Fabric care composition

Abstract

This invention relates to a fabric care composition comprising a cross-linking agent and a amine-containing polymer, a method of treating fabric with such a composition and the use of such a composition to impart crease and/or wrinkle resistance to a fabric and/or to increase the tearing resistance of a fabric.

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       20 . A method of treating fabric which comprises the steps of treating the fabric with a fabric care composition having a cross-linking agent and an amine-containing polymer and curing the composition.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the composition is applied to the fabric prior to drying and/or ironing.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the composition is applied to the fabric during the wash and/or rinse cycle of a laundry process.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the composition is cured by ironing.  
   
   
       24 . A method to impart crease and/or wrinkle resistance to a fabric, comprising the step of treating the fabric with a fabric care composition having a cross-linking agent and an amine-containing polymer.  
   
   
       25 . A method to increase the tearing resistance of a fabric, comprising the step of treating the fabric with a fabric care composition having an amine containing polymer.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, anhydrides, aldehydes, epoxides, acyl halides, isocyanates, and derivatives thereof.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , in which the cross-linking agent is a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27 , in which the cross-linking agent is a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof which contains at least 3 carboxyl groups.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 28 , in which the cross-linking agent is 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a catalyst.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 30  in which the catalyst is an alkali metal hypophosphite, an alkali metal phosphite, an alkali metal polyphosphate or an alkali metal dihydrogen phosphate.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31 , in which the catalyst is sodium hypophosphite.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the amine-containing polymer is a polymer which contains a plurality of amine groups.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the amine-containing polymer is an amine-containing silicone polymer.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the amine-containing polymer is an aminosilicone.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the cross-linking agent is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the amine-containing polymer is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a textile compatible carrier.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a perfume.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises an emulsifier.  
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a fabric softening and/or conditioning compound.  
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fabric care composition is in a form suitable for spraying onto a fabric.  
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the fabric care composition forms part of a rinse conditioner or main wash product.  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 24 , in which the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, anhydrides, aldehydes, epoxides, acyl halides, isocyanates, and derivatives thereof.  
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 44 , in which the cross-linking agent is a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 45 , in which the cross-linking agent is a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof which contains at least 3 carboxyl groups.  
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 46 , in which the cross-linking agent is 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid.  
   
   
       48 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a catalyst.  
   
   
       49 . A method according to  claim 48  in which the catalyst is an alkali metal hypophosphite, an alkali metal phosphite, an alkali metal polyphosphate or an alkali metal dihydrogen phosphate.  
   
   
       50 . A method according to  claim 49 , in which the catalyst is sodium hypophosphite.  
   
   
       51 . A method according to  claim 24 , in which the amine-containing polymer is a polymer which contains a plurality of amine groups.  
   
   
       52 . A method according to  claim 24 , in which the amine-containing polymer is an amine-containing silicone polymer.  
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 24 , in which the amine-containing polymer is an aminosilicone.  
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 24 , in which the cross-linking agent is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition.  
   
   
       55 . A method on according to  claim 24 , in which the amine-containing polymer is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition.  
   
   
       56 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a textile compatible carrier.  
   
   
       57 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a perfume.  
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises an emulsifier.  
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a fabric softening and/or conditioning compound.  
   
   
       60 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the fabric care composition is in a form suitable for spraying onto a fabric.  
   
   
       61 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the fabric care composition forms part of a rinse conditioner or main wash product.  
   
   
       62 . A method according to  claim 25 , in which the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, anhydrides, aldehydes, epoxides, acyl halides, isocyanates, and derivatives thereof.  
   
   
       63 . A method according to  claim 62 , in which the cross-linking agent is a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof.  
   
   
       64 . A method according to  claim 63 , in which the cross-linking agent is a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof which contains at least 3 carboxyl groups.  
   
   
       65 . A method according to  claim 64 , in which the cross-linking agent is 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid.  
   
   
       66 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a catalyst.  
   
   
       67 . A method according to  claim 66  in which the catalyst is an alkali metal hypophosphite, an alkali metal phosphite, an alkali metal polyphosphate or an alkali metal dihydrogen phosphate.  
   
   
       68 . A method according to  claim 67 , in which the catalyst is sodium hypophosphite.  
   
   
       69 . A method according to  claim 25 , in which the amine-containing polymer is a polymer which contains a plurality of amine groups.  
   
   
       70 . A method according to  claim 25 , in which the amine-containing polymer is an amine-containing silicone polymer.  
   
   
       71 . A method according to  claim 25 , in which the amine-containing polymer is an aminosilicone.  
   
   
       72 . A method according to  claim 25 , in which the cross-linking agent is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition.  
   
   
       73 . A method on according to  claim 25 , in which the amine-containing polymer is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the total composition.  
   
   
       74 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a textile compatible carrier.  
   
   
       75 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a perfume.  
   
   
       76 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises an emulsifier.  
   
   
       77 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the fabric care composition further comprises a fabric softening and/or conditioning compound.  
   
   
       78 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the fabric care composition is in a form suitable for spraying onto a fabric.  
   
   
       79 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the fabric care composition forms part of a rinse conditioner or main wash product.