Self-Thickening Dilutable Cleaning Concentrate Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated cleaning compositions for hard surfaces face challenges in maintaining or increasing viscosity upon dilution, making them difficult to handle and dose effectively, especially on inclined or vertical surfaces, while also requiring improved flowability in concentrated form.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cleaning composition comprising a combination of fatty alcohol ether sulfate and betaine or amine oxide in specific weight ratios, ranging from 50:50 to 70:30, which maintains or increases viscosity upon dilution with water, enhancing handling and dosing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the concentrate is diluted with water to reduce packaging and transport costs, then the concentration of active ingredients is reduced, but the viscosity decreases making it difficult to handle and dose effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the concentrate by incorporating specific viscosity-modifying agents (polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, or starch derivatives) in controlled amounts (0.1-5% w/w). This parameter change enables the concentrate to maintain adequate viscosity after dilution, resolving the contradiction between reducing concentration for cost efficiency and maintaining handling properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cleaning composition by combining multiple surfactants (anionic, nonionic, amphoteric) with viscosity-modifying agents and additional functional ingredients. This composite formulation maintains viscosity upon dilution while preserving cleaning effectiveness, addressing both the concentration reduction need and handling property requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the viscosity of the concentrate is increased to improve handling properties, then the concentrate is easier to dose and control, but the flowability and solubility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of viscosity-modifying agents within specific ranges (0.1-5% w/w for polymers, 1-20% w/w for starch derivatives). This parameter optimization ensures the concentrate achieves adequate viscosity for handling while maintaining sufficient flowability and solubility for manufacturing and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different types of viscosity-modifying agents with specific local functions: polyacrylic acid and carboxymethyl cellulose provide viscosity control, while starch derivatives offer additional thickening. This localized application of different functional ingredients resolves the contradiction between achieving handling properties and maintaining flowability.
3Quantity of substance
If the concentrate is made more concentrated to reduce packaging and transport costs, then production and storage costs decrease, but the handling properties and solubility become unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the compositional parameters by incorporating viscosity-modifying agents at optimized concentrations that enable the concentrate to maintain handling properties even at high active ingredient concentrations. This parameter change allows the concentrate to be both highly concentrated for cost efficiency and easily handleable for user convenience.
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 the desired viscosity and flowability, allowing for easier handling and dosing, while maintaining effective cleaning performance and stability, thus addressing the challenges of conventional concentrates.
Implementation Method 1
readily self-thicken upon dilution with water to a degree that is perceived as both functional and easy-to-handle by the consumer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to concentrates to be diluted with water for hard surface cleaning purposes, comprising at least one fatty alcohol ether sulfate and at least one betaine or amino oxide in a weight ratio in the range of about 50:50 to about 70:30. The present invention further relates to the use thereof as well as to a method of preparation, which comprises diluting the concentrate with water.