Fabric conditioning compositions
View Patent ↗An aqueous, liquid fabric conditioning composition and a method for making such a composition are provided where the composition comprises a quaternary ammonium cationic softening compound and a non-ionic surfactant, where the composition comprises an emulsion in which 80% or more by weight of the droplets in the emulsion have a mean diameter of from 0.4 to 60 microns, as measured using a Malvern particle size analyser with a 45 mm lens for D[0,1] measurements and both a 45 mm and a 1000 mm lens for D[0,9] measurements. Use of a nonionic surfactant to improve the dispersibility in water of an aqueous, liquid fabric conditioning composition is also provided.
1. An aqueous, liquid fabric conditioning composition comprising:
(i) a quaternary ammonium cationic softening compound;
(ii) a nonionic surfactant;
(iii) a perfume having a ClogP of 2 or more; and
(iv) an oily perfume carrier having a ClogP of 3.5 or more;
where the composition comprises an emulsion in which 80% or more by weight of the droplets in the emulsion have a mean diameter of from 0.4 to 60 microns, as measured using a Malvern particle size analyser with a 45 mm lens for D[0,1] measurements and both a 45 mm and a 1000 mm lens for D[0,9] measurements.
2. A composition according to claim 1 in which the quaternary ammonium cationic softening compound is a compound of the general formula
in which R 1 and R 2 each independently represent a C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl group; R 3 and R 4 each independently represent a C 1-4 alkyl or C 2-4 alkenyl group; and X − is any anion compatible with the cationic surfactant.
3. A composition according to claim 1 in which the quaternary ammonium cationic softening compound is di(hardened tallow alkyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride.
4. A method of forming an aqueous, liquid fabric conditioning composition comprising:
(i) mixing with heating a quaternary ammonium cationic softening compound and a nonionic surfactant; and
(ii) adding the mixture formed in (i) to water and milling
so as to form a composition.
5. A method of forming an aqueous, liquid fabric conditioning composition comprising:
(i) mixing with heating a quaternary ammonium cationic softening compound and optional ingredients;
(ii) dispersing the mixture in water; and
(iii) adding a nonionic surfactant with mixing
so as to form a composition according to claim 1 .
6. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is present at a level of less than about 2.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
7. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is present at a level of about 0.005% to about 2.0% based on the total weight of the composition.
8. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is an addition product of an alkylene oxide and a fatty alcohol, fatty acid or fatty amine.
9. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is a straight- or branched-chain primary or secondary alcohol alkoxylate, a straight- or branched-chain primary or secondary alkenyl alcohol alkoxylate or an alkyl phenol alkoxylate.
10. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is a straight- or branched-chain primary or secondary alcohol ethoxylate.
11. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is a straight- or branched-chain primary or secondary C 11-18 alcohol ethoxylated with an average of 8 to 35 ethoxylate groups.