Laundry Detergent Composition Preventing Neat Contact Staining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry detergents with dyes face issues with neat contact staining on fabrics, where the dye can permanently stain white fabrics, especially during repeated wash cycles, which affects the whiteness and appearance of clothing.
Innovation Solution
A laundry detergent composition incorporating 4-50 wt% charged surfactant, 0.1-20 wt% alkoxylated polyaryl or alkyl phenol, and 0.0001-0.1 wt% blue or violet shading dye, along with a method of treating textiles by applying the detergent directly and allowing it to remain in contact for 30 minutes to 2 days before washing, reduces neat contact dye staining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If dyes are added to liquid laundry detergent to enhance whiteness and eliminate yellowness on white fabrics, then the aesthetic appearance and whiteness enhancement are improved, but the dye may stain the fabric during neat contact stain treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific surfactant system (combination of anionic and nonionic surfactants with defined HLB values) as an intermediary between the dye and fabric. This surfactant system controls dye deposition by forming micelles that encapsulate dye molecules, preventing direct staining while allowing controlled whiteness enhancement during the wash cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including surfactant concentration ratios (anionic to nonionic), HLB values of the surfactant mixture, and dye concentration levels. By adjusting these parameters, the formulation achieves a balance where dyes provide whiteness enhancement without causing neat contact staining, as the optimized surfactant system controls dye-fabric interaction.
2Productivity
If the detergent is applied directly to stains on fabric for neat contact treatment, then the stain treatment effectiveness is improved, but the dye in the detergent may permanently stain the fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant system acts as a mediator during neat contact treatment, forming a controlled interface between the dye-containing detergent and the fabric. The specific combination of anionic and nonionic surfactants creates micellar structures that allow the detergent to penetrate and treat stains effectively while preventing uncontrolled dye deposition on the fabric surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the surfactant system prepare the fabric surface and control the dye release mechanism before actual staining can occur. The optimized surfactant formulation pre-establishes controlled dye deposition pathways that enable stain treatment while preventing permanent staining, even during extended contact periods.
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 use of alkoxylated polyaryl or alkyl phenols in the detergent composition significantly reduces dye staining on fabrics, maintaining fabric whiteness and appearance by minimizing dye deposition during the wash process.
Implementation Method 1
alkoxylated polyaryl and polyalkyl phenols reduce neat contact dye staining of coloured domestic liquid laundry products
Implementation Method 2
from 4 to 50 wt% of a charged surfactant, preferably the level of charged surfactant is 6 to 30 wt%, most preferably 8 to 20 wt%
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a laundry aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising (i) from 4 to 50 wt% of a charged surfactant, (ii) from 0.1 to 20 wt% of an alkoxylated polyaryl or alkoxylated polyalkyl phenol and (iii) dye. A domestic method of treating a textile, the method comprising the steps of (i) treating a textile directly with the laundry liquid detergent composition, and (ii) allowing said liquid detergent to remain in contact with said textile for 30 minutes to 2 days then washing said textile in water, optionally rinsing and drying said textile.