CA2087985C

CA2087985C - Liquid fabric softeners containing microemulsified amino silanes

Info

Publication number: CA2087985C
Application number: CA002087985A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Timothy Woodrow Coffindaffer; Sheila Gay Buzzee
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1990-07-23
Filing date: 1991-07-08
Publication date: 1997-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-08
Also published as: SK2993A3; AU8199791A; CN1060125A; MX9100324A; CA2087985A1; PL297655A1; WO1992001773A1; HU9300189D0; CN1050162C; EP0540557A1; EP0540557B1; NZ239069A; JPH05508889A; MY106826A; SK280339B6; HUT63455A

Abstract

This invention relates to liquid fabric care compositions comprising a microemulsified amine functional silicone for re-ducting fiber-fiber/yarn-yard friction and a fabric softener. The microemulsified amine functional silicone is more effective than prior art amine functional silicone macroemulsions when used with a fabric softener. Preferred compositions are aqueous based fabric care and are used in the rinse cycle of a fabric care operation.

Description

208798~
LIQUID FABRIC SOFTENERS CONTAINING
MICROEMULSIFTFn AMTNn SI_hNFS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fabric care compositions and to a method for treating fabrics in order to improve various properties of the fabric, in particular. reduction of fiber-fiber and yarn-yarn 5 friction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of silicones for softening fabrics, i.e., providing lubrication between fibers and yarns so they move over one another more easily. has been well known for quite some time. In addition, 10 the use of u,~" 'ified silicones for textile l,~e~ has also been well ~ ed over the years (See U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4.620,878.
Gee, issued Nov. 4, 1986; 4.705,704, Lane et al., issued Nov. 10, 1987: 4.800,026. Coffindaffer et al.. issued Jan. 24. 1989:
4,824,877, Glover et al., issued April 25, 1989: and 4,824,890.
Glover et al ., issued April 25, 1989; also of interest is GB 2215729, Walbeoff, published September 27, 1989). Silicones of this type are typically delivered to textiles in the form of an aqueous emulsion.
More recently, much work has col~c~"~ ed on the aqueous delivery of these systems via microemulsions. The above art suggests that 20 microemulsions have two advantages over conventional "macro"
emulsions: ~1) they are more stable and (2) they require less mechanical energy to make.
While hand evaluation of fabrics to determine softness is still practised widely. about 20 years ago Dr. Sueo Kawabata et al.
25 began evaluating textiles via a mechanical approach. They designed instruments to measure low deformation forces, typical of hand analysis, on fabrics. Although these instruments (commonly known as the Kawabata Evaluation System or KES) were designed to be quality control tools for fabric acceptance, the lnstruments .,

2~8798~
have also been used to study the effect of fabric L~ . Two such studies have been published by Union Carbide Co.: Sabia, A.J.
and Pagluighi. A.M., Textile Chemist and Colorist. Vol. 19, No. 3, March, 1987, p. 5: and Barndt, H.J., Sabia. A.J. and Pagluighi, A.M., Textile Chemist and Colorist. Vol . 21, No. 12, December. 1989, p. 16.
The shearing instrument, in particular the shearing hysteresis r,.~asu,.. ,L, is believed to be indicative of the ease with which fibers and/or yarns move over one another. Thus. the lower the shear hysteresis value. the better the lubricant.
The term "reduced fiber-fiber/yarn-yarn friction" (reduced friction between individual fibers within the yarn as well as between the yarn strands) as used herein means that the fabric exhibits a lower shear hysteresis value as measured by the KES shearing instrument. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that a reduction in reduced fiber-fiber/yarn-yarn friction provides better drape. hand, and wrinkle removal during tumble drying and ironing processes due to the fibers being more easily moved over one another.
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
In acc~ d~ e with one aspect of the invention there is provided A liquid fabric care composition comprising: tl) a suitable microemulsified amine functional silicone for improved reduction of fiber fiber/yarn-yarn friction, wherein said microemulsified amine functional silicone has an average molecular weight of from about 1.000 to about 100,000: (2) from about 2% to about 35% by weight of the total composition of fabric softener, wherein said fabric softener is selected from the group consisting of: i. quaternary ammonium compounds: ii. fatty amines: i~i. fatty amides: iv. fatty acids: v. fatty alcohols: and vi. mixtures thereof: and (3) a suitable carrier for (1) and (2), wherein the weight ratio of microemulsified amine functional silicone to fabric softener is from about 17:1 to about 1:350.
DETATI Fn DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to microemulsified amine functional silicone compositions for reduced fiber-fiber/yarn-yarn friction.
In another respect this invention relates to methods of using such microemulsified amine functional silicone compositions in the care of fabrics for reduced fiber-fiber/yarn-yarn friction. Preferred compositions are aqueous fabric softeners. Such compositions are IB

2~87985 2a usually added to either the wash or rinse water of a laundering operation. These preferred compositions are aqueous based, water-dispersible compositions which contain from about 0.05% to about 25X.
more preferably from about 0.1% to about 15% of the microemulsified 5 amine functional silicones. The compositions are diluted in the wash or rinse.

3 2~798S
Surprisingly the Microemulsified Amine Functional Silicones (MAFS) ill~uluu, d~ed into a liquid fabric softener composition exhibit a synergistic behavior when compared to the .u"e~uu"~ing macro emulsified material. Said differently. used by itself the MAFS
5 pel r~" ",c",~e for reduced fiber- fi ber/yarn-yarn friction i s not as good as that of the macroemulsified system: however in the context of a liquid fabric softener composition the MAFS composition provides a greater reduction in shear hysteresis values than the ~ uu,,ding macroemulsion in an analogous liquid fabric softener composition.
10 A preferred I - il.. ~.,~ comprises: a liquid rinse water composition comprising the microemulsified amine functional silicone plus fabric softener. preferably quaternary ammonium fabric softener.
In a preferred execution about 0.1X to about 10% by weight of microemulsified amine functional silicone is mixed into any suitable prior art laundry liquid fabric softener composition. The result is a fabric care composition that provides a reduced fiber-fiber/yarn-yarn friction benefit to the treated fabric.
SilicDne Microemulsions Over the last 5 years. there have been many patents published in the area of silicone microemulsions (U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4.620.878:

4 705.704: 4 824 877: 4 824 890 all supra: also of interest is GB
2215729 all ~). In this literature silicone micrûemulsions have been described as translucent silicone emulsions with average particle sizes smaller than 0.14 microns. In this art microemulsions are taught as having two advantages over conventional macro emulsions: (1) they are more stable and (2) they require less mechanical energy to make. There is no disclosure elther that microemulsions can reduce fiber to fiber and/or yarn to yarn friction as compared to macroemulsions when used with a fabric softener.
Since microemulsions are inferior in p~, r(" ~c~ce to macroemulsions when used alone any investigation which starts logically with the individual dispersions would discourage further investigation.
The amine functional silicones herein preferably have an average molecular weight of from about 1 000 to about 100 000 ~` '.

~0 92/01~73 PCI/US91/0472~

preferably from about l,OO0 to 50,000, more preferably from about 1,500 to about 20,000, and can be prepared by emulsion polymeri-zation of low molecular weight polymers and/or monomers, more preferably low molecular weight polymers. Emulsion polymerization

5 can provide a high concentration of microemulsified silicone.
Some Preferred Embodiments The preferred composition of this invention is an aqueous dispersion comprising: a microemulsified amine functional silicone wherein the weight ratio of microemulsified amine functional silicone to fabric softener is from about 17:1 to about 1:350, preferably from about 10:1 to about 1:100. Even more preferred weight ratios of microemulsified amine functional silicone to fabric softener are from about 1:1 to about 1:10, and more prefer-ably, from about 1:5 to about 1:10. These compositions are added to the rinse water for reduced fiber-fiber/yarn-yarn friction and fabric softening benefits.
Suitable fabric softener(s) are selected from the group consisting of:
~. quaternary ammonium compound;
ii. fatty amine compound;
iii. fatty amide compound;
iv. fatty acids;
Y. fatty alcohols; and vi. mixtures thereof.
In certain liqu~d rinse-added compositions of this invention the amount of fabri c softener can range from about 2X to about 35X, preferably from about 4X to about 27X, by weight of the total composition. The lower limits are amounts needed to contribute effective fabric softening perru""O.~ce when added to laundry rinse baths in the manner which is customary in home laundry practice. ~
The higher limlts are suitable for more concentrated liquid prod-ucts which require either smaller volume usage or dilution prior to use.
The preferred levels of microemulsified amine functional r silicone in such composition can range from about 0.05% to about 40Y.; preferably from about 0.1% to about 20X; and more preferably from about O.5X to about 10Ch by weight of the concentrate.
-92/01773 2 0 8 7 9 8 5 PCI/US9~/W729 Suitable fabric softener compounds include quaternary ammo-nium salts, as well as nonquaternary amines and amine salts.
Compositions containing cationic nitrogenGus compounds in the form of quaternary ammonium salts and substituted imidazolinium S salts having two long chain acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon groups provide fabric softening benefits when used in laundry rinse operations. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,644,203, Lamberti et al., issued Feb. 22, 1972; and 4,426,299, Verbruggen, issued Jan. 17, 1984; also "Cationic Surface Active Agents as Fabric Softeners," R.R. Egan, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, January 1978, pages 118-121; and "How to Choose Cationics for Fabric Softeners," J.A. Ackerman, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, June 1983, pp. 1166-1169).
Other suitable fabric softening compounds are the nonquat-lS ernary amides and the nonquaternary amines. A commonly cited material is the reaction product of higher fatty acids with hydroxy alkyl alkylene diamines. An examp~e of these materials ls the reaction product of higher fatty acids and hydroxyethylethyl-enediamine (See "Condensation Products from beta-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediamine and Fatty Acids or Their Alkyl Esters and Their Appl ication as Textile Softeners in Washing Agents, " H.W. Eckert, Fette-Seifen-Anstrichmittel, September 1972, pages 527-533).
These materials are usually cited generically along with other cationic quaternary ammonium salts and imidazolinium salts as softening act~ves in fabric softening compos~tions. (See U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,460,485, Rapisarda et al., issued July 17, 1984;
4,421,792, Rudy et al., issued Dec. 20, 1983; 4,327,133, Rudy et a1., issued April 27, 1982).
A particularly preferred fabric softener is in the form of an aqueous dispersion comprisinq from about 3% to about 35X by weight of a mixture consisting of:
(a) from about lOX to about 92% of the reaction product of a higher fatty acid with a polyamine selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkylalkylenediamines and dialkylenetriamines and mixtures thereof, and (b) from about 8~ to about 90% of cationic nitrogenous salts having only one long chain acyclic aliphatic ClS-C22 hvdrocarbon group, and optionally, ~ , .
.

~ - 6 208738~
(c) from 0X to about 80% of a cationic nitrogenous salt having two or more long chain acyclic aliphatic Cls-C2z ù~al~ull groups or one said group and an arylalkyl group having from about 15 to about 22 carbon atoms in its alkyl chain.
For a detailed description of some preferred fabric softeners, see commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. ~,661,269, Trinh/Wahl/Swartley/
Hemingway, issued Apr. 28, 1987.
The terms herein, e.g., softener compound, in general, denotes both singular and plural unless otherwise specified.
Preferred carriers are liquids selected from the group consisting of water and mixturRs of water and short chain C~-C4 monohydric alcohols. The water which is used can be distilled, deionized, and/or tap water. Mixtures of water and up to about 10X, preferably less than about 5%, of short chain alcohol such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol, and mixtures thereof, are also useful as the carrier liquid. Carriers which are primarily water are desirable.
Some short chain alcohols are present ~n commercially available quaternary ammonium compound products. Such products can be used in the preparation of preferred aqueous compositions of the present invention. The short chain alcohols are normally present in such products at a level of from about 0.5X to about 10X by weight of the aqueous compositions.
Some Optional Inarediçnts and Preferred Emhn~iments Compatible adjuvants can be added to the compositions herein for their known purposes. Such adjuvants include, but are not limited to, viscosity control agents, perfumes, emulsifiers, preservati ves, anti oxi dants, bacteri ci des, fungi ci des, col orants, dyes, fluorescent dyes, brighteners, opacifiers, freeze thaw control agents, soil release agents, and shrinkage control agents, and other agents to provide ease of ironing (e.g., starches, etc.). These adjuvants, if used, are added at their usual levels, generally each of up to about 5% by weight of the preferred liquid composition.
Viscosity control agents can be organic or inorganic in nature. Examples of organic viscosity modifiers are fatty acids ~.`

2~879~
~ - 7 -and esters, fatty alcohols, and water-miscible solvents such as short chain alcohols. Examples of inorganic viscosity control agents are water-soluble ionizable salts. A wide variety of ionizable salts can be used. Examples of suitable salts are the halides of the group IA
and IIA metals of the Periodic Table of the Elements, e.g., calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium bromide, and lithium chloride. Calcium chloride is preferred. The ionizable salts are particularly useful during the process of mixing the ingredients to make the liquid compositions herein, and later to obtain the desired viscosity. The amount of ion~zable salts used depends on the amount of active ingredients used in such compositions and can be adjusted according to the desires of the formulator.
Typical levels of salts used to control the composition viscosity are from about 20 to about 6,000 parts per million (ppm), preferably from about 20 to about 4,000 ppm by weight of the composition.
Soil release agents, usually polymers, are desirable additives at levels of from about 0.1% to about 5X. Suitable soil release agents are d~sclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,70Z,857, Gosselink, issued Oct. 27, 1987: 4,711,730, Gosselink and Diehl, issued Dec. 8, 1987;
4,713,194, Gosselink issued Dec. 15, 1987; and mixtures thereof.
Other soil release polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.:
4,749,596, Evans, Huntington, Stewart, Wolf, and Zimmerer, issued June 7, 1988, 3,928,213, Temple, Heuring, and Prentice, issued Dec.
23, 1975; 4,136,038, Pracht and Burns, ' issued Jan. 23, 1979: and 4,661,267, Dekker, Konig, Straathof, and Gosselink, issued Apr. 28, 1987.
Typical levels of compatible bactericides used in the present compositions are from about 1 to about 1,500 ppm by weight of the compos~tion.
Examples of antioxidants that can be added to the compositions of this invention are propyl gallate, available from Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., under the trade marks Tenox~ PG and Tenox S-1, and butylated hydroxy toluene, available from UOP Process Division under the trade mark Sustane BHT.

1~ - 8 - 20~7~8 ~
The compositions can contain other silicone fluids to provide add~tional benefits such as improved fabric feel. The preferred adjunct silicones are polydimethylsiloxanes of viscosity of from about lOO centistokes (cs) to about 100,000 cs, preferably from s about ZOO cs to about 60,000 cs. These adjunct sil icones can be used as is, or can be conveniently added to the softener compo-sitions in a preemulsified form which is obtainable directly from suppliers. Examples of these preemulsified silicones are 60Y.
emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane (350 cs) sold by Dow Corning 10 Corporation under the trade mark DOW COF~NING 1157 Fluid and SOX
emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane (10.000 cs) sold byGeneral Electric Company under the trade mark General Electric SM 2140 Silicones.
The optional silicone component can be used in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 6X by weight of the composition.
A preferred composition contains from about l ppm to about 1,000 ppm of bactericide, from about 0.2% to about 2% of perfume, from OZ to about 3% of polydimethylsi10xane, from 0% to about 0.4Y.
of'calcium chloride, from about 10 ppm to about 100 ppm of dye, and from 0% to about 10% of short chain alcohols, by weight of the 20 total composition.
The pH of the preferred compositions of this invention is generally adju-- ~a to be in '~e range of from about 2 to about 11, preferably fro~ out 2 to a:out 8. Adjustment of pH is normally carried out by including a small quantity of free ~cid or free 25 base in the formulation. Any acidic material can be used; its selection can be made by anyone skilled in the softener arts on the basis of cost, availability, safety, etc. Any suitable acid can be used to adjust pH. Preferred are hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric and formic acid. Similarly, any suitable base, e.g., 30 sodium hydroxide, can also be used to adjust pH For the purposes of this invention, pH is measured by a glass electrode ln full strength softening composition in comparison with a standard calomel reference electrode.
The compositions of the present invention can be prepared by 35 a number of methods. Some convenient and satisfactory methods are disclosed in the following ncnlimiting examples.

2~87 ~ 92~01773 9 ~ 5 - PCr/US91/04729 - g All parts, percentages, and ratios herein are by weight un1ess otherwise specified.
EXAMPLE I
Procedure A
5 A l iquid fabric softener composition cDntaining a micro emulsified amine curable silicone is prepared in the following manner. About 4.33 parts di(hydrogenated tallow)dimethylammonium chloride (DTDMAC), about 1.00 part methyl-1-tallow amidoethyl-2-tallowimidazolinium methylsulfate and about 0.025 parts of a 1%
dye solution are weighed into a premix vessel.
After heating to about 75-C and mixing, the premix is added, with agitation, to a mix vessel (44'C) containing about 88.14 parts distilled water and about 0.025 parts antioxidant solution.
Then about 0.45 parts of perfume is added to this "main" mix. The main mix is then cooled to about 21-C, to which is added, with stirring, about 7.15 parts amine functional silicone microemulsion (about 14Y. silicone).
Procedure B
Same as Procedure A, except that the amine functional silicone microemulsion is incorporated into the main mix prior to cooling of the mix to 21-C.
~L~
A and B
In~redient ADDrOX. Wt.Y
25DTDMAC1 4.33 Methyl -1-tallowamidoethyl -2-tallowimidazol in~um methyl sul fate 1. 00 Alcohol (from actives) 0.80 30Perfume 0 . 45 Dye Solution4 0.025 Micro Emulsif~ed Amine Functional Silicone2 7.15 Antioxidant3 0.025 35Distilled Water 86.12 1 Di ( hydrogenated tal l ow) d i methyl ammon i um chl ori de .

- 10- 2~7~g5 2 A speciality aqueous microemulsion X2-8406 made by Dow Corning Company. It contains about 15% amine functional silicone Dow Corning Q2-8075 and a proprietary emulsiflcation system.
3 Tenox S-1 supplied by Eastman Kodak.
S 4 A lZ solution of Polar Brilliant Blue.
EXAMPLE I r A microemulsified amine funct~onal silicone and fabric softener composition is prepared us~ng Procedure A. The approxi-mate levels of the ingredients are: 2.00 parts Mazamide 6, 0.80 parts MTTMAC, 4.03 parts DTDMAC (defined here~nbefore), 1.00 parts of the imidazolinium salt in Example I, 0.42 parts perfume, 1.28 parts alcohol (from act~ves), 10.00 parts 1~% microemulsifled amine functlonal silicone, and the balance is dist~lled water.
See Table 2 and Example I for a recap of the ingredients and method of preparation.

A microemulsified amine functional silicone and fabric softener composition is prepared using Procedure A. The approximate levels of ingred~ents are: 17.50 parts Mazamide 6,

6.50 parts DTDMAC, 1.32 parts perfume, 2.07 parts alcohol (from actiYes), 12.00 parts 14% micro emulsified amine functional silicone, and the balance is distilled water. See Table 2 and Example I for a recap of the ingredients and method of preparation Exampl e I I Examp l e I I I
Inqred~ent ADDrgx, Wt.~ ADDrox. Wt.-"
Mazamide 61 2.00 17.50 MTTMAC2 0 . 80 30DTDMAC3 4.03 6.53 Perfume 0.42 1.32 Pol ar Bri l l i ant Bl ue Dye Solut~on 0.025 0.07Z
Alcohol (from actives~ I.Z8 2.07 35Micrcemulsified Amine Functional Silicone4 10.00 12.00 Di sti l l ed Water Bal ance Bal ance 2~87985 ~p 92/01773 Pcr/US9l/04729 1 Reaction product of 2 moles of hydrogenated tallow fatty acid with I mole of N-Z-hydroxyethylenediamine.
2 Mono(hydrogenated tallow)trimethyl ammonium chloride (MTTMAC).
3 Oi(hydrogenated tallow)dimethyl ammonium chloride.
4 Dow Corning X2-8406 (described hereinaboYe).
EXAMPLE IV
Intrinsic performance of: Q2-7224 (macroemulsion of Q2-8075, 35% silicone) YS. X2-8406 (microemulsion of Q2-8075, 14% sili-cone). 9.34 grams of Q2-7224 and 23.35 grams of X2-8406 are used as rinse-added fabric softeners to treat poly-cotton (65Yc/35%) fabrics (concentration of about SO ppm in the rinse). The fabrics are treated via one wash (no detergent)/rinse/dry treatment.
Shear hysteresis measurements are completed on four fabrics of each treatment. The results below show Q2-7224 to be the better softener system for reducing fiber-fiber and yarn-yarn friction.
Chart l Average Shear Hysteresis (gf/cm) at 2-1/2- and 4009 force 1.53 1.35 Significant at >95% conf~dence based on a paired t-test cal cul ati on .
EXAMPLE V
Product C
A microemulsified amine functional silicone and fabric softener composition is prepared using Procedure A. The approxi-mate leve~s of ingredients are: 3.75 parts DTDMAC, 3.40 parts lmidazoline, 0.57 parts MTTMAC, 0.40 parts perfume, 0.025 parts dye, 0.77 parts alcohol (from actives), 0.4-0.9 parts HCl, 7.15 parts MAFS (14X) and the balance is distflled water. This com-position contains about lX amine functional silicone fluid.
Com~arat~ve Product D
A fabric softener composition is prepared as in Product C, except that about 3.03 parts amine functional silicone macroemul-sion (33% silicone) is added. This composition contains about 1%
amine functional silicone fluid.

WO92/01773 20~ 98~ - PCI/US9~/0472a~
See Table 3, for a recap of ingredients for Products C and D.
Both Products C and D contain about 1% Q2-8075 amine functional si l i cone fl ui d .
Products C & D are used as rinse-added fabric softeners to S treat poly cotton (6570/35%) fabrics. The fabrics are treated via one wash/ri nse/dry treatment . The detergents used are TIDE~ and LIQUID TIDE~. Six sets (DOWNY~, DOWNY plus X2-8406, and DOWNY
plus Q2-7224) of swatches saw only TIDE, 6 sets (DOWNY plus X2-8406, and DOWNY plus Q2-7224) of swatches only LIQUID TIDE.
10 Keeping the LIQUID TIDE and TIDE washed fabrics separate, the fabrics were subjected to shear hysteresis measurements. The results below show X2-8406 fabric softener composition to be the better composition for reducing shear hysteresis than the corres-ponding Q2-8075 composition.

Lh~ .
Average Shear Hysteresis (gf/cm) at 2-1/2- and 4009 force DOWNY + DOWNY~ +
DOWNY~ 5~z~ X2-8406 TIDE Wash .69 .71 .65 (a) LIQUID TIDE Wash .88 .78 .76 (b) Average .79 .74 .71 (c) (a) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at >95X confi-dence based on a paired t-test comparison. Signifi-cantly lower than DOWNY at ~9SX confidence based on a paired t-test comparison.
(b) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at >70Z con-fidence. Significantly lower than DOWNY at >95X con-fidence .
(c) Significantly lower than DOWNY + Q2-7224 at >9SX con-fidence. Significantly lower than DOWNY at >9SX confi-dence .5 ExamDle V
Product C Product D
Inqredient ADProx. Wt.% ADDrox. Wt,%
5MTTMACI 0.57 0.57 DTDMAC2 3 . 75 3 . 75 Imi dazol i ne3 - 3 . 40 3 . 40 Perfume 0 . 40 0 . 40 Polar Brilliant Blue 10Dye So~ution 0.025 0.025 Alcohol (from actives) 0.77 0.77 Microemulsified Amine Functional Silicone4 (14%) 7.15 Macroemulsified Amine I SFunct i onal S i 1 i coneS 3 . 03 HC~ (31.5S~) 0.4-0.9 0.4-0.9 Distilled Water Ba1ance Balance 1 Mono(hydrogenated tallow)trimethyl ammonium chloride 2 Di(hydrogenated tallow)dimethyl ammonium chloride 3 l-hydrogenated tallow amidoethyl-2-hydrogenated tallow imi-dazol ine 4 Dow Corning X2-8406 (described hereinabove) 5 Dow Corning Q2-7224, a macroemulsion analogue of the microemulsified X2-8406 also containing Dow Corning Q2-8075 sil icone fluid.
The incorporation of the microemulsified amine functional si~icone de~ivered via a liquid fabric softener matrix shows ~mproved reduction in shear hysteresis on poly-cotton fabric rel at 1 ve to the trad i t i onal macroemul s i on del i vered v i a a 1 i qu i d fabric softener matrix.

.

Claims

Claims:

1. A liquid fabric care composition comprising:
(1) a suitable microemulsified amine functional silicone for improved reduction of fiber-fiber/yarn-yarn friction, wherein said microemulsified amine functional silicone has an average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000:
(2) from about 2% to about 35% by weight of the total composition of fabric softener. wherein said fabric softener is selected from the group consisting of:
i. quaternary ammonium compounds:
ii. fatty amines:
iii. fatty amides:
iv. fatty acids:
v. fatty alcohols: and vi. mixtures thereof: and (3) a suitable carrier for (1) and (2), wherein the weight ratio of microemulsified amine functional silicone to fabric softener is from about 17:1 to about 1:350.

2. The fabric care composition of claim 1 which contains from about 0.05% to about 25% by weight of said microemulsified amine functional silicone.

3. The fabric care composition of claim 2 which contains from about 0.1% to about 15% of said microemulsified amine functional silicone.

4. The fabric care composition of claim 3 which contains from about 0.5% to about 10% of said microemulsified amine functional silicone.

5. The fabric care composition of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio is from about 10:1 to about 1:100.

6. The fabric care composition of claim 5 wherein said weight ratio is from about 1:1 to about 1:10.

7. The fabric care composition of claim 6 wherein the weight ratio is from about 1:5 to about 1:10.

8. The fabric care composition of claim 1 wherein said microemulsified amine functional silicone has an average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000 and is made by emulsion polymerization of lower molecular weight silicone polymers, silicone monomers, or mixtures thereof.

9. The fabric care composition of claim 8 wherein said silicone has an average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 50,000 and is made by emulsion polymerization of lower molecular weight silicone polymers.

10. The fabric care composition of claim 8 wherein said silicone has an average molecular weight of from about 1,500 to about 20,000.

11. The fabric care composition of claim 1 wherein said fabric softener comprises quaternary ammonium compound.

12. The fabric care composition of claim 11 wherein said fabric softener comprises amine compound.

13. The fabric care composition of claim 12 wherein said fabric softener is a mixtures of amide, amine and quaternary ammonium compounds.

14. The fabric care composition of claim 1 wherein:
(a) said microemulsified amine functional silicone is present at a level of from about 0.5% to about 10%;
(b) said fabric softener is present at a level of from about 3% to about 35%, and wherein the ratio of microemulsified amine functional silicone to fabric softener is from about 17:1 to about 1:350.

15. The fabric care composition of claim 14 wherein said fabric softener comprises quaternary ammonium compound.

16. The fabric care composition of claim 15 wherein said fabric softener comprises amine compound.

17. The fabric care composition of claim 16 wherein said fabric softener is a mixture of amide, amine and quaternary ammonium compounds.

18. The liquid fabric care composition of claim 1 wherein said suitable carrier is primarily water and the level of said fabric softener is from about 4% to about 27%.

19. A method of reducing fiber fiber/yarn yarn friction in treated fabrics comprising contacting said fabrics with an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 diluted with water.