ACUSOL 505N Detergent Polymer for Industrial and Institutional Laundry
Description
Rohm and Haas Company offers ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer for soil removal and superior soil antiredeposition in industrial and institutional laundry detergent formulations. This high sequestering, caustic soluble,
chlorine-stable copolymer complements the existing line of ACUSOL polycarboxylates.
Environmental awareness and wastewater discharge concerns have put demands on formulators to develop lower
built formulations for the laundry market. Scientists at Rohm and Haas have explored many chemistries to develop
polymers to help regain performance lost when moving to less alkaline or lower built formulations.
In order to get a realistic idea of how ACUSOL polymers perform, field trial evaluations were done using
background ballasts, wash formulas, and realistic stains typically found in industrial and institutional settings.
(Details are given in the Appendix.)
ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer can be used to overcome the shortcomings of non-phosphate formulations.
ACUSOL 505N removes soil, prevents particulate soil redeposition and fabric greying incrustation.
ACUSOL 505N is most beneficial in low-built detergent formulations, in 35- and 600-pound machines, where bath
to fabric ratios are typically low. ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer is soluble up to 5% polymer solids in up to 35%
caustic solids to give clear solutions.
Benefits
ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer gives you a commercial laundry formulation that delivers:
z superior whiteness retention/soil anti-redeposition in hard water
z improved soil removal on linen rental type soils
z reduced fabric harshness/fabric encrustation
ACUSOL 505N works by:
z dispersing soils
z facilitating soil removal
z sequestration of hard water ions
Starting Point Formulations
Table 1. Commercial Low-Built Laundry Detergents
Ingredients
Water
Nonionic Surfactant
ACUSOL 505N (35%)
Sodium N silicate (37.6%)
Sodium hydroxide (50%)
One-Shot Liquid
Multi-Component System
Detergent Break
77.0
2.0
1.0
8.8
11.2
79.0
1.0
8.8
11.2
11.4
13.4
<10
12.6
13.4
<10
turbid
slight haze
Formulation Physical Properties
% Solids (150C/1 hr)
pH
Brookfield Viscosity, cps
(12 rpm/#2 spindle)
Appearance
Formulating Tips
z When working with a multi-component system, put the polymer in the break.
z ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer has limited solubility in high-surfactant systems.
z For slurry systems, ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer should be added to the water before insoluble
builders to aid in solid suspension/anti-redeposition.
Detergent Polymers Evaluated Include
Mw
Acrylic Acid Homopolymer, PAA
4,500
ACUSOL 505N (Acrylic/Maleic Acid Copolymer, AA/MAL)
40,000
Performance Benefits
Soil Removal (field trials)
ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer can be formulated with the sodium form of alkalies and builders, such as sodium
hydroxide and silicates, to produce a cost-effective formulation. Figures 1 through 4 demonstrate the superior
soil removal performance of ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer (in the 600-lb. and 35-lb. washer/extractor) on
polyester, cotton, and polyester/cotton blends soiled with typical industrial and institutional stains.
Figure l. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (600-lb. washer/extractor)
Figure 2. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (35-lb. washer/extractor)
Figure 3. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (35-lb. washer/extractor)
Figure 4. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (600-lb. washer/extractor)
Figure 5 shows the cleaning improvement of lipstick on polyester fabric as the level of ACUSOL 505N polymer is
increased. The level of polymer needed to clean particular stains will vary depending on the stain and fabric.
Figure 5. Soil Removal vs. Polymer Wash Bath Concentration (600-lb. washer/extractor)
Anti-Redeposition Performance
(laboratory evaluations)
ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer is more effective than the 4500 Mw PAA homopolymer at preventing antiredeposition of stains on fabric in the 10 cycle mini-wash test as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 7 shows the superior anti-redeposition performance of ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer as the water
hardness is increased above the builder capacity used. The builder capacity used for this work can handle up to 7
grains of hardness (125 ppm). (See Appendix for complete formulation.) Higher water hardness will require higher
detergent levels.
Figure 6. Anti-redeposition Performance vs. Stain Type (Mini-Washer)
Figure 7. Anti-redeposition Performance vs. Water Hardness
Chlorine Stability
The excellent oxidation stability of ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer in a hypochlorite solution is compared to that
of a conventional AA/Maleic and PAA homopolymer in Figure 8.
Figure 8. Oxidation Stability of Polycarboxylate Polymers
Conditions: 10% NaOH/2% NaOCL/2% active polymer or phosphonate, at room temperature.
Caustic Solubility
ACUSOL 505N polymer has superior caustic solubility compared to other copolymers and similar caustic solubility
to that of PAA (Mw-4500) homopolymer, as shown in Figure 9. In general, the ACUSOL 505N polymer is soluble
in up to 35% active caustic. When formulationg into mixed systems containing mixed alkalis the solubility will
vary.
Figure 9. Solubility of ACUSOL 505N Copolymer in Aqueous Sodium Hydroxide
Determined at room temperature
Table 2. Typical Physical Properties
These properties are typical but do not constitute specifications.
Appearance
Percent Solids
Colorless to straw
35
Specific Gravity, @ 25C
1.25
Density, lb/gal
10.4
pH (as supplied)
Viscosity, cps @ 25C,
(as supplied)
7.5
500 max
Sequestration Capacity
(mg CaCO3/gm., @ pH 10)
425
Stability Constant (Ca2+; log K)
4.2
Appendix
Test Method and Field Test Conditions
Fabric: Polyester; Cotton; 50:50 Polyester/Cotton
Linen
Industrial
Ballast
Table Cloth and Napkins
Uniforms
Stains
Used Cooking Oil
Salad Oil
Lipstick
Tea
Blood
Particulate Oil
Cocoa
Blood/Milk/Ink
Used Motor Oil
New Motor Oil
Transmission Fluid
Charcoal
Wash Chemicals
Machine
Size
Alkalinity
Nonionic
Surfactant
(PPM, Active)
Polymer
(PPM, Active)
600 lb.
2500 ppm
Na2O/SiO2=2/1
800
50-125
35 lb.
2500 ppm
Na2O/SiO2=2/1
400
50-100
4 lb.
(Mini-washer)
1200 ppm
Na2O/SiO2=2/1
400
50-100
Wash Formulas
Industrial Operation*
Chemical Added
Break
Surfactant, Caustic
Silicate, Polymer
Carry Over
Warm Rinse
Cold Rinse
Cold Rinse
Extract
Sour, Softener
Linen Operation
Chemical Added
Break
Surfactant, Silicate
Caustic, Polymer
Carry Over
Warm Rinse
Cold Rinse
Cold Rinse
Cold Rinse
Cold Rinse
Extract
Cold Starch
Cold Sour
*600-lb. washer/extractor, bath/fabric = 1.8/1, softened water
Material Safety Data Sheets
Rohm and Haas Company maintains Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on all of its products. These contain
important information that you may need to protect your employees and customers against any known health and
safety hazards associated with our products. We recommend you obtain copies of MSDS for our products from
your local Rohm and Haas technical representative or the Rohm and Haas Company. In addition, we recommend
you obtain copies of MSDS from your suppliers of other raw materials used with our products.
Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, workers must have access to and understand MSDS on all
hazardous substances to which they are exposed. Thus, it is important that appropriate training and information
be provided to all employees and that MSDS be available on any hazardous products in their workplace.
Rohm and Haas Company sends MSDS on non-OSHA hazardous as well as OSHA-hazardous products to both "billto" and "ship-to" locations of all our customers upon initial shipment (including samples) of all of our products.
Updated MSDS are sent upon revison to all customers of record. In addition, MSDS are sent annually to all
customers of record.
ACUSOL is a trademark of Rohm and Haas Company, or of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
These suggestions and data are based on information we believe to be reliable. They are offered in good faith, but without guarantee, as
conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control. We recommend that the prospective user determine the suitability of
our materials and suggestions before adopting them on a commercial scale.
Suggestions for uses of our products or the inclusion of descriptive material from patents and the citation of specific patents in this
publication should not be understood as recommending the use of our products in violation of any patent or as permission or license to use
any patents of the Rohm and Haas Company.
For further details, please contact your local Account Manager or local Business Representative.
Rohm and Haas, 2008.
All rights reserved.
1999
FC-161a
