Fabric Softener Composition Low Melt Viscosity Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fabric softener compositions with bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid diesters have high viscosity and instability at low melt temperatures, and low flash points due to flammable solvents, necessitating the need for compositions with low melt viscosity, high stability, and low flammability.
Innovation Solution
A method of making fabric softener compositions comprising 1-49% bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid ester, combined with 2-8% fatty acid triglyceride and 3-12% alcohol, specifically tailored to achieve low melt viscosity, high stability, and low flammability, involving specific molar ratios and chain lengths of fatty acid moieties and the use of ethanol or 2-propanol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flammable solvents (ethanol or 2-propanol) are used to achieve low melt viscosity, then the viscosity at temperatures of 65 to 75 °C becomes sufficiently low for pumping, but the flash point decreases to less than 30 °C resulting in low flammability and regulatory restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing flammable alcohols with non-flammable or less flammable alternatives (carboxylic acids, esters, amides, polyols) while maintaining the viscosity-reducing function through careful selection of molecular structure and chain length of these substitute substances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive safety measures and handling procedures required for flammable solvents with simpler, safer substances that do not require special handling, storage, or transportation precautions, thereby eliminating the need for additional safety infrastructure
2Reliability
If bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid diesters are used as fabric softener active composition, then biodegradability is improved, but the melt exhibits high viscosity at low melt temperatures and unsatisfactory stability at higher melt temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite fabric softener composition by combining bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid diesters with specific amounts of viscosity-reducing agents (carboxylic acids, esters, amides, or polyols) to achieve a balance between biodegradability and melt stability, where each component contributes its beneficial properties to the overall formulation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional coupling agents (polyhydric alcohols, partial esters of polyhydric alcohols, non-ionic surfactants) are added to replace flammable solvents, then flammability is reduced, but stability in the molten state with respect to dealkylation decreases leading to increased free ester amine content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular parameters of the viscosity-reducing agents by selecting substances with specific functional groups (carboxylic acids, esters, amides, polyols) and controlling their chain lengths and structures to achieve both low flammability and high dealkylation stability simultaneously, avoiding the instability problems associated with coupling agents
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of making a fabric softener composition comprising 1% to 49% of the bis-(2 hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid ester by weight of the composition are provided.