Fabric treatment method and composition to impart differential Hydrophobicity
A fabric softening composition comprising a fabric softening compound and from 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 25% by weight of the composition of a material (HH material) capable of changing its hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties in response to an activation step.
1 . A fabric softening composition comprising a fabric softening compound and from 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 25% by weight of the composition of a material (HH material) capable of changing its hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties in response to an activation step.
2 . A fabric softening composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the HH material is hydrophobic but becomes hydrophilic upon exposure to light, particularly UV light.
3 . A fabric softening composition as claimed in claim 2 in which the HH material comprises ZnO and/or TiO 2 .
4 . A fabric softening composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the HH material changes its hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties in response to change in pH, temperature change, heat flow, change in ionic strength or presence of an enzyme.
5 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the fabric conditioning composition is selected from an oily sugar derivative, a cationic fabric softening compound and mixture thereof.
6 . A composition as claimed in claim 5 in which the cationic fabric softening compound is a quaternary ammonium compound having at least two C 12-28 groups connected to the nitrogen head group that may independently be alkyl or alkenyl groups, preferably being connected to the nitrogen head group by an ester link.
7 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises one or more ingredients selected from perfume, non-ionic surfactant, fatty acid, fatty alcohol and viscosity modifier.
8 . A method of treating a fabric to enhance the transport of water or water vapour therethrough, the method comprising rinsing the fabric in a composition as claimed in claim 1 to deposit fabric conditioner and HH material thereon, drying the fabric and before, after or simultaneously with the drying, subjecting a portion of the fabric to an activation step to cause HH material deposited in said portion to undergo a change in its hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties.
9 . A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the HH material is ZnO and/or TiO 2 and the activation step comprises exposure to UV light.
10 . A method as claimed in claim 8 in which one side or portion of the fabric is subjected to said activation step.
11 . A method as claimed in claim 9 in which one side or portion of the fabric is subjected to said activation step.