Wetting Composition for Non-Aqueous Liquid Surface Tension Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in improving the wettability of low energy hydrophobic surfaces with non-aqueous liquids, particularly those of relatively high surface tension.
Innovation Solution
A wetting composition comprising 20-50 wt% C10-C14 alcohol, 25-70 wt% surfactant (non-ionic, cationic, anionic, or amphoteric), and 5-50 wt% polar component (water or water-miscible C1-C3 organic solvent) is added to a non-aqueous liquid to reduce its surface tension and enhance wettability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-aqueous liquid with relatively high surface tension is used, then the liquid maintains good stability and low volatility, but it cannot effectively wet low energy hydrophobic surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface tension parameter of the non-aqueous liquid by adding a wetting composition, transforming it from high to low surface tension state. This allows the liquid to effectively wet low energy surfaces while maintaining the base liquid's stability and low volatility characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite liquid system by combining the non-aqueous liquid with a wetting composition containing surfactants and co-surfactants. This composite approach enables the liquid to simultaneously achieve low surface tension for wetting and maintain the inherent stability of the non-aqueous base
2Ease of operation
If the surface tension of the non-aqueous liquid is reduced by adding surfactants, then the wettability of low energy surfaces is improved, but the liquid composition becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a wetting composition as an intermediary substance that mediates between the non-aqueous liquid and the low energy surface. The surfactants and co-surfactants in this intermediary composition reduce surface tension and enable wetting without requiring fundamental changes to the base liquid system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention achieves wettability improvement by changing the surface tension parameter through controlled addition of wetting agents, rather than fundamentally altering the liquid composition. This parameter-based approach maintains relative compositional simplicity while achieving the desired wetting effect
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 wetting composition effectively lowers the surface tension of non-aqueous liquids to below 25 mN/m, significantly improving their ability to wet low energy surfaces, even those with high surface energy, thereby enhancing the spreading and penetration of non-aqueous liquids.
Implementation Method 1
The wetting composition effectively lowers the surface tension of non-aqueous liquids to below 25 mN/m
Implementation Method 2
25-70 wt% surfactant (non-ionic, cationic, anionic, or amphoteric)
Implementation Method 3
significantly improving their ability to wet low energy surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of a wetting composition comprising (a) from 20 to less than 50 wt % of one or more C10 to C14 alcohol, (b) 25 to 70 wt % of a surfactant selected from a non-ionic, cationic, anionic and amphoteric surfactant, and (c) from 5 to 50 wt % of a polar component comprising at least one selected from (i) water, and (ii) up to 25 wt % of a water-miscible C1-C3 organic solvent in lowering the surface tension of non-aqueous liquids, to methods for using the wetting composition, and products and non-aqueous compositions containing the wetting composition.