Fabric care composition

1 . A fabric care composition comprising a thermoplastic elastomer which is a block copolymer comprising a core polymer having a backbone comprising at least a proportion of C—C bonds and/or Si—O bonds and two or more flanking polymers, each flanking polymer being covalently bound to an end of the core polymer, wherein the copolymer is soluble at a level of at least 1% by weight in water or aqueous ethanol at 25°, and a textile compatible carrier.

2 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core polymer has a Tg of from —150° C. to 50° C.

3 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flanking polymers have a Tg of from 30° C. to 150° C.

4 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer is linear or star-shaped.

5 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer is a linear ABA block copolymer.

6 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core polymer is a polymer of a (C 1-3 alkoxy)C 1-6 alkyl acrylate and/or a C 2-4 alkylene glycol.

7 . A composition as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the core polymer is a polymer of (2-methoxyethyl)acrylate.

8 . A composition as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the core polymer is a polymer of ethylene glycol.

9 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core polymer is a polysiloxane of the general formula

[Y(R 12) p —Si(R 10 )(R 11 )—O—[Si(R 10 )(R 11 )—O] n Si(R 10 )(R 11 )—(R 13 ) q Z]

in which n is an integer from 5 to 1,000,000;

R 10 and R 11 are independently selected from monovalent, optionally substituted, linear or branched C 1-18 hydrocarbon radicals as described above;

R 12 and R 13 are independently selected from divalent, optionally substituted, linear or branched C 1-18 hydrocarbon radicals as described above;

p and q are integers having a value of 0 or 1, and

Y and Z are independently selected from hydroxyl, —NH 2 and —NHR 14 where R 14 is a monovalent, optionally substituted, linear or branched C 1-18 hydrocarbon radical as defined above, with the proviso that, either, but not both, of Y and Z may also be hydrogen or a monovalent, optionally substituted, linear or branched C 1-18 hydrocarbon radical as defined above, thereby giving a mono-end-capped polysiloxane.

10 . A composition as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the core polymer is poly(dimethylsiloxane).

11 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flanking polymers are polymers of a C 1-4 alkyl methacrylate, glycerol methacrylate, a di-(C 1-4 alkyl)amino C 1-6 alkyl methacrylate and/or a N,N-di(C 1-4 alkyl)acrylamide.

12 . A composition as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the flanking polymers are polymers of methyl methacrylate, glycerol methacrylate, 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and/or N,N-dimethyl acrylamide.

13 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is a poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) block copolymer, a poly(glycerol methacrylate)-poly((2-methoxyethyl) acrylate)-poly(glycerol methacrylate) block copolymer, a poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-poly (dimethylsiloxane)-poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) block copolymer, a poly (N,N-dimethyl-acrylamide)-[poly(2-methoxyethyl)acrylate)-poly(tert-butyl acrylate)]-poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) block copolymer, a [poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide)-poly(methyl methacrylate)]-poly((2-methoxyethyl)acrylate)-[poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide)-poly(methyl methacrylate)] block copolymer or a poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide)-poly ((2-methoxyethyl) acrylate)-poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) block copolymer.

14 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , which comprises from 0.1 to 20% by weight of the block copolymer.

15 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core polymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 1 kDa to 500 kDa.

16 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flanking polymers have a weight average molecular weight of from 200 Da to 250 kDa.

17 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the core polymer to the flanking polymers is from 1:10 to 10:1.

18 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the polymer has a viscosity of less than 15 cp as determined for 5 wt % polymer in 50 vol % aqueous ethanol solution at 25° C. using capillary viscometry and assuming a viscosity for deionised water of 1 mpas.

19 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the block copolymer has an elastic modulus of less than 0.45 Gpa.

20 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , which further comprises a fragrance or perfume.

21 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 , which is in a form suitable for spraying onto a fabric.

22 . A method of treating fabric which comprises treating the fabric with a fabric care composition according to claim 1 as part of a laundering process.

23 . A method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the fabric is treated with the composition during the wash or rinse cycle.

24 . A method as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the composition is applied to the fabric prior to drying and/or ironing.

25 . A method of improving the crease recovery properties and/or elasticity and/or shape retention of a fabric which comprises treating the fabric with a thermoplastic elastomer as defined in claim 1 .

26 . A method of improving the crease recovery properties and/or elasticity and/or shape retention of a fabric which comprising treating the fabric with a composition according to claim 1.