Viscoelastic Surfactant Cleaning Compositions Shear Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cleaning compositions using polymeric thickening agents degrade under mechanical shear or chemical scission, leading to reduced viscosity and cleaning effectiveness, and can leave undesirable residues and dilute active cleaning agents, while viscoelastic surfactants have been unsuccessful in imparting desired viscosity in cleaning compositions.
Innovation Solution
The use of viscoelastic surfactants, such as erucic dimethyl amido propyl betaine, in combination with pseudo-crosslinking agents like Mg2+, SLES, and GLDA, to create cleaning compositions that provide both thickening and enhanced cleaning capabilities without relying on polymer thickeners, suitable for acidic, neutral, or caustic environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If polymeric thickening agents are used to impart viscosity, then the composition provides increased contact time on surfaces, but the thickening agents degrade under mechanical shear or chemical scission leading to reduced viscosity and cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thickening function from traditional polymeric thickeners and transfers it to viscoelastic surfactants. The viscoelastic surfactant system separates the thickening role from the cleaning role, allowing the thickener to not interfere with cleaning effectiveness while providing stable viscosity through micellar structures that resist degradation under shear and chemical conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the thickening system by using viscoelastic surfactants with specific micellar structures (worm-like, rod-like, or cylindrical micelles) instead of conventional polymeric chains. This parameter change in molecular architecture provides shear stability and chemical resistance while maintaining viscosity, resolving the contradiction between stability and reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If polymeric thickening agents are used to provide viscosity, then contact time on surfaces is increased, but the polymer thickener may act as a barrier slowing down diffusion of active cleaning ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thickening function from polymeric agents and assigns it to viscoelastic surfactants. This separation allows the active cleaning ingredients to diffuse through the surfactant-based thickened system without the barrier effect caused by polymeric chains, thereby maintaining both viscosity and cleaning productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscoelastic surfactant system acts as an intermediary between the need for viscosity and the need for rapid diffusion of cleaning agents. The micellar structure of the surfactants provides a pathway for diffusion while maintaining thickness, serving as a mediating system that satisfies both requirements simultaneously.
3Stability of the object's composition
If polymeric thickening agents are used to thicken the composition, then contact time is improved, but the polymer thickener may act to dilute the active cleaning agents reducing cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The viscoelastic surfactant system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thickening/viscosity enhancement and active cleaning action. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate polymeric thickeners that would dilute the cleaning agents, as the surfactant itself serves both roles without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the thickening function and cleaning function into a single viscoelastic surfactant system. By combining these functions, the system avoids the dilution effect of separate polymeric thickeners while maintaining both viscosity and cleaning effectiveness through the dual-role surfactant molecules.
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 viscoelastic surfactant-based compositions exhibit superior cleaning performance with improved cling and reduced misting, maintaining stability under high shear and providing effective soil removal without the drawbacks of polymer-based thickeners.
Implementation Method 1
The property of viscoelasticity in general is well known... Viscoelastic surfactant fluids form worm-like, rod-like or cylindrical micelles in solution. The formation of long, cylindrical micelles creates useful rheological properties. The viscoelastic surfactant solution exhibits shear thinning behavior, and remains stable despite repeated high shear applications.
Implementation Method 2
The viscoelastic surfactant solution exhibits shear thinning behavior, and remains stable despite repeated high shear applications.
Implementation Method 3
The use of viscoelastic surfactants, such as erucic dimethyl amido propyl betaine, in combination with pseudo-crosslinking agents like Mg2+, SLES, and GLDA, to create cleaning compositions that provide both thickening and enhanced cleaning capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Acidic viscoelastic cleaning compositions are disclosed which use non polymer thickening agents. According to the invention, cleaning compositions have been developed using viscoelastic surfactants in acidic cleaning formulations. These provide the dual benefit of thickening as well as an additional cleaning, thereby improving performance. Applicants have also identified several pseudo linking agents which when, used with viscoelastic surfactants provide enhanced viscoelasticity and cleaning.