or inorganic pearlising pigments such as microfine mica or titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated mica.
[0075] The fabric conditioning compositions may be in the form of emulsions or emulsion precursors thereof.
[0076] Other optional ingredients include emulsifiers, electrolytes (for example, sodium chloride or calcium chloride) preferably in the range from 0.01 to 5% by weight, pH buffering agents, and perfumes (preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight).
Fabric Treatment Products
[0077] The composition of the invention may be in the form of a liquid, solid (e.g. powder or tablet), a gel or paste, spray, stick or a foam or mousse. Examples including a soaking product, a rinse treatment (e.g. conditioner or finisher) or a mainwash product. The composition may also be applied to a substrate e.g. a flexible sheet or used in a dispenser which can be used in the wash cycle, rinse cycle or during the dryer cycle.
[0078] The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following non-limiting examples.
EXAMPLES
[0079] The following Examples were prepared using standard methods:
| Main Wash Product | ||
| Composition | Example 1 Wt % | Example A Wt% |
| Linear sodium alkyl-benzene sulphonate | 18.9 | 25.2 |
| C12-C16 alcohol with 3-7 EO | 5 | 6.7 |
| Sodium tripolyphosphate | 12.4 | 16.5 |
| Sodium silicate | 2.9 | 3.9 |
| Sodium sulphate | 20.9 | 27.9 |
| Calcium carbonate | 8.2 | 11.0 |
| Poppy Seed oil | 25.0 | - |
| Minors | 0.8 | 1.05 |
| Water | to 100% | |
| Fabric Conditioner | |||||
| Composition | Example B Wt% | Example C wt% | Example D Wt% | Example 2 Wt% | Example 3 Wt% |
| 1,2-bis(hardenedtallowoyl oxy)-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Poppyseed oil | - | 25 | 25 | - | |
| Dehydrated caster oil | - | 25 | - | 25 | |
| Minors | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Minors and water | to 100% | ||||
[0080] Two pieces of red & black fabric were washed with 2,25KG unwashed white cotton ballast to 1.25kg in a Miele Hydromatic washing machine dosed with 100g of product in the main wash. The fabric was dried. This was repeated three times. For Examples with rinse conditioners the fabric was washed 5 times with Example A and 100ml of the rinse conditioning Examples were placed in the rinse dispenser drawer.
[0081] Fading of the fabric was determined by comparing the colour of untreated fabric with treated fabric using a Datacolour Spectroflash SF600 reflectance spectrophotometer, 10° observer, D65 illumination. An average of 8 measurements were taken. The average L*, a*, b*, C, h° co-ordinates were obtained and these were used to calculate colour difference ( E) values between the new and control and the new and the treated fabric samples. The greater the colour difference value the further from new the fabric sample looks. the results are given below:
| Composition | Red | Black |
| Δ E | Δ E | |
| Example A | 8.6 | 6.7 |
| Example 1 | 8.2 | 6.0 |
| Example B | 9.9 | 6.3 |
| Example C | 4.4 | 1.7 |
| Example D | 7.0 | 4.8 |
| Example 2 | 3.6 | 1.4 |
| Example 3 | 6.5 | 4.9 |
[0082] Compositions according to the invention are able to effect dynamic fabric modulus (flexibility)and crisp feel of the fabric. A 'bending length' test can be used to demonstrate this and is performed using the standard 'Bending Length' apparatus supplied by Shirley Development Limited (SDL). Five pieces of treated 100% cotton sheeting measuring 125x25mm were assessed using the bending length apparatus at both ends to give ten readings. This was done in both the warp and weft directions and an overall over bending length calculated.
| Composition | Bending length |
| Example A | 1.5 |
| Example 1 | 1.7 |
| Example B | 1.3 |
| Example 2 | 1.6 |
| Example 3 | 2.1 |
1. Fabric care composition comprising a drying oil and a textile compatible carrier selected
from the group consisting of surfactants, fabric softening compounds and water, with
the proviso that when the textile compatible carrier is solely water the composition
further comprises a perfume
2. Composition as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the drying oil is selected from the group
consisting of tung oil, poppyseed oil, raw linseed oil, dehydrated caster oil and
mixtures thereof.
3. Composition as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the drying oil is present from
0.01 to 1 wt% of the total composition
4. Composition as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the textile compatible carrier
is a fabric softening compound.
5. Composition as claimed in claim 4 wherein the fabric softening compound is a cationic
compound.
6. Composition as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 5 in which the fabric softening compound
is present at levels from 3 to 20 wt% of the total composition.
7. Composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the textile compatible
carrier is a nonionic or anionic surfactant.
8. Composition according to claim 7 in which the level of nonionic and anionic surfactant
is from 5 to 30 wt% of the total composition.
9. Composition according to claim 7 or 8 which further comprises a builder
10. Composition according to any preceding claim which further comprises a perfume.
11. A method of treating fabric, as part of a laundering process, which comprises applying
to the fabric a fabric care composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 10.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the composition is applied to the fabric
during a wash cycle.
13. A method as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the composition is applied to the fabric
during a rinse cycle.
14. Use of a fabric care composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 to retain
the new appearance of fabric after washing.
15. Use of a fabric care composition according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 to improve
the feel and impart 'body' to a fabric during laundering.
16. Use of a drying oil in a fabric care composition to enhance the ability to improve
the feel and impart 'body' to a fabric treated with the fabric care composition during
or after the laundering process.
17. Use of a drying oil in a fabric care composition to retain the new appearance of fabric
treated with the fabric care composition during or after the laundering process