Metathesized Unsaturated Polyol Esters for pH-Stable Fabric Softening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current softening agents for fabrics suffer from high cost, narrow pH formulation window, hydrolytic instability, high charge density causing salt intolerance, and incompatibility with anionic materials, leading to insufficient softening performance and stability issues.

Innovation Solution

The use of metathesized unsaturated polyol esters, which are pH and salt tolerant, combined with fabric and home care ingredients, provides synergistic performance gains and improved softening capabilities, stability, and formulability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quaternary ammonium softening agents are used to achieve softening capability, then fabric softening performance is improved, but pH stability deteriorates due to hydrolytic instability of ester linkage beta to the quaternary ammonium group

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftening capabilityVSAvoidpH stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the softening agent by replacing quaternary ammonium groups with metathesized unsaturated polyol esters having different functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, or combinations). This structural parameter change eliminates the hydrolytic instability issue while maintaining softening capability through alternative mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs readily available natural oil feedstocks (vegetable oils, animal fats) as starting materials for the metathesized polyol esters, replacing complex and expensive quaternary ammonium compounds. This approach uses simpler, more stable, and more cost-effective materials to achieve the desired softening function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If quaternary ammonium softening agents with high charge density are used to improve softening performance, then fabric softening is enhanced, but salt tolerance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftening performanceVSAvoidsalt tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the charge density parameter of the softening agent by using metathesized unsaturated polyol esters with low or zero charge density, replacing high charge density quaternary ammonium groups. This parameter change enables salt tolerance while maintaining softening performance through hydrophobic interaction and fabric coating mechanisms rather than electrostatic attraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If quaternary ammonium softening agents are used to achieve softening capability, then fabric softening is improved, but compatibility with anionic materials deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftening capabilityVSAvoidcompatibility with anionic materials

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the charge approach by using non-ionic or anionic metathesized polyol esters instead of cationic quaternary ammonium compounds. This inversion eliminates electrostatic repulsion with anionic surfactants and other anionic formulation ingredients, enabling broad compatibility while maintaining softening capability through alternative mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal softening agent platform based on metathesized unsaturated polyol esters that is compatible with all major surfactant types (anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric) and formulation ingredients. This multi-functional approach replaces the limited compatibility of quaternary ammonium compounds with broad-spectrum adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If high molecular weight polymeric softening agents are used to improve softening performance, then fabric softening is enhanced, but processability and disposal difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftening performanceVSAvoidprocessability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the softening agent by using metathesized unsaturated polyol esters with controlled, moderate molecular weights derived from natural oil feedstocks. This parameter change improves processability, rinsability, and environmental disposal compared to high molecular weight polymeric softening agents, while maintaining adequate softening performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3623527B1Fabric care composition comprising metathesized unsaturated polyol esters

Publication Date: 2025.10.08 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A composition comprising, a) a metathesized unsaturated polyol ester, said metathesized unsaturated polyol ester having: (i) a weight average molecular weight of from 5,000 Daltons to 50,000 Daltons, preferably from 5,500 Daltons to 50,000 Daltons, more preferably from 5,500 Daltons to 40,000 Daltons, most preferably from 6,000 Daltons to 30,000 Daltons; and optionally one or more of the following properties: (ii) an oligomer index from greater than 0 to 1, preferably from 0.001 to 1, more preferably 0.01 to 1, most preferably from 0.05 to 1; (iii) an iodine value of from 30 to 200, preferably from 30 to 150, more preferably from 30 to 120, most preferably from 50 to 110; and b) a perfume and optionally a carrier, preferably said composition having a pH of from 3 to 12.