Cleansing Composition with Alkoxylated Methyl Glucose Ether Thickener
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleansing compositions containing cationic and nonionic surfactants often require thickeners to achieve desired viscosity, but these thickeners can make the composition opaque, and there is a need for a transparent, cold-weather-stable cleansing composition.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous cleansing composition comprising a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a thickener comprising an alkoxylated methyl glucose ether, with a weight ratio of cationic surfactant to nonionic surfactant greater than 0.9:1, which maintains transparency and stability in cold weather.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If polyacrylate thickeners are used to increase viscosity, then the desired viscosity level is achieved, but the cleansing composition becomes opaque or translucent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the thickening agent from polyacrylate to alkoxylated methyl glucose ether, which fundamentally alters the composition's optical properties while maintaining thickening capability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by selecting a thickener that does not interfere with light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite surfactant system combining cationic and nonionic surfactants in a specific weight ratio (greater than 0.9:1) with the alkoxylated methyl glucose ether thickener. This composite material approach creates synergistic effects that maintain both high viscosity and transparency simultaneously.
2Reliability
If cationic and nonionic surfactants are mixed to provide antibacterial properties, then antibacterial efficacy is improved, but viscosity control becomes difficult requiring additional thickeners
Solution Approach 1:
The alkoxylated methyl glucose ether serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a thickening agent to control viscosity and as a compatibility enhancer that stabilizes the cationic-nonionic surfactant mixture. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate thickeners and simplifies the overall formulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies a precise parameter range for the cationic to nonionic surfactant weight ratio (greater than 0.9:1), which optimizes both antibacterial efficacy and viscosity characteristics. By controlling this critical parameter, the formulation achieves desired properties without requiring complex viscosity adjustment mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the composition is stored in cold weather, then stability is tested, but transparency is lost due to precipitation or phase separation
Solution Approach 1:
The alkoxylated methyl glucose ether acts as a preemptive stabilizer that prevents cold-weather precipitation and phase separation before they can occur. By incorporating this thickener with specific cold-temperature solubility properties, the formulation is cushioned against cold weather instability, maintaining transparency throughout storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The synergistic composite of cationic surfactant, nonionic surfactant in ratio >0.9:1, and alkoxylated methyl glucose ether creates a formulation with enhanced cold-weather stability. The composite structure prevents phase separation at low temperatures while maintaining the transparent appearance, resolving the contradiction between cold stability and transparency.
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 the desired viscosity while remaining transparent after cold storage, demonstrating cold weather stability and transparency.
Implementation Method 1
a thickener comprising an alkoxylated methyl glucose ether
Implementation Method 2
Cationic surfactants can provide antibacterial properties to a cleansing composition
Implementation Method 3
there is generally a need to use thickeners to increase the viscosity to a level that is expected by consumers for a cleansing composition, such as a liquid hand soap or body wash. While polyacrylate thickeners can increase the viscosity, they can make the cleansing composition opaque or translucent
Implementation Method 4
The combination of the cationionic:nonionic surfactant ratio with the alkoxylated methyl glucose ether thickener provides the composition with cold weather stability. Cold weather stability is observed when the composition remains transparent after cold storage
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous cleansing composition comprising a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a thickener comprising an alkoxylated methyl glucose ether, wherein a weight ratio of cationic surfactant to nonionic surfactant is greater than 0.9:1. The combination of the cationionic:nonionic surfactant ratio with the alkoxylated methyl glucose ether thickener provides the composition with cold weather stability. Cold weather stability is observed when the composition remains transparent after cold storage.