Concentrated Fabric Softener Composition Without Gelling or Clumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric softener compositions face challenges in achieving high concentration with improved stability and reduced viscosity, while maintaining ease of dispersion and avoiding gelling or clumping, which limits their effectiveness and sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated liquid rinse-cycle fabric softener composition comprising a quaternary ammonium cation and benzyl alcohol as a solvent, achieving 50-90% weight active ingredients, which ensures stability, sustainability, and easy dispersion without gelling, using a diester quat and silicone to maintain a clear, pumpable solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If fabric softener compositions are formulated as aqueous dispersions with water-insoluble softening agents, then the composition can be liquid and easy to dispense, but the concentration of active ingredients is limited to 3-25% by weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from water to benzyl alcohol, enabling the formulation of highly concentrated liquid fabric softener compositions (50-90% by weight active ingredients) that remain stable and pumpable. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing high concentration while maintaining liquid stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite liquid composition combining benzyl alcohol solvent with water-insoluble quaternary ammonium compounds and silicones. This composite formulation achieves both high active ingredient concentration (50-90%) and liquid stability, overcoming the limitation of conventional aqueous dispersions.
2Quantity of substance
If the concentration of fabric softener is increased to reduce packaging and shipping costs, then sustainability and cost-effectiveness improve, but the composition may gel or clump and lose pumpability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from water to benzyl alcohol, enabling the formulation of highly concentrated liquid fabric softener compositions (50-90% by weight active ingredients) that remain stable and pumpable. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing high concentration while maintaining liquid stability.
3Reliability
If quaternary ammonium compounds are used in high concentrations, then fabric softening effectiveness improves, but the composition becomes unstable and prone to gelling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from water to benzyl alcohol, enabling the formulation of highly concentrated liquid fabric softener compositions (50-90% by weight active ingredients) that remain stable and pumpable. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing high concentration while maintaining liquid stability.
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 a highly concentrated product with enhanced fabric softening properties, reduced shipping costs, and improved sustainability, maintaining pumpability and effectiveness in both soft and hard water conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Benzyl alcohol is disclosed as a preferred solvent to produce a clear liquid solution formulation rather than emulsion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softener compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium cation and benzylated alcohol solvent having between 50% to 90% weight active ingredients. Benzyl alcohol is disclosed as a preferred solvent to produce a clear liquid solution formulation rather than emulsion. The concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softener compositions of the present invention possess desirable stability, sustainability and fabric-softening properties. Methods of use are further described.