Fabric treatment compositions comprising organically modified particles

1. Fabric treatment composition comprising a textile compatible carrier and particles having a layered structure comprising oxygen atoms and silicon and/or phosphorus atoms, and comprising organic functional groups which are bonded to silicon and/or phosphorus atoms in the layers by direct covalent bonds between the silicon and/or phosphorus atoms and a carbon atom,

characterised in that the functional groups are selected from:

(i) a group of the formula:

—Y-T  (I)

 in which:

Y comprises a chain of at least 6 carbon atoms optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3, preferably at least 4 carbon atoms for each heteroatom in the chain, Y being linked to said silicon or phosphorous atom through a carbon atom, and

T represents H or a terminal group which is not capable of self-cross-linking and/or forming covalent bonds to cellulosic and/or proteinaceous fibres during domestic washing and rinsing cycles;

(ii) a group of the formula:

—R 1 —NR 2 R 2   (II)

 in which:

R 1 represents an alkylene group of at least 4 carbon atoms,

each R 2 is independently lower alkyl and —NR 2 R 2 is preferably, but need not be, a terminal group;

(iii) a group of the formula:

—R

3

⁢

—NR

4

⁢

R

4

⁢

R

4

+

(

III

)

in which:

R 3 represents an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms,

each R 4 is independently selected from alkyl groups of from 1 to 25 carbon atoms provided at least one R 4 is lower alkyl of 1 to 16 carbon atoms,

(iv) a group of the formula

in which each R 1a group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups or C 2-4 alkenyl groups;

each R 2a group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups;

R 3a is a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms,

X is

and p is 0 or is an integer from 1 to 5,

with the proviso that one of R 1a and R 2a is an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms attached to said silicon or phosphorus atom;

(v) a group of the formula:

in which R 1a , p and R 2a are as defined above;

(vi) a group of the formula:

in which:

T is as defined above,

R 5 represents a group of at least one carbon atom, preferably at least 3 carbon atoms, which may be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3 carbon atoms for each heteroatom,

n is an integer of at least 6; and

(vii) a group of the formula:

in which:

T and R 5 are as defined above,

each R 6 independently represents an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, an amino substituted alkyl group, an alkyl group substituted with a sugar moiety, or a sidechain comprising an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated chain, and

x is an integer of at least 5.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which —Y-T is an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which each R 2 is lower alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of R 2 is an alkyl group of at least 8 carbon atoms.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 4 in which each R 2 is an alkyl group of at least 8 carbon atoms.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which T is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, ether, carboxylic acid, SO 3 and SO 4 groups, phosphate and phosphonate.

7. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the particles comprise two or more different functional groups selected from formulas (I) to (VII).

8. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particles comprise layers which further comprise atoms selected from magnesium, aluminiun, nickel, zirconium and mixtures thereof.

9. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particles are of a clay in which the organic functional groups have been introduced during formation of the clay.

10. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particles are of an organophyllosilicate.

11. A composition as claimed in claim 1 which is a main wash detergent composition and wherein the textile compatible carrier comprises a detergent active compound.

12. A composition as claimed in claim 1 which is a fabric conditioner comprising one or more fabric softening or conditioning agents.

13. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising one or more further components selected from builders and enzymes.

14. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising from 0.01% to 50% by weight of the particles.

15. A composition as claimed in claim 14 comprising from 0.1% to 20% by weight of the particles.

16. A method of treating a fabric comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment particles as defined in claim 1 .

17. A method of treating a fabric to provide enhanced lubricating properties to the fabric comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment particles as defined in claim 1 .

18. A method of treating a fabric to decrease the Kawabata shear of the fabric measured according to the Kawabata Shear Test defined herein, comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment particles as defined in claim 1 .

19. A method of treating a fabric to provide improved softness and/or ease of ironing and/or anti-wrinkle properties and/or anti-abrasion properties, comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment particles as defined in claim 1 .

20. A method of treating a fabric comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment composition as defined in claim 1 .

21. A method of treating a fabric to provide enhanced lubricating properties to the fabric comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment composition as defined in claim 1 .

22. A method of treating a fabric to decrease the Kawabata shear of the fabric measured according to the Kawabata Shear Test defined herein, comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment composition as defined in claim 1 .

23. A method of treating a fabric to provide improved softness and/or ease of ironing and/or anti-wrinkle properties and/or anti-abrasion properties, comprising contacting a fabric with the fabric treatment composition as defined in claim 1 .

24. The method of claim 16 in which the treatment is part of a domestic laundering process.