A Builders

In addition to surfactants, a number of other materials are present in formulated laundry detergents. Among these are materials called builders. Their main purpose is to counter the detrimental effects of polyvalent cations on detergency. Polyvalent cations are introduced into the wash bath mainly by water hardness but may also come from soil or substrate. In addition, builders serve to increase the detersive effidency and effectiveness of surfactants and to supplement their beneficial effects on soil removal. 

Builders perform the following primary functions, in order of decreasing importance  

Polymeric polycarboxylates, such as polyacrylates and acrylate-maleate copolymers, are finding usage as cobuilders in zeolite-carbonate builder systems. Polymers are finding increasing application in detergent formulations as dispersing 

Current laundry detergents in powder form contain 8-25% surfactant and 30-80% builders. The builders are mainly inorganic salts, used at fairly high percentages, but a few organic polymeric materials are also used, at low percentages. Sodium polyacrylates have been recommended for use with sodium carbonate as builder. The polyacrylates prevent precipitation of insoluble carbonates (Nagarajan, 1985). 

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Functional derivatives of polyethylene, particularly poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acryLic acid) and derivatives, have received attention because of their water-solubility and disposal iato the aqueous environment. Poly(vinyl alcohol) is used ia a wide variety of appHcations, including textiles, paper, plastic films, etc, and poly(acryLic acid) is widely used ia detergents as a builder, a super-absorbent for diapers and feminine hygiene products, for water treatment, ia thickeners, as pigment dispersant, etc (see Vinyl polymers, vinyl alcohol polymers). 

Hard Surface Cleaners. Citric acid and sodium citrate are used in hard surface cleaners as an acid and chelator for dissolving hard water deposits and as a builder to increase the efficacy of the surfactants. 

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate [7722-88-5] Na4P20y, is another important primary builder and detergent. In sequestration, it is not quite as effective as sodium tripolyphosphate and its usage in heavy-duty laundry powders has declined in recent years. Functionally, tetrasodium pyrophosphate is both a builder for surfactants (ie, water softener) and alkaH. 

In principle, the soil removal for the a-ester sulfonates increases appreciably in soft water as chain length increases. In hard water the results for C16 and C18 ester sulfonates are nearly the same with and without zeolite A, a builder for complexing Ca2+ ions (Fig. 8) [58]. 

In a similar manner, diphosphinomethane, CH2(PH2)2, can be converted with nitric acid to methylenediphosphonic acid, a builder for detergence. In the same way, 2,2-diphosphinopropane was converted to 2,2-propylidenediphosphonic acid [103],... 

Detergency was ascertained as the quotient of the whiteness obtained and the whiteness which is theoretically possible, expressed as a percentage. Samples of artificial soiled fabrics are washed under given conditions. Aqueous solutions of alkanephosphonic acid bisdiisopropanolamides show a notable detergency without addition of a builder, e.g., sodium triphosphate [190] see Table 12. 

The detergency of synthetic detergents can be improved by builders. The function of a builder is a complex one. The ability to prevent the negative influ-... 

However, the ability to act as a builder encompasses much more than so far been mentioned. Builders influence the coagulation of solid soil, often form a buffer system, and promote the soil suspending activity of washing liquors. They are further able to reduce the catalytic effect of ferric and manganic ions. Thus they support the stabilization of peroxides in detergents. Similarly, rancidness caused by catalytic processes of soap and fragrances can be avoided. 

Addition of as little as 5% soap to an amphoteric LSDA of limited water solubility (high Krafft point) brought about a substantial lowering of the Krafft point and thus markedly improved water solubility. On the other hand, addition of 10% of amphoteric LSDA to sodium palmitate lowered the Krafft point of the soap by 10-14°C. Addition of anionic LSDA to sodium palmitate showed smaller Krafft point depression. Addition of a builder-type salt, such as sodium metasilicate, had essentially no effect on the Krafft points of soap-LSDA mixtures. 

The following sections contain recommended radon-resistant construction techniques that a builder may wish to incorporate into the home. It should be understood that these are recommendations only and should not be construed as guidelines or regulations. The recommendations are based on the best available information gathered from numerous research projects.9... 

A builder has 27 cubic feet of concrete to pave a sidewalk whose length is 6 times its width. The concrete must be poured 6 inches deep. How long is the sidewalk ... 

Choose a builder and its amount depending on the aqueous solubility of the builder in the product besides its chelating power. For instance, do not use insoluble zeolites in unstructured liquid detergents. 

No, he is not my business partner Far from it. Not even my messenger boy. He does have a remarkable eye for style and proportions, and I ask his opinion on those quite often, but no more than that. We tried to put his talent to work by apprenticing him to a builder and later to an artist and several other people, too, but none of them could tolerate him for long. He spouts more fables than Aesop If I were to let him near anyone I was doing business with, the Quarantia would be convicting me of fraud in no time. ... 

STPP is used primarily as a builder for detergents, including dishwashing detergents (45%) and industrial and institutional detergents (31%). It also has food uses (13%). Up to 1988 it was in the top 50 chemicals because of its powerful ability to sequester dipositive ions in hard water, but it causes eutrophication of lakes and has been replaced in most detergents by other compounds. 

Alternatively, finely powdered zeolites may be used in detergent powders as a builder since zeolite particles smaller than 10 pm do not stick to clothing. Formerly, sodium polyphosphates (Section 7.7) were used extensively as detergent builders to tie up the Ca2+ and Mg2+ in hard water as soluble complexes (or as a precipitate that washes away). However, many communities ban phosphate detergents because of pollution problems (Sections 7.7 and 9.6), thus creating a major new market for zeolites. 

A builder is an additive that improves the effectiveness of the detergent. 

The key to scaling up a tableting process is to consider it during the entire development process. From the inception of a development project, the formulation scientist must consider scale-up. It should not be a process removed from development. A formulation scientist should begin a development project with the end in mind. Just as a builder, prior to nailing boards, planks, and plywood together, has a blueprint of what the structure is supposed to look Uke, a formulator should know what the goals of the delivery system are. 

Co-builders such as nitrilotriacetic acid or polycarboxylates also may be incorporated into the detergent formulation. Wash performance of detergents decreases with increasing calcium concentration. Protease performance varies, but high calcium concentrations tend to reduce protease performance. Therefore it is an advantage to add a builder system to the detergent. Proteases need a small amount of calcium for the sake of stability, but even with the most efficient builder systems, stability during wash is not a problem. 

As a builder of musical instruments, I am constantly challenged by the endless musical opportunities presented by the many instrument families (e.g., wind, string, percussion) and the myriad types of clay available. I enjoy making all types of ceramic musical in-... 

A surfactant that may be added to a system to enhance the effectiveness of another surfactant. The term co-sur-factant has also been improperly used to describe nonsurface- active species that enhance a surfactant s effectiveness, such as an alcohol or a builder. 

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