Low Solids Fabric Softener Viscosity via Cationic Rheology
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a strong demand for low solids, high viscosity fabric softener compositions that minimize or exclude polymeric additives, offering improved stability and viscosity performance while being cost-effective, as existing solutions with polymeric thickening agents are expensive and provide minimal softening benefits.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating 0.05% to 10% of a rheology modifying fabric softening active, such as a long chain amine or its derivative, into fabric softener compositions, which increases dispersion viscosity and stability at various temperature and pH conditions without the need for large quantities of expensive additives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional polymeric thickening agents are used to increase viscosity of low solids fabric softener compositions, then the desired high viscosity is achieved, but the cost of the composition increases significantly and the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for conventional polymeric thickening agents from the fabric softener composition. By using a specific combination of cationic softening agents (quaternary ammonium compounds with specific molecular structures and ratios), the patent achieves the desired viscosity without adding separate thickening agents, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and process complexity while maintaining high viscosity in low solids compositions
Solution Approach 2:
The cationic softening agents in the invention serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide fabric softening activity and also provide viscosity thickening. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate polymeric thickening agents, reducing both cost and manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired high viscosity in low solids compositions
2Temperature
If polymeric thickening agents are added to low solids fabric softener compositions, then viscosity is increased, but the cost of the end product increases and significant benefits to softening performance are not added
Solution Approach 1:
The cationic softening agents serve dual purposes: providing fabric softening activity and providing viscosity thickening. This eliminates the need for separate polymeric thickening agents that would increase cost without providing softening benefits, achieving both viscosity increase and cost effectiveness through the same functional ingredients
3Temperature
If conventional polymeric thickening agents are used in fabric softener compositions, then viscosity is increased, but the viscosity drops during storage and a separate gelatinization stage is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes conventional polymeric thickening agents from the composition entirely. By relying on the intrinsic properties of specifically formulated cationic softening agents (quaternary ammonium compounds with defined molecular structures), the system achieves stable viscosity without the degradation issues associated with polymeric thickeners during storage, eliminating the need for separate gelatinization stages
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses simple, stable small molecule cationic softening agents instead of complex polymeric thickeners that degrade over time. These small molecule agents provide stable, long-lasting viscosity without the storage stability problems and viscosity drop associated with conventional polymeric thickeners
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are low solids and high viscosity fabric softener compositions and processes for preparing them. The composition contains from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of a rheology modifying fabric softening active comprising at least one long chain amine of the present technology, a derivative thereof, or a mixture thereof, and from about 1% to 10% by weight of an additional fabric softening active dispersed in water.