Concentrated Esterquat Composition for Stable Low-VOC Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated fabric softening compositions are unstable during storage, require volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as solvents, and lack ingredients derived from renewable resources, making them environmentally unfriendly and difficult to use without specialized equipment.
Innovation Solution
A stable, concentrated liquid esterquat composition comprising 30% to 90% esterquats, 10% to 50% biorenewable solvents, and optional water, with a viscosity of less than 5000 cP, allowing easy dilution in water to form stable dispersions without gelling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the softener actives concentration is increased above 15% to reduce packaging and transportation, then the environmental impact is reduced, but the product becomes unstable during storage and thickens to the point of being non-pourable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the softener actives by using quaternized esterquats with specific iodine values (40-130) and controlled molecular structures. These parameter changes enable the composition to remain stable at high concentrations (30-90% softener actives) without the thickening and gelling problems that occur with conventional softeners above 15% concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system combining quaternized esterquats with specific solvents (polyethylene glycols with molecular weights 130-700 and fatty amides). This composite material approach allows the high-concentration formulation to remain pourable and stable during storage, resolving the contradiction between concentration and storage stability.
2Ease of operation
If conventional solvents are used to achieve acceptable concentrated aqueous dispersions and low viscosity, then the product is pumpable with conventional equipment, but volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are added which are environmentally undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional VOC-based solvents with polyethylene glycols (molecular weights 130-700) and fatty amides. This parameter change in the solvent system eliminates harmful VOCs while maintaining the liquid composition's pumpability and ease of operation with conventional equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses biorenewable, non-VOC solvents that are environmentally friendly and can be derived from renewable resources. These substitute solvents achieve the same functional purpose as conventional VOC solvents without the harmful environmental effects, making the product suitable for modern environmental regulations.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If fabric softening compositions are formulated with ingredients from renewable resources, then the product is more environmentally friendly, but the availability and consistency of such ingredients may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the biorenewable ingredients: esterquats with iodine values of 40-130, polyethylene glycols with molecular weights 130-700, and specific fatty amide structures. These parameter specifications ensure consistent quality and performance while using renewable resources, making the manufacturing process feasible and reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by specifying particular structural characteristics for different components: the iodine value range for fatty acid sources, the molecular weight range for polyethylene glycols, and specific structural formulas for fatty amides. This targeted specification of local properties ensures that each ingredient contributes optimally to the overall performance while maintaining manufacturability.
Data Source
AI summary
Clear, stable concentrated liquid compositions are disclosed that comprise from 30% to 90% by weight of an esterquat active, and from 10% to 50% by weight of a particular solvent system. The esterquat active is the quaternized reaction product of a fatty acyl source having an Iodine Value of 40 to 130 reacted with an alkanolamine at a fatty acyl to alkanolamine molar ratio of 1.0:1 to 2.2:1. The concentrated liquid compositions have a VOC content of less than 5%, a Biorenewable Carbon Index (BCI) of at least 20 and a viscosity of less than 5000 cP at 25° C. The concentrated liquid compositions can be easily diluted in water to form stable aqueous dispersions.