Finishing agent composition for textile products

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional textile softening methods using anionic and nonionic surfactants often result in insufficient rinsing, leading to hard textures and reduced water absorbency in textile products, while cationic surfactants may decrease water absorbency and cause softness issues.

Innovation Solution

A fiber modifier and finishing agent composition utilizing an internal olefin sulfonate with 17 to 24 carbon chain length, which is used in a treatment liquid to impart softness to textiles without reducing their original water absorbency, by contacting the textiles with a solution containing 0.002% to 6% of the internal olefin sulfonate by mass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If anionic surfactants are used for washing and cationic surfactants are used for softening, then softness is improved, but water absorbency is reduced and hard texture occurs due to insufficient rinsing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesoftnessVSAvoidwater absorbency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameter of the surfactant from conventional anionic/cationic types to internal olefin sulfonate with specific carbon chain length (17-24 carbons). This parameter change enables the surfactant to provide softness while maintaining water absorbency, resolving the contradiction between softness improvement and water absorbency preservation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite approach by combining internal olefin sulfonate with specific physical properties (carbon chain length 17-24) to create a finishing agent that integrates both softening function and water absorbency maintenance, eliminating the need for separate washing and softening steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If conventional surfactants are used with short rinse time or low water usage, then productivity is improved, but hard texture and reduced water absorbency occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverinse efficiencyVSAvoidtexture quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameter of the surfactant to internal olefin sulfonate with 17-24 carbon atoms, which has superior rinsing properties. This allows effective softening even with short rinse times or low water usage, maintaining texture quality while improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If cationic surfactants are used for softening, then softness is improved, but water absorbency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesoftnessVSAvoidwater absorbency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the surfactant type from cationic to internal olefin sulfonate with specific carbon chain length (17-24 carbons). This parameter change fundamentally alters the interaction mechanism with textile fibers, providing softness through a different chemical mechanism that does not compromise water absorbency

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 internal olefin sulfonate effectively softens textiles while maintaining their original water absorbency, even with short rinse times or low water usage, and can be used in combination with various surfactants without affecting the final product's properties.

Implementation Method 1

an internal olefin sulfonate having 17 or more and 24 or less carbons... finishes textile products with a soft texture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS10829717B2Finishing agent composition for textile products
Publication Date: 2020.11.10 KAO CORP

AI summary

The present invention provides a fiber modifier composed of an internal olefin sulfonate having 17 or more and 24 or less carbons.