Foaming Hard Surface Cleaner With Dynamic pH
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hard surface cleaning compositions struggle to effectively remove difficult-to-clean contaminant residues across a wide pH window, particularly on vertical surfaces, where residual contamination often persists.
Innovation Solution
A hard surface cleaning composition incorporating carbon dioxide and an ionic acrylic based rheology modifier, which includes an alkali swellable emulsion polymer or hydrophobically-modified alkali swellable emulsion polymer, along with a pH adjuster, surfactant, alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, water, and optionally a cosolvent and pH color indicator, forming a foam that adheres to surfaces and changes color as pH transitions, indicating cleaning progress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hard surface cleaning compositions are used, then cleaning action is provided, but the composition fails to adhere to vertical surfaces and remove difficult-to-clean contaminant residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the cleaning composition over time. The composition starts at a first pH (more effective for adherence) and transitions to a second pH (different cleaning effectiveness) as carbon dioxide evolves from the foam, enabling both adherence and effective contaminant removal
2Reliability
If a single pH cleaning composition is used, then cleaning action is provided, but it cannot effectively attack and remove a range of difficult to clean hard surface contaminant residues across a wide pH window
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the pH dynamic rather than static. The composition transitions from a first pH to a second pH as carbon dioxide evolves from the foam over time, allowing a single composition to provide cleaning action across a wide pH window and effectively remove various types of contaminant residues
3Reliability
If the composition is applied to vertical surfaces, then cleaning action is provided, but the composition sags and does not remain on the surface for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the cleaning composition over time. The composition starts at a first pH (more effective for adherence) and transitions to a second pH (different cleaning effectiveness) as carbon dioxide evolves from the foam, enabling both adherence and effective contaminant removal
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 composition effectively adheres to vertical surfaces for extended periods, providing a visual cue of cleaning progress and ensuring thorough removal of residues, maintaining a pH between 3.5 and 6.0, thus addressing the challenge of removing tough contaminants on hard surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
carbon dioxide; wherein the carbon dioxide evolves from the foam resulting in a change in the pH of the foam over time
Implementation Method 2
optionally, a pH color indicator; wherein the change in the pH triggers a transition of the foam from an initial color upon application to the hard surface to a transitioned color
Data Source
AI summary
A hard surface cleaning composition is provided, including: carbon dioxide; an ionic acrylic based rheology modifier comprising at least one of an alkali swellable emulsion polymer and a hydrophobically-modified alkali swellable emulsion polymer; a pH adjuster; a surfactant; at least one of an alkyl benzene sulfonic acid and an alkyl benzene sulfonate; water; a cosolvent; and, optionally, a pH color indicator; wherein the pH of the hard surface cleaning composition is 3.5 to 6.0. Also provided is a method of cleaning a hard surface.