Low Molecular Weight Cationic Polymers for Fabric Deposition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional detergents fail to effectively deposit benefit agents onto fabrics while maintaining cleaning and whiteness benefits, as traditional cationic deposition polymers can redeposit soils and interact negatively with anionic surfactants, and enzymes like cellulase are not compatible with certain polymers, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A liquid detergent composition comprising a surfactant system with specific ratios of anionic and nonionic surfactants, low-molecular-weight cationic deposition polymers, and encapsulates, which enhances the retention of benefit agents like perfume and improves cleaning and freshness without redepositing soils, and is compatible with enzyme mixtures containing trace amounts of cellulase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional cationic deposition polymers are used to deposit benefit agents onto fabrics, then deposition efficiency is improved, but cleaning performance and whiteness benefits deteriorate due to soil redeposition and interaction with anionic surfactants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of cationic deposition polymers from traditional high molecular weight to low molecular weight (5-200 kDaltons). This parameter change resolves the contradiction by enabling effective benefit agent deposition while preventing soil redeposition and maintaining compatibility with anionic surfactants, thus preserving cleaning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite approach by combining low molecular weight cationic polymers with specific surfactant systems (anionic sulfate and sulphonate in controlled ratios) and encapsulates. This composite formulation achieves both effective deposition and maintained cleaning performance by ensuring synergistic compatibility among all components.
2Reliability
If cellulase is present in enzyme mixtures to provide cleaning benefits, then stain removal is improved, but compatibility with cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose polymers deteriorates due to enzymatic degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes polysaccharide-based cationic polymers (such as hydroxyethyl cellulose) from the formulation that are susceptible to enzymatic degradation. Instead, it uses low molecular weight cationic polymers based on non-polysaccharide backbones (acrylamide/DADMAS, acrylamide/APTAS, etc.), which are resistant to cellulase degradation while maintaining deposition functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive enzyme formulations requiring cellulase removal with low molecular weight cationic polymers that are inherently stable against enzymatic degradation. These polymers provide the necessary deposition function without requiring costly enzyme purification or formulation adjustments.
3Productivity
If high molecular weight cationic polymers are used for deposition, then benefit agent deposition is improved, but fabric whiteness and cleanliness are worsened due to soil flocculation and re-deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the molecular weight parameter of cationic polymers from high (traditional) to low (5-200 kDaltons). This parameter change resolves the contradiction by reducing the polymer's ability to flocculate clay and interact strongly with anionic surfactants, thereby preventing soil re-deposition while maintaining effective benefit agent deposition through encapsulate interaction.
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 composition provides enhanced cleaning, freshness, and whiteness benefits by optimizing the interaction between surfactants and cationic deposition polymers, maintaining encapsulate retention and compatibility with enzymes, thus improving fabric care outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
the cationic deposition aid polymer is a non-polysaccharide polymer... characterized by a weight average molecular weight of from 5 to 200 kDaltons
Implementation Method 2
the surfactant system includes anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant present in a weight ratio of from about 1:1 to about 4.5:1
Implementation Method 3
the encapsulates include a core and a wall at least partially surrounding the core, where the core includes a benefit agent
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A liquid detergent composition comprising a surfactant system, encapsulates, and a cationic deposition aid polymer, wherein the detergent composition comprises from 10 to 50 wt% of the surfactant system, wherein the surfactant system comprises anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant present in a weight ratio of from 1:1 to 4.5:1, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises an anionic sulphate surfactant and an anionic sulphonate surfactant in a weight ratio of from 1:1 to 20:1, wherein the detergent composition comprises from 0.1% to 5 wt% of the encapsulates comprising a core and a wall, wherein the core comprises a benefit agent, wherein the cationic deposition aid polymer is a non-polysaccharide polymer with Mw from 5 to 200 kDa, and wherein the liquid detergent composition contains, no more than 0.3% of a silicone. A method of treating fabrics, wherein the fabric contacts the said detergent composition.