US 6,503,413 B2  31  32  Shape retention in fabrics can be imparted to the fabrics  through the use of polymers that act by forming a film and/or  by providing adhesive properties to the fabrics. These poly› mers may be natural, or synthetic. By "adhesive" it is meant  that when applied as a solution or a dispersion, the polymer  The synthetic polymers useful in the present invention are  comprised of monomers. Nonlimiting examples of mono› mers which can be used to form the synthetic polymers  useful in the present invention include: low molecular  weight  CcC$_{6 }$ unsaturated organic mono- and polycarboxy› lic acids, such as acry lie acid, methacry lie acid, crotonic  acid, maleic acid and its half esters, itaconic acid, and  mixtures thereof; esters of said acids with C$_{1}$-C$_{6 }$ alcohols,  such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol,  1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol,  3-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, l-methyl-1-butanol,  3-methyl-1-butanol, l-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-methyl-1- pentanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, t-butanol, cyclohexanol,  2-ethyl-1-butanol, and the like, and mixtures thereof. Non› limiting examples of said esters are methyl acrylate, ethyl  acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, hydroxy› ethyl methacrylate, methoxy ethyl methacrylate, and mix› tures thereof, amides and imides of said acids, such as  N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-t-butyl acrylamide, maleim› ides; low molecular weight unsaturated alcohols such as  vinyl alcohol (produced by the hydrolysis of vinyl acetate  after polymerization), alkyl alcohol; esters of said alcohols  with low molecular weight carboxylic acids, such as, vinyl  acetate, vinyl propionate; ethers of said alcohols such as  methyl vinyl ether; polar vinyl heterocyclics, such as vinyl  pyrrolidone, vinyl caprolactam, vinyl pyridine, vinyl  imidazole, and mixtures thereof; other unsaturated amines  and amides, such as vinyl amine, diethylene triamine, dim- ethylaminoethyl methacrylate, ethenyl formamide; vinyl  sulfonate; salts of acids and amines listed above; low  molecular weight unsaturated hydrocarbons and derivatives  Solid polymeric particles of average particle size smaller  than about 10 microns, preferably smaller than 5 microns,  more preferably smaller than about 1 micron, may be used  as a lubricant, since they can provide a "roller-bearing"  action. Polyethylene emulsions and suspensions are also  suitable for providing this lubrication or smoothness effect  to the fabrics on which they are deposited. Suitable smooth› ing agents are available under the tradename  VELUSTROL  from HOECHST Aktiengesellschaft of Frankfurt am Main,  Germany. In particular, the polyethylene emulsions sold  under the tradename VELUSTROL PKS, VELUSTROL  KPA, or VELUSTROL P-40 may be employed in the  compositions of the present invention. The use of such  polymers in fabric softening compositions is described in  U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,843,  b. Shape Retention Polymers  When silicone is present as a supplemental wrinkle con› trol agent, it is present at least an effective amount to provide  lubrication of the fibers.  ii. Synthetic Solid Particles  Alternatively, the silicone material can be provided as a  moiety or a part of a non-silicone molecule. Examples of  such materials are copolymers containing silicone moieties,  typically present as block and/or graft copolymers.  Nonlimiting examples of natural shape retention poly- mers are starches and their derivatives, and chitins and their  derivatives. Starch is not normally preferred, since it makes  the fabric resistant to deformation. However, it does provide  increased "body" which is often desired. Starch is particu› larly preferred however, when the consumer intends to iron  the fabrics after they have been washed and dried. When  used, starch may be used as a solid or solubilized or  dispersed to be combined with other materials in the com› position. Any type of starch, e.g. those derived from corn,  wheat, rice, grain sorghum, waxy grain sorghum, waxy  maize or tapioca, or mixtures thereof and water soluble or  dispersible modifications or derivatives thereof, can be used  in the compositions of the present invention. Modified  starches may include natural starches that have been  degraded to obtain a lower viscosity by acidic, oxidative or  enzymic depolymerization. Additionally, low viscosity com› mercially available propoxylated and/or ethoxylated  starches are useable in the present composition and are  preferred when the composition is to be dispensed with a  sprayer because of their low viscosity at relatively high solid  concentrations. Suitable alkoxylated, low viscosity starches  are submicron-size particles of hydrophobic starch that are  readily dispersed in water and are prepared by alkoxylation  of granular starch with a monofunctional alkoxylating agent  which provides the starch with ether linked hydrophilic  groups. A suitable method for their preparation is taught in  U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,283.  wherein n and m are the same as before. The preferred  silicones of this type are those which do not cause fabric  discoloration.  Another silicone material which can be used has the  formula:  III. f denotes an integer of at least about 2.  In the formulas herein, each definition is applied indi› vidually and averages are included.  II. R 3  denotes a long chain alkyl group; and  I.  z=-CH$_{2}$-CH(OH)-CH$_{2}$O-CH$_{2}$ ) 2 - wherein  IV.  -N+(R $^{2}$)CH$_{2}$ -CH$_{2}$N+H$_{2}$ A- III.  -N+(R 2 ) 3  A-;  and  II.  -N(R 2 ) 2 ;  I.  -N(R $^{2}$)CH$_{2}$ -CH$_{2}$-N(R 2 ) 2 ;  wherein G is selected from the group consisting of  hydrogen, OH, and/or Ci-Cs alkyl; a denotes  O  or an integer  from 1 to 3; b denotes  O  or 1; the sum of n+m is a number  from 1 to about 2,000; R $^{1 }$is a monovalent radical of formula  CpH$_{2}$ P  Lin which p is an integer from 2 to 4 and Lis selected  from the group consisting of:  can attach to the surface of the fabric fibers and dry in place.  The polymer can form a film on the fiber surfaces, or when  residing between two fibers and in contact with the two  fibers, it can bond the two fibers together. Other polymers  such as starches can form a film and/or bond the fibers  together when the treated fabric is pressed by a hot iron.  Such a film will have adhesive strength, cohesive breaking  strength, and cohesive breaking strain.  Similarly, silicone materials which can be used corre› spond to the formulas:  wherein each  R $^{2 }$is chosen from the group consisting of  hydrogen, a C$_{1}$-Cs saturated hydrocarbon radical,  and each  A- denotes compatible anion, e.g., a halide  ion; and  R 3 -N+(CH 3 ) 2 -Z--{Si(CH 3 ) 2 0]r-,Si(CH 3 ) 2 -Z-N+(CH 3 ) 2 - R3.2CH3COO- (R $^{1}$)aG3-n-Si-(---0SiG2)n-(0SiGb(R$^{1}$)2-b)m-O-SiG3_a(R$^{1}$)a  (CH 3 ) 3 -Si--{0Si(CH 3 ) 2 1-{---0-Si(CH 3 )[(CH 2 ) 3 -NH- (CH2)2-NH2]} m0Si(CH 3 ) 3 