Hydroxypropylcellulose Polymer Sudsing in Liquid Dishwashing Detergents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid hand dishwashing detergents fail to provide effective sudsing in hard water conditions and with greasy soils without aggravating skin dryness, and they are difficult to formulate and process due to high viscosity issues.

Innovation Solution

A liquid hand dishwashing detergent composition incorporating a surfactant system with alkyl sulphate surfactants, amphoteric or zwitterionic co-surfactants, and a hydroxypropylcellulose polymer with a molecular weight of 5 kDa to 250 kDa, which improves sudsing and viscosity control while maintaining skin mildness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If anionic surfactants (alkyl sulphate and alkyl alkoxy sulphates) are used to improve sudsing, then suds volume and longevity are improved, but skin dryness is aggravated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuds longevityVSAvoidskin dryness

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining anionic surfactants (for sudsing) with amphoteric and zwitterionic co-surfactants (for skin conditioning). This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve both high suds longevity and reduced skin dryness by combining materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is used to improve sudsing, then suds volume is improved, but skin dryness is aggravated and viscosity control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuds volumeVSAvoidskin dryness

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the polymer parameter from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose to hydroxypropylcellulose with specific molecular weight control (5 kDa to 250 kDa). This parameter change allows the formulation to achieve improved sudsing while maintaining lower viscosity and reduced skin dryness compared to the conventional polymer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of moving object

If hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is used to improve sudsing, then sudsing is improved, but formulation and processing becomes difficult due to high viscosity

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesudsingVSAvoidformulation processibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the polymer parameters including type (from HPMC to HPC) and molecular weight (5 kDa to 250 kDa range). These parameter changes result in a polymer that provides adequate sudsing while maintaining formulation processibility and avoiding excessive viscosity increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by using low levels of polymer (0.01% to 3.0% by weight) to achieve the desired sudsing enhancement without incurring the negative viscosity effects associated with higher polymer concentrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If conventional detergent compositions are used, then basic cleaning is achieved, but sudsing performance deteriorates in hard water conditions and with greasy soils

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficacyVSAvoidsuds longevity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite surfactant system combining anionic, amphoteric, and zwitterionic surfactants. This composite approach enhances suds longevity and cleaning performance in challenging conditions (hard water and greasy soils) while maintaining skin mildness, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-type surfactant systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 achieves improved sudsing performance in hard water and with greasy soils, reduces skin dryness, and simplifies formulation and processing by maintaining a desired viscosity profile.

Implementation Method 1

improve sudsing, improved finished product viscosity control and easier processibility, while not aggravating skin dryness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFoam: Foam

Implementation Method 2

anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: alkyl sulphate surfactant, alkyl sulphonate surfactant, alkyl sulphosuccinate and dialkyl sulphosuccinate ester surfactant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

improved finished product viscosity control

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscometer: Viscometer

Data Source

PatentEP4089159B1Liquid hand dishwashing detergent composition

Publication Date: 2024.09.18 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

The need for a liquid detergent composition, especially a hand dishwashing liquid detergent which provides improved sudsing, especially when used in hard water conditions and in the presence of greasy soils, and providing a desirably viscosity, while not aggravating skin dryness, can be provided by formulating the liquid detergent composition using a hydroxypropylcellulose polymer having a defined molecular weight.