Many Asians love fragrant laundry, which is why they often use fabric softeners. Besides providing a pleasant scent, these softeners ensure comfortable wear even at high temperatures. However, conventional fabric softeners contain solvents that are not biodegradable.
Over six years, Tony Liu developed a fabric softener that meets the demands of Asian customers without using solvents. "We tested various applications and engaged in dialogue with customers to better understand their individual requirements," says Liu, who, along with four colleagues, has been involved in the development from the start. "The biggest challenge was creating a fabric softener that leaves no unwanted residues during washing."
The result is a transparent fabric softener named REWOQUAT TS 69. The water-repellent layer of conventional products often causes unwanted residues in laundry, restricting the breathability of clothing and making it uncomfortable to wear at high temperatures.
Goodbye sweat
Conventional fabric softeners typically rely on esterquats, a group of quaternary ammonium salts derived from fossil carbon compounds that are not biodegradable. They give traditional softeners their cloudy appearance. Esterquats are water-insoluble and form a water-repellent layer on textile fibers, limiting the breathability of garments and causing clumping in washing machines.
Consumers sweat more quickly, the washing machine doesn't clean properly, and in the worst case, it may stop functioning. Liu and his colleagues concluded that a transparent softener without esterquats could be the solution.
Quaternary ammonium salts
Quaternary ammonium salts are chemical compounds consisting of a nitrogen atom bonded to four organic groups, which gives them a positive charge. This structure makes them versatile for use in various products, such as disinfectants and fabric softeners. In fabric softeners, particularly esterquats, they help soften fabrics by attaching to fibers and altering their structure. Quaternary ammonium salts are generally water-soluble and possess antimicrobial properties, making them widely applicable in industrial settings.
Botanical sources
The newly developed softener is based on special quaternary ammonium salts from plant sources that are easily biodegradable. The product requires no solvents, making it particularly eco-friendly and cost-effective to produce. Thanks to its high water solubility, REWOQUAT TS 69 works even at low temperatures and only needs to be mixed evenly at room temperature, eliminating the need for prolonged heating and stirring. This leads to significant energy savings in production and increases efficiency.
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Another crucial advantage of REWOQUAT TS 69 is its ability to be stored at different temperatures, essential in certain Asian regions. "In China, for example, there can be extreme temperature variations throughout the year, so we had to ensure our product remains stable from 40 degrees Celsius to minus 20 degrees," Liu explains.
REWOQUAT TS 69 is now patented. The Evonik Business Line Care Solutions has tested the transparent fabric softener and anticipates strong prospects in the growing Asian market.
REWOQUAT TS 69 is now patented. The Evonik Business Line Care Solutions has tested the transparent fabric softener and anticipates strong prospects in the growing Asian market.
