Liquid Detergent Viscosity Control with Polypropylene Glycol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional structured liquid detergents often become opaque or turbid due to surfactant and polymer use, leading to reduced pourability and increased viscosity, which affects consumer acceptance and foam generation, and require higher amounts of structuring agents that increase costs and reduce water dispersability.
Innovation Solution
A composition combining surfactants with specific suspending and viscosity control agents, such as polypropylene glycol, to achieve a clear and pourable liquid detergent that maintains suspension properties while minimizing viscosity and ionic strength, using agents like CARBOPOL™ Aqua 30 and GLUCAM™ P-10 to control viscosity and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If structuring agents such as polymers, natural gums and clays are added to suspend materials in liquid detergent, then suspension capability is improved, but liquid viscosity increases significantly and pourability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting specific polymers with controlled molecular weights and compositions (e.g., polyacrylate polymers with specific acid groups) and optimizing their concentrations to achieve adequate suspension capability while maintaining acceptable pourability. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting physical parameters of the structuring agents rather than simply adding more of them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material approaches by combining multiple surfactants (anionic, nonionic, amphoteric) with specific polymers and optional structuring agents like clays or gums in optimized ratios. This composite formulation achieves suspension stability without requiring excessive single-ingredient additions that would harm pourability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If structuring agents are added to suspend materials in liquid detergent, then suspension capability is improved, but the liquid becomes opaque or turbid reducing visual appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using transparent or translucent polymers (such as polyacrylate polymers) that provide suspension capability locally without compromising the overall optical clarity of the liquid detergent. The polymer molecules suspend particles effectively while remaining optically invisible, creating local structuring without global turbidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of structuring agents by selecting polymers with specific molecular structures that are transparent in the visible range, thereby maintaining clarity while achieving suspension. This parameter selection resolves the contradiction between suspension stability and visual appeal.
3Stability of the object's composition
If higher amounts of structuring agents are used to overcome surfactant-induced collapse, then suspension capability is maintained, but water dispersability decreases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the ionic strength of the formulation and selecting polymers with specific charge characteristics that remain stable in the presence of surfactants. By adjusting polymer charge density and surfactant concentrations, the patent maintains suspension capability without requiring excessive polymer additions that would harm water dispersability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses nonionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants as intermediaries that bridge the interaction between ionic surfactants and polymers, preventing polymer collapse while maintaining suspension capability. These intermediary surfactants reduce the need for high polymer concentrations, preserving water dispersability.
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 clear, pourable, and stable liquid detergent with suspended materials that maintains desired viscosity and dispersability, enhancing consumer appeal and foam generation without increasing costs or reducing water dispersability.
Implementation Method 1
a viscosity control agent, such as polypropylene glycol, to achieve a clear and pourable liquid detergent that maintains suspension properties while minimizing viscosity
Implementation Method 2
The methods of providing structure to the liquid includes using particular surfactants to structure the liquid, or by the addition of structuring agents such as polymers
Implementation Method 3
structuring agents such as polymers, natural gums and clays which enable the liquid to suspend materials therein for long periods of time
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising a liquid portion comprising at least one surfactant, at least one suspending agent, and at least one viscosity control agent, wherein the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 0.5 Pa of at least about 1,000 Pa·s; and the composition has an apparent viscosity under a shear stress of 100 Pa of less than about 10 Pa·s. The composition is capable of suspending materials, but it still has desired rheological properties.