Foam Boosting Silicone for Low Surfactant Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fabric cleaning compositions often require high levels of detersive surfactants to achieve desired foaming, which can lead to increased environmental impact and water consumption, while also potentially compromising cleaning efficacy and stain removal benefits.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a siloxane with 19 to 30 oxyalkylene groups, which enhances foam stability and detergency without increasing surfactant levels, by reducing dynamic surface tension and maintaining foam presence throughout the washing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the amount of detersive surfactant is increased to enhance foaming, then foam volume and stability are improved, but environmental impact increases and water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A foam boosting silicone acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the limited surfactant and the air-water interface. The silicone molecules position themselves at the foam interface, providing structural support and stabilizing the foam bubbles without requiring additional surfactant. This intermediary role allows the system to achieve enhanced foam stability while maintaining low surfactant levels, thereby reducing environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the cleaning system by introducing a foam boosting silicone with specific properties (low critical micelle concentration, high surface activity). This parameter change allows the system to achieve the same foam stabilization effect with fewer surfactant molecules, reducing the overall surfactant concentration and associated environmental harm.
2Volume of stationary object
If the amount of detersive surfactant is increased to achieve desired foaming, then foam volume is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foam boosting silicone serves as a mediator that amplifies the foaming efficiency of the limited surfactant present. By positioning at the air-water interface and providing additional stabilization, the silicone allows the system to generate and maintain larger foam volumes without proportionally increasing surfactant or water usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning composition utilizes a composite system combining detersive surfactant and foam boosting silicone. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of both substances: the surfactant provides initial foam generation while the silicone provides enhanced stabilization and volume maintenance, achieving high foam volume with reduced overall material and water consumption.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the concentration of detersive surfactant is reduced to minimize environmental impact, then environmental impact decreases, but foam stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The foam boosting silicone acts as a compensatory intermediary that makes up for the reduced surfactant concentration. It positions itself at the foam interface to provide the structural support and stabilization that would otherwise require higher surfactant levels, thereby maintaining foam stability while allowing lower surfactant concentrations and reduced environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the compositional parameters by introducing foam boosting silicone with specific molecular characteristics (low CMC, high surface activity). This parameter change enables the system to achieve adequate foam stability at lower surfactant concentrations, reducing environmental impact without sacrificing performance.
4Loss of substance
If the concentration of detersive surfactant is reduced to conserve water, then water consumption decreases, but cleaning efficacy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The foam boosting silicone serves as an intermediary that enhances the efficiency of the reduced surfactant system. By stabilizing foam bubbles and maintaining their structure, the silicone ensures that the limited surfactant remains effectively distributed and active throughout the washing process, preserving cleaning efficacy while reducing water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite system of reduced surfactant and foam boosting silicone works synergistically to maintain cleaning efficacy. The silicone's foam stabilization ensures thorough fabric contact and soil removal, compensating for the lower surfactant concentration and enabling effective cleaning with reduced water usage.
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 siloxane-based composition provides stable foam and improved cleaning performance with reduced surfactant usage, conserving water and minimizing environmental impact without compromising cleaning efficacy or stain removal.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a siloxane with 19 to 30 oxyalkylene groups, which enhances foam stability and detergency without increasing surfactant levels, by reducing dynamic surface tension
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating a siloxane with 19 to 30 oxyalkylene groups, which enhances foam stability and detergency without increasing surfactant levels
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cleaning composition having a foam boosting silicone. More particularly, it relates to a cleaning composition having lower concentration of detersive surfactant and the foam boosting silicone. It is an object of the present invention to provide cleaning composition that provide enhanced sensory properties to the consumer. Thus, it also is an object of the present invention to provide cleaning composition providing enhanced foam stability, in particular without increasing the amount of detergent surfactants. Desirably, the enhanced foam stability is provided upon dilution of the cleaning composition when it is used. We have found that one or more of these objects can be achieved by the cleaning composition of the present invention. In particular, it was surprisingly found that a siloxane having 19 to 30 oxyalkylene group can be used to provide cleaning composition that preferably upon dilution display good foamability and longer lasting foams. The composition provides stable foam and good cleansing with lesser amounts of surfactant.