Patent ID: 7012055

Claim:
Fabric treatment composition comprising a textile compatible carrier and particles having a layered structure comprising oxygen atoms and silicon and/or phosphorus atoms, and comprising organic functional groups which are bonded to silicon and/or phosphorus atoms in the layers by direct covalent bonds between the silicon and/or phosphorus atoms and a carbon atom, characterised in that the functional groups are selected from: (i) a group of the formula: —Y-T (I) in which: Y comprises a chain of at least 6 carbon atoms optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3, preferably at least 4 carbon atoms for each heteroatom in the chain, Y being linked to said silicon or phosphorous atom through a carbon atom, and T represents H or a terminal group which is not capable of self-cross-linking and/or forming covalent bonds to cellulosic and/or proteinaceous fibres during domestic washing and rinsing cycles; (ii) a group of the formula: —R 1 —NR 2 R 2 (II) in which: R 1 represents an alkylene group of at least 4 carbon atoms, each R 2 is independently lower alkyl and —NR 2 R 2 is preferably, but need not be, a terminal group; (iii) a group of the formula: —R 3 ⁢ —NR 4 ⁢ R 4 ⁢ R 4 + ( III ) in which: R 3 represents an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms, each R 4 is independently selected from alkyl groups of from 1 to 25 carbon atoms provided at least one R 4 is lower alkyl of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, (iv) a group of the formula in which each R 1a group is independently selected from C 1-4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups or C 2-4 alkenyl groups; each R 2a group is independently selected from C 8-28 alkyl or alkenyl groups; R 3a is a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, X is and p is 0 or is an integer from 1 to 5, with the proviso that one of R 1a and R 2a is an alkylene group of at least 3 carbon atoms attached to said silicon or phosphorus atom; (v) a group of the formula: in which R 1a , p and R 2a are as defined above; (vi) a group of the formula: in which: T is as defined above, R 5 represents a group of at least one carbon atom, preferably at least 3 carbon atoms, which may be interrupted by one or more heteroatoms selected from N, O and S providing there are at least 3 carbon atoms for each heteroatom, n is an integer of at least 6; and (vii) a group of the formula: in which: T and R 5 are as defined above, each R 6 independently represents an alkyl group, a fluorinated alkyl group, an amino substituted alkyl group, an alkyl group substituted with a sugar moiety, or a sidechain comprising an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated chain, and x is an integer of at least 5.