SURFACE MODIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR HOUSEHOLD CLEANING
On behalf of a major multinational consumer products company, nanoposts.com is seeking technologies that enhance the ability of cleaning products to remove dirt and oils from surfaces.
Solutions should offer a technology or system that can reduce soil:surface adhesion or soil:soil cohesion.
The technology should minimize the effort needed to clean soils on a wide range of surfaces such as:
(A) Hydrophobic soil on low energy surfaces (e.g. soap/sebum on plastic surfaces)
(B) Baked-on oil-based food residues on high energy surfaces (e.g. vegetable oil on vitreous surface)
(C) Inorganic soils on high or low energy surfaces (e.g. lime scale on bathroom fittings)
The technology must:
(1) Leave the surfaces with a shiny and clean appearance
(2) Not be visible on the surface after cleaning
(3) Withstand rinsing with water
(4) Be environmentally safe
(5) Be compatible with typical aqueous cleaning formulations:
= 2-10% anionic/non-ionic surfactant mixtures
= Electrolytes / buffers / polymers at < 5%
= pH between 2 and 12
Exceptions to these specifications will only be considered for technologies that offer extraordinary effectiveness.
BACKGROUND
When consumers clean household surfaces they expect cleaning products to remove visible soil and leave the surface with an attractive clean and shiny appearance. However, they also want to achieve these results with a minimum of effort.
Surface treatments can achieve these results by reducing soil:surface adhesion (how strongly the soil is stuck to a surface) as well as soil:soil cohesion (soil toughness). Minimizing these binding forces will reduce the rubbing effort required to achieve an attractive surface, as well as the potential for mechanical and chemical damage.
The goal of this request is to identify materials that can be added to a surfactant solution to allow easier removal of environmental and domestic soils.
POSSIBLE APPROACHES
Potential approaches could include but are not limited to:
= Inorganic particles (e.g.) photo-catalysts
= Novel polymeric materials / structures
= Biomimicry (i.e.) lotus leaf effect
= Protective film formers e.g. soil adhesion, surface protection / restoration
= Nanotechnology
= Self-assembly or nanoassembly technologies
= Self-cleaning technologies
APPROACHES NOT OF INTEREST
Materials commonly used in current household cleaning products will not be considered unless they are used in novel combinations or in radically new approaches.
ANTICIPATED PROJECT PHASES
The materials will need to meet the following success criteria to demonstrate Phase 1 proof-of-concept:
TECHNICAL
Demonstrate as a result of laboratory evaluation:
= Modification of household surfaces for easy cleaning
- Reduce the effort required to remove soil
- Reduce the effort required for good end results
= No visible residues after cleaning
COMMERCIAL
The material must be shown to have high weight effectiveness in household formulations, and must have potential to be economically viable for incorporation into Home Care products.
SAFETY
The ingredient will need to be proven as safe for consumer use and have no skin sensitization or undesirable side effects. A complete safety package for the ingredient upfront is most preferable, but in its absence, a credible initial assessment should be provided.
TESTING
Nanoposts.com client will test all technologies to assess their effectiveness.
APPROPRIATE RESPONSES
Solutions should include any available data that support the stated performance, for example data supporting the ability of the surfaces to resist soiling and/or be cleaned more readily. The proposal should also include any available information about:
(1) Maturity and production readiness of the technology
(2) Description of the advantages of the proposed solution compared to current methods
(3) Plan for meeting any unmet requirements
Please email responses to andy.garland@nanoposts.com .
For any further enquires please call +44 (0)1786 474768.
