Non-Tacky Polyester Soil Release Additives for Detergents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soil release polymers used in detergents and cleaning agents are either sticky, difficult to handle in solid formulations, or have unsatisfactory water solubility, leading to inadequate soil-release effects on textiles.
Innovation Solution
Development of polyesters synthesized from aromatic dicarboxylic acids, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol, with specific molecular weight ranges and the inclusion of polyalkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers, which are solid at temperatures above 40°C, non-tacky, and exhibit excellent soil release properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polyesters are made from aromatic dicarboxylic acids and polyethylene glycols with molecular weights of 1,500 to 2,000, then soil release effect is improved, but the polymers become sticky and difficult to handle in solid formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of polyethylene glycol from the conventional 1,500-2,000 range to a higher range of 3,000-8,000, and adjusts the polyester molecular weight to 4,000-16,000. This parameter change eliminates stickiness while preserving soil release effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polyester structure combining aromatic dicarboxylic acid units with polyethylene glycol units in specific ratios. This composite structure integrates the soil release properties of aromatic components with the solubility and non-sticky characteristics of higher molecular weight polyethylene glycol, simultaneously achieving both improved reliability and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If polyethylene glycol molecular weight is increased to 40,000 to 50,000, then stickiness is reduced, but water solubility decreases leading to unsatisfactory soil-release effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and applies the optimal molecular weight range for polyethylene glycol (3,000-8,000) and polyester (4,000-16,000) that balances both water solubility and non-sticky properties. This precise parameter optimization achieves the desired non-sticky characteristic while maintaining adequate water solubility for effective soil release, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
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 resulting polyesters are stable, non-tacky, and easily dispersible in water, providing enhanced soil release effects while being compatible with common detergent additives and easy to incorporate into solid formulations, maintaining effectiveness over time.
Implementation Method 1
The invention relates to additives for detergents and cleaning agents obtained by polycondensation of a) aromatic dicarboxylic acid and/or its C1-C4-alkyl esters, b) ethylene glycol, c) 1,2-propylene glycol, d) polyethylene glycol
Implementation Method 2
The known transesterification and condensation catalysts of the prior art are suitable for the reaction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to additives in the form of non-ionic polyesters comprising terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, optionally propylene glycol, C-C-alkyl-polyalkene glycol ether, and a multifunctional cross-linked monomer. Said polyesters preferably have a flow factor ff of greater than 8, and preferably have a melting point of over 40°C and molecular weights Mp of 4,000 to 15,000 g/mol. Said polyesters are suitable as soil release components in detergents and cleaning agents.