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Fabric care compositionRelated Patent Categories: Fabric (woven, Knitted, Or Nonwoven Textile Or Cloth, Etc.), Coated Or Impregnated Woven, Knit, Or Nonwoven Fabric Which Is Not (a) Associated With Another Preformed Layer Or Fiber Layer Or, (b) With Respect To Woven And Knit, Characterized, Respectively, By A Particular Or Differential Weave Or Knit, Wherein The Coating Or Impregnation Is Neither A Foamed Material Nor A Free Metal Or Alloy LayerFabric care composition description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050272332, Fabric care composition. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This is a divisional of Ser. No. 10/694,193 filed Oct. 27, 2003-- TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] 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. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The laundry process generally has several benefits for fabric, the most common being to remove dirt and stains from the fabric during the wash cycle and to soften the fabric during the rinse cycle. However, there are numerous disadvantages associated with repeated use of conventional laundry treatment compositions and/or the actual laundry process. [0004] The creasing of fabrics is an almost inevitable consequence of cleaning fabrics, such as in a domestic laundering process. Fabrics also become creased in wear. Creasing can be a particular problem for fabrics, which contain cellulosic fibres such as cotton, because the creasing is often difficult to remove. Generally, the creases, which are developed in a fabric during laundering, are removed by ironing. However, because ironing is seen as a time consuming chore, there is an increasing trend for fabrics to be designed such that the need for ironing is reduced and/or the effort required for ironing is lower. [0005] Compositions for reducing the wrinkling of fabric are described in WO 96/15309 and WO 96/15310. The compositions contain a silicone and a film-forming polymer and it appears that it is the lubricating effect of the silicone, which is responsible for their anti-wrinkle properties. This conclusion is supported by the fact that a wide variety of polymers is mentioned as being suitable for use in the compositions. [0006] Industrial treatments of fabrics to reduce their tendency to crease are known. JP-A-04-50234 describes a textile treatment in which the crease resistance of a plain weave cotton fabric is increased by applying a so-called "shape memory resin" to the fabric. However, this document teaches that the resin is applied to the fabric at a relatively high amount of 10% by weight on weight of fabric and it is not clear how this level of resin affects other properties of the fabric. Furthermore, treatment of the fabric with the resins is followed by a step of drying at 80.degree. C. and the shape memory function is described as being heat-sensitive, with deformations at normal temperatures being restored to the original shape on heating at a specific temperature. [0007] Durable press treatments (a.k.a. "permanent" press treatments) in the textile industry are well known. In the 1960's, it was known to use polycarboxylic acids for permanent press treatment of textiles. Generally, cellulose fibre can be cross-linked and esterified with polycarboxylic acids, particularly those with two or more carboxylic acid groups. Esterification is achieved upon heating the treated cellulose fibres such as by ironing or other forms of heat pressing. Curing catalysts, such as phosphorous containing salts, are also known to serve to aid cross-linking. Examples of US patents relating to durable press finishing of cotton textile with polycarboxylic acids include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,865 (Welch et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,307 (Welch et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,209 (Welch et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,285 (Andrews et al,). The contents of these patents are incorporated by reference. Compounds such as formaldehyde-based polymers, DMDHEU (dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea) and BTCA (1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid) may be used as the cross-linking agent. However, these treatments have the disadvantage of reducing the tensile strength of the fabrics. Also, the high cure temperatures and long cure times required for such treatment have effectively prevented the use of such treatments in a domestic laundry environment. [0008] WO 98/04772 describes the use of a composition comprising a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, such as BTCA, in a domestic process to reduce creasing of fabrics. Preferably, the composition is incorporated into a rinse conditioner composition and curing of the composition is achieved by ironing. However, treatment with such a composition in a domestic process is still expected to have the disadvantage of reducing the tensile strength of the fabric as has been observed in industrial processes. [0009] WO 01/44426 describes a method for providing fabrics with durable wrinkle reduction benefits and with improved softness which can be used in both domestic and industrial processes. A preferred embodiment utilises silicone-containing compounds, such as silicon carboxylates, silanol fluids, silanols and hydroxy-containing organically modified silicone fluids, in conjunction with a cross-linking agent, such as BTCA, to form cross-linked matrices with cellulosic fibres. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,264 discloses the preparation of various elastic amylose polymers and their use for forming films, filaments and shaped articles, such as tubular sausage casings. However, there is nothing in this document to suggest that such polymers could be useful in laundry applications. [0011] It has now been discovered that, by incorporating a amine-containing polymer into a composition comprising a cross-linking agent, the disadvantage of reducing the tensile strength (tearing resistance) of the fabric is overcome and the resistance to creasing/wrinkling of the fabric is surprisingly improved. [0012] The present invention therefore aims to reduce the tendency for fabrics to become wrinkled or creased. [0013] The invention further aims to reduce the deleterious effects on tensile strength (tearing resistance) of fabrics, which some conventional anti-wrinkle treatments impart. [0014] In addition, the invention aims to provide a fabric treatment which can be utilised in an industrial or domestic environment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0015] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a fabric care composition comprising a cross-linking agent and a amine-containing polymer. [0016] In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of treating fabric which comprises treating the fabric with a fabric care composition as defined above and curing the composition. [0017] In a third aspect, the invention provides the use of a composition as defined above to impart crease and/or wrinkle resistance to a fabric. [0018] In a fourth aspect, the invention provides the use of a composition as defined above to increase the tensile strength (especially the tear strength or tearing resistance) of a fabric. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] The present invention involves the development of a composition for fabric care applications which is suitable for use in an industrial or domestic environment. In general terms, the compositions comprise a small organic molecule which is capable of covalently reacting with groups on fabrics and a polymer which does not constitute the fabric which is capable of reacting with the small organic molecule. The small organic molecule is termed a "cross-linking agent" and the polymer is specifically an amine-containing polymer, preferably an amine-containing silicone polymer. Optionally, a catalyst may be provided to promote reaction of cross-linking agent with the fabric and the amine-containing polymer. [0020] When a fabric is treated with a fabric care composition according to the present invention, it is thought that a cross-linked fabric-polymer-fabric matrix is produced in which the amine-containing polymer is held between fibres of the fabric by molecules of the cross-linking agent acting as internal cross-linkers. In prior art internally cross-linked systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,936,865, 4,820,307 and 4,795,209, the internal cross-linkers form small, rigid covalent bonds between fibres of the fabric. The internal rigid matrix thus formed improves wrinkle recovery of the fabric. However, the tear strength of the fabric is reduced due to inflexibility of the matrix. In contrast, the amine-containing polymer in the cross-linked fabric-polymer-fabric matrix produced by the composition of the present invention appears to function as a miniature spring producing a flexible matrix. This flexible matrix gives improved wrinkle recovery of the fabric over rigid prior art internally cross-linked systems. In addition, the increased elasticity of the matrix counteracts the tear strength negative observed in prior art systems due to the flexible spring effect. Continue reading about Fabric care composition... Full patent description for Fabric care composition Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fabric care composition patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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