Method of preparing fabric conditioning compositions

1. A method for preparing a fabric conditioning composition comprising mixing with water:

(a) 7.5 to 60% by weight of a cationic fabric softening compound of formula (I), (II) or (III):

wherein each R is independently selected from a C 5-35 alkyl or alkenyl group, R 1 represents a C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl or a C 1-4 hydroxyalkyl group,

n is O or a number selected from 1 to 4, m is 1, 2 or 3 and denotes the number of moieties to which it relates that pend directly from the N atom, and X − is an anionic group;

wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X − are as defined above;

wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X − are as defined above;

the compound having one or more hydrocarbyl chains formed from parent fatty acyl compounds or fatty acids having an iodine value of from 0 to 20; and

(b) 0.01%–1.5% by weight of a nonionic surfactant viscosity modifier; and

(c) about 0.01% to about 1.4% by weight of a fatty alcohol; wherein said fatty alcohol is un-alkoxytated and contains about 15 to about 22 carbon atoms in a hydrocarbyl chain;

wherein the combination of (b) and (c) is no more than 1.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition;

and wherein components (a), (b) and (c) are mixed to form an aqueous dispersion, the aqueous dispersion being subjected to high-shear below the phase transition temperature of component (a) for a time sufficient to provide a composition having a viscosity of from 10 to 250 mPa·s measured at 20 s −1 using a Haake MV1 Rotoviscometer at 25° C.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein components (a), (b), (c) are melted together to form a premix prior to mixing with water.

3. A fabric conditioning composition obtainable by the method of claim 1 .

4. A composition according to claim 3 comprising a cationic fabric softening compound of formula (I).

5. A composition according to claim 3 wherein the weight ratio of cationic softening material to the combined weight of the nonionic surfactant viscosity modifier and fatty alcohol is 5:1 to 50:1.

6. A composition according to claim 3 wherein the cationic softening material in present in an amount from 11 to 22% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

7. A composition as claimed in claim 3 wherein the nonionic surfactant viscosity modifier is a C 10-22 fatty alcohol having an alkoxylation number of 3 to 30.

8. A method for preparing a fabric conditioning composition comprising mixing with water:

(a) 7.5 to 60% by weight of a cationic fabric softening compound of formula (I), (II) or (III);

wherein each R is independently selected from a C 5-35 alkyl or alken group, R 1 represents a C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl or a C 1-4 hydroxyalkyl group,

n is O or a number selected from 1 to 4, m is 1, 2 or 3 and denotes the number of moieties to which it relates that pend directly from the N atom, and X − is an anionic group:

wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; and wherein each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X − are as defined above;

wherein each R 1 group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, or C 2-4 alkenyl groups: and wherein each R 2 group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups: n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 5 and T and X − are as defined above;

the compound having one or more hydrocarbyl chains formed from parent fatty acyl compounds or fatty acids having an iodine value of from 0 to 20; and

(b) 0.01%–1.5% by weight of a nonionic surfactant viscosity modifier; and

(c) up to 1.4% by weight of a fatty alcohol

wherein the combination of (b) and (c) is no more than 1.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition;

and wherein components (a), (b) and (c) are mixed to form an aqueous dispersion, the aqueous dispersion being subjected to high-shear below the phase transition temperature of component (a) for a time sufficient to provide a composition having a viscosity of from 10 to 250 mPa·s measured at 20 s −1 using a Haake MV1 Rotoviscometer at 25° C;

wherein the high shear is applied at an angular velocity of from 3,000 to 10,000 rpm where the number of batch volumes passing through a mill below the phase transition temperature is from 0.5 to 4 batch volumes.