Methanol-Free Esterquat Softener Viscosity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid fabric softeners often require additional thickeners to achieve desired viscosity, which increase production costs and may not be compatible with all ingredients, and typically contain methanol, affecting performance and user acceptance.

Innovation Solution

A liquid textile softener composition comprising 0.5 to 40% by weight of a trialkanolamine-based esterquat and trialkanolamine-based ester mixture, with a ratio between 2:1 and 4:1, free of methanol, which enhances viscosity and softness without the need for additional thickeners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If thickeners are added to increase viscosity, then viscosity is improved, but production costs increase and ingredient compatibility problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveviscosityVSAvoidproduction costs and ingredient compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for separate thickeners by extracting the viscosity-enhancing function from the formulation architecture. Instead of adding thickeners as separate components, the invention uses the inherent interaction between esterquat and trialkanolamine-based esters to generate viscosity, thereby eliminating the problematic thickener category entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the viscosity-enhancing function with the softening function by combining esterquat and trialkanolamine-based esters in a single synergistic system. This unified approach allows the same component mixture to provide both softening performance and thickening effect, eliminating the need for separate functional additives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If conventional fabric softener formulations are used, then softening performance is achieved, but viscosity is too low and additional thickeners are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser acceptanceVSAvoidviscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing trialkanolamine-based esters in specific ratios (0.5-40% by weight) with esterquat. This parameter modification fundamentally alters the rheological properties of the formulation, generating higher viscosity without requiring additional thickeners while maintaining softening performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If methanol is present in the formulation, then certain processing requirements are met, but viscosity is reduced and user acceptance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveviscosityVSAvoidmethanol content

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of methanol (which reduces viscosity and user acceptance) into a benefit by formulating a methanol-free system that achieves higher viscosity. The absence of methanol allows the esterquat-ester interaction to maximize viscosity enhancement, turning a formulation constraint into a performance advantage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2909294B1Fabric softener composition with trialkanolamine-based ester quat

Publication Date: 2018.01.31 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The application describes a liquid fabric softener composition which comprises a softening mixture of trialkanolamine-based ester quat and trialkanolamine-based ester and which is free from methanol.