Textile care composition

Abstract

A process for the treatment of non-keratinaceous textiles, preferably cellulosic fibres, which comprises the step of treating the textiles with a composition comprising: a polymer comprising at least one protected thiol group, wherein the protecting group is labile under domestic washing conditions, and a textile compatible carrier. Under domestic washing conditions the polymer forms reactive thiol groups which are capable of causing covalent cross-linking of the polymer. Preferably, the thiol group is protected as an isothiouronium group.

1 . A process for the treatment of non-keratinaceous textiles which comprises the step of treating the textiles with a composition comprising: 
 a) a polymer comprising with at least one protected thiol group, wherein the protecting group is labile under domestic washing conditions, and    b) a textile compatible carrier, whereby under domestic washing conditions the polymer forms reactive thiol groups which cause covalent cross-linking of the polymer.    
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises cotton or regenerated cellulose.  
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a detergent active compound.  
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a textile softening and/or conditioning compound.  
     
     
         5 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the protected thiol comprises a protecting group which is sufficiently labile that it leaves when the polymer is exposed to a pH of above 8 at a temperature of below 50 Celsius.  
     
     
         6 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the protected thiol comprises a terminal or mid chain isothiouronium group.  
     
     
         7 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer is present in the composition in an amount such that from 0.0005% to 5% by weight on weight of textile is provided.  
     
     
         8 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises a polymer having azetidinium groups and/or one or more functional groups capable of forming azetidinium groups.  
     
     
         9 . A process according to  claim 7  wherein the composition comprises an amine or amide-epichlorohydrin resin having one or more azetidinium functional groups.  
     
     
         10 . A process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to the textile during the rinse cycle of the laundering process.