EP1590426B1

EP1590426B1 - Laundry cleansing and conditioning compositions

Info

Publication number: EP1590426B1
Application number: EP04704608.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dennis Stephen Murphy; Michael Orchowski; Alla Tartakovsky; David Alan Binder
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 2003-02-03
Filing date: 2004-01-23
Publication date: 2014-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-23
Also published as: BRPI0407114A; CA2514766A1; WO2004069979A3; EP1590426A2; BRPI0407114B1; WO2004069979A2; CA2514766C

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to laundry conditioning compositions. More particularly, the invention is directed to laundry compositions containing at least one cationic polymer and at least one anionic surfactant that deliver an unexpected level of fabric softening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Textile fabrics, including clothes, have traditionally been cleaned with laundry detergents. After cleaning, fabrics can often feel harsh and they will wear and lose colour over repeat wash cycles. To prevent the drawbacks of fabrics feeling harsh after cleaning and those experienced by multiple wash cycles, technologies have been developed including rinse conditioners, softening detergents and anti-dye transfer agents.
However, existing technologies still do not fully prevent such fabric cleaning drawbacks. Thus, there is an ongoing need for products that will condition and protect fabrics from the effects of the washing process.
We have surprisingly found that certain cationic polymer and anionic surfactant mixtures provide excellent conditioning to laundered fabrics.

OTHER INFORMATION

Softening laundry detergent compositions have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Appl. Nos. 2002/0151454 and 2002/0155981 .
Softening laundry detergent tablet compositions have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Appl. Nos. 2002/0055451 and 2002/0058604 .
Softening liquid laundry detergent compositions have been disclosed in U.S Pat. No. 4,844,821 .
A process for producing suspending liquid laundry detergents has been disclosed in Hsu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,018 . Hsu discloses the use of polymer JR in an anionic -surfactant containing liquid detergent and further requires a polysaccharide polymer such as xanthan gum, which leads to an unstable product.
Hair conditioning and shampoo art has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,472,840 and 4,299,817 and WO 98/04241 and 98/04239 .
Washer added fabric softening compositions have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,913,828 and 5,073,274 .
Fabric softener compositions have been disclosed in WO 00/70005 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,322 .
Liquid detergent compositions comprising polymeric suds enhancers have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2002/0169097 .
Although U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,913,828 , 5,073,274 , and 4,844,821 ; and WO 00/70005 teach softening laundry compositions, they all contain insoluble material that will scatter light and render the compositions non-transparent and the percent transmittance will be less than 50. When the insoluble material is solid, the composition is considered to be a suspension and when it is liquid, the composition is considered to be an emulsion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, this invention is directed to a laundry composition comprising one or more cationic polymers selected from the group consisting of guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, and hydroxyethyl cellulose derivatised with trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide, and more than 5% of one or more anionic surfactants having an HLB of greater than about 4, wherein the composition additionally comprises non-ionic surfactant, and wherein the ratios of cationic polymer : total surfactant, cationic polymer : anionic surfactant, and cationic polymer : non-ionic surfactant are less than 1:10,
and wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises a fatty alcohol ethoxylate of formula: R'(EO)_n wherein R' represents an alkyl chain of between 4 and 30 carbon atoms, (EO) represents one unit of ethylene oxide monomer and n has an average value between 0.5 and 20.
In a second aspect, this invention is directed to a method for conditioning textiles comprising, in no particular order, the steps of:

a. providing a laundry detergent or fabric softener composition according to the first aspect in concentration to effectively soften and condition fabrics under predetermined laundering conditions;
b. contacting one or more articles with the composition at one or more points during a laundering process; and
c. allowing the articles to dry or mechanically tumble-drying them.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term "comprising" means including, made up of, composed of, consisting and/or consisting essentially of.
Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts or ratios of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about".
As used herein, a formula shall be considered physically "stable" when after 1 week at 21 degrees Celsius it exhibits no signs of phase separation.
The present invention is directed to laundry compositions containing mixtures of one or more anionic surfactant and one or more cationic polymer that deliver an unexpectedly high level of conditioning to fabrics. The main objective of this invention is to render garments more pleasant to the touch, and provide other conditioning benefits. Preferably, the compositions of the present invention yield softening parameters of greater than 40.

Conditioning Benefits

The compositions of this invention are intended to confer conditioning benefits to garments, home textiles, carpets and other fibrous or fibre-derived articles. These formulations are not to be limited to conditioning benefits, however, and will often be multi-functional. As such, in addition to conditioning fibre-derived articles, they may also clean, fragrance or otherwise treat them.
The primary conditioning benefit afforded by these products is softening. Softening includes, but is not limited to, an improvement in the handling of a garment treated with the compositions of this invention relative to that of an article laundered under identical conditions but without the use of this invention. Consumers will often describe an article that is softened as "silky" or "fluffy", and generally prefer the feel of treated garments to those that are unsoftened. It is desirable that the formulae of this invention, when used as instructed, yield a softness parameter of more than 40. The preferred products give a softness parameter in excess of 55, however, while even more preferred products give a softness parameter of more than 70. Given the large amount of softening-in-the-wash related prior art that has attempted to reach this level of softening unsuccessfully, it is quite surprising that the products of this invention are often so efficacious. In order to attain the desired level of softening, it is preferred that the composition contain greater than about 5% anionic surfactant.
The conditioning benefits of these compositions are not limited to softening, however. They may, depending on the particular embodiment of the invention selected, also provide an antistatic benefit. In addition to softening, the cationic polymer / anionic surfactant compositions of this invention are further believed to lubricate the fibres of textile articles, which can reduce wear, pilling and colour fading, and provide a shape-retention benefit. This lubricating layer may also, without wishing to be bound by theory, provide a substrate on the fabric for retaining fragrances and other benefit agents. Furthermore, the cationic polymers of this invention are also believed to inhibit the transfer, bleeding and loss of vagrant dyes from fabrics during the wash, further improving colour brightness over time.

Form of the Invention

The present invention can take any of a number of forms. It can take the form of a dilutable fabric conditioner, that may be an isotropic liquid, a surfactant-structured liquid, a granular, spray-dried or dry-blended powder, a tablet, a paste, a molded solid or any other laundry detergent form known to those skilled in the art. A "dilutable fabric conditioning" composition is defined, for the purposes of this disclosure, as a product intended to be used by being diluted with water or a non-aqueous solvent by a ratio of more than 100:1, to produce a liquor suitable for treating textiles and conferring to them one or more conditioning benefits. Water soluble sheets or sachets, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20020187909 , which is incorporated herein by reference, are also envisaged as a potential form of this invention. These may be sold under a variety of names, and for a number of purposes. As such, compositions intended to be used as combination detergent / softeners, along with fabric softeners sold for application in the final rinse of a wash cycle and fabric softeners sold for application at the beginning of a wash cycle are all considered within the scope of this invention. For all cases, however, these compositions are intended to be used by being diluted by a ratio of more than 100:1 with water or a non-aqueous solvent, to form a liquor suitable for treating fabrics.
Particularly preferred forms of this invention include combination detergent / softener products, especially as a liquid or powder, and isotropic or surfactant-structured liquid products intended for application as a fabric softener during the wash cycle or the final rinse. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "fabric softener" shall be understood to mean a consumer or industrial product added to the wash, rinse or dry cycle of a laundry process for the express or primary purpose of conferring one or more conditioning benefits.
It can also take the form of a fabric softener intended to be applied to articles without substantial dilution and sold as any form known to those skilled in the art as a potential medium for delivering such fabric softeners to the consumer. Examples of such forms include dryer sheets, dryer puffs, dispensing devices intended to be fastened to the interior of a consumer's electric, gas or microwave dryer and the like. Sprays, such as aerosol or pump sprays, for direct application to fabrics are also considered within the scope of this disclosure. Such examples, however, are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention.
The preferred pH range of the composition is 2-12. Because many cationic polymers can decompose at high pH, especially when they contain amine or phosphine moieties, it is desirable to keep the pH of the composition below the pK_a of the amine or phosphine group that is used to quaternise the selected polymer, below which the propensity for this to occur is greatly decreased. This reaction can cause the product to lose effectiveness over time and create an undesirable product odour. As such, a reasonable margin of safety, of 1-2 units of pH below the pK_a should ideally be used in order to drive the equilibrium of this reaction to strongly favour polymer stability. Although the preferred pH of the product will depend on the particular cationic polymer selected for formulation, typically these values should be below about 8.5 to 10. Wash liquor pH, especially in the case of powdered softener and combination detergent / softener products, can often be less important, as the kinetics of polymer decomposition are often slow, and the time of one wash cycle is typically not sufficient to allow for this reaction to have a significant impact on the performance or odour of the product. A lower pH can also aid in the formulation of higher-viscosity products.
Conversely, as the product depends on the presence of soluble anionic surfactants to provide softening, its pH should preferably be above the pK_a of the surfactant acids used to formulate it. In addition, aqueous detergent products, which are a highly preferred embodiment of this invention, are nearly impossible to formulate below the pK_a of the surfactant acids used, as these molecules are rather insoluble in water when in acid form. Again, it is especially desirable to have the pH at least 1-2 units above the pK_a of the surfactant acids, to ensure that the vast majority of anionic surfactant is present in salt form. Typically, this will suggest that the product pH should be above about 4, although in certain cases, such as when carboxylic acid salts, which often have a pK_a around 4 or 5, are used, the pH of the product can need to be above about 7 or 8 to ensure effective softening. It is desirable to buffer the formulation at whatever the target pH of the composition is.

Method of Use

The following details a method for conditioning textiles comprising the steps, in no particular order of:

a. providing a laundry detergent or fabric softener composition according to claim 1 in concentration to effectively soften and condition fabrics under predetermined laundering conditions;
b. contacting one or more articles with the composition at one or more points during a laundering process; and
c. allowing the articles to dry or mechanically tumble-drying them,

Amounts of composition used will generally range between about 10g and about 300g total product per 3 kg of conditioned fibrous articles, depending on the particular embodiment chosen and other factors, such as consumer preferences, that influence product use behaviour.
A consumer that would use the present invention could also be specifically instructed to contact the fabrics with the inventive composition with the purpose of simultaneously cleaning and softening the said fabrics. This approach would be recommended when the composition takes the form of a softening detergent to be dosed at the beginning of the wash cycle.

Insoluble Matter

It is preferred that the compositions of this disclosure be formulated with low levels, if any at all, of any matter that is substantially insoluble in the solvent intended to be used to dilute the product. For the purposes of this disclosure, "substantially insoluble" shall mean that the material in question can individually be dissolved at a level of less than 0.001% in the specified solvent. Examples of substantially insoluble matter in aqueous systems include, but are not limited to aluminosilicates, pigments, clays and the like. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that solvent-insoluble inorganic matter can be attracted and coordinated to the cationic polymers of this invention, which are believed to attach themselves to the articles being washed. When this occurs, it is thought that these particles can create a rough effect on the fabric surface, which in turn reduces the perception of softness.
In addition, as liquid compositions are a preferred embodiment of this invention, and insoluble matter is often difficult to formulate into a liquid, it is further desirable to minimise its level in the product. For this invention it is desirable to have the liquid compositions be substantially transparent for aesthetic reasons. Thus, for the compositions of this invention it is desirable to have a percent transmittance of light of greater than about 50 using a 1 centimetre cuvette at a wavelength of 570 nanometers wherein the composition is measured in the absence of dyes. Alternatively, transparency of the composition may be measured as having an absorbence (A) at 570 nanometers of less than about 0.3 which is in turn equivalent to percent transmittance of greater than about 50 using the same cuvette as above. The relationship between absorbance and percent transmittance is: $Percent Transmittance = 100 / (1 / inverse log A)$
Preferably, insoluble and substantially insoluble matter will be limited to less than 10% of the composition, more preferably 5%. Most preferably, especially in the case of liquid conditioning compositions, the composition will be essentially free of substantially insoluble matter.

Anionic surfactants

The anionic surfactants used in this invention can be any anionic surfactant that is substantially water soluble.
"Water soluble" surfactants are, unless otherwise noted, here defined to include surfactants which are soluble or dispersible to at least the extent of 0.01% by weight in distilled water at 25°C. "Anionic surfactants" are defined herein as amphiphilic molecules with an average molecular weight of less than about 10,000, comprising one or more functional groups that exhibit a net anionic charge when in aqueous solution at the normal wash pH of between 6 and 11. It is preferred that at least one of the anionic surfactants used in this invention be an alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of a natural or synthetic fatty acid containing between 4 and 30 carbon atoms. It is especially preferred to use a mixture of carboxylic acid salts with one or more other anionic surfactants. Another important class of anionic compounds are the water soluble salts, particularly the alkali metal salts, of organic sulphur reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl radical containing from about 6 to 24 carbon atoms and a radical selected from the group consisting of sulphonic and sulphuric acid ester radicals.

Carboxylic Acid Salts

R ¹ COOM

where R ¹ is a primary or secondary alkyl group of 4 to 30 carbon atoms and M is a solubilising cation. The alkyl group represented by R ¹ may represent a mixture of chain lengths and may be saturated or unsaturated, although it is preferred that at least two thirds of the R ¹ groups have a chain length of between 8 and 18 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of suitable alkyl group sources include the fatty acids derived from coconut oil, tallow, tall oil and palm kernel oil. For the purposes of minimising odour, however, it is often desirable to use primarily saturated carboxylic acids. Such materials are well known to those skilled in the art, and are available from many commercial sources, such as Uniqema (Wilmington, Del.) and Twin Rivers Technologies (Quincy, Mass.). The solubilising cation, M, may be any cation that confers water solubility to the product, although monovalent such moieties are generally preferred. Examples of acceptable solubilising cations for use with this invention include alkali metals such as sodium and potassium, which are particularly preferred, and amines such as triethanolammonium, ammonium and morpholinium. Although, when used, the majority of the fatty acid should be incorporated into the formulation in neutralised salt form, it is often preferable to leave a small amount of free fatty acid in the formulation, as this can aid in the maintenance of product viscosity.

Primary Alkyl Sulphates

R²OSO₃M

where R ² is a primary alkyl group of 8 to 18 carbon atoms and M is a solubilising cation. The alkyl group R ² may have a mixture of chain lengths. It is preferred that at least two-thirds of the R ² alkyl groups have a chain length of 8 to 14 carbon atoms. This will be the case if R ² is coconut alkyl, for example. The solubilising cation may be a range of cations which are in general monovalent and confer water solubility. An alkali metal, notably sodium, is especially envisaged. Other possibilities are ammonium and substituted ammonium ions, such as trialkanolammonium or trialkylammonium.

Alkyl Ether Sulphates

R³O(CH₂CH₂O)_nSO₃M

where R ³ is a primary alkyl group of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, n has an average value in the range from 1 to 6 and M is a solubilising cation. The alkyl group R ³ may have a mixture of chain lengths. It is preferred that at least two-thirds of the R³ alkyl groups have a chain length of 8 to 14 carbon atoms. This will be the case if R³ is coconut alkyl, for example. Preferably n has an average value of 2 to 5. Ether sulphates have been found to provide viscosity build in certain of the formulations of this invention, and thus are considered a preferred ingredient.

Fatty Acid Ester Sulphonates

R⁴CH(SO₃M)CO₂R⁵

where R⁴ is an alkyl group of 6 to 16 atoms, R⁵ is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and M is a solubilising cation. The group R⁴ may have a mixture of chain lengths. Preferably at least two-thirds of these groups have 6 to 12 carbon atoms. This will be the case when the moiety R⁸CH(-)CO₂(-) is derived from a coconut source, for instance. It is preferred that R⁵ is a straight chain alkyl, notably methyl or ethyl.

Alkyl Benzene Sulphonates

R⁶ArSO₃M

where R⁶ is an alkyl group of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, Ar is a benzene ring (C₆H₄ ) and M is a solubilising cation. The group R⁶ may be a mixture of chain lengths. A mixture of isomers is typically used, and a number of different grades, such as "high 2-phenyl" and "low 2-phenyl" are commercially available for use depending on formulation needs. A plentitude of commercial suppliers exist for these materials, including Stepan (Northfield, Ill.) and Witco (Greenwich, Conn.) Typically they are produced by the sulphonation of alkylbenzenes, which can be produced by either the HF-catalyzed alkylation of benzene with olefins or an AlCl₃-catalyzed process that alkylates benzene with chlor-paraffins, and are sold by, for example, Petresa (Chicago, Ill.) and Sasol (Austin, Tex.). Straight chains of 11 to 14 carbon atoms are usually preferred.
Paraffin sulphonates having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 16 carbon atoms, in the alkyl moiety. They are usually produced by the sulphoxidation of petrochemically-derived normal paraffins. These surfactants are commercially available as, for example, Hostapur SAS from Clariant (Charlotte, N.C.).
Olefin sulphonates having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 16 carbon atoms. U.S. Patent No. 3,332,880 contains a description of suitable olefin sulphonates, and is incorporated herein by reference. Such materials are sold as, for example, Bio-Terge AS-40, which can be purchased from Stepan (Northfield, Ill.)

Sulphosuccinate esters

R⁷OOCCH₂CH(SO₃ ^-M⁺) COOR⁸

are also useful in the context of this invention. R⁷ and R⁸ are alkyl groups with chain lengths of between 2 and 16 carbons, and may be linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated. A preferred sulphosuccinate is sodium bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulphosuccinate, which is commercially available under the tradename Aerosol OT from Cytec Industries (West Paterson, N.J.).
Organic phosphate based anionic surfactants include organic phosphate esters such as complex mono- or diester phosphates of hydroxyl- terminated alkoxide condensates, or salts thereof. Included in the organic phosphate esters are phosphate ester derivatives of polyoxyalkylated alkylaryl phosphate esters, of ethoxylated linear alcohols and ethoxylates of phenol. Also included are nonionic alkoxylates having a sodium alkylenecarboxylate moiety linked to a terminal hydroxyl group of the nonionic through an ether bond. Counterions to the salts of all the foregoing may be those of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkanolammonium and alkylammonium types.
Other preferred anionic surfactants include the fatty acid ester sulphonates with formula:

R⁹CH(SO₃M)CO₂R¹⁰

where the moiety R⁹CH(-)CO₂(-) is derived from a coconut source and R¹⁰ is either methyl or ethyl; primary alkyl sulphates with the formula:

R¹¹OSO₃M

wherein R¹¹ is a primary alkyl group of 10 to 18 carbon atoms and M is a sodium cation; and paraffin sulphonates, preferably with 12 to 16 carbon atoms to the alkyl moiety.
Other anionic surfactants preferred for use with this formulation include isothionates, sulphated triglycerides, alcohol sulphates, ligninsulphonates, naphthelene sulphonates and alkyl naphthelene sulphonates and the like. Additional anionic surfactants, falling into the general definition but not specifically mentioned above, should also be considered within the scope of this invention.

Water Soluble Cationic Polymer

A water soluble cationic polymer is here defined to include polymers which, because of their molecular weight or monomer composition, are soluble or dispersible to at least the extent of 0.01% by weight in distilled water at 25°C. The cationic polymer is selected from the group consisting of guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, and hydroxyethyl cellulose derivatised with trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide.
The cationic polymers of this invention are effective at surprisingly low levels. As such, the ratio of cationic polymer to total surfactant in the composition is less than 1:10. The ratio of cationic polymer to anionic surfactant in the composition, on a mass basis, is less than 1:10, as well. The preferred compositions of this invention contain low levels, if any at all, of builder. Generally, these will comprise less than 10%, preferably less than 7% and most preferably less than 5% by weight of total phosphate and zeolite. Furthermore, it is desirable to minimise the amount of certain types of anionic polymers added to the system, as it is believed, without wishing to be bound by theory, that these molecules can complex with the cationic polymers and have a detrimental effect on softening. The preferred compositions of this disclosure comprise less than 2%, more preferably less than 1% and most preferably less than 0.5% anionic polymer. "Anionic polymer" is defined as a molecule with a molecular weight in excess of about 10,000 daltons comprised of monomer units where at least one of the monomer units making up the polymer contains a negative charge over a portion of the wash pH range of pH 6 to pH 11, those monomer units not containing anionic charges being nonionic in nature.
It is highly preferred, and often necessary in the case of certain compositions, to formulate the products of this invention with the proper ratio of cationic polymer to anionic surfactant. Relative to the surface area of the textiles generally laundered, the preferred ratios are unexpectedly low. If the ratio is too high, this can result in reduced softening, poor packing at the interface, unacceptable dissolution times and, in the case of liquid products, an excessively high viscosity which can render the product non-pourable, and thus unacceptable for consumer use. The use of lower ratios of cationic polymer to surfactant also reduces the overall level of polymer necessary for the formulation, which is also preferable for cost and environmental reasons, and gives the formulator greater flexibility in making a stable product. The ratios of cationic polymer: total surfactant, cationic polymer : anionic surfactant and cationic polymer: non-ionic surfactant will be less than 1:10. In terms of absolute fraction, this often means that the concentration of cationic polymer will generally be less than about 5%, preferably less than about 2% and most preferably less than about 1% of the total product mass.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the species responsible for providing a conditioning benefit in these formulations is a polymer / surfactant complex. The compositions of this invention will comprise at least 5%, and preferably at least about 10% of one or more anionic surfactants with a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) of more than about 4. HLB is defined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,387 , incorporated herein by reference.
Many of the aforementioned cationic polymers can be synthesised in, and are commercially available in, a number of different molecular weights. In order to achieve optimal cleaning and softening performance from the product, it is desirable that the water-soluble cationic or amphoteric polymer used in this invention be of an appropriate molecular weight. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that polymers that are too high in mass can entrap soils and prevent them from being removed. The use of cationic polymers with an average molecular weight of less than about 850,000 daltons, and especially those with an average molecular weight of less than 500,000 daltons can help to minimise this effect without significantly reducing the softening performance of properly formulated products. On the other hand, polymers with a molecular weight of about 10,000 daltons or less are believed to be too small to give an effective softening benefit.
In certain cases, especially when these polymers are to be used in a powdered detergent / softener or fabric softener formulation, lower molecular weight polymers can even improve the softening performance of the product. This is believed to be due to dissolution kinetics; materials of too high a molecular weight can fail to dissolve fully during the wash cycle, rendering them unavailable for softening fabrics. The preferred powdered compositions of this invention include materials that have a dissolution parameter of more than about 55.
Cleaning performance can further be improved by selecting a polymer with an appropriate level of cationic moiety.
Again, it is believed that polymers with excessive levels of cationic charge can contribute to soil deposition, hindering the cleaning performance of either the fully formulated 2-in-1 detergent / softener or any laundry detergent that is used in conjunction with the compositions of this invention if they are to be standalone fabric softeners. Particularly appropriate materials are those that comprise less than about 2 % by weight, preferably less than about 1.8 % by weight of cationic nitrogen or phosphorus.
The composition additionally comprises non-ionic surfactant, which comprises a fatty alcohol ethoxylate of formula: R'(EO)_n wherein R' represents an alkyl chain of between 4 and 30 carbon atoms, (EO) represents one unit of ethylene oxide monomer and n has an average value between 0.5 and 20.

Optional Ingredients

In addition to the above-mentioned essential elements, the formulation may include one or more optional ingredients. While it is not necessary for these elements to be present in order to practice this invention, the use of such materials is often very helpful in rendering the formulation acceptable for consumer use.
Examples of optional components include, but are not limited to: amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, hydrotropes, fluorescent whitening agents, photobleaches, fibre lubricants, reducing agents, enzymes, enzyme stabilising agents, powder finishing agents, defoamers, builders, bleaches, bleach catalysts, soil release agents, antiredeposition agents, dye transfer inhibitors, buffers, colorants, fragrances, pro-fragrances, rheology modifiers, anti-ashing polymers, preservatives, insect repellents, soil repellents, water-resistance agents, suspending agents, aesthetic agents, structuring agents, sanitisers, solvents, fabric finishing agents, dye fixatives, wrinkle-reducing agents, fabric conditioning agents and deodorizers.

Preservatives

Optionally, a soluble preservative may be added to this invention. Contamination of the product by microorganisms, which can occur through both raw materials and consumer use, can have a number of undesirable effects. These include phase separation, the formation of bacterial and fungal colonies, the emission of objectionable odours and the like. The use of a preservative is especially preferred when the composition of this invention is a liquid, as these products tend to be especially susceptible to microbial growth.
The use of a broad-spectrum preservative, which controls the growth of bacteria and fungi is preferred. Limited-spectrum preservatives, which are only effective on a single group of microorganisms may also be used, either in combination with a broad-spectrum material or in a "package" of limited-spectrum preservatives with additive activities. Depending on the circumstances of manufacturing and consumer use, it may also be desirable to use more than one broad-spectrum preservative to minimise the effects of any potential contamination.
The use of both biocidal materials, i.e. substances that kill or destroy bacteria and fungi, and biostatic preservatives, i.e. substances that regulate or retard the growth of microorganisms, may be indicated for this invention.
In order to minimise environmental waste and allow for the maximum window of formulation stability, it is preferred that preservatives that are effective at low levels be used. Typically, they will be used only at an effective amount. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term "effective amount" means a level sufficient to control microbial growth in the product for a specified period of time, i.e., two weeks, such that the stability and physical properties of it are not negatively affected. For most preservatives, an effective amount will be between about 0.00001% and about 0.5% of the total formula, based on weight. Obviously, however, the effective level will vary based on the material used, and one skilled in the art should be able to select an appropriate preservative and use level.
Preferred preservatives for the compositions of this invention include organic sulphur compounds, halogenated materials, cyclic organic nitrogen compounds, low molecular weight aldehydes, quaternary ammonium materials, dehydroacetic acid, phenyl and phenoxy compounds and mixtures thereof.
Examples of preferred preservatives for use in the compositions of the present invention include: a mixture of about 77% 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and about 23% 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, which is sold commercially as a 1.5% aqueous solution by Rohm & Haas (Philadelphia, Pa.) under the trade name Kathon; 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, which is sold commercially by Avecia (Wilmington, Del.) as, for example, a 20% solution in dipropylene glycol sold under the trade name Proxel GXL; and a 95:5 mixture of 1,3 bis (hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-2,4 imidazolidinedione and 3-butyl-2-iodopropynyl carbamate, which can be obtained, for example, as Glydant Plus from Lonza (Fair Lawn, N.J.).
The preservatives described above are generally only used at an effective amount to give product stability. It is conceivable, however, that they could also be used at higher levels in the compositions on this invention to provide a biostatic or antibacterial effect on the treated articles.

Additional Nonionic Surfactants

Additional Nonionic surfactants are useful in the context of this invention to both improve the cleaning properties of the compositions, when used as a detergent, and to contribute to product stability. For the purposes of this disclosure, "nonionic surfactant" shall be defined as amphiphilic molecules with a molecular weight of less than about 10,000, unless otherwise noted, which are substantially free of any functional groups that exhibit a net charge at the normal wash pH of 6-11. Any type of nonionic surfactant may be used, although preferred materials are further discussed below.

Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates

R'O(EO)_n

Wherein R' represents an alkyl chain of between 4 and 30 carbon atoms, (EO) represents one unit of ethylene oxide monomer and n has an average value between 0.5 and 20. R may be linear or branched. Such chemicals are generally produced by oligomerizing fatty alcohols with ethylene oxide in the presence of an effective amount catalyst, and are sold in the market as, for example, Neodols from Shell (Houston, Tex.) and Alfonics from Sasol (Austin, Tex.). The fatty alcohol starting materials, which are marketed under trademarks such as Alfol, Lial and Isofol from Sasol (Austin, Tex.) and Neodol, from Shell, may be manufactured by any of a number of processes known to those skilled in the art, and can be derived from natural or synthetic sources or a combination thereof. Commercial alcohol ethoxylates are typically mixtures, comprising varying chain lengths of R' and levels of ethoxylation. Often, especially at low levels of ethoxylation, a substantial amount of unethoxylated fatty alcohol remains in the final product, as well.
Because of their excellent cleaning, environmental and stability profiles, fatty alcohol ethoxylates wherein R' represents an alkyl chain from 10-18 carbons and n is an average number between 5 and 12 are highly preferred.

Alkylphenol Ethoxylates

R¹⁹ArO(EO)_n
Where R ¹⁹ represents a linear or branched alkyl chain ranging from 4 to 30 carbons, Ar is a phenyl (C₆H₄) ring and (EO)_n is an oligomer chain comprised of an average of n moles of ethylene oxide. Preferably, R ¹⁹ is comprised of between 8 and 12 carbons, and n is between 4 and 12. Such materials are somewhat interchangeable with alcohol ethoxylates, and serve much the same function. A commercial example of an alkylphenol ethoxylate suitable for use in this invention is Triton X-100, available from Dow Chemical (Midland, Mich.)

Ethylene Oxide / Propylene Oxide Block Polymers

(EO)_x(PO)_y(EO)_x

or

(PO)_x(EO)_y(PO)_x

wherein EO represents an ethylene oxide unit, PO represents a propylene oxide unit, and x and y are numbers detailing the average number of moles ethylene oxide and propylene oxide in each mole of product. Such materials tend to have higher molecular weights than most nonionic surfactants, and as such can range between 1,000 and 30,000 daltons. BASF (Mount Olive, N.J.) manufactures a suitable set of derivatives and markets them under the Pluronic and Pluronic-R trademarks.
Other nonionic surfactants should also be considered within the scope of this invention. These include condensates of alkanolamines with fatty acids, such as cocamide DEA, polyol-fatty acid esters, such as the Span series available from Uniqema (Wlimington, Del.), ethoxylated polyol-fatty acid esters, such as the Tween series available from Uniqema (Wilmington, Del.), Alkylpolyglucosides, such as the APG line available from Cognis (Gulph Mills, Pa.) and n-alkylpyrrolidones, such as the Surfadone series of products marketed by ISP (Wayne, N.J). Furthermore, nonionic surfactants not specifically mentioned above, but within the definition, may also be used.

Fluorescent Whitening Agents

Many fabrics, and cottons in particular, tend to lose their whiteness and adopt a yellowish tone after repeated washing. As such, it is customary and preferred to add a small amount of fluorescent whitening agent, which absorbs light in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum and re-emits it in the visible blue range, to the compositions of this invention, especially if they are combination detergent / fabric conditioner preparations.
Suitable fluorescent whitening agents include derivatives of diaminostilbenedisulphonic acid and their alkali metal salts. Particularly, the salts of 4,4'-bis(2-anilino4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazinyl-6-amino)stilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid, and related compounds where the morpholino group is replaced by another nitrogen-comprising moiety, are preferred. Also preferred are brighteners of the 4,4'-bis(2-sulphostyryl) biphenyl type, which may optionally be blended with other fluorescent whitening agents at the option of the formulator. Typical fluorescent whitening agent levels in the preparations of this invention range between 0.001% and 1%, although a level between 0.1% and 0,3%, by mass, is normally used. Commercial supplies of acceptable fluorescent whitening agents can be sourced from, for example, Ciba Specialty Chemicals (High Point, N.C.) and Bayer (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

Builders

Builders are often added to fabric cleaning compositions to complex and remove alkaline earth metal ions, which can interfere with the cleaning performance of a detergent by combining with anionic surfactants and removing them from the wash liquor. The preferred compositions of this invention, especially when used as a combination detergent / softener, contain builders.
Soluble builders, such as alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal citrates, are particularly preferred, especially for the liquid embodiment of this invention. Other builders, as further detailed below, may also be used, however. Often a mixture of builders, chosen from those described below and others known to those skilled in the art, will be used.

Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Carbonates

Alkali and alkaline earth metal carbonates, such as those detailed in German patent application 2,321,001, published Nov. 15, 1973 , are suitable for use as builders in the compositions of this invention. They may be supplied and used either in anhydrous form, or including bound water. Particularly useful is sodium carbonate, or soda ash, which both is readily available on the commercial market and has an excellent environmental profile.
The sodium carbonate used in this invention may either be natural or synthetic, and, depending on the needs of the formula, may be used in either dense or light form. Natural soda ash is generally mined as trona and further refined to a degree specified by the needs of the product it is used in. Synthetic ash, on the other hand, is usually produced via the Solvay process or as a coproduct of other manufacturing operations, such as the synthesis of caprolactam. It is sometimes further useful to include a small amount of calcium carbonate in the builder formulation, to seed crystal formation and increase building efficacy.

Organic Builders

Organic detergent builders can also be used as nonphosphate builders in the present invention. Examples of organic builders include alkali metal citrates, succinates, malonates, fatty acid sulphonates, fatty acid carboxylates, nitrilotriacetates, oxydisuccinates, alkyl and alkenyl disuccinates, oxydiacetates, carboxymethyloxy succinates, ethylenediamine tetraacetates, tartrate monosuccinates, tartrate disuccinates, tartrate monoacetates, tartrate diacetates, oxidized starches, oxidized heteropolymeric polysaccharides, polyhydroxysulphonates, polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, polymaleates, polyacetates, polyhydroxyacrylates, polyacrylate/polymaleate and polyacrylate/ polymethacrylate copolymers, acrylate/maleate/vinyl alcohol terpolymers, aminopolycarboxylates and polyacetal carboxylates, and polyaspartates and mixtures thereof. Such carboxylates are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,144,226 , 4,146,495 and 4,686,062 . Alkali metal citrates, nitrilotriacetates, oxydisuccinates, acrylate/maleate copolymers and acrylate/maleate/vinyl alcohol terpolymers are especially preferred nonphosphate builders.

Phosphates

The compositions of the present invention which utilise a water-soluble phosphate builder typically contain this builder at a level of from 1 to 90% by weight of the composition. Specific examples of water-soluble phosphate builders are the alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium polymeta/phosphate in which the degree of polymerisation ranges from about 6 to 21, and salts of phytic acid. Sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate is most preferred.
Phosphates are, however, often difficult to formulate, especially into liquid products, and have been identified as potential agents that may contribute to the eutrophication of lakes and other waterways. As such, the preferred compositions of this invention comprise phosphates at a level of less than about 10% by weight, more preferably less than about 5% by weight. The most preferred compositions of this invention are formulated to be substantially free of phosphate builders.

Zeolites

Zeolites may also be used as builders in the present invention. A number of zeolites suitable for incorporation into the products of this disclosure are available to the formulator, including the common zeolite 4A. In addition, zeolites of the MAP variety, such as those taught in European Patent Application EP-B-384,070 , which are sold commercially by, for example, Ineos Silicas (UK), as Doucil A24, are also acceptable for incorporation. MAP is defined as an alkali metal aluminosilicate of zeolite P type having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.33, preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.33, more preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.20.
Especially preferred is zeolite MAP having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.07, more preferably about 1.00. The particle size of the zeolite is not critical. Zeolite A or zeolite MAP of any suitable particle size may be used. In any event, as zeolites are insoluble matter, it is advantageous to minimise their level in the compositions of this invention. As such, the preferred formulations contain less than about 10% of zeolite builder, while especially preferred compositions compress less than about 5% zeolite.

Enzyme Stabilisers

When enzymes, and especially proteases are used in liquid detergent formulations, it is often necessary to include a suitable quantity of enzyme stabiliser to temporarily deactivate it until it is used in the wash. Examples of suitable enzyme stabilisers are well-known to those skilled in the art, and include, for example, borates and polyols such as propylene glycol. Borates are especially suitable for use as enzyme stabilisers because in addition to this benefit, they can further buffer the pH of the detergent product over a wide range, thus providing excellent flexibility.
If a borate-based enzyme stabilisation system is chosen, along with one or more cationic polymers that are at least partially comprised of carbohydrate moeities, stability problems can result if suitable co-stabilisers are not used. It is believed that this is the result of borates' natural affinity for hydroxyl groups, which can create an insoluble borate-polymer complex that precipitates from solution either over time or at cold temperatures. Incorporating into the formulation a co-stabiliser, which is normally a diol or polyol, sugar or other molecule with a large number of hydroxyl groups, can ordinarily prevent this. Especially preferred for use as a co-stabiliser is sorbitol, used at a level that is at least about 0.8 times the level of borate in the system, more preferably 1.0 times the level of borate in the system and most preferably more than 1.43 times the level of borate in the system, is sorbitol, which is effective, inexpensive, biodegradable and readily available on the market. Similar materials including sugars such as glucose and sucrose, and other polyols such as propylene glycol, glycerol, mannitol, maltitol and xylitol, should also be considered within the scope of this invention.

Fibre Lubricants

In order to enhance the conditioning, softening, wrinkle-reduction and protective effects of the compositions of this invention, it is often desirable to include one or more fibre lubricants in the formulation. Such ingredients are well known to those skilled in the art, and are intended to reduce the coefficient of friction between the fibres and yarns in articles being treated, both during and after the wash process. This effect can in turn improve the consumer's perception of softness, minimise the formation of wrinkles and prevent damage to textiles during the wash. For the purposes of this disclosure, "fibre lubricants" shall be considered non-cationic materials intended to lubricate fibres for the purpose of reducing the friction between fibres or yarns in an article comprising textiles which provide one or more wrinkle-reduction, fabric conditioning or protective benefit.
Examples of suitable fibre lubricants include oily sugar derivatives, functionalised plant and animal-derived oils, silicones, mineral oils, natural and synthetic waxes and the like. Such ingredients often have low HLB values, less than about 10, although exceeding this level is not outside of the scope of this invention.
Oily sugar derivatives suitable for use in this invention are taught in WO 98/16538 , which is incorporated herein by reference. These are especially preferred as fibre lubricants, due to their ready availability and favorable environmental profile. When used in the compositions of this invention, such materials are typically present at a level between about 1% and about 10% of the finished composition. Another class of acceptable ingredients includes hydrophilically-modified plant and animal oils and synthetic triglycerides. Suitable and preferred hydrophilically modified plant, animal, and synthetic triglyceride oils and waxes have been identified as effective fibre lubricants. Such suitable plant derived triglyceride materials include hydrophilically modified triglyceride oils, e.g. sulphated, sulphonated, carboxylated, alkoxylated, esterified, saccharide modified, and amide derivatised oils, tall oils and derivatives thereof, and the like. Suitable animal derived triglyceride materials include hydrophilically modified fish oil, tallow, lard, and lanolin wax, and the like. An especially preferred functionalised oil is sulphated castor oil, which is sold commercially as, for example, Freedom SCO-75, available from Noveon (Cleveland, Ohio).
Various levels of derivatisation may be used provided that the derivatisation level is sufficient for the oil or wax derivatives to become soluble or dispersible in the solvent it is used in so as to exert a fibre lubrication effect during laundering of fabrics with a detergent containing the oil or wax derivative.
If this invention includes a functionalised oil of synthetic origin, preferably this oil is a silicone oil. More preferably, it is either a silicone poly ether or amino-functional silicone. If this invention incorporates a silicone polyether, it is preferably of one of the two general structures shown below:
Where PE represents:

CH₂-CH₂-CH₂-O-(EO)_m-(PO)_n-Z

where Me represents methyl; EO represents ethylene oxide; PO represents 1,2 propylene oxide; Z represents either a hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical; x, y, m, n are constants and can be varied to alter the properties of the functionalised silicone.
A molecule of either structure can be used for the purposes of this invention. Preferably, this molecule contains more than 30% silicone, more than 20% ethylene oxide and less than 30% propylene oxide by weight, and has a molecular weight of more than 5,000. An example of a suitable, commercially available such material is L-7622, available from Crompton Corporation, (Greenwich, Ct.)
Amino-functional silicones come in a wide variety of structures, which are well-known to those skilled in the art. These are also useful in the context of this invention, although over time many of these materials can oxidize on fabrics, leading to yellowing. As this is not a desirable property of a fabric care composition, if an amino-functional silicone is used, preferably it is a hindered amine light stabilised product, which exhibits a greatly reduced tendency to show this behavior. A commercially available example of such a silicone is Hydrosoft, available from Rhodia - US (Cranbury, N.J.)
When the use of a fibre lubricant is elected, it will generally be present as between 0.1% and 15% of the total composition weight.

Bleach Catalyst

An effective amount of a bleach catalyst can also be present in the invention. A number of organic catalysts are available such as the sulphonimines as described in U.S. Patents 5,041,232 ; 5,047,163 and 5,463,115 .
Transition metal bleach catalysts are also useful, especially those based on manganese, iron, cobalt, titanium, molybdenum, nickel, chromium, copper, ruthenium, tungsten and mixtures thereof. These include simple water-soluble salts such as those of iron, manganese and cobalt as well as catalysts containing complex ligands.
Suitable examples of manganese catalysts containing organic ligands are described in U.S. Pat. 4,728,455 , U.S. Pat. 5,114,606 , U.S. Pat 5,153,161 , U.S. Pat. 5,194,416 , U.S. Pat. 5,227,084 , U.S. Pat. 5,244,594 , U.S. Pat.5,246,612 , U.S. Pat. 5,246,621 , U.S. Pat. 5,256,779 , U.S. Pat. 5,274,147 , U.S. Pat. 5,280,117 and European Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 544,440 , 544,490 , 549,271 and 549,272 . Preferred examples of these catalysts include Mn^IV ₂(u-O)₂(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₂(PF₆)₂, Mn^III2(u-O)₁(u-OAc)₂(1,4,7- trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₂(CIO₄)₂, Mn^IV ₄(u-O)₆(1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₄ (CIO₄)₄, Mn^IIIMn^IV ₄(u-O)₁(u-OAc)₂(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₂(ClO₄)₃, Mn^IV(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)-(OCH₃)₃(PF₆), and mixtures thereof. Other metal-based bleach catalysts include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,430,243 and U.S. Pat. 5,114,611 . Other examples of complexes of transition metals include Mn gluconate, Mn(CF₃SO₃)₂, and binuclear Mn complexed with tetra-N-dentate and bi-N-dentate ligands, including [bipy₂Mn^III (u-O)₂Mn^IVbipy₂]-(CIO₄)₃.
Iron and manganese salts of aminocarboxylic acids in general are useful herein including iron and manganese aminocarboxylate salts disclosed for bleaching in the photographic colour processing arts. A particularly useful transition metal salt is derived from ethylenediaminedisuccinate and any complex of this ligand with iron or manganese.
Another type of bleach catalyst, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. 5,114,606 , is a water soluble complex of manganese (II), (III), and/or (IV) with a ligand which is a non-carboxylate polyhydroxy compound having at least three consecutive C-OH groups. Preferred ligands include sorbitol, iditol, dulsitol, mannitol, xylitol, arabitol, adonitol, meso-erythritol, meso-inositol, lactose and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred is sorbitol.
Other bleach catalysts are described, for example, in European Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 408,131 (cobalt complexes), 384,503 and 306,089 (metallo-porphyrins), U.S. Pat. 4,728,455 (manganese/multidenate ligand), U.S. Pat. 4,711,748 (absorbed manganese on aluminosilicate), U.S. Pat. 4,601,845 (aluminosilicate support with manganese, zinc or magnesium salt), U.S. Pat. 4,626,373 (manganese/ligand), U.S. Pat. 4,119,557 (ferric complex), U.S. Pat. 4,430.243 (Chelants with manganese cations and non-catalytic metal cations), and U.S. Pat. 4,728,455 (manganese gluconates).
Useful catalysts based on cobalt are described in WO 96/23859 , WO 96/23860 and WO 96/23861 and U.S. Pat. 5,559,261 . WO 96/23860 describe cobalt catalysts of the type [Co_nL_mX_p]^zY_z, where L is an organic ligand molecule containing more than one heteroatom selected from N, P, O and S; X is a co-ordinating species; n is preferably 1 or 2; m is preferably 1 to 5; p is preferably 0 to 4 and Y is a counterion. One example of such a catalyst is N,N'-Bis(salicylidene)ethylenediaminecobalt (II). Other cobalt catalysts described in these applications are based on Co(III) complexes with ammonia and mono-, bi-, tri- and tetradentate ligands such as [Co(NH₃)₅OAc]²⁺ with Cl^-, OAc^-, PF₆ ^-, SO₄ ^-, and BF₄ ^- anions.
Certain transition-metal containing bleach catalysts can be prepared in the situ by the reaction of a transition-metal salt with a suitable chelating agent, for example, a mixture of manganese sulphate and ethylenediaminedisuccinate.
Highly coloured transition metal-containing bleach catalysts may be co-processed with zeolites to reduce the colour impact.
When present, the bleach catalyst is typically incorporated at a level of about 0.0001 to about 10% by wt., preferably about 0.001 to about 5% by weight.

Hydrotropes

In many liquid and powdered detergent compositions, it is customary to add a hydrotrope to modify product viscosity and prevent phase separation in liquids, and ease dissolution in powders.
Two types of hydrotropes are typically used in detergent formulations and are applicable to this invention. The first of these are short-chain functionalised amphiphiles. Examples of short-chain amphiphiles include the alkali metal salts of xylenesulphonic acid, cumenesulphonic acid and octyl sulphonic acid, and the like. In addition, organic solvents and monohydric and polyhydric alcohols with a molecular weight of less than about 500, such as, for example, ethanol, isoporopanol, acetone, propylene glycol and glycerol, may also be used as hydrotropes.

Soil Release Agents

In order to prevent the resoiling of fabrics during and after the wash, one or more soil release agents may also be added to the products of this invention. Many different types of soil release agents are known to those skilled in the art, depending on the formulation in use and the desired benefit. The soil release agents useful in the context of this invention are typically either antiredeposition aids or stain-repelling finishes. Examples of anti-redeposition agents include soil release polymers, such as those described in WO 99/03963 , which is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, the cationic polymers of this invention are particularly advantageous when used in conjunction with a stain-repelling finish. Such materials are typically either fluoropolymers or fluorosurfactants, although the use of other amphiphilic materials with extremely hydrophobic lyophobes, such as silicone surfactants, is also conceivable. Non-limiting examples of suitable anionic fluorosurfactants are taught in U.S. Patent No. 6,040,053 , which is incorporated herein by reference. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the cationic polymers of this invention coordinate to the fabric surface and act as a substrate and deposition aid for the stain-repelling finish.
When an antiredeposition aid or stain-repelling finish is used, it is typically applied as 0.05% to 10% of the finished composition.
The following examples will more fully illustrate the embodiments of this invention. All.parts, percentages and proportions referred to herein and in the appended claims are by weight unless otherwise illustrated. Physical test methods are described below.

TEST METHOD AND EXAMPLES

Fabric was washed with a variety of products, the formulations for which are set forth hereinbelow. The washed fabric was then tested by consumer panels for perceived softening. For each of the washes, product was added to a top loading Whirlpool washing machine that contained 17 gallons of water and 6 pounds of fabric. There were several 86% cotton/14% polyester hand towels in each machine along with 100% cotton sheets to bring the total weight of the fabric to 6 pounds. The temperature of the water for the washes was 32°C and the fabrics were washed for 12 minutes. After the rinse cycle, the fabrics were tumble dried. Two washes were done with each product. Each formula tested is benchmarked against two controls - one using a model detergent (dosed at 130g for the liquid and 56g for the powder at the beginning of the wash), and one using a model detergent plus a model liquid fabric softener. For the latter control, 100g of the softening formula is added at the beginning of the rinse cycle. Liquid experimental formulations were tested against a model liquid detergent, whereas powdered experimental formulations were tested against a model powdered detergent

The formulae for the model detergents are:

TABLE 1. Model Liquid Detergent

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Sodium linear alkylbenzenesulphonate	10.2
Alcohol ethoxylate	9.5
Sodium silicate	3.3
Hydrotrope	0.5
Sodium stearate	0.4
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.1
Water	to 100

TABLE 2: Model Powdered Detergent

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
sodium linear alkylbenzenesulphonate	13.0
alcohol ethoxylate	4.9
sodium silicate	0.5
Zeolite (anhydrous basis)	26.5
Anti-ashing polymer	1.5
Sodium carbonate	23.1
Sodium sulphate	19.4
Protease enzyme	0.4
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.3
Water (bound in the formula)	To 100

The formula for the model liquid fabric softener is: TABLE 3. Model Liquid Fabric Softener

Ingredient Percent in Formula
(based on 100% active)

Dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride 3.5

lactic acid 0.015

Calcium chloride 0.015

Water to 100
Five panellists scored the softness of the hand towels on a 0-10 scale with 0 being "not soft at all" and 10 being "extremely soft". Duplicate panels were run based on the duplicate washes and the scores averaged over the two runs. A Softening Parameter (SP) was then calculated using the following formula: $SP = [(S_{t} - S_{d}) / (S_{c} - S_{d})] x 100$

Where, S_t is the softening score for the formula being tested
S_d is the softening score for model detergent, and
S_c is the softening score for the model detergent + model liquid fabric softener.

For experimental formulations 1-19, 29 and 30 in the following examples, the pH of the finished formula was checked and adjusted to between 9.2 and 9.6 with NaOH or HCl if needed. These liquids were used as combination detergent / softeners, and dosed at 130 grams per wash.
The dissolution kinetics of each polymer were measured by examining the turbidity of a stirred, 0.5% solution of polymer after 10 minutes of agitation, which closely corresponds to the length of an average US wash cycle. These experiments were undertaken using a 722 stirrer, 727 Ti-Stand, and 751 GPD Titrino (available from Metrohm, Westbury, N.Y.), a PC-800 Colorimeter (available from Brinkmann Instruments, Westbury, N.Y.) and a 250 ml disposable Falcon beaker. The colorimeter was first standardised with distilled water and a blocked path. 0.75g of each polymer was added to 150ml distilled water with the 722 stirrer on the "4" setting, and the system was allowed to agitate for 10 minutes, at which point the absorbance at 420 nm was measured. These data were then taken, and along with the standardisation information, used to calculate a Dissolution Parameter (DP), wherein this corresponds to: $DP = % T (420 nm) at 10 minutes .$
Detergency experiments were carried out via a modification of ATSM Method D 3050-87 using a Terg-O-Tometer (available from SCS, Fairfield, N.J.) set to 100 RPM in 1000 ml of 90F water standardised to 120ppm hardness with a Ca/Mg ratio of 2:1. Cloths were washed for 10 minutes with 2.21g of detergent, followed by a 2 minute rinse and then tumble dried. Two types of standard soil cloth were used for each experiment: pigment / synthetic sebum on cotton (WFK-10d, available from WFK Testgewebe Gmbh, Bruggen-Bracht Germany) and pigment / oil on poly-cotton (PC-9, Available from C.F.T, Vlaardingen, Holland). Four cloths were used for each wash, and read prior to and after washing by a reflectometer (available from Hunterlab, Reston, Va.) using the D65 illuminant and 10° observer. Results are reported in terms of a Cleaning Parameter, ΔR_d, which is calculated as: $Δ R_{d} = R_{F} - R_{I}$

where:

R_F = average reflectance of the monitor cloths after washing and
R_I = average reflectance of the monitor cloths prior to washing.

EXAMPLE 1*

TABLE 4. Formulation 1

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Alcohol ethoxylate	11.0
linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid	4.2
coconut fatty acid	3.5
oleic acid	5.3
propylene glycol	9.0
sodium hydroxide	1.8
Triethanolamine	3.0
sodium citrate	5.0
sodium borate	3.0
fluorescent whitening agent	0.16
Water	to 100

*Not according to the invention.

TABLE 5. Formulation 2*

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
alcohol ethoxylate	12.0
propylene glycol	9.0
Triethanolamine	3.0
sodium citrate	5.0
sodium borate	3.0
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.3
fluorescent whitening agent	0.16
Water	to 100

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison, N.J. Is an example of polyquaternium 10.
*Not according to the invention.

TABLE 6. Formulation 3

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
alcohol ethoxylate	11.0
linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid	4.2
coconut fatty acid	3.5
oleic acid	5.3
propylene glycol	9.0
sodium hydroxide	1.8
Triethanolamine	3.0
sodium citrate	5.0
sodium borate	3.0
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.3
fluorescent whitening agent	0.16
Water	to 100

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

The following table details the softening results for these three formulae: TABLE 7. Softening Results for Formulations 1-3

Formulation Softening Parameter

1 9

2 22

3 102
These results show that the combination of Polymer JR 30M and an anionic surfactant based liquid laundry detergent give an excellent through the wash softening benefit. Both components are required for excellent, synergistic, softening - either component alone does not soften to nearly the extent of that of the mixture.

EXAMPLE 2

The following general formulation was used to make experimental formulas 4-19 where a number of cationic polymers were tested and their softening parameters determined.

TABLE 8

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
alcohol ethoxylate	6.0
Linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid	6.0
coconut fatty acid	3.0
oleic acid	5.0
sodium hydroxide	1.9
Monoethanolamine	1.0
sodium xylene sulphonate	2.0
sodium borate	2.0
cationic polymer (detailed in next table)	0.3
fluorescent whitening agent	0.16
Water	to 100

The following table lists softening parameters obtained with various cationic polymers.

TABLE 9. Softening Results for Formulations 4-19

*Indicates not according to the invention
Formulati on	Cationic Polymer Commercial Name	Chemical Structure	Softeni ng Paramet er
4*	Merquat 5¹	methacryloyloxeth yl trimethyammonium methyl sulphate/acrylami de copolymer	0
5*	Mirapol A-15²	polyquat ammonium chloride	0
6*	Merquat 2001¹	methacryl amidopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride/acrylic acid/acrylamide terpolymer	33
7*	Gafquat 734³	vinylpyrrolidone/ dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate copolymer	35
8*	Merquat S¹	dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride/ acrylamide copolymer	41
9*	Merquat 3330¹	dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride/acrylic acid/acrylamide terpolymer	43
10*	Luviquat FC 550⁴	Vinylpyrrolidone/ methyl vinyl imidazolium chloride copolymer	44
11*	Merquat 100¹	Polydimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride	53
12*	Censomer CI 50¹	starch hydroxypropyl trimmonium chloride	69
13*	Polycare 133²	Polymethacryl amidopropyl Trimethyl ammonium chloride	83
14*	Salcare SC60⁵	Acrylamidopropyl trimmonium chloride/acrylami de copolymer	95
15	Jaguar Excell²	guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride	116
16	Jaguar C-14S²	guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride	116
17	Jaguar C-17²	guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride	120
18	Jaguar C-162²	guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride	12.4
19	Polymer JR 30M⁶	Hydroxyethyl cellulose derivatised with trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide	160

¹ Available from Ondeo-Nalco, Naperville, Ill.
² Available from Rhodia-US, Cranbury N.J...
³ Available from ISP, Wayne N.J.
⁴ Available from BASF, Mount Olive N.J..
⁵ Available from Ciba, High Point N.C.
⁶ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J..
Note: for formulations 15-18, the polymer was added directly to the washing machine separately from the rest of the detergent ingredients listed in the above general formulation.

The softening results show that many of the cationic polymers tested yielded superior softening through the wash when used in combination with anionic surfactants. Specifically, the cationic polymers used in experimental formulations 8-19 were deemed to be superior.

EXAMPLE 3

This comparative example demonstrates that the inventive compositions of the present invention are superior to commercially available softening detergents with respect to delivering softening through the wash benefits. Bold™ powder, Yes™ liquid and Solo™ liquid were purchased at a retail store and used according to the instructions on the package for a "normal" load size. Washes were carried out as described in Example 1 above and the softening parameters measured.
They were determined to be:* TABLE 10

Commercial Softening Detergent Softening Parameter

Bold™ powder 0

Yes™ liquid 6

Solo™ liquid 0

EXAMPLE 4

This example demonstrates that although U.S. Pat. Appl. Nos. 2002/0155981 and 2002/0151454 teach softening detergent technology, the level of softening delivered is inferior to the level taught in this invention. The following comparative formula was reproduced from Example 2 in Table 1 of U.S. 2002/0155981 A1 .

TABLE 11. Comparative Formulation 1

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (as is)
linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (95.5% active in water)	5
coconut fatty acid	2
alcohol ethoxylate - average of 12 carbon, 7 mole ethoxylate	3
zeolite 4A	25
Jaguar C-17¹	5
Sokolan CP-5²	5
Gelwhite GP³	5
PVP (powder)	0.5
NaOH (50% in water)	3
light soda ash	15
sodium silicate	3
sodium sulphate	28.5

¹ Available from Rhodia - US, Carnbury N.J.
² Available from BASF, Mount Olive N.J.;
³ Available from Southern Clay Products, Gonzales Tex.

The Softening parameter of the Comparative Formulation 1 was determined to be 35.

EXAMPLE 5

This example shows that the use of polymer JR in an anionic surfactant-containing liquid detergent in combination with a polysaccharide polymer such as xanthan gum leads to an unacceptable product.

The following formulation was made and found to be unstable as a large quantity of white precipitate formed upon addition of xanthan gum (polymer JR had already been added).

TABLE 12. Comparative Formulation 2

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
alcohol ethoxylate	6.0
linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid	6.0
coconut fatty acid	3.0
oleic acid	5.0
sodium xylene sulphonate	2.0
sodium hydroxide	1.8
Monoethanolamine	1.0
sodium citrate	5.0
sodium borate	2.0
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.3
xanthan gum	0.5
fluorescent whitening agent	0.16
water²	to 100

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.
² After water addition, pH checked and adjusted to between 9.2 and 9.6 with NaOH or HCl if needed.

Because the polymer JR was precipitated out of solution in the presence of polysaccharide, no softening was afforded by this formula.

EXAMPLE 6

The following comparative example demonstrates the importance of the inventive cationic polymer : surfactant, cationic polymer : anionic surfactant and cationic polymer : nonionic surfactant ratios in obtaining a flowable, acceptable consumer liquid laundry detergent. Comparative formulation 3 employs ratios taught in U.S. Pat. Appl. Nos. 2002/0151454 , 2002/0155981 , 2002/0055451 and 2002/0058604 .

TABLE 13. Comparative Formulation 3

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Phase A
alcohol ethoxylate	6
fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
sodium xylene sulphonate	2
Main Mix
Water	55
sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	2
Polymer JR 30M¹	4
sodium hydroxide	1.91
Monoethanolamine	1
alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6
coconut oil fatty acid	3
oleic acid	5
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹ Available from Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

The cationic polymer : surfactant ratio of comparative formulation 3 is 1:5; the cationic polymer : anionic surfactant ratio is 2:7; the cationic polymer : nonionic surfactant ratio is 1:3.

TABLE 14. Formulation 20

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Phase A
alcohol ethoxylate	6
fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2
Main Mix
water	55
sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	2
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.3
sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
monoethanolamine	1
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6
coconut oil fatty acid	3
oleic acid	5
Phase A	Added
water	to 100

¹ Available from Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

The cationic polymer : surfactant ratio of formulation 20 is 1:66.7; the cationic polymer: anionic surfactant ratio is 1: 46.7; the cationic polymer : nonionic surfactant ratio is 1: 20.
In both formulations, all ingredients were added in the order specified in the table. Phase A in each was made and kept at 140F (60°C) until it was added at the point designated in the formula. Between additions, 5 minutes of constant mixing using an IKA RW 20 DZM.n mechanical stirrer equipped with a double-blade impeller took place to allow uniform blending to take place.
After batching, the viscosity of each formula was measured with a Brookfield LV Viscometer (available from Brookfield Engineering, Stoughton, MA). The viscosity of comparative formulation 3 could not be measured, as the product was sufficiently thick to be out of the range (1,000,000 cP) of the viscometer. The viscosity of formulation 20 was measured as 430 cP with a #1 spindle at 12 rpm, which is well within the accepted range for consumer liquid laundry detergents (50-1000 cP).

EXAMPLE 7

The following example demonstrates that liquid laundry detergent formulations comprising zeolites, layered silicates and phosphates, along with cationic polymers tend to be unstable and aesthetically unacceptable for commercial sale. U.S. Pat. Appl. Nos. 2002/0151454 , 2002/0155981 , 2002/0055451 and 2002/0058604 teach the use of one or more of zeolite, layered silicate and phosphate.

TABLE 15. Formulation 21 - No zeolite, phosphate or layered silicate

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
PHASE A
Alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
Sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2
MAIN MIX
Water	55
Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	2
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.3
Sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	3
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6
Coconut oil fatty acid	3
oleic acid	5
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹ Available from Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

Formulation 21 is according to the invention.

TABLE 16. Comparative Formulation 4 - Comprises zeolite

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
PHASE A
Alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
Sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2
MAIN MIX
Water	55
sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	2
Polymer JR 30M²	0.3
sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	3
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6
coconut oil fatty acid	3
oleic acid	5
zeolite 4A¹	3
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹Available from INESO Silicas, Joliet, IL.
² Available from Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

Comparative Formulation 4 is according to the invention.

TABLE 17. Comparative Formulation 5 - Comprises phosphate

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
PHASE A
alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2
MAIN MIX
Water	55
sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	2
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.3
sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	3
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6
coconut oil fatty acid	3
oleic acid	5
sodium Phosphate	10
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹ Available from Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

Comparative Formulation 5 is according to the invention.

TABLE 18. Comparative Formulation 6 - comprises layered silicate

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
PHASE A
alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2
MAIN MIX
Water	55
sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	2
Polymer JR 30M²	0.3
sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	3
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6
Coconut oil fatty acid	3
oleic acid	5
Gelwhite GP¹	5
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹ A bentonite-type layered silicate; available from Southern Clay Products, Gonzales, Tex.;
² Available from Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

Comparative Formulation 6 is according to the invention.
All ingredients were added in the order specified in the tables. Phase A in each was made and kept at 140F (60°C) until it was added at the point designated in the formula. Between additions, 5 minutes of constant mixing using an IKA RW 20 DZM.n mechanical stirrer equipped with a double-blade impeller took place to allow uniform blending to take place.
After batching, all these formulations were permitted to stand at 70F (21°C) for one week to assess their physical stability. Formulation 21 remained a clear, isotropic liquid after this period. In the case of comparative formulation 4, the zeolite settled to the bottom of the storage container. Comparative formulation 5 phase-separated, suggesting, without wishing to be bound by theory, that the sodium phosphate had salted out the surfactants and/or polymer. Likewise, comparative formulation 6 was also physically unstable, separating into 3 distinct layers.

Example 8

The following example illustrates how the cleaning performance of fabric softening compositions comprising cationic polymers can be improved without negatively impacting their conditioning properties by selecting a polymer of appropriate molecular weight and charge density.

Table 19: Formulation 22: Comprises high molecular-weight, highly substituted cationic polymer.

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Phase A
Alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
Sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2.0
Main Mix
Water	55
Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	1.5
Sorbitol	3.0
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.3
Sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	1.0
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6.0
Coconut oil fatty acid	8
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

Table 20: Formulation 23: Comprises lower molecular-weight, highly substituted cationic polymer.

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Phase A
Alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
Sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2.0
Main Mix
Water	55
Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	1.5
Sorbitol	3.0
Polymer JR 400¹	0.3
Sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	1.0
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6.0
Coconut oil fatty acid	8
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J. Is an example of polyquaternium 10.

Table 21: Formulation 24: Comprises lower molecular-weight, less substituted cationic polymer.

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Phase A
Alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
Sodium xylene sulphonate (40%)	2.0
Main Mix
Water	55
Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	1.5
Sorbitol	3.0
Polymer LR 400¹	0.3
Sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	1.0
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6.0
Coconut oil fatty acid	8
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.

All ingredients were added in the order specified in the tables. Phase A in each was made and kept at 140F (60°C) until it was added at the point designated in the formula. Between additions, 5 minutes of constant mixing using an IKA RW 20 DZM.n mechanical stirrer equipped with a double-blade impeller took place to allow uniform blending to take place. Polymer JR 30M has a molecular weight of approximately 900,000 daltons and a nitrogen content of approximately 2%, whereas Polymer JR 400 has an average molecular weight of approximately 400,000 daltons and a nitrogen content of approximately 2%. Polymer LR 400 has an average molecular weight of approximately 400,000 daltons and a nitrogen content of approximately 1%. After batching, the cleaning efficacy of each product was evaluated. The following table details the cleaning performance of each formula: Table 22: Cleaning Performance of Prototype Formulations

Formulation Soil Cloth Cleaning Parameter, ΔR_d

22 WFK-10D 2.8925

22 PC-9 9.1125

23 WFK-10D 7.6125

23 PC-9 13.2325

24 WFK-10D 10.2800

24 PC-9 14.0525
The softening performance of each formulation as a detergent / softener combination product was also evaluated. The results of this are: Table 23: Softening Results of Prototype Formulations

Formulation Softening Parameter

30 134

23 123

24 191
These data show that using a cationic polymer of a lower molecular weight than Polymer JR 30M, and with a lower degree of cationic substitution than Polymer JR 30M can improve cleaning performance without negatively impacting softening.

Example 9

The following example demonstrates how the selection of a lower molecular-weight polymer can also improve softening performance in applications such as powdered detergent compositions.

Table 24: Formulation 25*: Powdered Detergent comprising high molecular-weight cationic polymer

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Base Powder
Sodium Carbonate	32.94
Sodium Sulphate	18.83
Alkylbenzenesulphonic Acid	9.63
Sodium Silicate	16.47
Fluorescent Whitening Agent	0.1
Water	4.40
Post-Dose
Polymer JR 30M¹	0.62
Sodium Cocoate	17.01

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.*Not according to the invention.

Table 25: Formulation 26*: Powdered Detergent comprising low molecular-weight cationic polymer

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Base Powder
Sodium Carbonate	32.94
Sodium Sulphate	18.83
Alkylbenzenesulphonic Acid	9.63
Sodium Silicate	16.47
Fluorescent Whitening Agent	0.1
Water	4.40
Post-Dose
Polymer LR 400¹	0.62
Sodium Cocoate	17.01

¹ Available from the Amerchol division of Dow Chemical, Edison N.J.
*Not according to the invention

In both formulas, the ingredients, with the exception of the polymer and sodium cocoate were first combined and spraydried into a base powder. Following this, the sodium cocoate and polymer were post-dosed, and all components were agitated for 60 seconds in a Waring Laboratory Blender on the low speed. For each formulation, the powder was dosed at 66.79g/wash.
After batching, a softness parameter was generated for each formula using the methodology described earlier in this specification. The results of this experiment are detailed in Table 26: Table 26: Softening Results of Prototype Powder Formulations

Formulation Softening Parameter

25 19

26 91
The molecular weight of many polymers directly corresponds to their rate of dissolution, and it is believed that the higher rate of dissolution of Polymer LR 400, which allows more material to be available for softening during the wash cycle, is responsible for this. In order to confirm the nature of this benefit in powders, dissolution parameters were measured for each material and are shown below in Table 27: Table 27: Dissolution Parameters of Cationic Polymers

Material Dissolution Parameter

Polymer JR 30M 53.6

Polymer LR 400 82.9
These data show that in certain cases, such as detergent powders where the polymer is not pre-dissolved, that the use of a lower molecular weight polymer, which has more rapid dissolution kinetics can act to improve softening.

Example 10

The following example illustrates how the odour profile of fabric softening compositions comprising cationic polymers can be improved without negatively impacting their conditioning properties by selecting a pH value between the pK_a of coconut oil fatty acid, one of the anionic surfactant acids and the pK_a of the amino or phosphino group that is used to quaternise the selected polymer.

Table 28: Formulation 27: Formulated to a pH of 10.0

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Phase A
Alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
Main Mix
Water	55
Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	3.0
Sorbitol	5.0
Polymer LR 400¹	0.3
Sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	1.0
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6.0
Alkyl ethoxysulphate	3.0
Coconut oil fatty acid	8
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100
pH	Adjusted to 10.0 with NaOH

Table 29: Formulation 28: Formulated to a pH of 8.0

Ingredient	Percent in Formula (based on 100% active)
Phase A
Alcohol ethoxylate	6
Fluorescent whitening agent	0.158
Main Mix
Water	55
Sodium tetraborate pentahydrate	3.0
Sorbitol	5.0
Polymer LR 400¹	0.3
Sodium hydroxide (50%)	1.91
Triethanolamine	1.0
Alkylbenzenesulphonic acid	6.0
Alkyl ethoxysulphate	3.0
Coconut oil fatty acid	8
Phase A	Added
Water	to 100
pH	Adjusted to 8.0 with NaOH

The pK_a of trimethylamine, the amino group used to quaternise Polymer LR 400 is 9.8. Prior to pH adjustment, when the pH of the formulations was approximately 5, they were physically unstable, as the pK_a of the fatty acid had not been reached.
All ingredients were added in the order specified in the tables. Phase A in each was made and kept at 140F until it was added at the point designated in the formula. Between additions, 5 minutes of constant mixing using an IKA RW 20 DZM.n mechanical stirrer equipped with a double-blade impeller took place to allow uniform blending to take place. After batching, the aroma of each product, in the neat form, was evaluated by a group of 5 expert panellists. All 5 of the panellists preferred the olfactory profile of Formulation 28 to that of Formulation 27, and identified an amine-type malodour coming from the latter product. The compositions were then tested for softening performance, the results of which are shown in the table below. Table 30: Softening Results of Formulations 27 and 28

Formulation Softening Parameter

27 96

28 113
As shown in the above data, softening performance is not negatively impacted in a substantial way by reducing the product pH to a value lower than the pk_a of trimethylamine, the amino group used to quaternise UCARE Polymer LR 400.

Claims

A laundry composition comprising one or more cationic polymers selected from the group consisting of guar hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride, and hydroxyethyl cellulose derivatised with trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide, and more than 5% of one or more anionic surfactants having an HLB of greater than about 4, wherein the composition additionally comprises non-ionic surfactant, and wherein the ratios of cationic polymer : total surfactant, cationic polymer : anionic surfactant, and cationic polymer : non-ionic surfactant are less than 1:10,
and wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises a fatty alcohol ethoxylate of formula: R'(EO)_n wherein R' represents an alkyl chain of between 4 and 30 carbon atoms, (EO) represents one unit of ethylene oxide monomer and n has an average value between 0.5 and 20.
The composition according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the cationic polymers have a nitrogen content of less than about 2%.
The composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one or more cationic polymers have a molecular weight of less than about 850,000 daltons.
The composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition is a liquid or paste having a pH below the pKa of an amine of phosphate used to quaternise one of more of the cationic polymers.
A method for conditioning textiles comprising, in no particular order, the steps of:
a. providing a laundry detergent or fabric softener composition according to claim 1 in concentration to effectively soften and condition fabrics under predetermined laundering conditions;

b. contacting one or more articles with the composition at one or more points during a laundering process; and,

c. allowing the articles to dry or mechanically tumble-drying them.
The method according to claim 5, wherein one or more cationic polymers have a molecular weight of less than about 850,000 daltons.
The method according to claim 5, wherein the detergent or fabric softener composition is diluted by a weight ratio of more than about 1:100 with water or solvent.
The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of fatty carboxylic acid, alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of alkylbenzene sulphonates.