Formulation Card
FC-7.2-C
Concentrated Softener
concentratedSource: Chapter 7 §7.3.1
Ingredients
| Component | INCI / Chemical Name | % w/w | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esterquat active (90% aq.) | Di(palmiticcarboxyethyl)hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methylsulfate | 31.00 | Cationic softening active |
| Hydrotrope | Urea | 2.50 | Solubilization, viscosity reduction |
| Cationic thickener | Polyquaternium-33 (and) C13-14 isoparaffin (and) laureth-7 | 1.20 | Post-dilution viscosity build |
| Perfume microcapsules | Melamine-formaldehyde encapsulated fragrance (30% solids) | 2.00 | Extended fragrance release |
| Free fragrance | Fragrance (high-loading accord) | 1.20 | Intense initial scent |
| Dispersing aid | Laureth-9 | 0.50 | Concentrated vesicle stability |
| Preservative | 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one (20% aq.) | 0.03 | Microbial stability |
| Calcium chloride solution (25%) | Calcium chloride | 0.12 | Viscosity control |
| Colorant (CI 42090) | Acid Blue 9 | 0.002 | Visual identity |
| Deionized water | Aqua | 61.43 | Solvent / dispersion medium |
| pH adjuster | Lactic acid | q.s. to pH 2.8–3.2 | Esterquat stability |
| Total | 100.00 |
Addition Order & Process
Manufacturing procedure: Heat deionized water to 50–55 °C . Add esterquat slowly with high-shear mixing (disperser blade, 2000–2500 rpm). Add urea (hydrotrope, 10 minutes mixing) to reduce viscosity through osmotic dehydration of liposomal bilayers . Cool to 35 °C. Add calcium chloride dropwise to target 800–1200 cP. Add cationic thickener, laureth-9, fragrance, colorant, and preservative. Adjust pH to 2.8–3.2 .
Expected Parameters
Key parameters: Active matter 27.9% ± 0.6%; viscosity 800–1200 cP (Brookfield RV, 25 °C); pH 2.8–3.2 .
Formulation Notes
Concentrated softeners deliver 25–35% active matter that consumers dilute before use, reducing packaging and transport costs. The challenge at these loadings is viscosity management: liposomal crowding produces gel-like consistency without intervention.
Consumer dilution instructions: Dilute 1:3 with deionized water for standard use, or 1:4 for light loads. Resulting active matter is 7.0% and 5.6% respectively. Post-dilution viscosity should be 150–300 cP .