Fabric treatment compositions

Abstract

Fabric treatment compositions comprising a textile compatible carrier and particles having a layered structure comprising oxygen atoms and silicon and/or phosphorus atoms and comprising organic functional groups which are bonded to silicon and/or phosphorus atoms by direct covalent bonds between the silicon and/or phosphorus atoms and a carbon atom. The functional groups are selected to impart lubricating properties to the particles.

1 . Fabric treatment composition comprising a textile compatible carrier and particles having a layered structure comprising oxygen atoms and silicon and/or phosphorus atoms, and comprising organic functional groups which are bonded to silicon and/or phosphorus atoms in the layers by direct covalent bonds between the silicon and/or phosphorus atoms and a carbon atom, 
 characterised in that the functional groups are selected from:    (i) a group of the formula:      —Y-T  (i)    in which:    Y comprises a chain of at least 6 carbon atoms optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3, preferably at least 4 carbon atoms for each heteroatom in the chain, Y being linked to said silicon or phosphorous atom through a carbon atom, and    T represents H or a terminal group which is not capable of self-cross-linking and/or forming covalent bonds to cellulosic and/or proteinaceous fibres during domestic washing and rinsing cycles;    (ii) a group of the formula:      —R 1 —NR 2 R 2   (II)    in which:    R 1  represents an alkylene group of at least 4 carbon atoms,    each R 2  is independently lower alkyl and —NR 2 R 2  is preferably, but need not be, a terminal group;    (iii) a group of the formula:                          in which:    R 3  represents an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms,    each R 4  is independently selected from alkyl groups of from 1 to 25 carbon atoms provided at least one R 4  is lower alkyl of 1 to 16 carbon atoms,    (iv) a group of the formula                          in which each R 1a  group is independently selected from C 1-4  alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups or C 2-4  alkenyl groups;    each R 2a  group is independently selected from C 8-28  alkyl or alkenyl groups;    R 3a  is a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms,    X is                          and p is 0 or is an integer from 1 to 5, with the proviso that one of R 1a  and R 2a  is an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms attached to said silicon or phosphorus atom;    (v) a group of the formula:                          in which R 1a , p and R 2a  are as defined above;    (vi) a group of the formula:                          in which:    T is as defined above,    R 5  represents a group of at least one carbon atom, preferably at least 3 carbon atoms, which may be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3 carbon atoms for each heteroatom,    n is an integer of at least 6; and    (vii) a group of the formula:                          in which:    T and R 5  are as defined above,    each R 6  independently represents an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, an amino substituted alkyl group, an alkyl group substituted with a sugar moiety, or a sidechain comprising an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated chain, and    x is an integer of at least 5.    
   
   
       2 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  in which —Y-T is an alkyl group of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       3 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  in which each R 2  is lower alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       4 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  in which at least one of R 2  is an alkyl group of at least 8 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       5 . A composition as claimed in  claim 4  in which each R 2  is an alkyl group of at least 8 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       6 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  in which T is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, ether, carboxylic acid, SO 3  and SO 4  groups, phosphate and phosphonate.  
   
   
       7 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  in which the particles comprise two or more different functional groups selected from formulas (I) to (VII).  
   
   
       8 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the particles comprise layers which further comprise atoms selected from magnesium, aluminium, nickel, zirconium and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the particles are of a clay in which the organic functional groups have been introduced during formation of the clay.  
   
   
       10 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the particles are of an organophyllosilicate.  
   
   
       11 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  which is a main wash detergent composition and wherein the textile compatible carrier comprises a detergent active compound.  
   
   
       12 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  which is a fabric conditioner comprising one or more fabric softening or conditioning agents.  
   
   
       13 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  comprising one or more further components selected from builders and enzymes.  
   
   
       14 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  comprising from 0.01% to 50% by weight of the particles.  
   
   
       15 . A composition as claimed in  claim 14  comprising from 0.1% to 20% by weight of the particles.  
   
   
       16 . Use of particles as defined  claim 1  in the treatment of a fabric.  
   
   
       17 . Use of particles as defined in  claim 1  to treat a fabric to provide enhanced lubricating properties to the fabric.  
   
   
       18 . Use of particles as defined in  claim 1  to treat a fabric to decrease the Kawabata shear of the fabric measured according to the Kawabata Shear Test defined herein.  
   
   
       19 . Use of particles as defined in  claim 1  to treat a fabric to provide improved softness and/or ease of ironing and/or anti-wrinkle properties and/or anti-abrasion properties.  
   
   
       20 . Use of a composition according to  claim 1  in the treatment of a fabric.  
   
   
       21 . Use of a composition according to  claim 1  to treat a fabric to provide enhanced lubricating properties to the fabric.  
   
   
       22 . Use of a composition according to  claim 1  to treat a fabric to decrease the Kawabata shear of the fabric measured according to the Kawabata Shear Test defined herein.  
   
   
       23 . Use of a composition according to  claim 1  to treat a fabric to provide improved softness and/or ease of ironing and/or anti-wrinkle properties and/or anti-abrasion properties.  
   
   
       24 . Use as claimed in any one of  claims 16  to  23  in which the treatment is part of a domestic laundering process.  
   
   
       25 . A method of treating a fabric comprising contacting the fabric with a fabric treatment composition as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       26 . A compound having a layered structure comprising oxygen atoms and silicon and/or phosphorus atoms, and comprising organic functional groups which are bonded to silicon and/or phosphorus atoms in the layers by direct covalent bonds between the silicon and/or phosphorus atoms and a carbon atom, 
 characterised in that the functional groups are selected from: 
 (i) a group of the formula:  
   —R 1 —NR 2 R 2   (II)  
   in which: 
 R 1  represents an alkylene group of at least 4 carbon atoms,  
 each R 2  is independently lower alkyl and —NR 2 R 2  is preferably, but need not be, a terminal group;  
   (ii) a group of the formula:                          in which: 
 R 3  represents an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms,  
 each R 4  is independently selected from alkyl groups of from 1 to 25 carbon atoms provided at least one R 4  is lower alkyl of 1 to 16 carbon atoms,  
   (iii) a group of the formula                          in which each R 1a  group is independently selected from C 1-4  alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups or C 2-4  alkenyl groups; 
 each R 2a  group is independently selected from C 8-28  alkyl or alkenyl groups;  
 R 3a  is a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms,  
 X is  
                     
 and p is 0 or is an integer from 1 to 5,  
 with the proviso that one of R 1a  and R 2a  is an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms attached to said silicon or phosphorus atom;  
   (iv) a group of the formula:                          in which R 1a , p and R 2a  are as defined above;    (v) a group of the formula:                          in which:    T represents H or a terminal groups which is not capable of self-cross-linking and/or forming covalent bonds to cellulosic and/or proteinaceous fibres during domestic washing and rinsing cycles;    R 5  represents a group of at least one carbon atom, preferably at least 3 carbon atoms, which may be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3 carbon atoms for each heteroatom,    n is an integer of at least 6; and    (vi) a group of the formula:                          in which:    T and R 5  are as defined above,    each R 6  independently represents an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, an amino substituted alkyl group, an alkyl group substituted with a sugar moiety, or a sidechain comprising an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated chain, and    x is an integer of at least 5.    
   
   
       27 . A compound as claimed in  claim 26  in which each R 2  is lower alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       28 . A compound as claimed in  claim 26  in which at least one of R 2  is an alkyl group of at least 8 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       29 . A compound as claimed in  claim 26  in which each R 2  is an alkyl group of at least 8 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       30 . A compound as claimed in  claim 26  in which T is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, ether, carboxylic acid, SO 3  and SO 4  groups, phosphate and phosphonate.  
   
   
       31 . A compound as claimed in  claim 26  which comprises two or more functional groups selected from formulae (II) to (VII).  
   
   
       32 . A compound as claimed in  claim 26  which additionally comprises a group of the formula:  
       —Y-T  (I)  
     in which Y comprises a chain of at least 6 carbon atoms optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3, preferably at least 4 carbon atoms for each heteroatom in the chain, Y being linked to said silicon or phosphorous atom through a carbon atom, and 
 T represents H or a terminal group which is not capable of self-cross-linking and/or forming covalent bonds to cellulosic and/or proteinaceous fibres during domestic washing and rinsing cycles.