WO2003062361A1 - Conditioning agent for protecting textiles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a conditioning agent for protecting textiles, in addition to the use thereof in a washing method or textile drying method. The invention also relates to a conditioner substrate which contains a conditioning agent, in addition to a conditioning method which uses the conditioning substrate in a textile drying process. The conditioning agent and conditioning substrate are used in order to reduce the formation of fluff and pills.

Description

 "Conditioning agent for textile protection"

The invention relates to a conditioning agent for protecting the textile and the use of the conditioning agent in a washing or textile drying process. The invention further relates to a conditioning substrate which contains a conditioning agent, and to a conditioning method using the conditioning substrate in a textile drying process. Conditioning agents and conditioning substrates are used to reduce the formation of fluff and pills.

The use of conditioning agents and their application on carrier cloths for textile conditioning in a household dryer has long been state of the art. The conditioning agents usually contain cationic surfactants to set a pleasant soft touch as well as optionally textile conditioning additives such as anti-crease agents, deodorising substances and perfumes. The conditioning agents are applied to the carrier sheets by melting so that they can be released at the temperatures which are usually present in a household dryer.

WO 00/24853 describes liquid fabric softener formulations with crease reduction components, selected from silicone derivatives and sulphated or sulphonated vegetable oils, and dryer sheets which contain one of these crease reduction components.

EP 255 711 describes a conditioning cloth which is provided with a textile conditioning agent containing cationic surfactants and polydiorganosiloxanes, the textile conditioning agent having a melting point above 38 ° C.

US 5,174,911 describes a textile conditioning article for a tumble dryer, the conditioning agent which is applied to the article containing a plasticizer component and an aminosilicone component.

EP 317 135 discloses an aqueous softener formulation which contains a cationic and a nonionic softener component. The nonionic plasticizer component is a special siloxane which carries at least one C ₆ -C ₂₂ alkyl group. EP 544 493 describes highly concentrated fabric softeners which have 60 to 99% by weight of a fabric softening component and 1 to 40% by weight of an emulsified mixture of silicone oil and silicone emulsifier. By using the emulsified silicone-containing mixture and the high proportion of plasticizer components, a phase separation of the components is avoided and a uniform coating of dryer sheets is achieved. The conditioning agent composition for the dryer sheets has a melting point of 25 to 150 ° C. and is therefore not in liquid form at room temperature.

However, the conditioning agents and conditioning cloths described in the prior art do not take the protection of the textile into account. Modern textile care places high demands on laundry items. Washing clothes in a washing machine and then drying them in a tumble dryer is associated with a high mechanical load on the fabric. The frictional forces often damage the textile fabric, recognizable by the formation of fluff and pills. With each washing or drying cycle, but also by wearing the clothing, there is further abrasion and / or breakage of tiny fibers on the surface of the textile fabrics. The conventional conditioning and textile care products cannot reduce this damage to the tissue.

The object of the present invention is therefore to reduce the formation of lint and pill in textile fabrics, in particular the reduction of this formation during a textile washing or drying process.

Surprisingly, it was found that the use of certain components in conditioning agents can considerably reduce the formation of fluff and pills in textile fabrics.

In a first embodiment, the present invention therefore relates to a conditioning agent containing at least one lint reduction component.

For the purposes of this invention, the term conditioning is understood to mean the finishing treatment of textile fabrics, fabrics, yarns and fabrics. The conditioning gives the textiles positive properties, such as an improved soft feel, increased gloss and color brilliance, refreshing the scent, reducing the creasing behavior and the static charge, as well as making it easier Ironing behavior. Furthermore, the conditioning in the context of this invention leads to a gentle treatment of the textiles, ascertainable from a reduced formation of fluff and pills.

The conditioning agents according to the invention contain at least one lint reduction component as an essential component. Lint reduction components are present in the liquid conditioning agents according to the invention as finely divided polymer particles or polymer emulsions or polymer dispersions which have a substantivity to textile fabrics or textile fibers. In a preferred embodiment, these are water-insoluble polymers. The biological polymers are particularly preferred because of their good biodegradability and their excellent performance in reducing lint formation. In the context of this invention, biological polymers are also polymers that are only partially of biological or biotechnological origin. However, preference is given to those biological polymers in which at least 60%, preferably at least 80% and in particular at least 90% of the molecular weight is of biological or biotechnological origin. Particularly preferred biological polymers are selected from the group of celluloses. Microcrystalline cellulose of natural origin, for example Arbocel ^® BE 600-10, Arbocel ^® BE 600-20 and Arbocel ^® BE 600-30 ex Rettenmaier or biotechnological origin, for example Cellulon ^® ex Kelco, are extremely preferred. Biotechnologically fermented celluloses, as are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 6,329,192 B1, are also suitable for use as a lint reduction component.

Cellulose derivatives are also suitable for use as lint reduction components. Examples are the alkylated and / or hydroxyalkylated polysaccharides, cellulose ethers, for example hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl (hydroxyethyl) cellulose (EHEC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), methyl cellulose (MC), propyl cellulose (PC), carboxymethyl methyl cellulose (CMMC) , Hydroxybutylcellulose (HBC), Hydroxybutylmethylcellulose (HBMC), Hydrdoxyethylcellulose (HEC), Hydroxyethylcarboxymethylcellulose (HECMC), Hydroxyethylethylcellulose (HEEC), Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), Hydroxypropylcarboxymethylcellulose (HPCMCMC), Hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HPCMCMC), HCl ), Methylhydroxyethylpropylcellulose (MHEPC) and mixtures thereof, whereby methylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose and methylhydroxy-propycellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose as well as slightly ethoxylated MC or mixtures of the above are preferred. Further examples are mixtures of cellulose ethers with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). For the reduction of lint formation and also for the pulling behavior of the cellulose derivatives, it has proven to be advantageous that at least 90% of the particles have a particle size smaller than 100 μm, preferably smaller than 50 μm, particularly preferably smaller than 20 μm.

Hydrogels made from biological polymers are also suitable as lint reduction components. Since hydrogels are water-based systems based on hydrophilic but water-insoluble polymers, which are available as a three-dimensional network, the particles on the textile surface are significantly smaller after the drying process and are usually only a tenth or less of their original volume. All hydrogels that are present in fine particles are suitable as hydrogel dispersions. Particularly suitable are hydrogels in which at least 90% of the particles have a particle size smaller than 100 μm, preferably smaller than 50 μm, particularly preferably smaller than 20 μm. Hydrogels in which at least 90% of the particles have a particle size of less than 500 nm are particularly suitable. Natural polymers such as e.g. Agarose, gelatin, curdlan, alginates, pectinates, caragenes, chitosans etc.

An improved absorption behavior of the hydrogel particles can additionally be achieved by their cationic modification.

Networks are formed primarily via covalent bonds or via electrostatic, hydrophobic or dipole, dipole interactions.

The production of micro- and nanoscale hydrogels is state of the art and has already been described in numerous publications.

The formation of nanoscale hydrogel particles can take place via microemulsion polymerization of a water / oil emulsion stabilized in most cases with emulsifiers by homogenization using high-pressure homogenizers or rotor-stator homogenizers. The aqueous phase contains the dispersed polymers or monomers.

Furthermore, synthetic polymers, such as. Polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides or polymethacrylamides, polyurethanes, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetate and / or their partial hydrolyzates or their copolymers are used. The synthetic polymers can be added to the conditioning agents according to the invention as finely divided powders or dispersions or, in a preferred embodiment, can also be present as hydrogels.

The polycarboxylates have proven to be particularly suitable. These are, for example, the alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid, for example those with a relative molecular weight of 500 to 1,000,000 g / mol, preferably 1,000 to 70,000 g / mol.

Suitable polymers are, in particular, polyacrylates, which preferably have a molecular weight of 12,000 to 30,000 g / mol.

Also suitable are copolymeric polycarboxylates, in particular those of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid or of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid. Copolymers of acrylic acid with maleic acid which contain 50 to 90% by weight of acrylic acid and 50 to 10% by weight of maleic acid have proven to be particularly suitable. Their relative molar mass, based on free acids, is generally 2,000 to 70,000 g / mol, preferably 15,000 to 50,000 g / mol and in particular 30,000 to 40,000 g / mol. The (co) polymeric polycarboxylates can be used either as a powder or as an aqueous solution. The preferred products are commercially available either in the form of aqueous solutions with solids contents of, for. B. 30 to 40% or are spray-dried powder with a solid content of z. B. 90% by weight. The products of the Norasol ^R series and the products of the Acrysol ^R series from BASF and Rohm & Haas can be used, for example.

Here, too, it has proven to be advantageous for the lint reduction if the preferably water-insoluble polymers are in finely divided form. At least 90% of the particles preferably have a particle size of less than 100 μm, preferably less than 50 μm, particularly preferably less than 20 μm.

Another important group of lint reduction components are silicone oils.

The following silicone oils with the formulas I to III have been found to be particularly suitable components.

CH,

(CH ₃ ) ₃ - SiO— (SiO) _x -Si (CH ₃ ) _{3 forms |} |

R where R = phenyl or C _r C ₅ alkyl, particularly preferably methyl and x = 5 to 100,000.

C 1 H 3, C 1 H 3,

(CH ₃ ) ₃ - SiO- (SiO) _x - (SiO) _y -Si (CH ₃ ) _{3 porme | π}

CH ₃ R2 where R ² = linear or branched alkyl having 6 to 50 carbon atoms and where the linkage with the Si atom takes place via an Si-OC or an Si-C bond, or a linear or branched aminoalkyl radical with x = 0 to 10,000 and y = 1 to 10,000.

^{Fθrmel Ml}

^{Fθrmel Ml}

wherein R ⁴ and R ⁵ independently of one another represent linear or branched alkyl groups having 6 to 50 carbon atoms. The links to the Si atoms are made via C-Si or CO-Si bonds. The number z is between 1 and 10,000. Silicones functionalized with amino groups, such as, for example, aminopoly-dimethylsiloxanes, are particularly suitable. Advantageously, the silicone oil derivatives can also carry ammonium groups since these support the pull-up behavior on textile fabrics and yarns.

The silicone oils are advantageously in the form of emulsions in which the average droplet size is below 50 μm.

The conditioning agents according to the invention contain the fluff components in amounts of 0.005 to 15% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 10% by weight, particularly preferably 0.1 to 7% by weight and in particular 0.5 to 5% by weight .-%, each based on the entire average.

Advantageously, to increase the soft feel and to reduce the electrostatic charge of textile fabrics and yarns, the conditioning agents according to the invention contain at least one additional plasticizer component. Examples of such fabric softening components are quaternary ammonium compounds, cationic polymers and emulsifiers, such as those used in hair care products and also in textile finishing agents.

Suitable examples are quaternary ammonium compounds of the formulas (I) and (II), R— - X- (||);

where in (I) R and R ^{1 are} an acyclic alkyl radical having 12 to 24 carbon atoms, R ^{2 is} a saturated CC alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical, R ^{3 is} either R, R ¹ or R ² or is an aromatic radical. X ^~ stands for either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion as well as mixtures of these. Examples of cationic compounds of the formula (I) are didecyldimethylammonium chloride, di tallowdimethylammonium chloride or dihexadecylammonium chloride.

Compounds of formula (II) are so-called ester quats. Esterquats are characterized by excellent biodegradability. Here R ^{4 represents} an aliphatic alkyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds; R ⁵ stands for H, OH or O (CO) R ⁷ , R ⁶ independently of R ^{5 stands} for H, OH or O (CO) R ⁸ , where R ⁷ and R ⁸ each independently represent an aliphatic alkyl radical with 12 to 22 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds, m, n and p can each independently have the value 1, 2 or 3. X ^~ can be either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion, as well as mixtures of these. Compounds are preferred which contain the group O (CO) R ⁷ for R ⁵ and alkyl radicals having 16 to 18 carbon atoms for R ⁴ and R ⁷ . Compounds in which R ^{6 is} also OH are particularly preferred. Examples of compounds of the formula (II) are methyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N-di (tallow acyl-oxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate, bis- (palmitoyl) ethyl-hydroxyethyl-methyl-ammonium methosulfate or methyl-N, N-bis (acyloxyethyl) -N- (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate. If quaternized compounds of the formula (II) are used which have unsaturated alkyl chains, preference is given to the acyl groups whose corresponding fatty acids have an iodine number between 5 and 80, preferably between 10 and 60 and in particular between 15 and 45 and which have a cis / trans isomer ratio (in% by weight) of greater than 30:70, preferably greater than 50:50 and in particular greater than 70:30. Commercial examples are the methylhydroxyalkyldialkoyloxyalkylammonium methosulfates sold by Stepan under the trademark Stepantex ^® or the products from Cognis known under Dehyquart ^® or the products from Goldschmidt-Witco known under Rewoquat ^® . Further preferred compounds are the diesterquats of the formula (III), which are sold under the name Rewoquat® W 222 LM or CR 3099 are available and in addition to the softness also ensure stability and color protection.

R ²¹ and R ²² each independently represent an aliphatic radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds.

In addition to the quaternary compounds described above, other known compounds can also be used, such as quaternary imidazolinium compounds of the formula (IV),

where R ^{9 is} H or a saturated alkyl radical with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ independently of one another each represent an aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, R ¹⁰ alternatively also for O (CO) R ²⁰ , where R ^{20 is} an aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and Z is an NH group or oxygen and X ^"is an anion. q can have integer values between 1 and 4.

Further suitable quaternary compounds are described by formula (V)

wherein R ^12, R ¹³ and R ¹⁴ independently represents a C ^ alkyl, alkenyl or hybrid is droxyalkylgruppe, R ¹⁵ and R ¹⁶ are each independently selected a C ₈ - ₂₈ alkyl group, and r represents a number between 0 and 5 is. In addition to the compounds of the formulas (I) and (II), it is also possible to use short-chain, water-soluble, quaternary ammonium compounds, such as trihydroxyethylmethylammonium chlorides, dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides and trialkylmethylammoniumchloride, Lauryldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and tricetylmethylammonium chloride.

Protonated alkylamine compounds which have a softening effect and the non-quaternized, protonated precursors of the cationic emulsifiers are also suitable.

The quaternized protein hydrolyzates are further cationic compounds which can be used according to the invention.

Suitable cationic polymers include the polyquaternium polymers as described in the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance, Inc., 1997), in particular the polyquaternium-6, polyquaterium-7-, also known as merquats. Polyquaternium-10 polymers (Ucare Polymer IR 400; Amerchol), polyquaterium-4 copolymers, such as graft copolymers with a cellulose skeleton and quaternary ammonium groups which are bonded via allyldimethylammonium chloride, cationic cellulose derivatives, such as cationic guar, such as guar hydroxypropyl chloride , and similar quaternized guar derivatives (eg Cosmedia Guar, manufacturer: Cognis GmbH), cationic quaternary sugar derivatives (cationic alkyl polyglucosides), eg the commercial product Glucquat ^® 100, according to CTFA nomenclature a "Lauryl Methyl Gluceth-10 Hydroxypropyl Dimonium Chloride" , Copolymers of PVP and dimethylaminomethacrylate, copolymers of vinylimidazole and vinylpyrrolidone, aminosilicone polymers and Copolymers.

Also employable are polyquatemierte polymers (for example Luviquat Care from BASF) and also cationic biopolymers based on chitin and derivatives thereof, for example, under the trade designation chitosan ^® (manufacturer: Cognis) polymer obtainable.

Also suitable according to the invention are cationic silicone oils, such as, for example, the commercially available products Q2-7224 (manufacturer: Dow Corning; a stabilized trimethylsilylamodimethicone), Dow Corning 929 emulsion (containing a hydroxylamino-modified Defected silicone, which is also called amodimethicone), SM-2059 (manufacturer: General Electric), SLM-55067 (manufacturer: Wacker) Abil ^® -Quat 3270 and 3272 (manufacturer: Goldschmidt-Rewo; diquartary polydimethylsiloxane, Quatemium-80) , and Siliconquat Rewoquat ^® SQ 1 (Tegopren ^® 6922, manufacturer: Goldschmidt-Rewo).

Compounds of the formula (VI) which can also be used are

the alkylamidoamines can be in their non-quaternized or, as shown, their quaternized form. R ¹⁷ can be an aliphatic alkyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds, s can assume values between 0 and 5. R ¹⁸ and R ¹⁹ each independently represent H, C 1-4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl. Preferred compounds are fatty acid amidoamines such as the stearylamidopropyldimethylamine available under the name Tego Amid ^® S 18 or the 3-tallowamidopropyl trimethylammonium methosulfate available under the name Stepantex ^® X 9124, which, in addition to having a good conditioning effect, are also characterized by an ink transfer inhibiting action and especially by are characterized by their good biodegradability. Alkylated quaternary ammonium compounds, of which at least one alkyl chain is interrupted by an ester group and / or amido group, in particular N-methyl-N (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N- (ditalgacyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate and / or N-methyl, are particularly preferred -N (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N- (palmitoyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate.

The most suitable nonionic plasticizers are polyoxyalkylene glycerol alkanoates, as described in British Patent GB 2,202,244, polybutylenes, as described in British Patent GB 2,199,855, long-chain fatty acids as described in EP 13 780, ethoxylated fatty acid ethanolamides as described in EP 43 547, Alkyl polyglycosides, in particular sorbitan mono, di and triester, as described in EP 698 140 and fatty acid esters of polycarboxylic acids, as described in German Patent DE 2,822,891.

The conditioning agent according to the invention! can plasticizer components in amounts up to 50 wt .-%, preferably from 0.1 to 45 wt .-%, particularly preferably from 5 up to 40 wt .-% and in particular from 11 to 35 wt .-%, each based on the total agent.

In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning agent according to the invention additionally has at least one ironing component. In the context of the invention, ironing lightening components are understood to mean substances which, through their action on textile fabrics, ensure that the textiles have a low frictional resistance when ironing. Silicone oils have proven to be particularly suitable for facilitating ironing.

The partially oxidized polyethylenes are further ironing relief components.

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 be obtained by polymerizing ethylene, preferably in the absence of a catalyst with early termination of the polymerization, and subsequent oxidation, e.g. by introducing air, or by copolymerizing ethylene with suitable other monomers such as, for example, 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 subject can be found, for example, in Ulimann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 4th ed., 24, 36 and in Encycl. Polym. Be. Closely. 17, 792f.

The ironing facilitating component (s) can be present in amounts of up to 10% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 8% by weight and in particular 0.5 to 5% by weight, in each case based on the total composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning agents according to the invention contain at least one spreading agent. The spreading agent has a wetting function and ensures that the other components are optimally distributed over a large area. It is achieved in that it is not too small on the textile surface. tial overconcentrations that would be visible as stains. The use of spreading agents is particularly recommended when conditioning substrates which are impregnated with the conditioning agent according to the invention are brought into effect in a textile drying process.

Suitable spreading agents are polyether-modified siloxanes, such as in

^{Rule IV}

abgebildet. Die Gruppen R¹ und R³ stehen in den Formeln IV und V unabhängig von einander für -R^r-(C₂H₄O)_m-(C₃Η₆O)_n-R⁶, wobeiFormula V

displayed. The groups R ¹ and R ³ in the formulas IV and V independently of one another are -R ^r - (C ₂ H ₄ O) _m - (C ₃ Η ₆ O) _n -R ⁶ , where

R ^{r represents} a divalent alkylene radical, e.g. B. -CH ₂ - or -C ₂ H ₄ -

R ⁶ = H, methyl or C ₂ -C ₆ alkyl

x and y are each 1 or more, with the sum ranging from x + y to 10,000

z is between 1 and 10,000

m and n can have numerical values from 0 to 300, but the sum of m + n is between 1 and 300.

The spreading agent can be used in amounts of up to 10% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 5% by weight, particularly preferably from 0.05 to 2% by weight and in particular from 0.1 to 1% by weight, in each case based on the total mean.

The conditioning agents according to the invention are in liquid form. To achieve a liquid consistency, the use of both liquid organic solvents, like that of water. The conditioning agents according to the invention therefore optionally contain solvents.

Solvents which can be used in the agents according to the invention come, for example, from the group of mono- or polyhydric alcohols, alkanolamines or glycol ethers, provided that they are miscible with water in the concentration range indicated. The solvents are preferably selected from ethanol, n- or i-propanol, butanols, glycol, propane or butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl or butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether , Diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl, ethyl or propyl ether, butoxy propoxy propanol (BPP), dipropylene glycol monomethyl or ethyl ether, diisopropylene glycol monomethyl or ethyl ether, methoxy , Ethoxy or butoxy triglycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol t-butyl ether and mixtures of these solvents. Some glycol ethers are available under the trade names Arcosolv ^® (Arco Chemical Co.) or Cellosolve ^® , Carbitol ^® or Propasol ^® (Union Carbide Corp.); these also include, for example, ButylCarbitol ^® , HexylCarbitol ^® , MethylCarbitol ^® , and Carbitol ^® itself, (2- (2-ethoxy) ethoxy) ethanol. The choice of the glycol ether can easily be made by the person skilled in the art on the basis of its volatility, water solubility, its weight percentage in the total dispersion and the like. Pyrrolidone solvents, such as N-alkylpyrrolidones, for example N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or NC ₈ -C ₁₂ -alkylpyrrolidone, or 2-pyrrolidone, can also be used. Also preferred as the sole solvent or as part of a solvent mixture are glycerol derivatives, in particular glycerol carbonate.

The alcohols which can be used as cosolvents in the present invention include liquid polyethylene glycols with a low molecular weight, for example polyethylene glycols with a molecular weight of 200, 300, 400 or 600. Other suitable cosolvents are other alcohols, for example (a) lower Alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol and n-butanol, (b) ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone, (c) C ₂ -C ₄ polyols such as a diol or a triol, for example ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol or mixtures from that. From the class of diols, 1,2-octanediol is particularly preferred. In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning agent according to the invention can contain one or more water-soluble organic solvents and / or water. Water-soluble is understood here to mean that the organic solvent in the amount contained is soluble in an optionally aqueous medium.

In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning agent according to the invention contains one or more solvents from the group comprising C 1 to C ₄ mono alcohols, C ₂ to C ₆ glycols, C ₃ to C ₂ glycol ethers and glycerol, in particular ethanol , The C ₃ to C ₁₂ glycol ethers according to the invention contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with less than 10 carbon atoms, preferably up to 8, in particular up to 6, particularly preferably 1 to 4 and extremely preferably 2 to 3 carbon atoms.

Preferred C to C ₄ monoalcohols are ethanol, n-propanol, / so-propanol and terf-butanol. Preferred C ₂ - to C ₆ glycols are ethylene glycol, 1, 2-propylene glycol, 1, 3-propylene glycol, 1, 5-pentanediol, neopentyl glycol and 1, 6-hexanediol, in particular ethylene glycol and 1, 2-propylene glycol. Preferred C ₃ - to C ₁₂ -glycol ethers are di-, tri-, tetra- and penta-ethylene glycol, di-, tri- and tetrapropylene glycol, propylene glycol monotertiary butyl ether and propylene glycol monoethyl ether as well as the solvents designated according to INCI, butoxy diglycol, butoxyethanol, butoxyisopropanol, butoxypropanol, Butyloctanol, ethoxydiglycol, ethoxyethanol, ethyl hexanediol, isobutoxypropanol, isopentyldiol, 3-methoxybutanol, methoxyethanol, methoxyisopropanol and methoxymethylbutanol.

Particularly preferred solvents are ethanol, 1,2-propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol and mixtures thereof, in particular ethanol and isopropanol.

The agent according to the invention optionally contains one or more solvents and / or in particular water in an amount of usually up to 95% by weight, preferably 20 to 90% by weight and in particular 50 to 80% by weight, in each case based on the total Medium.

In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning agents according to the invention can additionally contain nonionic surfactants. The nonionic surfactants show excellent emulsifier properties, especially in the presence of cationic surfactants.

Preferred nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated and / or propoxylated, in particular primary alcohols with preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an average of 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) and / or 1 to 10 moles of propylene. lenoxide (PO) per mole of alcohol used. Particularly preferred are C ₈ -C ₁₆ alcohol alkoxylates, advantageously ethoxylated and / or propoxylated C ₁₀ -C ₁₅ alcohol alkoxylates, in particular C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ alcohol alkoxylates, with a degree of ethoxylation between 2 and 10, preferably between 3 and 8, and / or a degree of propoxylation between 1 and 6, preferably between 1, 5 and 5. The alcohol radical can preferably be linear or particularly preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or contain linear and methyl-branched radicals in the mixture, as is usually the case in oxo alcohol radicals available. However, alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues of alcohols of natural origin with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example from coconut, palm, tallow fat or oleyl alcohol, and an average of 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol are particularly preferred. Preferred ethnic oxylierten alcohols for example, C _12-14 alcohols with 3 EO or 4 EO, _C9-11 alcohol containing 7 EO -AI-, C _13- ι ₅ alcohols containing 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, _C12-18 alcohols containing 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of C _12-14 alcohol with 3 EO and C _12- ι ₈ alcohol containing 5 EO. The degrees of ethoxylation and propoxylation given represent statistical averages, which can be an integer or a fraction for a specific product. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates and propoxylates have a narrow homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates / propoxylates, NRE / NRP). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, fatty alcohols with more than 12 EO can also be used. Examples of this are tallow fatty alcohol with 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO.

Also suitable are alkoxylated amines, advantageously ethoxylated and / or propoxylated, in particular primary and secondary amines, preferably having 1 to 18 carbon atoms per alkyl chain and an average of 1 to 12 mol ethylene oxide (EO) and / or 1 to 10 mol propylene oxide (PO) per Mole of amine.

In addition, alkyl glycosides of the general formula RO (G) _x can also be used as further nonionic surfactants _, for example as compounds, especially with anionic surfactants, in which R is a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched, in particular in the 2-position methyl-branched aliphatic radical having 8 to 22 , preferably means 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 1.2 to 1.4. Another class of preferably used nonionic surfactants, which are used either as the sole nonionic surfactant or in combination with other nonionic surfactants, 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 ester, as described for example in Japanese patent application JP 58/217598 or which are preferably produced by the process described in international patent application WO-A-90/13533.

Nonionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, for example N-coconut alkyl-N, N-dimethylamine oxide and N-tallow alkyl-N, N-dihydroxyethylamine oxide, and the fatty acid alkanol amides can also be suitable.

So-called gemini surfactants can be considered as further surfactants. These are generally understood to mean those compounds which have two hydrophilic groups and two hydrophobic groups per molecule. These groups are generally separated from one another by a so-called “spacer”. This spacer is generally a carbon chain which should be long enough that the hydrophilic groups are sufficiently far apart that they can act independently of one another. Such surfactants are distinguished generally due to an unusually low critical micelle concentration and the ability to greatly reduce the surface tension of the water, but in exceptional cases the term gemini surfactants means not only dimeric but also trimeric surfactants.

Suitable gemini surfactants are, for example, sulfated hydroxy mixed ethers according to German patent application DE-A-43 21 022 or dimer alcohol bis and trimeral alcohol tris sulfates and ether sulfates according to international patent application WO-A-96/23768. End group-capped dimeric and trimeric mixed ethers according to German patent application DE-A-195 13 391 are distinguished in particular by their bi- and multifunctionality. The end-capped surfactants mentioned have good wetting properties and are low-foaming, so that they are particularly suitable for use in machine washing or cleaning processes.

Gemini polyhydroxy fatty acid amides or poly-polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, as described in international patent applications WO-A-95/1953, WO-A-95/19954 and WO-A-95/19955, can also be used. Other suitable surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the following formula,

R ⁵

I

R-CO-N- [Z] in the RCO for an aliphatic acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ⁵ for hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical with 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [Z] for a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl radical with 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known substances which can usually be obtained by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with ammonia, an alkylamine or an alkanoiamine and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fatty acid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride.

The group of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides also includes compounds of the following formula

R ⁶ -OR ⁷

I R-CO-N- [Z] in the R for a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, R ⁶ for a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical or an aryl radical with 2 to 8 carbon atoms and R ⁷ for represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical or an aryl radical or an oxy-alkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, C _1-4 -alkyl or phenyl radicals being preferred and [Z] representing a linear polyhydroxyalkyl radical, the alkyl chain of which has at least two hydroxyl groups is substituted, or alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated derivatives of this radical.

[Z] is preferably obtained by reductive amination of a reduced sugar, for example glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose. The N-alkoxy- or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds can then, for example according to the teaching of international application WO-A-95/07331, be converted into the desired polyhydroxy fatty acid amides by reaction with fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alkoxide as catalyst. The nonionic surfactants can usually be present in amounts of up to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 10% by weight and particularly preferably from 0.8 to 5% by weight, in each case based on the total composition.

In a further preferred embodiment, the conditioning agents according to the invention optionally additionally contain electrolytes. Electrolytes serve to regulate viscosity (viscosity regulator) and can usually be used in amounts of up to 15% by weight, preferably up to 10% by weight, particularly preferably from 0.5 to 8% by weight and in particular from 1 to 6% by weight. %, in each case based on the total agent. A wide number of different salts can be used as electrolytes from the group of inorganic salts. Preferred cations are the alkali and alkaline earth metals, preferred anions are the halides and sulfates. From a production point of view, the use of NaCl, CaCl ₂ or MgCl ₂ in the agents according to the invention is preferred.

In order to bring the pH of the agents according to the invention into the desired range, the use of pH adjusting agents can be indicated. All known acids can be used here Figure 1: Course of the contact angle with time or alkalis, provided that their use is not prohibited for application-related or ecological reasons or for reasons of consumer protection. The amount of these adjusting agents usually does not exceed 2% by weight of the total formulation.

The conditioning agents according to the invention have a pH of 2 to 7, preferably 2.2 to 5 and in particular 2.4 to 3.

In addition to smaller amounts of anionic and amphoteric surfactants, the agents according to the invention can optionally contain one or more customary auxiliaries and additives, in particular from the group of builders, enzymes, complexing agents, fragrances, perfume carriers, fluorescent agents, dyes, thickeners, foam inhibitors, graying inhibitors, anti-crease agents , antimicrobial agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, antistatic agents, UV absorbers, optical brighteners, anti-redeposition agents, pearlescent agents, color transfer inhibitors, enema preventers, corrosion inhibitors, preservatives, phobing and impregnating agents and hydrotropes.

In a preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention can optionally additionally contain one or more complexing agents. Complexing agents (INCI chelating agents), also called sequestering agents, are ingredients which can complex and inactivate metal ions in order to prevent their adverse effects on the stability or the appearance of the agents, for example cloudiness. On the one hand, it is important to complex the calcium hardness and magnesium ions of water hardness, which are incompatible with numerous ingredients. The complexation of the ions of heavy metals such as iron or copper delays the oxidative decomposition of the finished agent.

Suitable, for example, are the following complexing agents designated according to INCI, which are described in more detail in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook: Aminotrimethylene Phosphonic Acid, Beta-Alanine Diacetic Acid, Caicium Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Cyclodextrin, Cyclohexanediamine Tetraacetic Acid, Diammonium Citrate, Diammonium EDTA, Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonic Acid, Dipotassium EDTA, Disodium Azacycloheptane Diphosphonate, Disodium EDTA, Disodium Pyrophosphate, EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Galactaric Acid, Gluconic Acid, Glucuronic Acid, HEDTA, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrininodinate Phosphonate, pentasodium ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate, pentasodium pentetate, pentasodium triphosphate, pentetic acid, phytic acid, potassium citrate, potassium EDTMP, potassium gluconate, potassium polyphosphate, potassium trisphosphonomethylamine oxide, ribonic acid, sodium chito - San Methylene Phosphonate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Diethylenetriamine Pentamethylene Phosphonate, Sodium Dihydroxyethylglycinate, Sodium EDTMP, Sodium Gluceptate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Glycereth-Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Metasilate, Sodium Polysilicate, Sodium Glyphate-Sulfate , TEA-EDTA, TEA-polyphosphate, tetrahydroxyethyl Ethylenediamine, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Tetrapotassium Etidronate, Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium etidronate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, tripotassium EDTA, trisodium dicarboxymethyl alaninates, Trisodium EDTA, Trisodium HEDTA, trisodium NTA, and trisodium phosphate.

Preferred complexing agents are tertiary amines, especially tertiary alkanolamines (amino alcohols). The alkanolamines have both amino and hydroxyl and / or ether groups as functional groups. Particularly preferred tertiary alkanolamines are triethanolamine and tetra-2-hydroxypropylethylenediamine (N, N, N ', N ^, -Tetrakis (2-hydroxy-propyl) ethylenediamine). A particularly preferred complexing agent is etidronic acid (1-hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-diphosphonic acid, 1-hydroxyethyan-1,1-diphosphonic acid, HEDP, acetophosphonic acid, INCI etidronic acid) including its salts. In a preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention accordingly contains etidronic acid and / or one or more of its salts as complexing agents.

In a particular embodiment, the agent according to the invention contains a complexing agent combination of one or more tertiary amines and one or more further complexing agents, preferably one or more complexing agent acids or their salts, in particular of triethanolamine and / or tetra-2-hydroxypropylethylenediamine and etidronic acid and / or one or more of their salts.

The agent according to the invention contains complexing agents in an amount of usually 0 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 15% by weight, in particular 0.5 to 10% by weight, particularly preferably 1 to 8% by weight, most preferably 1.5 to 6% by weight, for example 1, 5, 2.1, 3 or 4.2% by weight.

In a further embodiment, the agent optionally contains one or more thickeners.

The viscosity of the optionally liquid agents can be measured using customary standard methods (for example Brookfield RVD-VII viscometer at 20 rpm and 20 ° C., spindle 3) and is preferably in the range from 10 to 5000 mPas. Preferred liquid to gel form agents have viscosities of 20 to 4000 mPas, values between 40 and 2000 mPas being particularly preferred. If the conditioning agents according to the invention are used as impregnating liquids for the conditioning substrates according to the invention, a viscosity below 150 mPas, preferably between 10 and 100 mPas and in particular between 20 and 80 mPas, is advantageously indicated.

Suitable thickeners are inorganic or polymeric organic compounds. Mixtures of several thickeners can also be used.

In a further preferred embodiment, the agent optionally contains one or more enzymes.

Enzymes in particular include those from the classes of hydrolases such as proteases, esterases, lipases or lipolytically active enzymes, amylases, cellulases or other glycosyl hydrolases and mixtures of the enzymes mentioned in question. All of these hydrolases help to remove stains such as protein, fat or starchy stains and graying in the laundry.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the conditioning agents according to the invention additionally contain cellulases and / or other glycosyl hydrolases. By removing pilling and microfibrils, these enzymes can also help maintain color and increase the softness of the textile. Oxireductases can also be used to bleach or inhibit the transfer of color. Enzymes obtained from bacterial strains or fungi such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Streptomyceus griseus and Humicola insolens are particularly suitable. Proteases of the subtilisin type and in particular proteases which are obtained from Bacillus lentus are preferably used. Enzyme mixtures, for example, from protease and amylase or protease and lipase or lipolytically active enzymes or protease and cellulase or from cellulase and lipase or lipolytically active enzymes or from protease, amylase and lipase or lipolytically active enzymes or protease, lipase or lipolytically active enzymes and cellulase, but in particular protease and / or lipase-containing mixtures or mixtures with lipolytically active enzymes of particular interest. Known cutinases are examples of such lipolytically active enzymes. Peroxidases or oxidases have also proven to be suitable in some cases. Suitable amylases include in particular α-amylases, iso-amylases, pullulanases and pectinases. Cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases and β-glucosidases, which are also called cellobiases, or mixtures thereof, are preferably used as cellulases. Since different cellulase types differ in their CMCase and avicelase activities, the desired activities can be set by targeted mixtures of the cellulases.

The enzymes can be adsorbed or coated as a shaped body on carriers in order to protect them against premature decomposition. The proportion of the enzymes, enzyme mixtures or enzyme granules can be, for example, approximately 0.1 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.12 to approximately 2% by weight. In a preferred embodiment, the composition optionally contains one or more perfumes in an amount of usually up to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight, in particular 0.05 to 3% by weight, particularly preferably 0, 2 to 2% by weight, most preferably 0.3 to 1.8% by weight.

As perfume oils or fragrances, individual fragrance compounds, e.g. the synthetic products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type are used. Fragrance compounds of the ester type are e.g. Benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, linalyl acetate, dimethylbenzylcarbinyl acetate, phenylethyl acetate, linalylbenzoate, benzyl formate, ethylmethylphenylglycinate, allylcyclohexylpropionate, styrallyl propalate and styrallyl propalate. The ethers include, for example, benzyl ethyl ether, the aldehydes e.g. the linear alkanals with 8-18 C atoms, citral, citronellal, citronellyloxyacetaldehyde, cyclamenaldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, lilial and bourgeonal, to the ketones e.g. the Jonone, oc-isomethylionon and methyl cedryl ketone, to the alcohols anethole, citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol and terpineol, the hydrocarbons mainly include the terpenes such as limonene and pinene. However, preference is given to using mixtures of different fragrances which together produce an appealing fragrance. Such perfume oils can also contain natural fragrance mixtures as are available from plant sources, e.g. Pine, citrus, jasmine, patchouly, rose or ylang-ylang oil. Also suitable are muscatel, sage oil, chamomile oil, clove oil, lemon balm oil, mint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, linden blossom oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, olibanum oil, galba oil and labdanum oil as well as orange blossom oil, neroliol, orange peel oil and sandalwood oil.

Dyes can optionally be used in the agent according to the invention, the amount of one or more dyes being so small that no visible residues remain after the agent has been used. However, the agent according to the invention is preferably free from dyes.

Furthermore, the agent according to the invention may optionally contain one or more antimicrobial agents or preservatives in an amount of usually 0.0001 to 3% by weight, preferably 0.0001 to 2% by weight, in particular 0.0002 to 1% by weight. -%, particularly preferably 0.0002 to 0.2 wt .-%, most preferably 0.0003 to 0.1 wt .-%, contain. In particular, in the event that the conditioning agent according to the invention is used as an impregnating liquid for the conditioning substrates according to the invention, the use of antimicrobial agents to kill the bacteria on the substrates can be indicated.

Depending on the antimicrobial spectrum and the mechanism of action, antimicrobial agents or preservatives are differentiated between bacteriostatics and bactericides, fungistatics and fungicides etc. Important substances from these groups are, for example, benzalkonium chlorides, alkylarylsulfonates, halogenophenols and phenol mercuricates. In the context of the teaching according to the invention, the terms antimicrobial activity and antimicrobial active substance have the customary meaning which, for example, from KH Wallhäußer in "Practice of Sterilization, Disinfection - Preservation: Germ Identification - Industrial Hygiene" (5th ed. - Stuttgart; New York: Thieme, 1995 Suitable antimicrobial agents are preferably selected from the groups of alcohols, amines, aldehydes, antimicrobial acids or their salts, carboxylic acid esters, acid amides, phenols, phenol derivatives, diphenyls, diphenylalkanes , Urea derivatives, oxygen, nitrogen acetals and formals, benzamidines, isothiazoline, phthalimide derivatives, pyridine derivatives, antimicrobial surface-active compounds, guanidines, antimicrobial amphoteric compounds, quinolines, 1,2-dibromo-2,4-di-cyanobutane, iodo -2-propyl-butyl-carbamate, l od, iodophores, peroxo compounds, halogen compounds and any mixtures of the above. The antimicrobial active ingredient can be selected from ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, 1,3-butanediol, phenoxyethanol, 1,2-propylene glycol, glycerol, undecylenic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, dihydracetic acid, o-phenylphenol, N- Methylmorpholine-acetonitrile (MMA), 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol, 2,2'-methylene-bis- (6-bromo-4-chlorophenol), 4,4'-dichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether ( Dichlosan), 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether (trichlo-san), chlorhexidine, N- (4-chlorophenyl) -N- (3,4-dichlorophenyl) urea, N, N '- ( 1, 10-decanediyldi-1-pyridinyl-4-ylidene) bis (1-octanamine) dihydrochloride, N, N'-bis (4-chlorophenyl) -3, 12-diimino-2,4, 11,13-tetraaza-tetradecanediimidamide, glucoprotamines, antimicrobial surface-active quaternary compounds, guanidines including the bi- and polyguanidines, such as, for example, 1,6-bis- (2-ethylhexyl-biguanido-hexane) dihydrochloride, 1,6- Di- (N ^ N ^ -phenyldiguanido-Ns.Ns ^ exan-tetrahydochlorid, l.β-D i.Ni'-phenyl-N _L Ni-methyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ ') -hexane-dihydrochloride, l.δ-DKN _L Ni'-o-chlorophenyldiguanido-

N ₅ , N ₅ ') -hexane-dihydrochloride, 1,6-di- (N ₁ , N ₁ ' -2,6-dichlorophenyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ ') hexane-di- hydrochloride, 1, 6-di- [N ₁ , N ₁ '-beta- (p-methoxyphenyl) diguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ '] -hexane-dihydrochloride, 1,6-di- (Nι, N ₁ '-alpha-methyl-.beta.-phenyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ ') -hexane-dihydrochloride, l .eD N _L Ni'-p-nitrophenyldiguanido-Ns.Ns'Jhexane-dihydrochloride, omega: omega-di-

(Ni, Ni '-phenyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ ') -di-n-propylether-dihydrochloride, omega: omega'-Di- (N ₁ , N ₁ '- p-chlorophenyldiguanido-N _5> N ₅ ') -di-n-propylether-tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di- (N ₁ , N ₁ '-2,4-di-chlorophenyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ ') hexane-tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di- (N ₁ , N ₁ '-p-methylphenyldiguanido- N ₅ , N ₅ ') hexane dihydrochloride, 1, 6-di- (N ₁ , N ₁ '-2,4,5-trichlorophenyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ ') hexane-tetrahydrochloride, 1, 6-di- [Nι, N' -alpha- (p-chlorophenyl) ethyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ '] hexane-dihydrochloride, omega ^ mega-DKN _L N _T ' -p- chlorophenyldiguanido-Ns.Ns'Jm- xylene-dihydrochloride, l. ^ - D Ni.Ni'-p-chlorophenyldiguanido-Ns.Ns ') dodecane-dihydrochloride, 1,10-Di- (N ₁ , N ₁ ' -phenyldiguanido- N ₅ , N ₅ ') -decane-tetrahydrochloride, 1.12-01-0 ^, ^' - phenyldiguanido- N ₅₎ N ₅ ') dodecane-tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di- (N ₁ , N ₁ '-o-chlorophenyldiguanido-N ₅ , N ₅ ') hexane-dihydrochloride, l.β-DHNi.N ^ -o-chlorophenyldiguanido-Ns.Ns') hexane tetrahydrochloride, ethylene bis- ( 1-tolyl biguanide), E ethylene bis (p-tolyl biguanide), ethylene bis (3,5-dimethylphenyl biguanide), ethylene bis (p-tert-amylphenyl biguanide), ethylene bis (nonylphenyl biguanide), ethylene bis ( phenylbiguanide), ethylene bis (N-butylphenylbiguanide), ethylene bis (2,5-diethoxyphenylbiguanide), ethylene bis (2,4-dimethylphenyl biguanide), ethylene bis (o-diphenylbiguanide), ethylene bis (mixed amyl naphthyl biguanide), N-butyl ethylene bis (phenyl biguanide), trimethylene bis (o-tolyl biguanide), N-butyl trimethyl bis (phenyl biguanide) and the corresponding salts such as acetates, gluconates, hydrochlorides , Hydrobromides, citrates, bisulfites, fluorides, polymaleates, N-cocoalkyl sarcosinates, phosphites, hypophosphites, perfluorooctanoates, silicates, sorbates, salicylates, maleates, tartrates, fumarates, ethylenediaminetetraacetates, iminodiacetate, tyrateate tetracytate, pyrimate tetracytate, cinnamate tylacetate, cinnamate carbamates , Benzoates, glutarates, monofluorophosphates, perfluoropropionates and any mixtures thereof. Halogenated xylene and cresol derivatives, such as p-chlorometacresol or p-chloro-meta-xylene, and natural antimicrobial active ingredients of vegetable origin (for example from spices or herbs), animal and microbial origin are also suitable. Antimicrobial surface-active quaternary compounds, a natural antimicrobial active ingredient of plant origin and / or a natural antimicrobial active ingredient of animal origin, most preferably at least one natural antimicrobial active ingredient of plant origin from the group comprising caffeine, theobromine and theophylline and essential oils such as eugenol, thymol and geraniol, and / or at least one natural antimicrobial active ingredient of animal origin from the group comprising enzymes such as protein from milk, lyso- zym and lactoperoxidase, and / or at least one antimicrobial surface-active quaternary compound having an ammonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, iodonium or arsonium group, peroxo compounds and chlorine compounds. Substances of microbial origin, so-called bacteriocins, can also be used. Glycine, glycine derivatives, formaldehyde, compounds which readily release formaldehyde, formic acid and peroxides are preferably used. When using the conditioning agent according to the invention as an impregnating liquid for the conditioning substrates according to the invention, dehydrazetic acid and glycolic acid are particularly suitable.

The quaternary ammonium compounds (QAV) suitable as antimicrobial active ingredients have the general formula (R ¹ ) (R ² ) (R ³ ) (R ⁴ ) N ⁺ X ^" , in which R ¹ to R ^{4 are} identical or different C ₁ -C ₂₂ alkyl radicals, C ₇ -C ₂₈ aralkyl radicals or heterocyclic radicals, where two or, in the case of an aromatic integration, as in pyridine, even three radicals together with the nitrogen atom form the heterocycle, for example a pyridinium or imidazolinium compound, and X ^" Are halide ions, sulfate ions, hydroxide ions or like anions. For an optimal antimicrobial effect, at least one of the residues preferably has a chain length of 8 to 18, in particular 12 to 16, carbon atoms.

QAV are by reacting tertiary amines with alkylating agents such as Methyl chloride, benzyl chloride, dimethyl sulfate, dodecyl bromide, but also ethylene oxide can be produced. The alkylation of tertiary amines with a long alkyl radical and two methyl groups is particularly easy, and the quaternization of tertiary amines with two long radicals and one methyl group can also be carried out using methyl chloride under mild conditions. Amines which have three long alkyl radicals or hydroxy-substituted alkyl radicals are not very reactive and are preferably quaternized with dimethyl sulfate.

Suitable QAC are, for example, benzalkonium chloride (N-alkyl-N, N-dimethyl-benzylammonium chloride, CAS No. 8001-54-5), benzalkon B (m, p-dichlorobenzyldimethyl-C12-alkylammonium chloride, CAS No. 58390- 78-6), benzoxonium chloride (benzyl-dodecyl-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium chloride), cetrimonium bromide (N-hexadecyl-N, N-trimethyl-ammonium bromide, CAS No. 57-09-0), Benzetonium chloride (N, N-dimethyl-N- [2- [2- [p- (1, 1,3,3- tetramethylbutyl) pheno-xy] ethoxy] ethyl] benzylammonium chloride, CAS No. 121-54-0), dialkyldimethylammonium chloride such as di-n-decyldimethylammonium chloride (CAS No. 7173-51-5-5), didecyldimethylammonium bromide (CAS No. 2390-68-3), dioctyl -dimethyl- ammoniumchloric, 1-cetylpyridinium chloride (CAS No. 123-03-5) and thiazoline iodide (CAS No. 15764-48-1) and their mixtures. Particularly preferred QAV are the benzalkonium chlorides with C ₈ -C ₁₈ -alkyl radicals, in particular C ₂ -C ₁₄ -alkyl-benzyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride.

Benzalkonium halides and / or substituted benzalkonium halides are for example commercially available as Barquat ^® ex Lonza, Marquat® ^® ex Mason, Variquat ^® ex Witco / Sherex and Hyamine ^® ex Lonza and as Bardac ^® ex Lonza. Other commercially available antimicrobial agents are N- (3-chloroallyl) hexaminium chloride such as Dowicide ^® and Dowicil ^® ex Dow, benzethonium chloride such as Hyamine ^® 1622 ex Rohm & Haas, methylbenzethonium chloride such as Hyamine ^® 10X ex Rohm & Haas, cetylpyridinium chloride such as cepacol chloride ex Merrell Labs.

The agents can furthermore optionally contain UV absorbers, which absorb onto the treated textiles and improve the lightfastness of the fibers and / or the lightfastness of the other formulation components. UV absorbers are understood to mean organic substances (light protection filters) which are able to absorb ultraviolet rays and release the absorbed energy in the form of longer-wave radiation, for example heat. Compounds which have these desired properties are, for example, the compounds and derivatives of benzophenone which are active by radiationless deactivation and have substituents in the 2- and / or 4-position. Substituted benzotriazoles, such as, for example, the water-soluble benzenesulfonic acid 3- (2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) -4-hydroxy-5- (methylpropyl) monosodium salt (Cibafast ^® H), are also substituted in the 3-position phenyl-substituted acrylates ( Cinnamic acid derivatives), optionally with cyano groups in the 2-position, salicylates, organic Ni complexes and natural substances such as umbelliferone and the body's own urocanoic acid. The biphenyl and, above all, stilbene derivatives described, for example in EP 0728749 A and are available as Tinosorb FD ^{® ®} or Tinosorb FR ex Ciba commercially. 3-Benzylidene camphor or 3-benzylidene norcampher and its derivatives, for example 3- (4-methylbenzylidene) camphor, are mentioned as UV-B absorbers, as in EP 0693471 B1; 4-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, preferably 2-ethylhexyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate, 2-octyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate and amyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate; Esters of cinnamic acid, preferably 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate, propyl 4-methoxycinnamate, iso-4-methoxycinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-phenylcinnamate (octocrylene); Esters of salicylic acid, preferably salicylic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester, salicylic acid 4-isopropylbenzyl ester, salicylic acid homomethyl ester; Derivatives of benzophenone, preferably 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-methylbenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; Esters of benzalmalonic acid, preferably di-2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxybenzmalonate; Triazine derivatives, such as 2,4,6-trianilino- (p-carbo-2'-ethyl-1'-hexyloxy) -1,3,5-triazine and octyl triazone, as described in EP 0818450 A1 or dioctyl butamido triazone (Uvasorb® HEB); Propane-1,3-diones, such as 1- (4-tert-butylphenyl) -3- (4'methoxyphenyl) propane-1,3-dione; Ketotricyclo (5.2.1.0) decane derivatives, as described in EP 0694521 B1. Also suitable are 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid and its alkali, alkaline earth, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium and glucammonium salts; Sulfonic acid derivatives of benzophenones, preferably 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid and their salts; Sulfonic acid derivatives of 3-benzylidene camphor, such as 4- (2-oxo-3-bomylidene methyl) benzene sulfonic acid and 2-methyl-5- (2-oxo-3-bornylidene) sulfonic acid and their salts.

Derivatives of benzoylmethane, such as 1- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) -3- (4'-methoxyphenyl) propane-1,3-dione, 4-tert-butyl, are particularly suitable as typical UV-A filters -4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol 1789), 1-phenyl-3- (4'-isopropylphenyl) propane-1,3-dione and enamine compounds as described in DE 19712033 A1 (BASF). The UV-A and UV-B filters can of course also be used in mixtures. In addition to the soluble substances mentioned, insoluble light-protection pigments, namely finely dispersed, preferably nanoized metal oxides or salts, are also suitable for this purpose. Examples of suitable metal oxides are, in particular, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and, in addition, oxides of iron, zirconium, silicon, manganese, aluminum and cerium and mixtures thereof. Silicates (talc), barium sulfate or zinc stearate can be used as salts. The oxides and salts are already used in the form of the pigments for skin-care and skin-protecting emulsions and decorative cosmetics. The particles should have an average diameter of less than 100 nm, preferably between 5 and 50 nm and in particular between 15 and 30 nm. They can have a spherical shape, but such particles can also be come, which have an ellipsoidal or otherwise deviating from the spherical shape. The pigments can also be surface-treated, ie hydrophilized or hydrophobic. Typical examples are coated titanium dioxides such as titanium dioxide T 805 (Degussa) or Eusolex® T2000 (Merck). Silicones, and in particular trialkoxyoctylsilanes or simethicones, are particularly suitable as hydrophobic coating agents. Micronized zinc oxide is preferably used. Further suitable UV light protection filters can be found in the overview by P. Finkel in SÖFW-Journal 122, 543 (1996).

The UV absorbers are usually used in amounts of from 0.01% by weight to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.03% by weight to 1% by weight.

The invention in a second embodiment relates to the use of the conditioning agent according to the invention for the conditioning of textile fabrics in a textile drying process or in a washing process.

The use of the conditioning agents according to the invention can take place directly in a washing process, for example by integrating the conditioning agent according to the invention into a washing agent formulation and / or preferably in a fabric softening cycle following the washing process. The conditioning agents according to the invention can advantageously be used in a textile drying process in a device for drying textiles, preferably in a household clothes dryer. In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning agent according to the invention is brought into contact with the textiles to be conditioned via the induction chamber of an automatic washing machine in the rinse cycle.

The third subject of the invention is a conditioning substrate, which is a substrate that is impregnated and / or impregnated with the conditioning agent according to the invention.

The substrate material consists of porous materials that are capable of reversibly dispensing and dispensing an impregnating liquid. Both three-dimensional structures, such as sponges, but preferably porous, flat cloths are suitable for this. They can consist of a fibrous or cellular flexible material that has sufficient thermal stability for use in the dryer and that can retain sufficient amounts of an impregnating or coating agent to effectively condition substances without any significant leakage or bleeding during storage By means of. These cloths include cloths made from woven and non-woven synthetic and natural fibers, felt, paper or foam, such as hydrophilic polyurethane foam.

Conventional cloths made of non-woven material (nonwovens) are preferably used here. Nonwovens are generally defined as adhesively bonded fibrous products that have a mat or layered fiber structure, or those that include fiber mats in which the fibers are randomly or randomly distributed. The fibers can be natural, such as wool, silk, jute, hemp, cotton, flax, sisal or ramie; or synthetic, such as rayon, cellulose esters, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides, viscose or polyester. In general, any fiber diameter or titer is suitable for the present invention. Preferred conditioning substrates according to the invention consist of a nonwoven material which contains cellulose. Because of the random or statistical arrangement of fibers in the non-woven material, which give excellent strength in all directions, the non-woven fabrics used here do not tend to tear or disintegrate, for example, if they are used in a household dryer. Examples of non-woven fabrics which are suitable as substrates in the present invention are known, for example, from WO 93/23603. Preferred porous and flat conditioning wipes consist of one or different fiber materials, in particular cotton, refined cotton, polyamide, polyester or mixtures of these. The conditioning substrates in cloth form preferably have an area of 0.2 to 0.005 m ² , preferably 0.15 to 0.01 m ² , in particular 0.1 to 0.03 cm ² and particularly preferably 0.09 to 0, 06 m ² . The grammage of the material is usually between 20 and 500 g / m ² , preferably from 25 to 200 g / m ² , in particular from 30 to 100 g / m ² and particularly preferably from 40 to 80 g / m ² .

The fourth object of the invention is a conditioning method for conditioning moist textiles by means of the conditioning substrate according to the invention.

The conditioning process is carried out by using the conditioning substrate according to the invention together with moist textiles, for example from a previous washing process, in a textile drying process. The textile drying process usually takes place in a device for drying textiles, preferably in a household clothes dryer. The fifth object of the invention is therefore the use of the agents according to the invention and / or the conditioning substrates according to the invention to reduce the formation of fluff in textile fabrics. Another object is the use of the agents according to the invention and / or the conditioning substrates according to the invention for reducing the pill formation of textile fabric.

Lint occurs when fibers break on textile surfaces. The fiber fragments can then be found in a household dryer with a fluff filter. The fiber particles are transported to the fluff filter by the air flow. Pill formation is similar. Pills are more or less spherical structures that are connected to the fabric by anchor fibers and whose density is such that no light penetrates and a shadow is cast. This change can occur both during washing and during use. Pills are formed when fibers work out of a textile fabric and become tangled in use. Such surface changes are undesirable. In general, the level of pill formation is determined by the speed of the following parallel processes: a) fiber entanglement that leads to pill formation; b) formation of further surface fibers and c) abrasion of fibers and pills.

B e i s p i e l e

Conditioning agents according to the invention are, for example, E1 and E2, a comparison recipe is V1, the compositions of which are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 :

Composition in% by weight E1 E2 E3 E4 V1

Rewoquat WE 18 ^[a] 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5

Silicone oil ^[b] 5 - - - -

Tegoprene 5843 ^[c] 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 -

MgCfe 6 H ₂ 0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 +

Plexophore Eco ^[d] - 5.0 - - -

Arbocel ^® BE 600-10 ^[e] - - 5.0 - -

Cellulon ^® "- - - 0.4 -

Perfume 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6 +

Dye + + + + +

Water, fully desalinated ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100

^[a] N-methyl-N (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N- (ditallowacyloxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate ex stepan

^[bl silicone oil ex Ciba

^[0] Polyether-modified polysiloxane ex Goldschmidt

^[d] Acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer (MW: 18,000)

^[e] microcrystalline cellulose (average fiber length: 18 Dm) ex Rettenmaier

^[fl biotechnologically produced microcellulose ex Kelco

The formulations E1 to E4 were prepared by melting the ester quat in water. The melted ester quat is then stirred with a highly dispersing device and the remaining active substances are added. The perfume was added after the mixture had cooled to below 30 ° C.

To produce conditioning substrates according to the invention, nonwovens made of cellulose (area: 24.5 cm × 39 cm) were each impregnated with 20 g of one of the conditioning agents E1 to E4 according to the invention. A reference substrate with the recipe V1 was produced analogously.

Lint formation and pill formation:

There are 3.5 kg of dry laundry consisting of 6 terry towels, 8 pillows, 5 tea towels, 2 m white 100%) CO woven fabric (shirts quality), 2 m white 100% PES microfiber woven fabric, 2 m white 100% PES microfiber jersey, 50 cm white 50% o CO / 50% PES poplin fabric, 2 m white 100% CO single jersey and 2 underpants with tower powder at 30 ° C in a washing machine (Miele Novotronic W 985; normal washing program 30 ° C) and then dried in a household clothes dryer (Miele Electronic T 352 C; cupboard dry, easy to clean). After the drying process, the previously tared fluff filter of the household dryer is weighed out.

The washing-drying-weighing cycles were repeated 10 times under the following conditions: a) the textiles were dried without a conditioning substrate b) the textiles were placed with a conditioning substrate V1 in the household dryer. c) the textiles were placed in the household dryer with a conditioning substrate E1 d) the textiles were placed in the household dryer with a conditioning substrate E2 e) the textiles were placed in the household dryer with a conditioning substrate E3 f) the textiles were placed in the household dryer with an E4 conditioning substrate Given household dryer

The weight of the fluff was determined after each drying cycle and added over the 10 cycles. It was found for a) 7.58 g, for b) 8.39 g, c) 4.05 g, d) 5.51 g, e) 4.17 and f) 6.21 g.

The use of the conditioning substrates according to the invention thus considerably reduces the formation of lint and protects the textiles.

Pill formation studies were carried out under the same conditions as listed above. The investigations were carried out in instructions to DIN EN ISO 12945 part 2 "Determination of the tendency of textile fabrics to form lint on the surface and the tendency to pills" with the aid of a Martindale abrasion and pilling tester, model 404. The investigations were carried out in the climatic room ( Textile climate 20 ° C, 65%> relative air humidity) The principle of the Martindale test is that test specimens against a defined tissue in a constantly changing movement. be rubbed, which ensures that the surface fibers of the samples are bent in all directions. The pills created on the surface of the test objects are evaluated according to a defined number of tours by visual comparison against a standard set. The abrasive discs with a diameter of 140 mm are clamped over the scrubbing tables, backed by standard felt discs. The test specimens (diameter 140 mm) are fixed in special sample holders and placed on the right side of the counter textile. The guide plate of the device is attached above, and weighted spindles are inserted through the guide plate into the sample holder below. The drive mechanism consists of two outer and one inner drive, which forces the guide plate of the sample holder to describe a Lissajous figure. The Lissajous movement changes into a circular movement towards gradually narrowing ellipses until it becomes a straight line from which progressively expanding ellipses develop in a diagonally opposite direction before the pattern is repeated.

The pill degree is determined by comparing the test specimen against prepared photographs of standard goods.

The measurement has shown that the pill formation of the textiles, which with the conditioning substrates c), d), e) and f) according to the invention, is significantly reduced in comparison to the samples from a) and b).

Comparable results were observed when 36 ml of the conditioning agent according to the invention are applied to the textiles to be conditioned in the rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine. The textiles treated with recipe V1 not according to the invention showed a significantly higher fluff and pill formation.

Claims

Pate nta nsp rue 1. Liquid conditioning agent containing at least one lint reduction component. 2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the lint reduction component is selected from the group of celluloses, hydrogels and acrylic acid polymers. 3. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the lint reduction component is a microcrystalline cellulose, preferably a microcrystalline cellulose, resulting from a microbiological fermentation process. 4. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the fluff reduction component is a hydrogel, selected from the group of natural polymers, preferably agarose, gelatin, curdlan, alginates, pectinates, carageenan and any mixtures thereof. 5. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the lint reduction component selected from the group of synthetic polymers, preferably the polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides, polymethacrylamides, polyurethanes, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl acetate and / or their partial hydrolysates or their copolymers, in particular Acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymers, as well as any mixtures thereof. 6. Composition according to claim 5, characterized in that the synthetic polymers are present as hydrogels. 7. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that 90% of the particles of the lint reduction component has a particle size less than 100 microns, preferably less than 50 microns, particularly preferably less than 30 microns and in particular less than 20 microns. 8. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the content of the lint reduction component 0.005 to 15 wt .-%, preferably 0.01 to 10 wt .-%, particularly preferably 0.1 to 7 wt .-% and in particular 0.5 to 5% by weight, based in each case on the total agent. 9. Agent according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the agent additionally contains at least one plasticizer component. 10. Composition according to claim 9, characterized in that it is cationic surfactants, preferably alkylated quaternary ammonium compounds, of which at least one alkyl chain is interrupted by an ester group and / or amido group, in particular N-methyl-N (2-hydroxyethyl), as plasticizer component. -N, N- (Ditalgacy- loxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate or N-methyl-N (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N- (dipalmitoyl-ethyl) ammonium methosulfate, contains. 11. Agent according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that it contains the plasticizer component in an amount up to 50 wt .-%, preferably from 0.1 to 45 wt .-%, particularly preferably from 5 to 40 wt .-% % and in particular from 11 to 35 wt .-%, each based on the total agent. 12. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it additionally contains nonionic surfactants, in particular C ₈ -C ₁₈ alcohols with 1 to 12 EO. 13. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that up to 95 wt .-%, particularly preferably 20 to 90 wt .-% and in particular 50 to 80 wt .-% of one or more solvents, preferably water-soluble solvents and especially water. 14. Composition according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it additionally contains a spreading agent, preferably a polyether-modified siloxane. 15. Composition according to claim 14, characterized in that the spreading agent in amounts of up to 10 wt .-%, preferably 0.01 to 5 wt .-%, particularly preferably 0.05 to 2 wt .-% and in particular 0, 1 to 1 wt .-% is present. 16. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 15 for the conditioning of textile fabrics in a textile drying process or in a washing process. 17. Conditioning substrate, characterized in that it impregnates and / or impregnates a substrate with an agent according to one of claims 1 to 15. 18. Conditioning substrate according to claim 17, characterized in that the substrate contains nonwoven material, preferably cellulose nonwoven. 19. Conditioning substrate according to one of claims 17 or 18, characterized in 1 net that the substrate has a grammage of 20 to 500 g / m ² , preferably from 25 to 200 g / m ² , particularly preferably from 30 to 100 g / m ² and in particular from 40 to 80 g / m ² . 20. Conditioning substrate according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the substrate has a size of 0.2 to 0.005 m ² , preferably from 0.15 to 0.01, particularly preferably from 0.1 to 0.03 m ² and in particular from 0.09 to 0.06 m ² . 21. Textile conditioning process, characterized in that one or more conditioning substrate (s) according to one of claims 17 to 20 is / are used in a textile drying process. 22. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 15 and / or a conditioning substrate according to one of claims 17 to 20 to reduce the formation of lint of textile fabric. 23. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 15 and / or a conditioning substrate according to one of claims 17 to 20 to reduce the pill formation of textile fabric. 24. Use according to one of claims 22 or 23, characterized in that the agent and / or the conditioning substrate is used in a textile drying process.