Water Hardness Controlling Agent for Ware Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hard water causes precipitation, etching, corrosion, and scaling issues in cleaning compositions, leading to spotting and filming on surfaces like glass, metal, and plastic, due to high calcium and magnesium content.
Innovation Solution
A water hardness controlling agent comprising polyacrylic acid, acrylic-maleic acid copolymer, and phosphonocarboxylic acid, in specific ratios, is used to prevent scale formation and deposition on surfaces, effectively managing water hardness in cleaning compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hard water is used in cleaning compositions, then cleaning action is provided, but precipitation and scaling occur on surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water hardness controlling agents (polyacrylic acid, acrylic-maleic acid copolymer, and phosphonocarboxylic acid) as intermediary substances that mediate between hard water and surfaces. These agents bind calcium and magnesium ions, preventing them from reacting with surfactants and depositing on surfaces, thus enabling cleaning action while preventing scaling and precipitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of hard water (calcium and magnesium ions causing precipitation) into a beneficial effect by using these same ions as binding targets for the water hardness controlling agents. The agents selectively bind the hardness ions, preventing them from causing scaling while allowing the cleaning composition to function effectively.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If polyacrylic acid is used to control water hardness, then scaling is prevented, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple water hardness controlling agents (polyacrylic acid, acrylic-maleic acid copolymer, and phosphonocarboxylic acid) into a single integrated formulation. This combination provides synergistic effects, where each component contributes different mechanisms of hardness control, achieving superior scaling prevention while maintaining formulation manageability through established ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite water hardness controlling system by combining polymers (polyacrylic acid and acrylic-maleic acid copolymer) with a small molecule chelating agent (phosphonocarboxylic acid). This composite approach leverages the strengths of each material type - the polymers provide bulk hardness control and the phosphonocarboxylic acid provides precise chelation - resulting in a robust scaling prevention system.
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 effectively prevents calcium carbonate precipitation, reducing spotting and filming on surfaces, ensuring clear and clean results in various cleaning applications, including warewashing, laundry, and textile care.
Implementation Method 1
a water hardness controlling agent including a polyacrylic acid or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 50,000 g/mol, an acrylic-maleic acid copolymer or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 100,000 g/mol and a phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof
Implementation Method 2
The water hardness controlling agent is formed by mixing an acrylate polymer having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 50,000 g/mol, an acrylate-maleic copolymer having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 100,000 g/mol and a phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A water hardness controlling agent includes a polyacrylic acid or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 50,000 g/mol, an acrylic-maleic acid copolymer or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 100,000 g/mol and a phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof. A ratio of acrylic-maleic acid copolymer or salt thereof to polyacrylic acid or salt thereof to phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof in parts per million is about 1-30:10-80:6-20.