Fabric conditioning composition
View Patent ↗An aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprises a cationic softening agent and a silicone having a viscosity of from 1 to less than 10,000 cSt wherein the silicone comprises a cyclic polydi-(C 1-6 )alkyl siloxane. A silicone is used in a fabric conditioning composition comprising a cationic fabric softening agent to reduce the drying time of laundered fabrics and/or to increase the rate of water removed from the fabrics during the spin cycle of an automatic washing machine.
1. An aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising
(a) a cationic softening agent comprising a quaternary ammonium material represented by formula (I):
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,
T is
n is 0 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 the parent fatty acid or acyl group of the quaternary ammonium material has an iodine value of from 0 to 4; and
(b) from 1 to 12% of a silicone comprising a cyclic polydimethyl siloxane having a viscosity of from 1 to less than 5,000 cSt.
2. A fabric conditioning composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the silicone has a viscosity of from 2 cSt to 1,000 cSt.
3. A method of reducing the drying time of laundered fabrics comprising using a silicone in a fabric conditioning composition comprising:
(a) providing an aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising cationic fabric softening agent as claimed in claim 1 ; and
(b) contacting the fabrics with said composition.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the silicone comprises a non-emulsified silicone having a viscosity of from 1 to less than about 5,000 cSt.
5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the silicone is pre-emulsified before incorporation into the fabric conditioning composition and has a viscosity before emulsification of from 1 to less than about 5,000 cSt.
6. A method of removing water from laundered fabrics during the spin cycle of an automatic washing machine comprising using silicone in a fabric conditioning composition comprising:
(a) providing an aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising cationic fabric softening agent as claimed in claim 1 ; and
(b) contacting the fabrics with said composition.
7. The aqueous fabric conditioning composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein X − is selected from the group consisting of chloride, methyl sulphate, ethyl sulphate and combinations thereof.
8. The fabric conditioning composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the silicone is poly-dimethyl-siloxane having a viscosity before emulsification of about 2,000 cSt.