Amphoteric Terpolymer Soil-Release Additive for Detergents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current soil-release additives in detergents have a narrow spectrum of action, effectively working on only certain fabrics or types of soiling, and struggle with oil and fat-based soiling on blended or pure cotton fabrics.
Innovation Solution
The use of water-soluble amphoteric terpolymers with specific monomer compositions, including 3-trimethylammonium propyl methacrylamide chloride, N-isopropylacrylamide, acrylic acid, and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, which form a thin film on fibers to prevent dirt adhesion and re-soiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional soil-release polymers are used, then they work on certain fabrics or soil types, but they have a very narrow spectrum of action and cannot effectively handle oil and fat-based soiling on blended or pure cotton fabrics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a polymer with multiple functional groups that can interact with different types of soils (oil, fat, protein-based) and work on various fabric types (cotton, synthetics, blends). The amphoteric nature with both cationic and anionic groups allows the single polymer to perform multiple soil-release functions that previously required different specialized polymers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by creating a copolymer structure combining monomers with different functional properties: cationic monomers (for anionic soils), anionic monomers (for cationic soils), and hydrophobic monomers (for oil and fat). This composite polymer structure integrates multiple functionalities into a single material that can handle diverse soiling types.
2Reliability
If specialized polymers are used for specific fabrics or soil types, then they provide targeted effectiveness, but multiple different polymers are needed to cover all fabric and soil combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple specialized polymer functions into a single copolymer structure. Instead of using separate polymers for cotton, synthetics, oil-based soils, and protein-based soils, the invention merges these functionalities into one amphoteric copolymer with both cationic and anionic groups that can interact with various soil types and fabric surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal soil-release polymer that performs multiple functions: it works on both cotton and synthetic fabrics, handles oil and fat-based soiling, and addresses protein-based soiling. This single multi-functional polymer replaces the need for multiple specialized polymers, simplifying the detergent formulation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a broad-spectrum polymer is designed, then it can work on multiple fabric types and soil types, but it may compromise effectiveness on specific difficult-to-remove soils like oil and fat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by incorporating hydrophobic monomer components into the copolymer structure. These hydrophobic segments specifically target oil and fat-based soils through hydrophobic interactions, while the cationic and anionic groups handle other soil types. This composite structure ensures that broad-spectrum functionality does not compromise effectiveness on difficult oil and fat soiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions within the polymer chain with different properties: hydrophobic regions for oil and fat interaction, cationic regions for anionic soils, and anionic regions for cationic soils. This local differentiation of functional properties within the single polymer allows simultaneous effectiveness across multiple soil types including oil and fat-based soiling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These polymers provide broad-spectrum soil-release performance, effectively removing oil and fat-based soiling from cotton and synthetic blends, maintaining effectiveness across multiple washing cycles.
Implementation Method 1
These polymers are applied to the fiber during a first washing process and then facilitate the washing process in the following washing process by reducing the adhesion of dirt
Data Source
AI summary
Use of polymers, which soluble in water at 20[deg] C comprising at least a polymerized monomer of: alkene amide monomer (a); alkene amide monomer (b); acryl- or methacryl acid; and/or other monomer groups of 3-6 carbon ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid such as crotonic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and their salts, or amide monomer (c) and its salt, preferably alkali metal and ammonium salts, as soil-release additive in detergents, is claimed, where the acryl- or methacryic acid monomer is present at greater than 25 wt.%. Use of polymers, which soluble in water at 20[deg] C comprising at least a polymerized monomer of: alkene amide monomer of formula (H 2C=CR 1>-CO-NH-R 2>-N +>R 3>R 4>R 5>X ->) (a); alkene amide monomer of formula (H 2C=CR 6>-CO-NR 7>R 8>) (b); acryl- or methacryl acid; and/or other monomer groups of 3-6 carbon ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid such as crotonic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and their salts, or amide monomer of formula (H 2C=CR-CO-NH-CR1aR2aR3a-SO 3H) (c) and its salt, preferably alkali metal and ammonium salts, as soil-release additive in detergents, is claimed, where the acryl- or methacryic acid monomer is present at greater than 25 wt.%. R 1>H or 1-4C alkyl; R 2>1-12C alkylene; R 3>-R 5>H, 1-18C alkyl or phenyl; X ->anion of halo, sulfates and/or alkylsulfate, OH, phosphate, acetate, formiate or ammonium; R 6>H, 1-6C alkyl; R 7>, R 8>H, 1-4C alkyl or 3-6C cycloalkyl; and R1a, R2a, R3a : H or 1-4C alkyl(ene). Provided that R 7> and R 8> not simultaneously H. Independent claims are included for: (1) process of incorporating a soil-release polymer with the textiles comprising: contacting the textile in an alkaline solution with an agent containing (I) and, optionally surfactant and further additives; heating the obtained textile by at least 30[deg] C; and subsequently drying, where optionally the textile is contacted with clean water before drying; (2) liquid detergent, comprising: (I) (0.05-10 (preferably 0.05-5) wt.%); surfactant (5-45 wt.%); water (at least 16 wt.%); and optionally further auxiliary material and additives; and (3) solid detergent comprising: (I) (0.05-10 (preferably 0.05-5) wt.%); surfactant (2-20 wt.%); water (0.05-10 wt.%); and optionally further auxiliary material and additives.