Thickening is the increase of viscosity of a liquid solution. Cleaning products are thickened to allow for easier dosage and application to the surface and to increase the contact time on inclined and vertical surfaces such as toilet bowl and tile walls. The longer adherence results in an improved removal of soil, limestone and microorganisms as well as in enhanced perfume release.
In addition to moderate to extreme thickening across pH 1 to 14, the use of surfactants provides additional benefits such as cleaning and foaming, stability in chlorine and hydrogen peroxide bleaches, fragrance solubilization, disinfection support, corrosion inhibition.
AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry has a wide range of products for thickening cleaning formulations including ethoxylated amines (Ethomeen®), quaternary amines (Arquad®), and amine oxides (Aromox®) all based on our nitrogen chemistry core technology.
The presentation will review AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry’s surfactants for thickening with examples of formulations and their performance.
4. 4Surface Chemistry EMEIA - Thickening
Thickening
“Thickening” is the increase of viscosity of a liquid
solution
Used for Cleaning products:
• to increase contact time on inclined and vertical
surface
• for easier dosage
• for easier application to the surface
6. Cationic surfactants
6Surface Chemistry EMEIA - Thickening
In concentrated solutions, have a tendency to form rod micelles resulting in a very
high viscosity.
Viscosity increase is due to chaotic worm like arrangement of molecules in
solution. The longer the chain length of the hydrophobe, the higher the viscosity.
The use of desolubilizer reduces the amount of cationic required.
14. 14Surface Chemistry EMEIA - Thickening
Toilet bowl cleaner
700 cPs viscosity* and good clinging effect
Ethomeen T/12 1.35 %
Arquad T-50 1.8 %
HCl 9.5 %
Water balance
Ethomeen T/12 + Arquad T-50
ü efficient thickening system at low and high HCl concentration
ü desired viscosity can be obtained by optimizing the ratio and the
concentration of the blend
ü thixotropic behaviour (shear thinning formulations)
*viscosity cps, Brookfield DV-1, Spindle 2, RPM 30, RT
22. 22Surface Chemistry EMEIA - Thickening
Cationic thickeners - Multifunctional benefits
• Moderate to extreme thickening
• Can be used at all pH’s
• Stable in chlorine and hydrogen peroxide bleach
• Fragrance solubilization
• Cleaning and foaming
• Support disinfection
• Corrosion inhibition
24. Disclaimer
24Surface Chemistry EMEIA - Thickening
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limited to formulation and toxicity information) for the user’s purpose. The safety of any
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formulation should be confirmed in all respects by the user prior to use. The information
contained herein supersedes all previously issued bulletins on the subject matter
covered.