FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to fabric softener compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a low active and high viscous aqueous fabric softener composition.

BACKGROUND:

Conventionally, most liquid fabric softeners or conditioners make use of the thickening properties of surfactants or uses salts to provide desired rheology. Now days, the trend has been to use a special thickener additive to provide a desirable viscosity to the fabric softening composition to allow it remain stable over a period of time.

Rheology modifiers or thickeners can be defined as an additive used in low concentrations to modify rheological properties of a liquid system. The rheology modifiers are an integral part of a broad range of formulations ranging from pharmaceuticals, personal care, cosmetics, paints, polymers and foods. The primary object of rheology modifiers is to achieve the flow consistency of a product, namely to increase the viscosity of the product to which it is added.

The main disadvantage that is associated with conventional softener compositions with low concentration is low viscosity and low consistency over a period of time. A significantly higher viscosity of around 1500-1600 cps is required in order to give excellent stability and compatibility unlike other conventional low active silicone based softeners. The conventionally used low active softener possess low viscosity, thus have less stability and consistency. Conventional thickeners that are used in fabric softener compositions to provide desirable viscosity or flow characteristics are known to lose their thickening efficiency in the presence of surfactants due to solubilization of their hydrophobic ends, thus reducing the storage stability and eventually the performance.

Viscosity control and its stability in low active aqueous based fabric softeners using conventional rheology modifiers/thickeners, such as linear or cross-linked acrylic acid base polymers, xanthum gum, various cellulose derivatives etc have always been an issue because of inconsistent viscosity build up , poor dilutability, poor compatibility and poor performances, therefore high viscosity and stability are important attribute for desired performance.

Accordingly, there always remains a need for efficient aqueous fabric softener composition having high viscosity and stability, when used in low concentration.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition of aqueous fabric softener having high viscosity and more stability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a composition of aqueous fabric softener wherein the high viscosity and stability of said fabric softener is achieved by using rheology modifier.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a composition for an aqueous fabric softener wherein a rheology modifier provides a desired thickening effect and rheology characteristics to the fabric softener composition.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a composition for an aqueous fabric softener wherein a high viscosity of said composition is achieved by adding a rheology modifier with out using further additives.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a composition of an aqueous fabric softener which provides good soft hand feel and low yellowing to fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an aqueous fabric softener composition; said composition comprising:
a. at least one conditioning agent;
b. at least one organic softner;
c. at least one non-ionic surfactant;
d. at least one rheology modifier; and
e. water

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention the composition further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of neutralizing agents and preservatives.

Typically, the conditioning agent is siloxane selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and modified polysiloxanes.

Typically, the amount of the conditioning agent used is about 8 to 10 % of the total mass of the composition.

In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention the conditioning agent is amino-modified polysiloxane.

Typically, the non-ionic surfactant is polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ether.

Typically, the amount of the non-ionic surfactant used is about 5 to 8 % of the total mass of the composition.

Typically, the rheology modifier is polyurethane based polymer.

Typically, the amount of the rheology modifier used is about 1 to 2 % of the total mass of the composition.

Typically, the organic softner is a fatty acid based organic softner. Typically, the amount of the organic softner used is about 2 to 4 % of the total mass of the composition.

In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention the composition is in the form of an aqueous micro-emulsion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a composition for an aqueous fabric softener for textile finishing. The composition comprises at least one conditioning agent, at least one organic softener, at least one surfactant, at least one polymer based rheology modifiers and water. The fabric softener composition of the present invention is low active and high viscous in nature.

The conditioning agent used in aqueous fabric softener composition of the present invention is at least one siloxane compound which includes but is not limited to polysiloxane, modified polysiloxane and the like. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiment of the present invention the conditioning agent used is amino-modified polysiloxane. Typically, the amount of the conditioning agent used is about 1 to 50 % of the total mass of the composition.

The surfactant used in the aqueous fabric softener composition of the present invention is at least one non-ionic surfactant which include but is not limited to polyoxyalkylene fatty alcohol ether compounds, tridecyl alcohol and the like.

Typically, the amount of the non-ionic surfactant used is about 0.5 to 25 % of the total mass of the composition.

The polymer used as a rheology modifier in the present invention is typically water soluble or water swell-able polymer. Particularly, the rheology modifier used in the aqueous composition of the present invention is at least one polymer derivable from the polymerization of a monomer unit comprising at least two isocyanate functional groups with other monomer units comprising at least two diol functional units. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention at least one polyurethane based polymer is used as a rheology modifier.

Typically, the amount of the rheology modifier used is about 0.5 to 50 % of the total mass of the composition.

The organic softner is used in the composition of the present invention is at least one fatty acid based organic softner. Typically, the amount of the organic softner used is about 0.1 to 20 % of the total mass of the composition.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention the composition further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of neutralizing agents and preservatives. Typically, the neutralizing agents include but are not limited to acids such as acetic acid.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provides an aqueous fabric softener composition; said composition comprises:

1. amino-modified polysiloxane as a conditioning agent in an amount of about 8 to 10 % of the total mass of the composition;
2. tridecyl alcohol as a surfactant in an amount of 5 % to 8 % by wt of the total mass of the composition;
3. fatty acid modified organic softener in an amount of 2 to 4 % of the total mass of the composition ; and
4. polyurethane based thinker (rheology modifier) in an amount of 1 % to 2 % of the total mass of the composition.

Other than the above mentioned ingredients, rest of the part of said fabric softener composition is made up of water.

The composition further comprises 0.2 to 0.6 % of acetic acid to neutralize the amine. The composition still further contains at least one preservative in an amount of about 0.05 to 0.1 % of the total mass of the composition.

The aqueous fabric softener composition of the present invention is in aqueous micro-emulsion form.

The use of a polyurethane based polymer as a rheology modifier in the present composition provides unexpectedly positive viscosity behavior which makes it possible to achieve the desired viscosity without addition of further additives. The composition prepared in accordance with the present invention is highly stable and is highly viscous aqueous fabric softener. The composition of the fabric softener of the present invention shows the stability and high consistency on storage over a period of time. The increase in stability of fabric softener is very important, as on long term storage, the compositions have a tendency to undergo phase separation. The aqueous fabric softener composition of the present invention also imparts good soft handle and very low yellowing.

The fabric treated / applied with the softener composition of the present invention has very good exhaustibility which exhausts on the acrylic / synthetic fabrics. Silicone and polyurethane forms a 3 dimensional network and thus crosslinks on the fabric surface giving a very soft, limpy and bulky hand feel. Also the organic component present in the composition gives smooth and voluminous handle to the fabrics.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES:
The aqueous fabric softener composition comprising polymer based rheology modifier, as described in the present invention has the following advantages:
> it is low active and high viscous;
> it imparts desired thickening effect;
> it exhibits improved dilutability and dispersibility in water;
> it exhibits excellent stability and consistency over a period of time; and
> it provides good soft hand feel and low yellowing of fabric.

Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

We claim:

1. An aqueous fabric softener composition; said composition comprising:

a. at least one conditioning agent in an amount of 8 to 10 % of the total mass of the composition ;

b. at least one organic softner in an amount of 2 to 4 % of the total mass of the composition;

c. at least one non-ionic surfactant in an amount of 5 to 8 % of the total mass of the composition;

d. at least one rheology modifier in an amount of 1 to 2 % of the total mass of the composition; and

e. water

2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conditioning agent is siloxane selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and modified polysiloxanes.

3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conditioning agent is amino-modified polysiloxane.

4. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-ionic surfactant is polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ether.

5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rheology modifier is polyurethane based polymer.

6. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organic softner is a fatty acid based organic softner.

7. The composition as claimed in claim 1, further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of neutralizing agents and preservatives.

8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, is in the form of an aqueous micro-emulsion.