Liquid fabric softening compositions comprising flame retardant

Abstract

Liquid fabric softening compositions comprise a flame retardant. The liquid fabric softening compositions preferably further comprise a fabric softening active. In another embodiment of the invention, the present compositions comprise a flame retardant, wherein the flame retardant is a phosphorus-containing fabric softener. In another embodiment of the invention, the present compositions comprise no greater than about 21%, by weight of the composition, of a fabric softener active and at least about 0.5%, by weight of the composition, of a silicone material. The present compositions can be used to treat all types of fabrics to provide improved fabric softening and freshness, while minimizing the risk of flammability associated with cotton-containing fluffier fabrics, such as fleece and terry cloth, when treated with liquid fabric softening compositions.

1 . A liquid fabric softening composition comprising an effective amount to reduce the risk of flammability of fluffier fabrics when treated with liquid fabric softening composition of a flame retardant.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said flame retardant is chosen from a phosphorus-containing compound, nitrogen compound, halogenated organic compound, and inorganic compound.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said flame retardant is a phosphorus-containing compound chosen from a phosphoric acid, phosphate salt, phosphate ester, phosphate amide, phosphorus acid, phosphite salt, phosphite salt derivative, phosphonic acid, phosphonate salt, phosphonate ester, phosphonate amide, phosphorus compound containing a nitrogen moiety, phosphorus compound containing a carboxylic acid, phosphorus compound containing a carboxylic ester, phosphonium salt, polyethylene amine polymer comprising a phosphorus substituent, and cationic starch comprising a phosphorus substituent.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein said flame retardant is a sodium tripolyphosphate.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein said flame retardant comprises the following structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said flame retardant is a nitrogen compound.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein said flame retardant is a melamine or a melamine derivative.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said flame retardant is a halogenated organic compound.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said flame retardant is a brominated organic compound or a chlorinated organic compound.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said flame retardant is an inorganic compound.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein said flame retardant is chosen from a perborate, barium metaborate, and ammoniumfluoroborate.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein said flame retardant is chosen from an antimony oxide, antimony pentaoxide, metal antimonate, aluminum oxide, alumina trihydrate, compound that comprises both an alumina and a phosphorus, molybdic oxide, ammonium octamolybdate, zinc molybdate, magnesium hydroxide, zinc stannate, zinc hydroxy stannate, and ammonium sulfamate.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said flame retardant is a diethyl bis(hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl phosphonate.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said flame retardant is a cationic phosphorylated starch.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said flame retardant is a phosphorus-containing fabric softener chosen from N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium chloride, N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-2 phosphorylethyl methyl sulfate, N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium chloride, N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, cocamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, steramidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, diethyl N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium chloride, diethyl N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl methyl sulfate, diethyl N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium chloride, diethyl N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium methyl sulfate, diethyl N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-ethyl-2-phosphonate ammonium chloride, diethyl N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-ethyl-2-phosphonate methyl sulfate, diethyl N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-ethyl-2-phosphonate ammonium chloride, diethyl N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-ethyl-2-phosphonate ammonium methyl sulfate, diethyl N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-methylphosphonate ammonium chloride, diethyl N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-methylphosphonate methyl sulfate, diethyl N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-methylphosphonate ammonium chloride, diethyl N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-methylphosphonate ammonium methyl sulfate, disodium N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium chloride, disodium N,N-di(tallowoyloxyethyl)-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl methyl sulfate, disodium N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium chloride, and disodium N,N-ditallow amidoethyl-N-methyl-N-2-phosphorylethyl ammonium methyl sulfate.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein said composition is free of a fabric softening active.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises a fabric softening active.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein said composition further comprises a silicone.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises from about 0.001% to about 10%, by weight of said composition, of a perfume.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises from about 0.001% to about 10%, by weight of said composition, of an electrolyte.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises from about 0.001% to about 60%, by weight of said composition, of said flame retardant.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21  wherein said composition further comprises a fabric softening active.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein said composition comprises from about 2% to about 90%, by weight of said composition, of said fabric softening active.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises a silicone.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises from about 0.5% to about 10%, by weight of said composition, of said silicone.  
     
     
         26 . A method of softening a fabric comprising the step of contacting said fabric with a composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         27 . A method of minimizing a risk of flammability of cotton-containing fluffier fabrics comprising the step of contacting said fabric with a composition according to  claim 1.