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POLYOX™: A Powerful Ingredient for Cleaners and Detergents
Modern cleaning and detergent formulations are highly efficient, safe, and sustainable. These properties are fundamentally provided by the selection of ingredients such as surfactants, preservatives, and other additives used in these formulations. A common ingredient in most household and industrial cleaners is a rheology modifier, which helps keep the formulation easy to apply and stable. Therefore, selecting a rheology modifier that improves the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of a cleaner or detergent will greatly benefit its brand presence and value.
POLYOX™ Rheology Modifiers for Cleaners and Detergents
POLYOX™ is a rheology modifier used in a variety of chemical formulations, ranging from cleaners and detergents to personal care products to pharmaceuticals. Chemically, POLYOX™ is a group of high–molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymer chains that are thermoplastic, nonionic, and highly soluble in water. They are produced through the polymerization of ethylene oxide.
These relatively large polymer chains create a nonassociative thickening effect, which increases the viscosity of solutions and imparts shear-thinning rheology. This is due to the flexibility of the polymer chains and their ability to align or disentangle when shear stress is applied or removed. When POLYOX™ polymers are exposed to oxygen, elevated temperatures, or UV light, they degrade into polyethylene glycol molecules, which are biodegradable under specific conditions, making them ideal for eco-friendly formulations. Also, POLYOX™ polymers are not considered acutely toxic, highlighted by their use in food and pharmaceutical applications. Thus, POLYOX™ maintains the safety of formulations that may contact the skin.
Considering the above, POLYOX™ is an ideal ingredient in several cleaning and detergent formulations. Examples are listed below, where specific features pertaining to the chemistry contribute to improving the performance and value of the formulation.
Considering the above, POLYOX™ is an ideal ingredient in several cleaning and detergent formulations. Examples are listed below, where specific features pertaining to the chemistry contribute to improving the performance and value of the formulation.
Spray Cleaners
Many cleaners used in industrial settings are applied using spray bottles or nozzles. The rheology modifying properties that POLYOX™ imparts allow for two advantages: better precision and less waste. When solutions with POLYOX™ are sprayed, droplets have a large degree of elongational viscosity, making them less likely to mist and creating a lower spray angle. This is especially useful for concentrated cleaners or cleaners that deal with spot cleaning. When these sprayed droplets are applied to overhead or vertical surfaces, POLYOX™ rebuilds viscosity in the cleaner and helps it stay on the surface more easily, reducing waste.
Liquid Detergents
Household detergents are typically characterized as being easy to pour and measure because of their viscosity. POLYOX™ is an ideal thickener to use in detergents not only because of its viscosity-building properties but also due to its nonionic character and potential to be biodegraded. Since it is nonionic, it provides more flexibility for incorporation into both anionic and cationic formulations, such as laundry detergents and fabric softeners. Given that POLYOX™ is biodegradable, it suits products marketed as eco-friendly.
Detergent Pods
POLYOX™ is unique compared to other polymers used in cleaners and detergents because it is thermoplastic. This allows it to be processed into films via casting or using extruders. Furthermore, since POLYOX™ polymers are inherently water soluble, these films can be used in newer detergent capsule technologies used in laundry and dishwashing applications. The biodegradable properties of POLYOX™ also help create sustainable versions of these products.
POLYOX™ Grades
Several POLYOX™ grades are available in different molecular weights. A few are highlighted below as recommendations for the applications above. For a full list of grades, click here.
Grade
|
Application
|
Use Rate (wt%)
|
|---|---|---|
| POLYOX™ WSR N-60K | Spray cleaner mist-control additive
|
0.025
|
| POLYOX™ WSR N-3000 | Detergent liquid thickener
|
0.05–0.10
|
| POLYOX™ WSR N-10 | Film formation
|
100
|
| POLYOX™ WSR N-750 | Film formation
|
100
|
Summary
POLYOX™ is a multifunctional ingredient that helps enhance the value and efficiency of several household and industrial cleaners and detergents. It imparts shear-thinning rheology that helps make spray cleaners easier to apply and improves the shelf stability of liquid detergents. Since it is thermoplastic, it also allows for extruding or casting films that help make self-encapsulated detergent products. In general, POLYOX™ is nontoxic and biodegradable, making it a useful ingredient with functionality and sustainability in eco-friendly formulations. To request a sample of POLYOX™ for use in your formulation, click the link below. Our product experts will be in touch to offer you formulation assistance and answer any questions.
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