Low Viscosity Liquid Cleaning Composition with High Surfactant Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foaming liquid cleaning compositions face challenges in maintaining high surfactant levels while achieving low viscosity and good foaming properties, as common surfactants tend to increase viscosity and reduce foaming performance.
Innovation Solution
A light-duty liquid cleaning composition comprising a combination of ammonium or metal salts of C8-C16 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, ethoxylated C8-C18 alkyl ether sulfate, and betaine surfactants, with a total surfactant content of at least 30% by weight, a pH less than 7, and a viscosity of less than 75 cPs, excluding inorganic magnesium salts and using specific organic solvents to maintain low viscosity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If common surfactants are used to achieve high surfactant levels, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but viscosity increases and foaming properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the pH of the composition to be less than 7. This pH control fundamentally alters the physical-chemical state of the surfactant mixture, enabling high surfactant concentrations (at least 30% by weight) to coexist with low viscosity (less than 75 cPs). The pH parameter modification resolves the contradiction between high surfactant content and low viscosity by changing the ionization state and intermolecular interactions of the surfactant molecules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite surfactant system comprising multiple types of surfactants (anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants) in specific combinations. This composite approach allows the formulation to achieve high total surfactant levels while maintaining low viscosity and excellent foaming properties. The different surfactant types work synergistically, with each contributing different functional properties that collectively resolve the viscosity-foaming contradiction.
2Quantity of substance
If common surfactants are used to achieve high surfactant levels, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but foaming properties worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling pH to be less than 7, which fundamentally alters the foaming behavior of the surfactant mixture. At this pH level, the surfactant molecules exhibit optimal surface activity and air-entraining capability, enabling excellent foaming performance even at high surfactant concentrations. The pH parameter modification transforms the interfacial properties of the surfactants, resolving the contradiction between high surfactant content and good foaming properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite surfactant system comprising anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants in specific ratios enables simultaneous achievement of high surfactant levels and superior foaming properties. The amphoteric and nonionic surfactants particularly contribute to foam stability and generation, while the anionic surfactants provide cleaning effectiveness. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by distributing functional roles across different surfactant types.
3Quantity of substance
If surfactant concentration is increased to improve cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but viscosity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by maintaining pH below 7, which fundamentally alters the viscosity-concentration relationship of the surfactant system. At this pH, the surfactant molecules remain sufficiently ionized and hydrated to prevent excessive intermolecular association, allowing high concentrations (at least 30% by weight) without significant viscosity increase. This pH parameter control resolves the direct proportionality between surfactant concentration and viscosity that typically exists in conventional formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-component surfactant composite enables high total surfactant concentration while maintaining low viscosity through synergistic interactions. The specific combination of anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants creates a formulation where the components interact in ways that prevent excessive viscosity buildup, allowing the formulation to achieve at least 30% total surfactant content while keeping viscosity below 75 cPs.
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 high surfactant levels with low viscosity and excellent foaming properties, suitable for use in foaming pump dispensers, providing effective cleaning, greasing, and mild skin compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
the cleanser should have relatively low viscosity... Microemulsion formulations are advantageous in that they generally have lower viscosities than non-microemulsion formulations having comparable total surfactant levels
Implementation Method 2
microemulsions are known in the art and include compositions containing oil, water, a surfactant and a co-surfactant so as to form a solution containing a dispersion of very small droplets
Data Source
AI summary
A light duty liquid cleaning composition comprising at least one ammonium or metal salt of a C8-C16 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant, at least one ammonium or metal salt of an ethoxylated C8-C18 alkyl ether sulfate surfactant having 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide, and at least one betaine surfactant; wherein (a) a total amount of surfactant in the composition is at least 30 weight %, (b) the composition has a pH less than 7 and a viscosity of less than 75 cPs measured at 25° C., (c) if a magnesium salt of a C8-C16 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant is present in the composition, it is present in an amount of 0.1 to less than 3 or greater than 16% by weight of the composition, and (d) the composition does not contain an inorganic magnesium salt.