This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a novel rinse additive product formulation for use in commercial and home fabric care systems. The silicate-based product formulation will repel water and dirt, decrease energy used in washing machines, decrease detergent usage, and speed up drying time. The rinse additive can be incorporated in the normal fabric care process to retain the look and feel of the garment while enhancing the overall appearance and visual appeal of the garments to make fabrics truly "wash and wear" capable. Normally, fabric care processes are characterized by significant environmental footprint due to use of water, harmful chemicals, and energy associated with laundry. The ability to make fabrics less susceptible to getting dirty would reduce the use of water and detergent along with energy savings associated with washing and drying of garments. At present, there is no other product in the market that can provide these benefits in the form of a fabric conditioner and the success of this project would lead to development of a new technology for energy efficient laundry process for commercial as well as in-home use.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be significant from several perspectives. The success of this technology will provide a new fabric conditioner system that can be easily integrated into laundry processes to provide a cost-effective, value-added product. The use of these products in fabric care is also expected to a) save water usage due to self-cleaning properties, b) save energy due to lesser drying time for fabrics, c) reduce the generation of harmful ingredients associated with dry cleaning since the treated fabrics become self-cleaning, and d) reduce the use of chemicals associated with routine laundry, washing, drying, ironing, and water proofing via harmful treatments. The reduced washing and laundering needs of the fabrics are expected to lead to reduction of contaminated grey water, reduced proliferation of chemicals in the environment, and increased energy savings due to less water and energy consumption. Finally, the active components in our formulations degrade to environmentally benign compounds for minimum impact on the environment during their life-cycle.
The main focus of the project was to demonstrate feasibility of an organosilicate-based formulation as a rinse-additive fabric conditioner that is designed to repel water and dirt, decrease energy used in drying of fabrics, decrease detergent usage, and speed up drying time. The research activities as part of this project were based on using the rinse additive incorporated in the normal fabric care process to retain the look and feel of the garment while enhancing the overall appearance and visual appeal of the garments. The objectives of the research were to evaluate the interactions of the formulation with fabrics during the rinse cycle of the washing process. In order to evaluate the influence of the conditioner formulation on fabrics, the following studies were performed as part of this project to accomplish the objectives of this project: a) evaluation of the sol-gel based formulation as a rinse additive conditioner, b) evaluation of shelf-stability of the rinse additive conditioner, c) evaluation of overall performance benefits of the conditioner, and d) evaluation of the potential of the formulation as a commercially viable product. As part of the studies, we tested these conditioner formulations to confirm their utility as a fabric conditioner system as well as validated the scientific and engineering feasibility of a range of functional benefits en route to development of a commercially viable fabric conditioner product. The research carried out as part of the SBIR project has resulted in the development of a prototype fabric conditioner system. Specifically, the silicate based formulation provides a distinct set of benefits suitable for use as a stand-alone fabric conditioner product. The results of the research indicate potential utility of the formulation as a rinse-additive fabric conditioner to reduce drying time, lint, wrinkles, static, and color fading, along with enhanced softness, surface smoothness, water repellency, and long-term retention of color. An important aspect of the product performance is that use of the product in the rinse cycle leads to 20-35% reduction in drying time which is likely to contribute to significant energy savings. As such, the product represents a brand new category of fabric care product that is poised to fulfill needs that are unmet by current products in the market. The R&D activities carried out as part of this project have significantly enhanced the commercial potential of this technology. The performance benefits of the product demonstrated as part of the project have led to third-party investment towards commercial development of the product. Finally, the project also resulted in employment opportunities for two part-time employees who participated in the conduct of the project to gain experience in applied R&D working for a startup company.
