Laundry Sanitizing And Softening Composition With Emulsion Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry compositions struggle to combine cationic biocidal agents with cationic quaternary ammonium surfactants for fabric softening due to stability issues, particularly when used in liquid form, leading to ineffective germ kill and fabric softening in a single wash cycle.
Innovation Solution
A laundry composition comprising cationic biocidal actives, cationic fabric softeners, and an unsaturated fatty alcohol emulsifier, which stabilizes the mixture and provides germ kill during the rinse cycle while maintaining fabric softening properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cationic biocidal agents and cationic quaternary ammonium surfactants are combined in a single liquid composition, then fabric softening and germ kill functions are integrated, but the composition becomes unstable and separates into flocculated phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces non-ionic surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the cationic biocidal agents and cationic quaternary ammonium surfactants. These non-ionic surfactants act as bridges, allowing the two cationic components to coexist in a stable liquid composition without flocculation, thus enabling multi-functionality while maintaining composition stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite liquid composition containing multiple cationic components (biocidal agents and fabric softeners) along with non-ionic surfactants and other auxiliary substances. This composite formulation allows the integration of multiple functions (germ kill and fabric softening) while using the non-ionic surfactants to prevent phase separation and maintain overall stability.
2Reliability
If higher concentrations of cationic surfactants are used for enhanced fabric softening, then fabric softening efficacy is improved, but the composition becomes more prone to flocculation and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The non-ionic surfactants serve as intermediary substances that stabilize the cationic surfactant vesicles even at higher concentrations. They prevent the vesicles from flocculating and maintain composition stability, allowing the patent to achieve enhanced fabric softening efficacy without sacrificing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the composition by introducing non-ionic surfactants and other auxiliary substances that change the electrostatic and interfacial properties of the cationic surfactant system. This allows the system to tolerate higher cationic surfactant concentrations while maintaining vesicle stability and preventing flocculation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrolytes are added to de-water the softener vesicles and incorporate perfume, then the functionality is enhanced, but the composition stability is compromised due to increased ionic strength
Solution Approach 1:
The non-ionic surfactants act as intermediary stabilizers that protect the cationic surfactant vesicles from the destabilizing effects of electrolytes and high ionic strength. They allow the composition to include electrolytes for de-watering and perfume incorporation while maintaining vesicle stability through their intermediary protective action.
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 a 5-log reduction in bacteria, indicating 99.999% kill, and maintains fabric softening efficacy comparable to commercial products, with stability over prolonged periods.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one emulsifier is an unsaturated fatty alcohol... which stabilizes the mixture... Liquid fabric softener compositions are typically a dispersion of cationic quaternary ammonium surfactants in an aqueous carrier. These cationic quaternary ammonium surfactants form positively charged vesicles dispersed in the carrier.
Implementation Method 2
These cationic quaternary ammonium surfactants form positively charged vesicles dispersed in the carrier
Implementation Method 3
The composition achieves a 5-log reduction in bacteria, indicating 99.999% kill
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry sanitizing and softening composition to be added to a laundry washing process to provide improved reduction in bacteria during a laundry washing process while also providing fabric softening.