Sulfonate Polymer Silicate Warewash Scale Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning compositions for warewash applications face challenges with unsatisfactory cleaning and increased magnesium scaling due to the harsh conditions, despite using conventional polyacrylate polymers and soluble silicates.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning composition comprising a sulfonate polymer and a water-soluble silicate, at specific weight ratios, is used to overcome these issues, comprising 0.5 to 12 wt% of a polymer with specific monomer units and a weight average molecular weight from 2000 to 100,000, 1 to 10 wt% of a water-soluble silicate with ≥10 g/100 mL solubility, and 20 to 80 wt% of an alkaline source, optionally with surfactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional polyacrylate polymers are used to mitigate scale formation, then inorganic scale deposition is reduced, but cleaning performance becomes unsatisfactory in harsh warewashing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the polymer structure by incorporating specific monomer units (acrylic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and ethyl acrylate or t-butyl acrylamide) in controlled ratios to optimize both scale inhibition and cleaning performance for harsh warewashing conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the modified polymer with water-soluble silicates in specific weight ratios (0.5-12 wt% polymer and 1-10 wt% silicate) to create a composite cleaning system that synergistically addresses both cleaning effectiveness and scale prevention
2Reliability
If soluble silicates are used for corrosion inhibition and magnesium chelation, then corrosion protection is improved, but magnesium silicate scale formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modified polymer acts as an intermediary that interferes with the precipitation of magnesium silicate scale, allowing silicates to provide corrosion protection while preventing the formation of difficult-to-remove magnesium silicate deposits on dishware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the weight ratio of polymer to water-soluble silicate (0.5-12 wt% polymer and 1-10 wt% silicate) to optimize the balance between corrosion inhibition and prevention of magnesium silicate scale formation
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 effectively reduces inorganic scale formation and improves cleaning performance, providing a favorable cleaning solution for warewash applications by maintaining a polymer to water-soluble silicate weight ratio from 2:1 to 1.2:1, thereby addressing the shortcomings of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
They are also effective chelants of magnesium ions
Implementation Method 2
Soluble silicates are known to provide corrosion inhibition of various substrates during the dishwashing process
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are compositions useful for cleaning, such as warewashing. The compositions comprise (a) a polymer comprising polymerized units of (i) an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer or salt thereof, (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acid monomer or salt thereof, and optionally (iii) one or more further monomers or salt thereof, the polymer having a Mw from 2000 to 100,000; (b) a water soluble silicate; (c) an alkaline source; and (d) optionally a surfactant.