Inverse Dispersion Stabilizing Agent Prevents Coagulum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thickeners and deposition aids in fabric softeners face challenges with coagulum formation, storage stability, shear dilution, and deposition efficiency, particularly at elevated temperatures and high shear stress, leading to issues with viscosity stability and residue formation on washed articles.
Innovation Solution
An inverse dispersion comprising a cationic polymer obtained by polymerizing cationic and nonionic monomers, with a stabilizing agent having hydrophobic chains greater than 50 carbon atoms, which enhances storage stability, prevents coagulum formation, and promotes efficient deposition and shear dilution, even at high temperatures and shear stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional thickeners are used in fabric softeners, then viscosity is achieved, but coagulum formation occurs and storage stability decreases at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the thickener by using a specific cationic polymer with controlled crosslinking (0.01-1% crosslinker content) and combining it with a stabilizing agent having a hydrophobic chain of more than 50 carbon atoms. This parameter modification prevents coagulum formation while maintaining viscosity stability at elevated temperatures, resolving the contradiction between storage stability and coagulum formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite thickening system by combining a cationic polymer with a specific stabilizing agent that has a hydrophobic chain exceeding 50 carbon atoms. This composite structure provides synergistic effects where the stabilizing agent prevents coagulum formation and enhances storage stability without compromising the thickening performance, thereby resolving the technical contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If high shear stress is applied to thickeners, then mixing and application is facilitated, but viscosity stability decreases and settling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic thickening system where the cationic polymer exhibits shear-thinning behavior during high shear stress (facilitating mixing and pumping) but rapidly recovers its viscosity upon cessation of shear. The stabilizing agent with a hydrophobic chain of more than 50 carbon atoms ensures that the polymer network re-forms quickly after shear stress, maintaining viscosity stability and preventing settling, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and viscosity stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If deposition aids are used to improve active ingredient deposition, then deposition efficiency increases, but residue formation and resoiling increase on washed articles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by using a cationic polymer with specific charge density and molecular weight characteristics that enable targeted deposition on fabric surfaces through electrostatic attraction. The controlled crosslinking (0.01-1% crosslinker) and the stabilizing agent with a hydrophobic chain of more than 50 carbon atoms ensure that the polymer forms a uniform, lightweight coating that does not accumulate excessively, thereby achieving high deposition efficiency while minimizing residue formation and resoiling.
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 inverse dispersion achieves low coagulum content, high storage stability, improved deposition of active ingredients, and quick redispersion, while maintaining viscosity stability and preventing settling of additional particles, resulting in cleaner washed fibers with reduced resoiling and adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
the stabilizing agent has one or more hydrophobic chains with more than 50 carbon atoms... avoids coalescence of the polymer particles
Implementation Method 2
the stabilizing agent has one or more hydrophobic chains with more than 50 carbon atoms
Implementation Method 3
cationic polymer... promote this deposition of the active ingredient
Implementation Method 4
deposition of the active ingredient during or after the washing operation
Implementation Method 5
the water molecules move into the small polymer particles by osmosis, the osmotic effect experienced by the polymer particle
Implementation Method 6
coalescence of the polymer particles, which may be induced by thermal motion, Brownian molecular movement
Implementation Method 7
the inverse dispersion... prevents settling of additionally added particles
Data Source
AI summary
An inverse dispersion comprising i) at least one cationic polymer obtainable by the polymerization of a) at least one cationic monomer and optionally at least one nonionic monomer (compound A), b) optionally at least one crosslinker (compound B), c) optionally at least one chain transfer agent (compound C), ii) at least one stabilizing agent, wherein the stabilizing agent has one or more hydrophobic chains with more than 30 carbon atoms, iii) at least one non-aqueous carrier.