Stable Concentrated Cleansing Compositions via Surfactant Ratios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concentrated aqueous dishwash compositions with sodium carbonate face instability issues due to temperature fluctuations, leading to undesirable viscosity changes that affect performance and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Maintaining a specific ratio of alkyl benzene sulphonate to (poly)ethoxylated sulphate in a mixed anionic surfactant system, combined with at least 12 wt% sodium carbonate and minimal non-carbonate builders, to stabilize viscosity across temperature variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If concentrated aqueous cleansing compositions contain high levels of sodium carbonate for better degreasing, then cleaning performance is improved, but thermal stability deteriorates due to drastic viscosity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing specific surfactant systems (alkyl benzene sulphonate and (poly)ethoxylated sulphate in controlled ratios) and limiting non-carbonate builders to less than 1 wt%, which modifies the viscosity-temperature relationship to achieve thermal stability while maintaining high sodium carbonate content (12-35 wt%) for effective degreasing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite surfactant system combining alkyl benzene sulphonate and (poly)ethoxylated sulphate in specific ratios (1:1 to 3:1), which works synergistically with sodium carbonate to provide both high cleaning performance and thermal stability, effectively resolving the contradiction between strength and stability
2Strength
If the viscosity of concentrated compositions is increased to improve in-use performance, then cleaning effectiveness is enhanced, but user judgement during dilution becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the viscosity parameter by controlling surfactant ratios and composition formulation, achieving a balanced viscosity range that provides effective cleaning performance while remaining easy to dilute and judge during user operation, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a concentrated aqueous cleansing composition comprising: (i) 14 wt% to 35 wt% of a mixed anionic surfactant system containing alkyl benzenesulphonate (a) and (poly)ethoxylated sulphate (b); (ii) at least 12 wt% sodium carbonate; and, (iii) total non-carbonate builder content less than 1 wt%, wherein the ratio of (a) to (b) is from 1:1 to 3:1 parts by weight.