Dishwashing Detergent Copolymer Lime Deposit Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashing detergents often leave unwanted lime deposits on glass and metal surfaces, particularly in hard water, which affects the rinse performance and consumer satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A dishwashing agent comprising a nonionic surfactant from fatty alcohol alkoxylates and a polymer formed by polymerizing itaconic acid with (meth)acrylic acid, salts, esters, or anhydrides, or 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, which synergistically improves rinse performance on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional dishwashing detergents are used, then cleaning function is provided, but limescale deposits remain on glass and metal surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a copolymer of itaconic acid and acrylic acid with ethoxylated nonionic surfactants to create a composite detergent formulation. This composite approach leverages the scale-inhibiting properties of the copolymer and the surfactant properties of the ethoxylated compounds to achieve improved rinse performance and reduced limescale deposits on glass and plastic surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies precise compositional parameters: the copolymer contains 30-70 mol% itaconic acid and 70-30 mol% acrylic acid, with the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant having 10-30 ethylene oxide units. These parameter optimizations ensure the formulation achieves maximum effectiveness in preventing limescale deposition while maintaining cleaning performance.
2Quantity of substance
If water hardness is high, then cleaning capacity is maintained, but limescale residues increase on washed dishes
Solution Approach 1:
The copolymer of itaconic acid and acrylic acid acts as an intermediary substance that interferes with the precipitation of calcium and magnesium salts. It binds to these hardness ions, preventing them from forming insoluble limescale deposits on dish surfaces, thereby mediating between the hard water and the cleaned objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water hardness into a beneficial outcome by using the copolymer to sequester hardness ions. The presence of calcium and magnesium ions, which would normally cause limescale, is transformed into a controlled interaction where the ions are bound by the copolymer, preventing deposition and actually improving rinse quality in hard water conditions.
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 combination significantly reduces lime deposits, enhancing the rinse performance and leaving fewer residues on washed items, particularly on plastic and stainless steel surfaces during automatic dishwashing.
Implementation Method 1
A) at least one nonionic surfactant selected from fatty alcohol alkoxylates
Implementation Method 2
B) at least one polymer obtained by polymerizing itaconic acid with at least one comonomer selected from (meth)acrylic acid, salts, esters, or anhydrides thereof, and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or salts thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dishwashing detergent comprising A) at least one nonionic surfactant selected from fatty alcohol alkoxylates and B) at least one polymer obtained by polymerizing itaconic acid with at least one co-monomer selected from (meth)acrylic acid, salts, esters or anhydrides thereof, and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or salts thereof. The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning dishes in a dishwasher using a dishwashing detergent of the present invention, and to the use of a dishwashing detergent according to the present invention for improving the rinsing performance of plastic or stainless steel dishes during machine dishwashing.