WO2000077134A2 - Use of partially oxidized polyethylene as an ironing aid in liquid aqueous fabric softeners - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of partially oxidized polyethylene in liquid aqueous fabric softener formulations containing 0.1 to 80 wt. % of cationic and/or non-ionic fabric softeners for significantly improving the sliding properties of the iron when ironing the laundered items that are treated with the fabric softener compositions.

Description

 "Use of partially oxidized polyethylene as an ironing aid in liquid aqueous fabric softeners"

The invention relates to the use of partially oxidized polyethylene in liquid aqueous fabric softener formulations containing 0.1 to 80% by weight of cationic and / or nonionic fabric softeners for significantly improving the sliding properties of the iron when ironing the laundry items treated with the fabric softener compositions.

When ironing textiles, there is a general desire to minimize the force required for ironing. It is therefore desirable to provide connections which reduce the friction of the iron on the textile to be ironed and thus improve the sliding properties of the iron. There is also a desire to achieve this by a means with which the textiles are already treated in the washing machine or in the hand wash and with which the textiles are also given a pleasantly soft feel.

From Soviet patent application SU-A-912 795 it is known that oxidized polyethylene wax in amounts of 0.05 to 0.5% by weight in formulations which also contain polyethylene glycol in amounts with a molecular weight between 1,470 and 1 600 in amounts of 0.5 to 2% by weight, sodium hydrogen carbonate, 0.1 to 0.3% by weight formalin, 0.1 to 0.2% by weight perfume, 0.05 to 0.1% by weight .-% contains a mixture of polyethylene glycol ethers of higher fatty alcohols and water, serves as an ironing aid for cotton and flax materials. The composition is sprayed onto the textiles after washing, drying and optionally starches. The disadvantage here, however, is that the spraying on of the composition has to be carried out separately in a step after washing and drying, for which additional time and effort are required.

US-A-3,992,332 discloses a water-soluble composition for textile treatment which contains at least 1% by weight of water-soluble silicone glycol Copolymer, at least 5 wt .-% antistatic containing a phosphate derivative, e.g. B. alkyl phosphate ester, and contains at least 70 wt .-% water. This composition is used as a conditioner that improves the washing and bleaching power of detergents, softens textiles and, among other things, makes ironing easier. However, this would not meet today's desire for environmentally friendly phosphate-free agents.

Polyethylene wax is known as a lubricant from US Pat. No. 4,556,498. Herein it is used as a film medium for the combined painting and ironing of metal substrates, such as in the manufacture of hollow cylindrical vessels with a bottom, here e.g. B. food cans used.

Likewise, polyethylene as a coating on steel plates such as iron plates is known as an anti-scratch coating from US Pat. No. 4,027,070.

US Pat. No. 3,536,643 describes a process for the preparation of aqueous polyethylene dispersions, the polymer being first prepared at appropriate temperatures and pressures in the presence of persulfate initiator and a perfluorofatty acid salt with at least 6 carbon atoms per molecule. A nonionic emulsifier is then added, which stabilizes the dispersion even in the absence of the perfluorofatty acid salt. After treatment of the dispersion in an ion exchanger, a stable aqueous polyethylene dispersion is finally obtained which is free from said perfluorofatty acid salt. The resulting aqueous polyethylene dispersions are useful for sizing or filling paper and in the manufacture of an ironing aid, the melt resistance of the polymer preventing polymer growth. In addition, the dispersions are used to regulate opacity in dye applications. However, there is no teaching of the use of these polyethylene dispersions or of the use in fabric softening compositions, which brings about an improvement in the sliding properties of the iron on laundry items treated with these compositions.

Furthermore, polyethylene dispersions are used in the manufacture of yarns and textile fibers for their preparation and aftertreatment in order to produce an increased lubricating effect during processing with the appropriate apparatus and to prevent damage to the fibers. This use of polyethylene dispersions is known from patent applications DE-A-37 34 931, DE-A-38 76 210, DE-A-42 06 714, EP-A-0416 917, WO-A-92/07132 and from the US -American patent specification US-A- 4,960,431. Furthermore, organic polymers such as polyethylene are used to encapsulate solid particles or liquid droplets, as are also used, for example, in detergents and fabric softeners. A method for encapsulating water-soluble or water-sensitive substances with polyethylene as encapsulation material is described, for example, in European patent application EP-A-0 382 464.

In addition, fabric softener formulations containing polyethylene are known. In all of these fabric softener formulations, however, polyethylene either only has an enhancing effect on the plasticizer's avidity effect or is used to adjust the viscosity of the compositions.

British patent application GB-A-2,281,316 describes a textile treatment agent with at least one plasticizer and one wax. The wax, which is preferably oxidized, can be polyethylene wax and is preferably added in the form of an emulsion or dispersion together with a surfactant, acid or alkali and a dispersing agent to the formulation containing plasticizers, no explicit task or effect is ascribed. Merely the effects of the softener are soft touch, water absorption, reduction of scratching of the textiles, fluffiness and antistatic effect.

Patent application WO 97/46654 describes textile softener compositions with at least one cationic textile softener with at least two long chains, at least one dispersible polyolefin and at least one cationic color fixing substance. The polyolefin allows the use of smaller amounts of color fixers.

Liquid textile softening compositions for the rinse cycle are described in patent application WO 97/28239. The compositions contain a fabric softener, e.g. B. quaternary ammonium compound or amine precursor, and a dispersible polyolefin such as polyethylene or oxidized polyethylene. In addition, a liquid carrier substance such as water, monohydric C ₄ -C ₄ alcohols, polyhydric C ₂ -C ₆ alcohols, propylene carbonate, liquid polyethylene glycols or mixtures thereof are contained. In addition, the amphoteric surfactant content is below 1% by weight. The composition can optionally contain 0 to 30% by weight of a dispersibility modifier. The composition prevents wrinkles, antistatic properties, improved color appearance, water absorption and soft feel. US Pat. No. 4,115,281 discloses a stable liquid textile softener composition with 0.5 to 25 wt.% Fatty acid amide as softener, 3 to 50 wt.% Acidulant and 25 to 96.5 wt.% Water . In addition, a method for producing such liquid compositions is described, mentioning that the partially oxidized polyethylene can also be used as a plasticizer.

German patent application DE-A-38 42 571 describes hydrophilic softening agents for fiber materials which, in addition to the usual ingredients, contain a water-soluble ammonium salt with at least one fatty acid residue, a quaternary ammonium compound different from this first compound with at least one long-chain alkyl residue and dispersed polyethylene wax, which is preferably oxidized.

The German patent application DE-A-44 35 386 finally discloses aqueous fabric softener dispersions which contain esterquats and polyolefin waxes for adjusting the viscosity and, if appropriate, further surfactants and / or auxiliaries and additives. The term ester quats means quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts. The polyolefin waxes are predominantly linear polyolefins with a waxy character, e.g. B. polypropylene and in particular polyethylene waxes with relatively low molecular weights in the range of 500 to 20,000. Modified polyolefin waxes can be prepared by copolymerizing ethylene with suitable other monomers such as vinyl acetate or acrylic acid. Finally, the dispersibility of polyolefins can be improved by oxidative surface treatment.

Furthermore, patent application WO 98/04772 discloses textile care compositions which reduce the creasing of textiles when worn and during the subsequent washing. The decrease in wrinkles, pimples and pill and the durability of the colors are favored. This is achieved by a process in which a composition containing a polycarboxylic acid or its derivative is applied to the textile and this is preserved using a household process. This composition can be added to a textile conditioner for the rinse cycle of a household washing machine or an ironing aid composition and can be sprayed onto the textiles. It is believed that the creasing of textiles is reduced by building an ester bond between the carboxylic acid residues, the addition of catalysts promoting the formation of such ester bonds. Textile conditioner compositions in which said polycarboxylic acids are incorporated contain cationic and / or nonionic plasticizers and optionally polyethylenes, Paraffin waxes or silicones which enhance the effect according to the invention. The preservation of the textiles can be caused by short, not too strong heat such. B. done by a tumbler or an iron.

The object of the invention was to provide a fabric softener, whereby items of laundry treated with this effect a significant improvement in the sliding properties of the iron and a reduction in the force required for ironing.

It has now been found that the addition of partially oxidized polyethylene to fabric softener formulations with cationic and / or nonionic textile softeners brings about a significant improvement in the sliding properties of the iron when ironing the textiles treated with these fabric softeners, as a result of which a working step for applying the ironing aid after removal of the textiles from the washing machine. An increased proportion of cationic and / or non-ionic textile softeners also ensures that the textiles have a soft feel.

The invention therefore relates to the use of partially oxidized polyethylene in liquid aqueous fabric softener compositions which contain 0.1 to 80% by weight of cationic and / or nonionic fabric softeners and optionally further ingredients to improve the sliding properties of the iron when ironing those treated with the fabric softener compositions Laundry items.

Partially oxidized polyethylene is to be understood to mean predominantly linear polyethylene waxes, which are products with relatively low molar masses in the range from 500 to 50,000. The polyethylene waxes are generally produced by direct low-pressure polymerization or, preferably, high-pressure polymerization of the monomers or by targeted depolymerization of products of relatively high molecular weights. The modified polyethylene waxes used here can by polymerization of ethylene, preferably in the absence of a catalyst with early termination of polymerization, and subsequent oxidation, for. B. by introducing air, or by copolymerizing ethylene with suitable other monomers such as acrylic acid, the proportion of acrylic acid units preferably not exceeding 20%, in particular 10%. Finally, it is possible to improve the dispersibility of polyolefins by oxidative surface treatment. Overviews on this topic can be found, for example, in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 4th ed., 24, 36 and in Encycl. Polym. Be. Closely. 17, 792f. For the purposes of the use according to the invention, the use of oxidized high-density polyethylene wax with an average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 50,000 and in particular 2,000 to 10,000 is preferred. The polyethylene waxes are usually marketed as aqueous dispersions and have a solids content of up to 45% by weight, preferably up to 25% by weight.

Preferred fabric softening compositions contain partially oxidized polyethylene in amounts of 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 5% by weight of active substance.

In a further embodiment, the partially oxidized polyethylene can essentially be a copolymer of ethylene units and acrylic acid units, the partially oxidized polyethylene preferably having a molar proportion of acrylic acid units of at most 20%, in particular at most 10%.

Cationic and / or nonionic textile softeners are used as textile softeners, substances being used as cationic softeners in which the high molecular weight hydrophobic residue which causes surface activity is present in the cation during dissociation in aqueous solution. The most important representatives of the cationic plasticizers are quaternary ammonium compounds of the general formula (R ₄ N ⁺ ) X ^" . Cationic plasticizers generally give the fiber a positive charge. This behavior is used for drawing up the cationic plasticizers, in particular on natural fibers, whereupon they have an enhancing effect Preferred cationic plasticizers are compounds of the formulas

(I),

(II),

wherein each R ^{1 group is} independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups; each G ppe R ^{2 is} independently selected from C ₈ -C ₂₈ alkyl or alkenyl groups; R ³ = R ¹ or (CH ₂ ) ^ - TR ² ; R ⁴ = R ¹ or R ² or (CH ₂ ) "- TR ² ; T = -CH ₂ -, -O-CO-, -CO-O-, -NH-, -NH-CO- or -CO-NH- and n is an integer from 0 to 5. In a preferred embodiment, alkylamidoammonium compounds are used as cationic plasticizers. Cationic plasticizers in which the central nitrogen atom of the cation is substituted by two long and two short radicals are of particular importance. They show pronounced wetting, emulsifying and dispersing properties. Particularly preferred representatives are ammonium diester compounds.

In a preferred embodiment, the compositions contain quaternary ammonium diester compounds and / or quaternary alkylamido ammonium compounds as textile softeners. Since it has been shown that an improvement in the sliding properties of the iron is additionally favored by a combination of quaternary ammonium compounds, the compositions in a particularly preferred embodiment as textile softeners contain at least two quaternary ammonium compounds, one of which is a quaternized di-C ₈ -C ₂₈ - is acyl-substituted triethanolamine. The other quaternary ammonium compounds can, for. B. include an alkyl amido ammonium compound.

Nonionic alkoxylated alkyl and / or alkylaryl compounds are particularly suitable as nonionic plasticizers.

Alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary alcohols having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an average of 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol, particularly preferably 1 to 6 EO, in particular 1 to 3 EO, in which the alcohol residue may be linear or preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or may contain linear and methyl-branched residues in the mixture, as is usually present in oxo alcohol residues. In other embodiments, alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues from alcohols of native origin with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for. B. from coconut, palm, palm kernel, tallow or oleyl alcohol, and an average of 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol preferred. Alcohols with 3 EO or 4 EO, C ₉ -C _π - - The preferred ethoxylier- th alcohols, for example C ₁₂ -C _I4 include alcohols containing 7 EO, C ₁₃ -C ₁₅ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ alcohol with 3 EO and C ₁₂ -C, ₈ alcohol with 7 EO . The degrees of ethoxylation given represent statistical averages, which can be an integer or a fraction for a specific product. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrow homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, fatty alcohols with more than 12 EO can also be used. Examples of these are (tallow) fatty alcohols with 14 EO, 16 EO, 20 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO. In addition, alkyl glycosides of the general formula RO (G) _x can also be used as further nonionic plasticizers, in which R denotes a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched, in particular methyl-branched aliphatic radical having 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms and G is the symbol which stands for a glycose unit with 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably for glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, which indicates the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is any number between 1 and 10; x is preferably 1.1 to 1.4.

Another class of preferably used nonionic plasticizers, which are used either as the sole nonionic plasticizer or in combination with other nonionic plasticizers, in particular together with alkoxylated fatty alcohols and or alkylglycosides, are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated, fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably with 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, in particular fatty acid methyl esters, as described, for example, in Japanese patent application JP 58/217 598 or which are preferably prepared by the process described in international patent application WO-A-90/13533. C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ fatty acid methyl esters with an average of 3 to 15 EO, in particular with an average of 5 to 12 EO, are particularly preferred.

Furthermore, fatty substances such as. B. esters, glycerides, acids, alcohols etc. can be used.

Preferred agents contain cationic and / or nonionic textile plasticizers in amounts of 3 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 40% by weight, in particular 10 to 30% by weight.

In addition, other ingredients such as surfactants and other auxiliaries and additives can be included.

The compositions can contain anionic, cationic, nonionic and / or amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants as surfactants.

Typical examples of anionic surfactants are alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkane sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, glycerol ether sulfonates, α-methyl ester sulfonates, sulfo fatty acids, fatty alcohol ether sulfates, glycerin ether sulfates, hydroxy mixed ether sulfates, monoglyceride (ether) sulfate and sulfate, sulfate, sulfate, sulfate, fatty acid Dialkyl sulfosuccinamates, sulfotriglycerides, amide soaps, ether car- bonic acids and their salts, fatty acid isethionates, fatty acid sarcosinates, fatty acid taurides, acyl lactylates, acyl glutamates, acyl tartrates, alkyl oligoglucoside sulfates and alkyl (ether) phosphates. If the anionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they can have a conventional, but preferably a narrow, homolog distribution.

Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, mixed ethers, alk (en) yl oligoglycosides, fatty acid N-alkyl acid ester or ester fatty acids, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid sorbates, polyol fatty acid polyglycol ethers, polyol fatty acid polyesters, polyol fatty acid polyesters. If the nonionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, they can have a conventional, but preferably a narrow, homolog distribution.

Typical examples of other cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds.

Typical examples of amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants are alkyl betaines, alkyl amido betaines, aminopropionates, aminoglycinates, imidazolinium betaines and sulfobetaines.

The surfactants mentioned are exclusively known compounds. With regard to the structure and production of these substances, reference is made to relevant reviews, for example, J. Falbe (ed.), "Surfactants in Consumer Products", Berlin, Springer Verlag, 1987, pp. 54-124 or J. Falbe (ed.), "Catalysts, Tenside und Mineralöladditive ", Stuttgart, Thieme Verlag, 1978, pp. 123-217.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the agents can contain anionic surfactants of the alkyl and / or alkenyl sulfate type. These anionic surfactants are to be understood as the sulfation products of primary alcohols which follow the formula (IV)

[R ⁵ -O-SO ₃ -] _m Y '" ⁺ (IV)

in the m for 1 or 2 and R ⁵ for a linear or branched, aliphatic alkyl and or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms and Y for an alkali and / or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium or glucammonium stands. Typical examples of alkyl sulfates which can be used in the context of the invention are the sulfation products of capron alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol, 2-ethylhexyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, petroselachcohol, elaidyl alcohol, Behenyl alcohol and e cyl alcohol as well as their technical mixtures, which are obtained from high pressure hydrogenation of technical methyl ester fractions or aldehydes from Roelen's oxosynthesis. The sulfation products can preferably be used in the form of their alkali metal salts, and in particular their sodium salts. Alkyl sulfates based on C ₁₆ / C ₁₈ tallow fatty alcohols or vegetable fatty alcohols of comparable C chain distribution in the form of their sodium salts are particularly preferred.

The agents according to the invention can contain customary auxiliaries and additives, such as, for example, perfume oils, dyes and preservatives. Dirt-releasing polymers are preferably considered as additives. These so-called “soil repellents” are polymers which preferably contain ethylene terephthalate and / or polyethylene glycol terephthalate groups, it being possible for the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene glycol terephthalate to be in the range from 50:50 to 90:10. The molecular weight of the linking polyethylene glycol units preferably in the range from 750 to 5,000, ie the degree of ethoxylation of the polymers containing polyethylene glycol groups can be approximately 15 to 100. The polymers are distinguished by an average molecular weight of approximately 5000 to 200,000 and can be a block, but preferably a Show random structure.

Preferred polymers are those with molar ratios of ethylene terephthalate / polyethylene glycol terephthalate from about 65:35 to about 90:10, preferably from about 70:30 to 80:20. Also preferred are those polymers which have linking polyethylene glycol units with a molecular weight of 750 to 5,000 , preferably from 1,000 to about 3,000 and a molecular weight of the polymer from about 10,000 to about 50,000. Examples of commercially available polymers are the products Milease TM T (ICI) or Repelotex TM SRP 3 (Rhône-Poulenc). Sulfonated types from BASF are also suitable. In a preferred embodiment, modified polyethylene glycols, in particular butyl diglycol-modified polyethylene glycols, are used.

When used in machine washing processes, it can be advantageous to add conventional foam inhibitors to the agents. Suitable foam inhibitors are, for example Soaps of natural or synthetic origin with a high content of C ₁₈ -C ₂₄ fatty acids. Suitable non-surfactant-like foam inhibitors are, for example, organopolysiloxanes and their mixtures with microfine, optionally silanized silica, and paraffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes and their mixtures with silanized silica or bistearylethylenediamide. Mixtures of different foam inhibitors are also used with advantages, for. B. from silicone, paraffins or waxes. The foam inhibitors, in particular silicone and / or paraffin-containing foam inhibitors, are preferably bound to a granular, water-soluble or dispersible carrier substance; Emulsions of polymerized modified siloxane, in particular polydimethylsiloxane emulsions, which are advantageously used in amounts of 0.001 to about 0.5% by weight, are preferred.

If the aqueous fabric softener dispersions do not already have a low initial viscosity, for example through the use of quaternary ammonium compounds with a high cis / trans ratio, it is advisable to set a low viscosity by adding an electrolyte. Suitable electrolytes are, for example, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate or calcium chloride and in particular magnesium chloride. Small amounts are also sufficient to set a low initial viscosity by adding an electrolyte. For example, the electrolyte is present in the dispersion in concentrations of 0.001 to 3% by weight, based on the finished dispersion.

The proportion of the total of the other surfactants, auxiliaries and / or additives is preferably 0.1 to 10, in particular 0.5 to 5% by weight, based on the composition.

The agents according to the invention are stable in storage and are suitable for finishing fibers, yarns and textile fabrics in general and laundry in particular. The advantages of the invention lie in a significantly reduced ironing force to be used and in the elimination of a separate textile treatment step which is necessary after the textiles have been removed from the washing machine, with which this ironing relief is achieved. Examples

Table 1 shows formulations for fabric softeners. Example 3 was an agent according to the invention, Examples 1 and 2 were comparative examples.

Table 1: Recipes for fabric softener with and without ironing aid, quantities in% by weight.

Formulation Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Cationic Surfactant ¹ 18.0 26.6 24.4

Polyethylene dispersion ² - - 3.0

MgCl ₂ - 6 H ₂ O 0.55 0.55 0.55 perfume, dye, thickener, defoamer,

Water remainder to 100 remainder to 100 remainder to 100

Ironing force at 4,295 g weight / N 3 ^ 34 349 2.94

¹ Stepantex VL 90 A ^® , N-methyl-N (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N- (ditalgacyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate, additized with Stepanquat X 9124 ^® ex Stepan Europe, 3-tallow amidopropyl-dimethylammonium methosulfate, 90% in isopropanol

² Adalin K ^® ex Henkel, 20% by weight dispersion in water, corresponds to 0.6% by weight polyethylene, active substance

The weight of 4,295 g was adjusted by applying a weight of 2,595 g to the iron, which had a weight of 1,700 g, in order to simulate the pressure which is normally exerted on the iron during ironing.

A coarse cotton fabric was used as the fabric, which is known as bleaching nettle and is used for table and bed linen. After the release, the fabric pieces were each equipped with the appropriate fabric softener in a dosage of 10.3 g / kg dry wash. The items of laundry equipped in this way were ironed with a self-developed, precise measuring apparatus. The Rowenta iron (type Rowenta Professional DE-81 1 inox steam iron), which was set to level III, was pulled over a distance of 670 mm over the tissue to be tested at a constant speed of 800 mm / min. The necessary forces were determined using a universal testing machine from Zwick (type 2.5 / TNIP).

The examples show the effect of ironing made easier by the polyethylene dispersion. Increasing the amount of esterquat from 18.0 wt% in Example 1 to 26.6 wt% in Example 2 had a relatively minor effect with a 0.15N (4.5%) decrease in ironing force. If the amount of esterquat from example 1 to example 3 was only increased to 24.4% by weight, but an additional 0.6% by weight of partially oxidized polyethylene (pure substance) was added, the ironing force to be applied decreased by 0. 40 N (12%).

Partially oxidized polyethylene therefore significantly reduced the ironing power and thus brought about a significant improvement in the sliding properties of the iron.

Claims

claims 1. Use of partially oxidized polyethylene in liquid aqueous fabric softener compositions which contain 0.1 to 80% by weight of cationic and / or nonionic fabric softeners and, if appropriate, further ingredients, to improve the sliding properties of the iron when ironing the laundry items treated with the fabric softener compositions . 2. Use according to Anspmch 1, characterized in that the compositions partially oxidized polyethylene in amounts of 0.01 to 20 wt .-%, preferably 0.05 to 10 wt .-%, in particular 0.1 to 5 wt .-% contain active substance. 3. Use according to Anspmch 1 or 2, characterized in that the partially oxidized polyethylene has a molecular weight of 500 to 50,000, in particular from 2,000 to 10,000. 4. Use according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the partially oxidized polyethylene is essentially a copolymer of ethylene units and acrylic acid units. 5. Use according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the partially oxidized polyethylene has a molar proportion of acrylic acid units of at most 20%, in particular at most 10%. 6. Use according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the compositions of cationic and / or nonionic textile softeners in amounts of 3 to 50 wt .-%, preferably 5 to 40 wt .-%, in particular 10 to 30 wt .-% % contain. 7. Use according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the compositions contain cationic fabric softeners as fabric softeners, preferably compounds of the formulas

included, wherein each group R ^{1 is} independently selected from C _N6 - alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups; each group R ^{2 is} independently selected from C ₈ -C ₂₈ alkyl or alkenyl groups; R ³ = R ¹ or (CH ₂ ) _W - TR ² ; R ⁴ = R ¹ or R ² or (CH ₂ ) "- TR ² ; T = -CH ₂ -, -O-CO-, -CO-O-, -NH-, - NH-CO- or -CO-NH- and n is an integer from 0 to 5. 8. Use according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the compositions contain quaternary ammonium diester compounds and / or quaternary alkylamidoammomum compounds as fabric softeners. Use according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the compositions contain at least two quaternary ammonium compounds as textile softeners, one of which is a quaternized di-C ₈ -C ₂₈ -acyl-substituted triethanolamine.