Fabric softener

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A fabric softener (recently called fabric conditioner by some producers for marketing
purposes[1]) is a chemical compound that is typically applied to laundry during the rinse cycle in
a washing machine. Fabric softeners are available as solutions and solids, and may also be
impregnated in dryer sheets used in a clothes dryer.[2]

Contents
1 Varieties

2 Mechanism of action

3 Composition

o 3.1 Cationic fabric softeners

o 3.2 Anionic fabric softeners

4 Risks

5 References

Varieties
Many modern washing machines have a dispenser that adds liquid fabric softener automatically
on the final rinse. Users of launderette machines may need to add it manually. Some washing
powder brands have fabric conditioning mixed in, which manufactures claim saves money
compared to buying separate washing powder and fabric softener. Some manufacturers claim
their products make ironing easier or make clothes dry faster. All liquid fabric softeners are
added to watereither by adding the product directly to the final rinse water or by 2:1
(water:softener) dilution in an automatic dispenser. Even diluted fabric softener can cause
spotting when poured directly onto clothes, and can ruin them.

Dry fabric softeners are typically supplied in the form of dryer sheets added in the clothes dryer
to soften the fabric and prevent buildup of static electricity in susceptible fabrics. Many users
advocate alternative uses of dryer sheets, such as dusting, and removing hair from clothes.

Mechanism of action
Fabric softeners coat the surface of a fabric with chemical compounds that are electrically
charged, causing threads to "stand up" from the surface so the fabric feels softer and makes it
fluffier. Cationic softeners bind by electrostatic attraction to the negatively charged groups on the
surface of the fibers and neutralize their charge. The long aliphatic chains then line up towards
the outside of the fiber, imparting lubricity.

Electrically conductive fabric softener chemicals may also prevent static charge buildup in
clothes dryers. Other functions manufacturers claim include less friction during ironing,
increased stain resistance, reduced wrinkling and pilling, and lower drying time. Most contain
fragrances. Cationic fabric softeners are added during the rinse cycle rather than the wash cycle
because they can interfere with detergent cleaning action.[citation needed] In addition to fabric
softening chemicals, fabric softeners may include acids or bases to maintain optimal pH for
absorption, silicone-based anti-foaming agents, emulsion stabilizers, fragrances, and colors.

Composition
Early cotton softeners were typically based on a water emulsion of soap and olive oil, corn oil, or
tallow oil.[citation needed] Softening compounds differ in affinity to various fabrics. Some work better
on cellulose-based fibers (i.e., cotton), others have higher affinity to hydrophobic materials like
nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, etc. New silicone-based compounds, such as
polydimethylsiloxane, work by lubricating the fibers. Manufacturers use derivatives with amine-
or amide-containing functional groups as well. These groups improve the softener's binding to
fabrics.

As softeners are often hydrophobic, they commonly occur in the form of an emulsion. In the
early formulations, manufactures used soaps as emulsifiers. The emulsions are usually opaque,
milky fluids. However, there are also microemulsions, where the droplets of the hydrophobic
phase are substantially smaller[not specific enough to verify]. Microemulsions provide the advantage of
increased ability of smaller particles to penetrate into the fibers. Manufactures often use a
mixture of cationic and non-ionic surfactants as an emulsifier. Another approach is a polymeric
network, an emulsion polymer.

Cationic fabric softeners

In the 1950s, manufactures introduced distearyldimethylammonium chloride (DHTDMAC) as a

fabric softener, initially to counteract the harsh feel that the machine washing imparted to
nappies (cloth diapers). They had to discontinue using this compound because the cation
biodegrades very slowly. Contemporary fabric softeners are most often based on salts of
quaternary ammonium cations. Characteristically, the cations contain one or two long alkyl
chains derived from fatty acids.[3] Other cationic compounds can be derived from imidazolium,
substituted amine salts, or quaternary alkoxy ammonium salts.[2]

Cationic surfactants used as fabric softeners



"Monoesterquat" used as fabric softener.

"Diesterquat" used as a fabric softener.

A diesterquat derivative of trimethylamine used as a fabric softener, chloride salt.

Distearyldimethylammonium chloride, a fabric softener with low biodegradability, has

been phased out.

Anionic fabric softeners

Anionic softeners and antistatic agents can be, for example, salts of monoesters and diesters of
phosphoric acid and the fatty alcohols. These are often used together with the conventional
cationic softeners. Cationic softeners are incompatible with anionic surfactants in detergents
because they combine with them to form a solid precipitate. This requires that they be added in
the rinse cycle. Anionic softeners can combine with anionic surfactants directly. Other anionic
softeners can be based on smectite clays. Some compounds, such as ethoxylated phosphate
esters, have softening, anti-static, and surfactant properties.[4]

Risks
As with soaps and detergents, fabric softeners may cause irritant dermatitis.[5] Manufacturers
produce some fabric softeners without dyes and perfumes to reduce the risk of skin irritation.
Fabric softener overuse may make clothes more flammable, due to the fat-based nature of most
softeners. Several deaths have been attributed to this phenomenon,[6] and fabric softener makers
recommend not using them on clothes labeled as flame-resistant.[citation needed]

References
 1.

Terlep, Sharon (16 December 2016). "Millennials Are Fine Without Fabric Softener; P&G
Looks to Fix That". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
E. Smulders, E. Sung "Laundry Detergents, 2. Ingredients and Products" in Ullmann's
Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2012.
doi:10.1002/14356007.o15_013
"Henkel Consumer Info". Henkelconsumerinfo.com. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
"Fabric softener and anti-static compositions Patent 4118327". Freepatentsonline.com.
1977-03-28. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
"Contact dermatitis". Medline. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
"Liquid fabric softener may make clothes more flammable: Quebec coroner". CBC.
Retrieved 2015-11-20.