Anti-Greying Polymer Composition for Liquid Detergents
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) anti-greying additives in laundry detergents suffer from high viscosity and instability in liquid formulations, leading to redeposition of soil and greying of textiles, particularly affecting cotton fabrics after multiple washes.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous polymer compositions are produced by radical copolymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of carboxymethylcellulose, providing a high anti-greying effect without destabilizing liquid laundry detergents, with specific monomer ratios and carboxymethylcellulose concentrations ensuring compatibility and low viscosity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is used as anti-greying additive, then anti-greying effect is improved, but viscosity increases and stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular weight parameters of CMC, using specific ranges (10,000-500,000 g/mol) to optimize the balance between anti-greying performance and formulation stability. This parameter optimization allows CMC to maintain effectiveness while reducing excessive viscosity and improving compatibility with liquid detergent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines CMC with specific surfactants and builders to create a composite detergent formulation. This composite approach enhances the overall stability of the liquid formulation while maintaining the anti-greying properties of CMC, preventing phase separation and insoluble matter formation.
2Reliability
If carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is used as anti-greying additive, then anti-greying effect is improved, but viscosity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes CMC molecular weight within specific ranges (10,000-500,000 g/mol) to achieve the right balance between anti-greying performance and viscosity control. This parameter optimization ensures the detergent remains pumpable and applicable while maintaining effective soil anti-redeposition properties.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid detergent formulations are used, then gentleness on textiles is improved, but anti-greying performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes CMC molecular weight and concentration parameters specifically for liquid detergent systems, enabling these formulations to achieve both gentleness on textiles and effective anti-greying performance through precise parameter control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite liquid detergent formulations combining CMC with compatible surfactants and builders, achieving synergistic effects that provide both textile gentleness and effective soil anti-redeposition properties in the liquid phase.
4Reliability
If carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is used as anti-greying additive, then anti-greying effect is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies optimized CMC molecular weight ranges and concentration levels that simplify the formulation process by reducing the need for extensive viscosity adjustment and stability testing, making manufacturing more straightforward while maintaining anti-greying effectiveness.
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
The polymer compositions effectively prevent redeposition of soil, maintaining the whiteness of textiles and stabilizing liquid detergent formulations, offering a comparable anti-greying performance to traditional CMC while avoiding viscosity issues and phase separation.
Implementation Method 1
The polymer compositions described herein provide for a high anti-greying effect when used in detergent formulations
Implementation Method 2
In contrast to conventional carboxymethylcellulose, the aqueous polymer compositions do not impart instability to liquid laundry detergent formulations
Implementation Method 3
The anti-redeposition/anti-greying effect of CMC is not always satisfactory. Moreover, liquid detergent formulations may become instable by formation insoluble matter or suffering from phase separation, when containing CMC
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to aqueous polymer compositions, which are obtainable by radical copolymerization in water of i) ethylenically unsaturated monomers M comprising a.1) 50 to 95% by weight, in particular 60 to 93% by weight, more particularly 70 to 92% by weight, especially 75 to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the monomers M, of at least one monomer M1, selected from the group consisting of C1-C3-alkyl esters of acrylic acid and C1-C3-alkyl esters of methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof, and a.2) 5 to 50% by weight, in particular 7 to 40% by weight, more particularly 8 to 30% by weight, especially 10 to 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the monomers M, of at least one monomer M2, selected from the group consisting of monoethylenically unsaturated C3-C8-monocarboxylic acids and monoethylenically unsaturated C4-C8-dicarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof; in the presence of ii) 110 to 600 by weight, in particular 130 to 500% by weight, more particularly 150 to 480% by weight and especially 170 to 450% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers M, of a carboxymethylcellulose. Further aspects of the present invention relate to a process for producing the aqueous polymer compositions of the present invention; - the use of the aqueous polymer compositions as defined herein as an anti-grey- ing additive in the washing or laundry; - the use of the aqueous polymer compositions as defined herein as an anti-grey- ing additive in laundry detergent formulations, in particular in liquid laundry detergent formulations or gel-type laundry detergent formulations; laundry detergent formulations, in particular a liquid or gel-type laundry detergent formulations, which contain at least one aqueous polymer composition as defined herein.