Concentrated Laundry Premix Dilution Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved dilutable laundry compositions that can maintain stability and performance when diluted by consumers in domestic settings, particularly in varying water qualities and hardnesses, while also ensuring clarity, fragrance, and appropriate rheological properties.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated laundry composition premix is developed, which is dilutable in water to form a laundry liquid composition. The premix contains at least 10% wt. water, 0.1 to 8% wt. ethoxylated polyol ester, and 5 to 70% wt. surfactant active, with a specific ratio of anionic to non-ionic surfactants and controlled pH to ensure stability and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a concentrated laundry composition premix is diluted by consumers in domestic settings, then the product becomes easier to use and more economical, but the stability and performance of the composition deteriorates due to water hardness and quality variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-formulating the concentrated premix with specific stabilizing ingredients and pH control mechanisms before dilution. The composition is designed with buffers and sequestrants that will maintain stability during the subsequent dilution step by the consumer, preventing premature degradation or interaction with hard water ions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by controlling the pH of the concentrated premix to a specific range (6.0-7.0) and adjusting the concentration of surfactants and builders to maintain optimal performance after dilution. The formulation parameters are optimized to ensure that even when diluted with hard water, the composition maintains its cleaning efficacy and stability.
2Ease of operation
If the premix is formulated to be easily dissolvable in water, then the ease of operation improves, but the rheological properties and foaming behavior become difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the viscosity of the concentrated premix and the rate of dilution. The formulation includes ingredients that maintain appropriate rheological properties during the transition from concentrated to diluted state, ensuring that the product dissolves easily while maintaining controlled foaming and flow characteristics in the final diluted form.
3Ease of manufacture
If the composition is formulated to be visually clear, then the consumer acceptance improves, but the stability and performance in hard water deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary approach by using specific surfactant blends and builder chemicals that act as mediators between the visual clarity requirement and hard water performance. These ingredients maintain the clarity of the diluted composition while simultaneously preventing precipitation and maintaining effectiveness in hard water conditions through their chemical properties.
4Reliability
If the premix contains high surfactant concentration for performance, then the cleaning performance improves, but the foaming during dilution becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by formulating the concentrated premix with a high surfactant concentration optimized for cleaning performance, while accepting that some foaming during dilution is necessary and even beneficial. The formulation is designed to generate controlled foam during the dilution process, which then stabilizes to appropriate levels during actual use, ensuring both performance and acceptable foaming behavior.
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 solution allows for the creation of a stable, visually clear, and functionally adequate laundry liquid detergent that is easily dissolvable in water, maintaining its rheological properties and performance even after dilution, regardless of water quality.
Implementation Method 1
a new thickener composition comprising a mixture of one or more alkoxylated polyol esters, one or more ethoxylated sorbitan esters and glycerol, used to increase the viscosity of cosmetic skin and hair cleansing products
Implementation Method 2
The compositions of the invention use surfactants or surfactant blends, such as α-sulfofatty acid esters or mixtures thereof
Implementation Method 3
0.1 to 20 percent by weight of an emulsifier
Data Source
AI summary
A concentrated laundry composition premix which is dilutable in water to form a laundry liquid composition, the viscosity which when formed from a dilution of five parts by volume water to one part premix and measured at 25° C. and at 106 s−1 is from 200 to 800 mPa·s., said premix comprising at least 10% wt. water, from 0.1 to 8% wt. ethoxylated polyol ester, and comprising from 5 to 70% wt. surfactant active excluding the ethoxylated polyol ester and where the ethoxylated polyol ester is not sorbeth stearate, wherein the surfactant comprises anionic surfactant and non-ionic surfactant in a weight ratio of from 50:50 to 1:99 and wherein the composition comprises from 0 to 5% wt. alkyl ether sulphate.