Substoichiometric Alkoxylation of Polyetheramines for Cleaning Polymers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cleaning compositions face challenges in effectively removing cooked-, baked-, and burnt-on soils from surfaces, particularly requiring significant rubbing effort and struggling with grease removal from hydrophobic substrates like plastics, and they do not provide a pleasant touch or feel after washing.
Innovation Solution
A polymer is developed through a process involving the condensation of N-(hydroxyalkyl)amines with polyols and polyamines, followed by substoichiometric alkoxylation, resulting in polymers with enhanced cleaning properties for grease removal and improved performance at low temperatures, suitable for use in cleaning compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional cleaning compositions are used for removing cooked-, baked-, and burnt-on soils, then mechanical rubbing effort is required, but cleaning efficiency is reduced and user safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure of cleaning agents through substoichiometric alkoxylation of polyetheramines. This creates polymers with specific hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values and molecular weights that enable effective soil removal at low temperatures without requiring mechanical rubbing, thus improving cleaning efficiency while reducing operational effort
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials by combining polyetheramine backbones with alkylene oxide side chains in specific ratios. The substoichiometric alkoxylation creates a composite molecular structure that integrates both hydrophilic (polyether backbone) and lipophilic (alkylene oxide) segments, enabling the cleaner to effectively interact with and remove both polar and non-polar soils
2Productivity
If conventional cleaners are used for grease removal from hydrophobic substrates, then cleaning performance is insufficient, but the invention achieves effective removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating polymers with heterogeneous molecular structures containing both hydrophilic polyether segments and lipophilic alkylene oxide segments. This local differentiation of chemical properties within the same molecule enables the cleaner to simultaneously interact with hydrophobic substrates and grease deposits, achieving reliable and effective grease removal from difficult surfaces
3Ease of operation
If traditional cleaning compositions are used, then functional performance is achieved, but pleasant touch and feel after washing is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the HLB value and molecular weight parameters of the cleaning polymers through controlled substoichiometric alkoxylation. These parameter adjustments create a balance between cleaning power and post-washing comfort, where the polymer structure provides effective cleaning while leaving a pleasant tactile sensation on the cleaned surface
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 polymers demonstrate superior cleaning efficiency for cooked-, baked-, and burnt-on soils, as well as effective grease removal from hydrophobic substrates, while ensuring a pleasant touch and feel post-washing, outperforming conventional compositions in manual dishwashing scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a) condensation of at least one component a1), optionally at least one component a2) and/or optionally at least one component a3)... in order to obtain a polyether having remaining hydroxyl groups and optionally remaining secondary amino groups
Implementation Method 2
b) reacting a part of the remaining hydroxy groups and optionally a part of the remaining secondary amino groups of the polyether obtained in step a) with at least one alkylene oxide
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are polymers obtainable by a process including the steps a) and b) described below. In Step a) at least one component a1) is condensed to obtain a polyether having remaining hydroxyl groups. Component a1) is at least one component selected from N-(hydroxyalkyl) amins according to formula (Ia) and/or (Ib) as defined below. Besides component a1), further components can be present in the condensation step a). In step b) a part of the remaining hydroxyl groups are reacted with at least one alkylene oxide. The alkoxylation according to step b) is carried out in a substoichiometric way. The ratio of i) the alkylene oxide versus ii) the sum of the amount of the remaining hydroxyl groups is >0:1 to <1:1 [mol/mol]. Further provided herein is a process for preparing such polymers and derivatives of the polymers by quaternization, protonation, sulphation and/or phosphation.