Polyetheramine Cleaning Composition Grease Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hard surface cleaning compositions, particularly dishwashing detergents, face challenges in effectively removing greasy soils from hydrophobic surfaces like plastics without leaving a greasy or slippery residue, aiming for a 'squeaky clean' finish.
Innovation Solution
A hand dishwashing composition incorporating a surfactant system comprising anionic, amphoteric, and non-ionic surfactants, along with polyetheramines, which enhances grease removal and leaves surfaces feeling squeaky clean, utilizing a polyetheramine-based formulation that includes specific structures and combinations of alkylene oxides and amines for improved cleaning efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surfactant systems are used for cleaning hydrophobic surfaces, then general cleaning ability is provided, but grease removal effectiveness is insufficient and slippery residue remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polyetheramines with specific molecular structures (Formulae I, II, III) containing ether oxygen atoms and amine groups, which change the chemical parameters of the cleaning composition. These polyetheramines have specific HLB values and molecular weights that optimize their interaction with both hydrophobic surfaces and greasy soils, enabling effective grease removal without leaving slippery residues on cleaned surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cleaning system by combining polyetheramines with conventional surfactant systems (anionic, amphoteric, and non-ionic surfactants). This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of each component: the polyetheramines provide enhanced grease removal and non-sticky finish, while the conventional surfactants contribute to general cleaning ability, foam stability, and biodegradability.
2Reliability
If stronger cleaning agents are used to remove grease from hydrophobic items, then grease removal improves, but surface feel becomes greasy or slippery
Solution Approach 1:
The polyetheramines act as intermediary substances that mediate between the cleaning agent and the hydrophobic surface. Their molecular structure includes hydrophilic ether oxygen atoms and hydrophobic amine groups, allowing them to interact with both the greasy soil and the cleaned surface, thereby removing grease while leaving a non-sticky, squeaky-clean feel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies particular parameters for the polyetheramines, including molecular weight ranges, ether oxygen content, and amine group configurations. These parameter optimizations ensure that the cleaning agent is strong enough to remove grease from hydrophobic surfaces but doesn't over-clean to the point of leaving slippery residues.
3Reliability
If polyetheramines are added to enhance grease removal, then cleaning performance improves, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cleaning function into distinct components: polyetheramines for grease removal and non-sticky finish, and conventional surfactants for general cleaning and foam stability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the formulation process by assigning specific functions to specific ingredients.
Solution Approach 2:
The polyetheramines serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as surfactants, grease removal agents, and surface finish modifiers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate ingredients, thereby simplifying the overall formulation despite the enhanced performance requirements.
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 excellent grease removal and a squeaky clean finish on hydrophobic surfaces, demonstrated by improved cleaning indexes compared to compositions without polyetheramines, indicating enhanced cleaning performance and surface feel.
Implementation Method 1
The composition comprises a surfactant system and a polyetheramine selected from the group consisting of polyetheramines of Formula (I), (II), (III) and a mixture thereof. The surfactant system of the composition of the invention comprises an anionic surfactant and a primary co-surfactant selected from the group consisting of amphoteric, zwitteronic and mixtures thereof.
Data Source
AI summary
A hard surface cleaning composition comprising: a) from 1% to 60% by weight of the composition of a surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant and a primary co-surfactant selected from the group consisting of amphoteric, zwitteronic and mixtures thereof; and b) from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the composition of a polyetheramine