Foam performance dishwashing detergents

There are several important physical and chemical parameters that characterize a surfactant and determine how it will perform in a dishwashing detergent. These parameters inclnde its critical micelle concentration, ability to pack at an air, oil, or solid interface, and ability to lower interfacial tension. Yet another important parameter is the extent to which varions snrfactants interact with each other to provide synergistic benefits. These fundamental characteristics determine how well the surfactant or snrfactant mixture will remove grease, how well it will foam, and even how irritating/mild it will be on hands. 

The sodium salts of the ether sulfates have relatively limited water solubility. They seldom perform as well as do many other anionic surfactants as wetting agents, but their foaming properties are considerably better. They have found extensive use in shampoo formulations, and, in combination with other anionic and nonionic surfactants, they are being used more for household dishwashing detergents. 

Because the sarcosinates have the ability to raise the cloud point of nonionic surfactants, this feature can be used to advantage in the formulation of dishwasher rinse aids. At the cloud point and up to 15C above it, foam generation is reduced and detergency is enhanced. By adjusting the cloud point of the formula to the use temperature, one can take full advantage of this performance feature. 

Applications. At present there are very few known applications, although the surfactants have significant potential due to their unique properties. Sulphonated fatty acids are used in some hard-surface cleaning formulations where their low foam is a benefit and in emulsion polymerisation, where they perform similarly to LAS but with greatly reduced tendency to foam. Future applications for these products may include machine dishwash, extended use in detergent products and industrial applications such as pigment dispersants. For these to be realised, further process development will be required to give a more consistent and better defined product. 

Hi-Foam. [Climax Performance] Patented high-sudsing detergents for shampoos and dishwashing bases. 

High performance light duty detergent concentration. Optimized blend of high foaming surfactants and builders for preparation of quality liquid dishwashes and all purpose cleaners. 

Foam is an esSfcntial attribute of a detergent product. In most cases, nice, rich, creamy foam is a signal of efficacy. It is the case of soaps (bars and liquids) and hand dishwashing and laundry products. In other cases, however, such as automatic dishwashing and machine laundry wash, foaming impairs performance as it reduces mechanical agitation. The theoretical aspects of foam are covered in detail in Chapter 9, whereas Chapter 10 addresses more practical aspects of foam. 

Owing to their excellent dye transfer inhibition properties, amine oxides can be used in a wide variety of laundry product formulations like laundry detergents, softergents, laundry prespotters, tine-fabric washes, etc. Amine oxides act as foam stabilizers and foam enhancers for anionic surfactants and therefore amine oxides are used in manual dishwash and shampoo formulations where foam volume, foam quality, and stability are important performance criteria. Some starting formulations using amine oxides are listed in Tables 66 through 70. 

They foam satisfactorily, are mild to the skin, and are therefore mainly used in manual dishwashing formulations (- cleaners), shampoos and light-duty - detergents. They are replacements for fatty acid alkanolamides as foam builders. Their higher price is compensated by better performance. They are also used as phase transfer catalysts and in the textile industry as dyeing auxiliaries and antistatics. A. are marketed in solution or paste form (30-55% d.s.) 45 000 mt (1987)were consumed in the United States with 80% going into household products. 

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