FABRIC TREATMENT METHOD AND COMPOSITION TO IMPART DIFFERENTIAL HYDROPHOBICITY

1 . A fabric softening composition comprising a fabric softening compound and from 5 to 50% 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.

3 . A fabric softening composition as claimed in claim 2 in which the HH material comprises ZnO, TiO 2 , or a combination thereof.

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 softening compound is selected from an oily sugar derivative, a cationic fabric softening compound and mixtures 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 group.

7 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises one or more ingredients independently 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 the fabric softening compound and the 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 the HH material deposited on said portion to undergo a change in its hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties.

9 . A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the HH material is ZnO, TiO 2 , or a combination thereof and wherein said 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.

12 . A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising from 5 to 25% by weight of the composition of the HH material.

13 . A composition as claimed in claim 6 wherein the at least two C 12-28 groups are connected to the nitrogen head group by an ester link.

14 . A composition as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the HH material is hydrophobic but becomes hydrophilic upon exposure to UV light.