Hard Surface Cleaning Composition for Foam and Water Sheeting

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a hard surface cleaning composition with a good environmental profile that provides effective cleaning performance and visual cues like foam formation and water sheeting on stainless-steel surfaces, while avoiding the use of alkylbenzene sulphonates and ensuring consumer satisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A liquid detergent composition comprising a surfactant system with a specific ratio of anionic and amphoteric surfactants, including sodium lauryl ether sulphate and betaine, along with inorganic salts, to enhance cleaning efficacy and visual cues without using alkylbenzene sulphonates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional surfactants like alkylbenzene sulphonates are used, then cleaning performance is improved, but environmental profile deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by formulating a surfactant system based on alkyl polyglycosides (APG) with specific molecular weight ranges (300-900 g/mol) and controlled ethoxylate content (0.5-2.0 moles per mole of APG). This parameter optimization enables the surfactant to achieve effective cleaning performance while maintaining high biodegradability and eco-friendliness, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning efficacy and environmental impact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite surfactant system by combining alkyl polyglycosides with ethoxylated surfactants in specific ratios (APG: 5-30 wt%, ethoxylated surfactant: 2-20 wt%). This composite formulation synergistically enhances cleaning performance while preserving the environmentally benign characteristics of APG-based surfactants, thereby achieving both effective cleaning and eco-friendliness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If eco-friendly surfactants like alkyl polyglycosides are used, then environmental profile is improved, but foam formation and cleaning perception deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidfoam formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the molecular parameters of alkyl polyglycosides by selecting specific molecular weights (300-900 g/mol) and controlling the degree of ethoxylation (0.5-2.0 moles per mole of APG). These parameter adjustments enhance the surfactant's foam-generating capability while preserving its eco-friendly properties, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and foam formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention formulates a composite surfactant system combining alkyl polyglycosides with ethoxylated surfactants in optimized ratios. The ethoxylated surfactant component compensates for the limited foam-forming ability of pure APG, creating a synergistic effect that delivers adequate foam formation and improved cleaning perception while maintaining the environmentally benign APG base

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-generated harmful factors

If stainless-steel surfaces have fatty soil traces, then water splitting occurs, but cleaning perception deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater splittingVSAvoidcleaning perception
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The surfactant system acts as an intermediary substance that adsorbs onto the stainless-steel surface, displacing fatty soil traces and replacing them with hydrophilic surfactant molecules. This intermediary action prevents water splitting by creating a hydrophilic interface between the water and the steel surface, thereby ensuring water sheeting and improved cleaning perception even when complete soil removal is not achieved

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 adequate foam formation and water sheeting on stainless-steel surfaces, providing a high Renewable Carbon Index (RCI) and Biorenewable Carbon Index (BCI), thus meeting consumer expectations for eco-friendliness and cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

a surfactant system providing for good foam and cleaning performance on stainless-steel hard surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

water sheeting on stainless-steel surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Implementation Method 3

water will be repelled if the surface is rendered hydrophobic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS12497576B2Hard surface cleaning composition
Publication Date: 2025.12.16 CONOPCO INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to liquid aqueous detergent compositions comprising a surfactant system comprising a primary surfactant being anionic surfactant and a secondary surfactant being amphoteric surfactant whilst the surfactant system is free of alkylbenzene sulphonates and derivatives thereof. The invention further relates to a method of cleaning a stainless-steel hard surface using the composition of the invention, as well as the use thereof.