Biocidal textile treatment agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current textile treatment agents fail to effectively eliminate microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, mold, and yeast at lower washing temperatures, leading to potential reinfections due to the use of non-bleach detergents and the instability of biocidal compounds when combined with perfume compositions.
Innovation Solution
A textile treatment agent containing a biocidal quaternary ammonium compound, a perfume composition, and a nonionic surfactant with specific HLB values and clouding temperatures, along with ethanol or isopropanol, which stabilizes the agent and maintains effectiveness at low temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If washing temperature is reduced to 30-40°C for delicate textiles, then energy consumption and fabric damage are reduced, but microorganisms are not effectively killed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the washing system by introducing specific quaternary ammonium compounds with defined alkyl chain lengths and concentrations (0.1-5% by weight), enabling effective microorganism elimination at lower temperatures through enhanced chemical biocidal activity rather than thermal effects
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite biocidal systems combining quaternary ammonium compounds with specific surfactants and perfume compositions, creating a synergistic formulation that maintains stability at low temperatures while providing effective antimicrobial action against viruses, bacteria, mold, and yeast
2Adaptability or versatility
If biocidal compounds are combined with perfume compositions in textile treatment agents, then product appeal is improved, but storage stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of both biocidal compounds (0.1-5% by weight) and perfume compositions (0.01-1% by weight), and selects specific quaternary ammonium compound structures that are less reactive with perfume ingredients, thereby maintaining storage stability while preserving product appeal
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses nonionic surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the biocidal quaternary ammonium compounds and perfume compositions, reducing direct interactions that cause instability while maintaining the functional effectiveness of both components
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional detergents without bleach are used, then fabric safety is improved, but microorganism elimination capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the thermal-mechanical killing mechanism (high temperature) and oxidative mechanism (bleach) with a chemical mechanism based on quaternary ammonium compounds that disrupt microorganism cell membranes, providing effective biocidal action without fabric damage or bleach requirements
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 solution provides a stable and effective textile treatment agent that effectively reduces microorganisms on fabrics, ensuring cleanliness and preventing reinfections while maintaining a pleasant scent and softening properties.
Implementation Method 1
a nonionic surfactant with an HLB value (according to Griffin) between 10.5 and 15 and a clouding temperature of at least 50 °C
Implementation Method 2
biocidal, quaternary ammonium compound (i) is a dialkyldimethylammonium chloride or (ii) a benzalkonium chloride with C 8 -C 18 alkyl radicals
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a textile treatment agent containing a biocidal compound, a perfume composition and a non-ionic surfactant, said non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of between 10.5 and 15 and precipitation threshold of at least 50 °C. This permits the production of a stable textile treatment agent which reduces the number of micro-organisms on textiles treated with said agent and gives the textiles a pleasant fragrance.