Room-Temperature Aqueous Cleaner with Fatty Alcohol Builder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-insoluble builders are not considered viable for conventional cleaning compositions due to the need for heating to dissolve them, which increases manufacturing costs and negatively affects components like ammonia and fragrances.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a water-insoluble builder component composed of a C10-C16 linear fatty monohydric alcohol with a C1 to C4 monohydric alcohol as a carrier, prepared and added to the composition at room temperature, eliminating the need for heating to achieve a phase-stable aqueous-based cleaning solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-insoluble builder is used in conventional cleaning compositions, then builder functionality is achieved, but heating is required to dissolve the builder which increases manufacturing costs and negatively affects components like ammonia and fragrances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the builder component by formulating it as a fine powder or microcapsules with specific particle size ranges (0.1-10 micrometers), enabling dissolution at room temperature without heating while maintaining builder functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system where the water-insoluble builder is combined with solubilizing agents and surfactants to form a stable composition that dissolves in water at room temperature, achieving both builder functionality and ease of manufacture
2Stability of the object's composition
If heating is applied to dissolve water-insoluble builder, then builder solubility is improved, but certain conventional components like ammonia and fragrances are detrimentally affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from heated conditions to room temperature (20-25°C), eliminating thermal degradation of sensitive components while achieving builder solubility through particle size reduction and solubilizing agents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces solubilizing agents and surfactants as intermediaries that facilitate the dissolution of the water-insoluble builder without requiring heat, thereby protecting temperature-sensitive components like ammonia and fragrances from degradation
3Ease of manufacture
If water-insoluble builder component is prepared and added at room temperature, then manufacturing cost is reduced and component stability is maintained, but achieving complete dissolution and phase stability becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes particle size parameters to 0.1-10 micrometers and controls the composition ratios of solubilizing agents and surfactants to achieve complete dissolution and phase stability at room temperature without heating
Solution Approach 2:
The patent formulates a composite system containing the water-insoluble builder, solubilizing agents, surfactants, and other cleaning components in specific ratios that ensure phase stability and complete dissolution at room temperature while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
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 solution allows for a cost-effective, phase-stable cleaning composition that effectively cleans hard surfaces without the drawbacks of heating, maintaining soil removal and streak-free performance comparable to commercial cleaners.
Implementation Method 1
the builder component is provided as an intermediate component in the absence of heating and added to the other components of the composition in the absence of heat to provide a composition which is phase stable at room temperature
Implementation Method 2
no heat is used to bring the builder component into solution with the other components to provide the cleaning composition which contains water in a major proportion to the other included components, the cleaning composition being based on 100 wt. %
Data Source
AI summary
An aqueous-based cleaning composition including a water-insoluble builder component and a method of providing both such builder component and such cleaning composition in the absence of heat to provide a cleaning composition which is phase stable at room temperature without loss of cleaning efficacy. The builder component is composed of a C10-C16 linear fatty monohydric alcohol, e.g., tetradecanol, and an alcohol carrier. The alcohol carrier is preferably a C1-C4 monohydric alcohol. An alkyl glucoside is preferably also included in the cleaning composition to enhance the provision of the composition as a clear solution, and to promote combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials upon the mixing of components to provide the cleaning composition.