Polymeric Microemulsion Hand Cleaner Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand cleaning compositions using dibasic esters for removing lipophilic substances like paints and resins face issues with storage stability, skin irritation, and ecotoxicity, as they hydrolyze over time, leading to pH and viscosity changes and phase separation.
Innovation Solution
A gelled hand cleaning composition incorporating a microemulsion comprising a dibasic ester, water, a polar organic solvent, and an anionic surfactant, along with an oil and emulsifiers, which maintains monophasic stability for at least 4 months and reduces dibasic ester content, while being effective against lipophilic soils and skin-friendly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dibasic esters are used in hand cleaning composition, then effective removal of lipophilic soils is achieved, but storage stability deteriorates due to hydrolysis causing pH and viscosity changes and phase separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning composition by replacing dibasic esters with polymeric microemulsions. This substitution fundamentally alters the compositional parameters to prevent hydrolysis reactions, thereby maintaining pH and viscosity stability over extended storage periods while avoiding phase separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite materials in the form of polymeric microemulsions that combine multiple functional components. These microemulsions integrate surfactant properties, solvent capabilities, and stability enhancement in a single composite structure, effectively replacing the problematic dibasic ester component while providing multiple beneficial functions simultaneously.
2Productivity
If dibasic esters are used for cleaning effectiveness, then lipophilic soil removal is improved, but ecotoxicity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by substituting dibasic esters with polymeric microemulsions. This parameter change reduces the ecotoxicity profile of the cleaning composition while preserving its cleaning effectiveness, as the microemulsion system provides alternative mechanisms for solubilizing and removing lipophilic soils without relying on highly toxic ester solvents.
3Quantity of substance
If dibasic esters are used in cleaning composition, then solubility of lipophilic substances is enhanced, but skin irritation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses polymeric microemulsions as composite materials that provide enhanced solubility for lipophilic substances through their micellar structure. The composite nature of these microemulsions allows them to solubilize oils and greases while the polymeric structure and surfactant composition reduce skin irritation compared to conventional dibasic ester solvents.
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 improved storage stability and effectiveness in removing lipophilic substances like paints and resins, maintaining pH stability and homogeneity, while reducing ecotoxicity and skin irritation risks.
Implementation Method 1
A microemulsion is present in the composition from 0.2 to 15 total weight percent, wherein said microemulsion comprises a dibasic ester; water; a polar organic solvent; and an anionic surfactant that is a sulfonate, sulfate, or phosphonate
Implementation Method 2
An emulsifier is present from 0.01 to 10 total weight percent
Implementation Method 3
Over time, dibasic esters tend to hydrolyze into their acid counterparts. This causes the pH and viscosity of a composition containing the same to decrease significantly
Implementation Method 4
The composition further comprises an abrasive
Data Source
AI summary
A gelled cleaning composition is provided that includes a standard temperature and pressure (STP) liquid oil or STP malleable wax present from 0.1 to 9.9 total weight percent. An emulsifier is present from 0.01 to 10 total weight percent, along with an alkylene glycol present from 0.002 to 11 total weight percent. A microemulsion is present in the composition from 0.2 to 15 total weight percent. Water forms a majority of the composition such that the composition is monophasic for at least 4 months storage at 20° Celsius. The composition is well suited for use in a process to remove a lipophlic substance from hands or an inanimate substrate by applying the composition and after allow sufficient time for the substance to be softened or solubilized, removing the composition and at least a portion of the substance. Silicone gaskets, as well as other cured resins and paints are readily removed.