Cationic Fabric Softener Composition With Dual-Function Quat Polymer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fabric softeners with high levels of quaternary surfactants are costly and require additional thickeners to achieve viscosity, while cost-reduced versions lack performance and viscosity, necessitating a more effective thickener that enhances softening without increasing surfactant levels.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a cationic rheology modifier with a quaternary structure, such as quaternized (meth)acrylic polymers, to boost the fabric softening performance of low-actives quat-based fabric softeners, allowing for reduced surfactant usage while maintaining or exceeding the softening performance of higher active formulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high levels of quaternary surfactants are used to achieve good fabric softening performance, then softening efficacy is improved, but product cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabric softening performanceVSAvoidproduct cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines quaternary surfactants with cationic polymers to create a composite fabric softener system. The cationic polymer acts as a thickener and performance enhancer, allowing reduced surfactant levels while maintaining softening efficacy. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by using synergistic material combinations rather than relying solely on high concentrations of expensive surfactants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If high levels of quaternary surfactants are used to achieve good fabric softening performance, then softening efficacy is improved, but viscosity control becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabric softening performanceVSAvoidviscosity control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cationic polymer serves as an intermediary substance that mediates between the quaternary surfactant and the fabric. It provides thickening and viscosity control while enhancing the softening performance. The polymer acts as a bridge that allows lower surfactant concentrations to achieve the same performance, thereby resolving the viscosity control issue associated with high surfactant levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If cost-reduced formulations with low quaternary surfactant levels are used, then product cost decreases, but fabric softening performance and viscosity are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct costVSAvoidfabric softening performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the formulation parameters by introducing cationic polymers at optimized concentrations (typically 0.1-5% of total composition). This parameter change allows the system to achieve both cost reduction and performance maintenance. The polymer concentration is carefully controlled to provide sufficient thickening and softening enhancement without compromising the overall formulation balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Stability of the object's composition

If conventional thickeners are added to low-actives fabric softeners to improve viscosity, then viscosity is improved, but fabric softening performance is not enhanced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveviscosityVSAvoidfabric softening performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cationic polymer used in the patent performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a thickener to control viscosity, a fabric softener to enhance softening performance, and a stabilizer to maintain formulation integrity. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate thickening and softening agents, thereby improving both viscosity and performance with a single additive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 addition of less than 0.5 wt.% of quaternary (meth)acrylic polymers significantly enhances the softening performance of low-actives quat-based fabric softeners, achieving parity with higher active formulations, thereby optimizing cost and performance.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating a cationic rheology modifier with a quaternary structure, such as quaternized (meth)acrylic polymers, to boost the fabric softening performance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS9428714B2Method of increasing the performance of cationic fabric softeners

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The present invention is method of boosting the performance of a cost-reduced liquid fabric softener comprising a quaternary surfactant fabric softener by adding a quaternary (meth)acrylic polymer that functions dually as a fabric softening active and a rheology modifier. In particular, poly[{2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl}trimethylammonium chloride], poly[{2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl}trimethylammonium chloride], poly[{3-(methacryloyloxy)propyl}trimethylammonium chloride], and poly[{3-(acryloyloxy)propyl}trimethylammonium chloride] provide synergistic fabric softening with quaternary surfactants to provide superior fabric softening scores from cost-optimized compositions.