Cationic Polyelectrolytes for Surfactant Clarity and Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial cationic water-soluble synthetic polyelectrolytes in surfactant-based formulations are high in molecular weight, leading to 'stringy' rheology, reduced solubility, and deposition performance, and contain high levels of residual monomers and hydrolytic instability, along with acute aquatic toxicity.
Innovation Solution
Development of cationic water-soluble polyelectrolytes with a charge density between 0.001 and 4 meq/g and solution viscosity between 10 mPas to 3000 mPas, synthesized through adiabatic gel polymerization, combining copolymers and terpolymers of (meth)acrylamide and cationic monomers, which enhance deposition, solubility, and clarity while reducing residual monomer levels and toxicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high molecular weight cationic synthetic polyelectrolytes are used, then deposition performance is improved, but rheology becomes stringy and solubility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the cationic synthetic polyelectrolyte from high to low (specifically <1,000,000 g/mol), which simultaneously improves solubility while maintaining adequate deposition performance through optimized charge density (0.001-4 meq/g) and viscosity (10-3000 mPas) parameters
2Reliability
If high molecular weight cationic synthetic polyelectrolytes are used, then deposition performance is improved, but rheology becomes stringy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter to below 1,000,000 g/mol and controls viscosity to 10-3000 mPas, which eliminates stringy rheology while preserving deposition effectiveness through optimized charge density and polymer architecture
3Reliability
If conventional cationic synthetic polyelectrolytes are used, then conditioning performance is achieved, but residual monomer levels and toxicity are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs low molecular weight polymers (<1,000,000 g/mol) that are easier to completely degrade and eliminate from the environment, reducing persistence and toxicity, while maintaining effective conditioning performance through optimized charge density and viscosity parameters
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 new polyelectrolytes achieve targeted and uniform deposition of silicone and antimicrobial agents, improve lather performance, and maintain a non-stringy rheology, while reducing environmental impact and user discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
enhance deposition of dispersed phase materials onto keratin substrates, textile substrates, and hard-surface substrates
Implementation Method 2
cationic water-soluble polyelectrolytes... charge density between 0.001 and 4 meq/g
Implementation Method 3
synthesized through adiabatic gel polymerization, combining copolymers and terpolymers of (meth)acrylamide and cationic monomers
Implementation Method 4
surfactant-based formulations... improved lather performance
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is related to surfactant-based formulations comprising the polyelectrolytes and blends of such polyelectrolytes with non-cellulosic cationic polysaccharide polymers wherein the surfactant is a phosphate ester. The surfactant-based formulations exhibit improved clarity of the resulting formulations, their improved conditioning of keratin substrates, textile substrates, and hard-surface substrates, their improved deposition of dispersed phase materials onto keratin substrates, textile substrates, and hard-surface substrates, their improved lather performance, and their improved rheology in applications such as personal care and household care products and textile applications.