Styrene-Starch Opacifier Dispersion for Liquid Detergents
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current pearlizing agents and opacifiers in liquid home care and personal care products face issues with unsatisfactory performance and poor biodegradability, along with production challenges such as fouling during polymerization, which affects plant efficiency and increases production stoppages.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous polymer dispersions are produced by radical aqueous emulsion polymerization, comprising at least 70% by weight of monovinylaromatic monomers, such as styrene, in the presence of 80 to 200% by weight of degraded starch, providing high opacity and biodegradability while minimizing fouling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If styrene-containing polymer dispersions are used as opacifiers, then high opacity effect is achieved, but biodegradability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite polymer particles comprising both styrene (for opacity) and biodegradable components (for biodegradability), creating a material that combines the optical properties of synthetic polymers with the environmental benefits of biodegradable materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the polymer particles by incorporating biodegradable monomers alongside styrene, changing the material properties to achieve both high opacity and biodegradability simultaneously
2Ease of manufacture
If styrene-containing polymer dispersions are produced by emulsion polymerization, then opacifier is obtained, but fouling occurs on reaction vessel walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective colloid or surfactant as an intermediary substance during polymerization that prevents polymer deposits from adhering to the reaction vessel walls, thereby reducing fouling while maintaining production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes polymerization parameters such as temperature, monomer concentration, and initiator dosage to control the polymerization rate and reduce fouling tendencies during the manufacturing process
3Productivity
If fouling occurs during polymerization, then production stoppages increase, but throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous or semi-continuous polymerization processes that maintain steady production rates without interruption, preventing fouling-related stoppages and maximizing throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The use of protective colloids or surfactants during polymerization prevents fouling that would otherwise cause production stoppages, ensuring continuous operation and maintaining high throughput
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 solution achieves a high opacity effect in home and personal care products, is partly biodegradable, and is easier and less expensive to produce, reducing fouling and production stoppages.
Implementation Method 1
aqueous polymer dispersions which are obtainable by radical aqueous emulsion polymerization in the presence of a degraded starch
Implementation Method 2
radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of monomers M comprising at least 70% by weight of monovinylaromatic monomers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of an aqueous polymer dispersions, which are obtainable by radical aqueous emulsion polymerization in the presence of a degraded starch as an opacifier in liquid formulations, in particula in liquid detergent formulations and liquid cosmetic preparations. The invention also relates to a process for producing the aqueous polymer dispersions. Further, the invention also relates to liquid formulations such as detergent formulations and liquid cosmetic preparations, which contain at least one aqueous polymer dispersion. The aqueous polymer dispersions are obtainable by radical aqueous emulsion polymerization of i) ethylenically unsaturated monomers M comprising or in particular consisting of a) at least 70% by weight, in particular at least 75% by weight, especially at least 80% by weight, based on the total weight of monomers M, of at least one monomer Ma, selected from the group consisting of monovinylaromatic monomers, and optionally b) up to 30% by weight, in particular up to 25% by weight, especially up to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of monomers M, of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers Mb, which are different from the monomer Ma; in the presence of ii) 50 to 300% by weight, in particular 70 to 250% by weight, especially 80 to 200% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers M, of a degraded starch.