Ethoxylated Alkoxylated Surfactant Cleaning Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hard surface cleaning compositions struggle to effectively clean a variety of surfaces such as tiles, stainless steel, and marble, often leaving behind film and streak residues, resulting in poor shine and increased slipperiness, while also experiencing long drying times that can damage delicate surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A liquid hard surface cleaning composition comprising an ethoxylated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, an additional nonionic surfactant, and an anionic surfactant, which provides improved shine, quicker drying times, and reduced slipperiness by enhancing wetting effects and beading of residual water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If diluted hard surface cleaning compositions are used to clean floors, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but film and streak residues are left resulting in poor shine and increased slipperiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidfilm and streak residues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the cleaning solution by incorporating specific surfactants (ethoxylated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant with wetting effect of 60-200, additional nonionic surfactant, and anionic surfactant) to change how the solution interacts with surfaces, reducing residue formation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite surfactant system combining multiple types of surfactants (nonionic and anionic) working together to achieve synergistic effects that improve cleaning performance while minimizing harmful residues and improving shine

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Area of stationary object

If diluted hard surface cleaning compositions are applied to floors, then cleaning coverage is improved, but drying time increases resulting in increased slipperiness and risk of falls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoiddrying time

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the cleaning solution by incorporating surfactants that modify surface tension and evaporation characteristics, enabling faster drying times while maintaining adequate cleaning coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If diluted hard surface cleaning compositions are used to clean floors, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but long drying times result in damage to delicate surfaces such as spotting and rusting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidsurface damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the chemical composition to include surfactants that accelerate drying time, thereby reducing the exposure time of delicate surfaces to moisture and preventing damage such as spotting and rusting while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improved shine and reduced slipperiness on various hard surfaces, while also reducing drying times, thereby minimizing the risk of accidents and surface damage.

Implementation Method 1

the ethoxylated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant provides a wetting effect of from 60 to 200

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Implementation Method 2

improving shine, even after cleaning especially dirty floors. In addition, they are effective at cleaning a variety of surfaces. Moreover, since surfaces which are treated with the hard surface cleaning composition of the present invention dry more quickly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3015540B1Hard surface cleaners comprising ethoxylated alkoxylated nonionic surfactants

Publication Date: 2022.02.16 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

The need for a liquid hard surface cleaning composition which provides improved shine, reduced slipperiness during drying, and also improved drying times is met formulating the composition using a ethoxylated alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, in combination with a detersive surfactant.