Cationic Polymer Laundry Detergent Suds Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current laundry detergents face challenges in achieving strong suds formation during wash cycles while ensuring quick suds elimination during rinse cycles, which is essential for environmental sustainability and cost savings, without compromising cleaning performance or fabric whiteness.

Innovation Solution

A laundry detergent composition utilizing cationic polymers made from (meth)acrylamide and diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride monomers at specific ratios and molecular weights, optimizing sudsing profiles and minimizing fabric whiteness loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional de-foaming agents or amino-silicone based anti-foaming agents are added to reduce suds during rinse cycles, then suds elimination is improved, but wash suds volume is significantly reduced and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuds elimination during rinseVSAvoidwash suds volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymer by specifying precise monomeric composition (70-90 mol% AAm, 10-30 mol% DADMAC) and molecular weight range (20,000-350,000 Daltons). This parameter optimization allows the cationic polymer to provide effective suds control during rinse while maintaining wash suds volume, resolving the contradiction between suds elimination and wash performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite polymer system combining (meth)acrylamide and diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride monomers to create a cationic polymer with dual functionality. This composite material structure enables the polymer to provide both suds suppression during rinse and adequate wash suds volume, unlike conventional single-function anti-foaming agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of substance

If polymeric de-foaming agents are used to reduce suds during rinse, then suds control is improved, but fabric whiteness loss increases after repeated wash cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuds reduction during rinseVSAvoidfabric whiteness loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameter of the cationic polymer within a specific range (20,000-350,000 Daltons) and controls monomeric composition. These parameter changes reduce the polymer's harmful effects on fabric whiteness while maintaining effective suds control during rinse cycles, addressing the contradiction between suds reduction and fabric care.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves significant suds reduction during rinse cycles with minimal impact on wash cycle suds volume and reduces fabric whiteness loss, enabling a single rinse cycle and improved environmental conservation.

Implementation Method 1

a foam control composition comprising a cationic polymer... significant suds reduction during the rinse cycle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFoam control: Antifoam

Implementation Method 2

strong suds formation (both fast generation of large volume of suds as well as stability or sustainability of the suds already generated) during the wash cycle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuds formation: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP3122855B1Cleaning compositions containing cationic polymers, and methods of making and using same

Publication Date: 2019.05.08 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

The present invention relates to cleaning composition, preferably a laundry detergent composition, comprising a cationic polymer with enhanced suds reduction or removal during the rinse cycle with little or no impact on suds volume during the wash cycle. Such composition is further characterized by reduced fabric whiteness loss after repeated wash cycles.