Thickened fabric conditioners

Abstract

The present invention relates to thickened fabric conditioners, which fabric conditioners contain a particular polymeric thickener, which is obtained by polymerizing from 5 to 100 mole percent of a cationic vinyl addition monomer, from 0 to 95 mole percent of acrylamide, and from 70 to 300 ppm of a difunctional vinyl addition monomer cross-linking agent. As compared to such compositions comprising a similar product but obtained from a polymerization reaction using between 5 and 45 ppm cross-linking agent considerable advantages are obtained. Especially, the delivery of fragrance present in the softening composition is more efficiently carried over to the fabrics to be treated.

1 - 19 . (canceled).  
     
     
         20 . A fabric softening composition comprising: 
 (a) from 0.01% to 35%, by weight, of a cationic softener wherein said cationic softener is an esterquat which is a biodegradable fatty ester quaternary ammonium compound having the formula:                           wherein R4 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R 2  and R 3  represent (CH 2 ) n —R 5  where R 5  represents an alkoxy carbonyl group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, benzyl, phenyl, (C1-C4)-alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H; R1 represents (CH 2 ) t R 6  where R 6  represents benzyl, phenyl, (C1-C4)-alkyl substituted phenyl, OH or H; q, s, and t, each independently, represent an integer from 1 to 3; and X −  is a softener compatible anion;    (b) at least 0.001%, by weight, of a water soluble cross-linked cationic polymer derived from the polymerization of from 5 to 100 mole percent of a cationic vinyl addition monomer, from 0 to 95 mole percent of acrylamide, and from 70 to 300 ppm of a difunctional vinyl addition monomer cross-linking agent; and    (c) a perfume.    
     
     
         21 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 20 , wherein said cationic polymer is derived from said polymerization using 75 to 200 ppm of said cross-linking agent.  
     
     
         22 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 21 , wherein said cationic polymer is derived from said polymerization using 80 to 150 ppm of said cross-linking agent.  
     
     
         23 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 20 , wherein said cationic polymer is a cross-linked cationic vinyl polymer.  
     
     
         24 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 23 , wherein said polymer comprises a quaternary ammonium salt of an acrylate or methacrylate.  
     
     
         25 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 24  wherein said polymer comprises a quaternary ammonium salt of dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate.  
     
     
         26 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 20  further including a chelating compounds selected from the group consisting of amino carboxylic acid compounds, organo aminophosphonic acid compounds and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 25  wherein said chelating compound comprises an amino carboxylic acid compound.  
     
     
         28 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 25  wherein said chelating compound comprises an organo aminophosphonic acid compound.  
     
     
         29 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 20  which further comprises a perfume.