Fabric Softener Composition for Soluble Liquid CO2 Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric softeners are not soluble enough in liquid carbon dioxide, leading to reduced softening performance and bubble generation during high-pressure cleaning, which can damage laundry.
Innovation Solution
A fabric softener composition incorporating an alkyl carbonate-based organic solvent and a cationic surfactant, specifically formulated to maintain solubility and prevent bubble formation in liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an ordinary fabric softener is used in liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning, then the softening function is provided, but the solubility is insufficient leading to reduced softening performance and bubble generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the fabric softener by incorporating specific alkyl carbonates (dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, or mixed alkyl carbonates) as solubilizing agents. These carbonates enhance the solubility of cationic surfactants in liquid carbon dioxide by modifying the polarity and molecular structure of the softener composition, thereby resolving the solubility issue without sacrificing softening performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fabric softener system combining cationic surfactants (for softening function) with alkyl carbonate solubilizing agents (for solubility enhancement). This composite composition enables both components to work synergistically in the non-polar liquid carbon dioxide environment, achieving adequate solubility while maintaining effective softening performance
2Productivity
If pressure is decreased during vaporization in liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning, then the liquid carbon dioxide vaporizes rapidly for drying, but bubbles are generated that can damage laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric softener composition is prepared in advance with alkyl carbonate solubilizing agents that pre-establish a stable molecular structure capable of withstanding pressure changes. This preliminary formulation ensures that when pressure decreases during the drying phase, the softener components remain dissolved and do not form bubbles that could damage laundry, while still allowing rapid vaporization for efficient drying
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
Ensures effective softening performance without pressure loss and phase changes, protecting laundry from damage during high-pressure liquid carbon dioxide cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
an alkyl carbonate-based organic solvent which has adequate solubility when diluted with a non-polar solvent such as liquid carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
the liquid-phase carbon dioxides on the clothes vaporize at a low pressure and are removed from the clothes rapidly
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fabric softener composition that ensures excellent usability for high-pressure liquid carbon dioxide cleaning. Specifically, the present invention relates to a fabric softener composition for liquid carbon dioxide-based cleaning that ensures excellent solubility of a softener component in a liquid carbon dioxide and prevents generation of bubbles, caused due to a change in the phase of the liquid carbon dioxide, thereby exhibiting a fabric softening ability without damaging laundry to be washed.