Study on the relationship between dishwashing liquid foam height and cleaning power and its regulation method
Release Time : 2025-04-16
The foam height and cleaning power of dishwashing liquid are important indicators to measure its performance. The relationship between the two is complex and affects each other.
First, to explore the relationship between the foam height and cleaning power of dishwashing liquid, it is necessary to first understand the principle of foam generation. The surfactant in dishwashing liquid is the key substance to generate foam. Surfactant molecules have hydrophilic groups and lipophilic groups. When dishwashing liquid is dissolved in water, the surfactant molecules will gather at the interface between water and air, with the hydrophilic groups facing the water and the lipophilic groups facing the air, reducing the surface tension of water and making it easier for air to enter the water to form bubbles. Many bubbles gather together to form foam. At the same time, surfactants can also play a role at the interface between oil and water, emulsifying and dispersing oil in water to achieve cleaning function. From this perspective, the generation of foam and the cleaning process are closely related to surfactants, which lays the foundation for the study of the relationship between the two.
Second, under normal circumstances, within a certain range, there is a positive correlation between the foam height and cleaning power of dishwashing liquid. Rich foam can increase the contact area between dishwashing liquid and oil. A large amount of foam can wrap the oil more fully, allowing the surfactant molecules to penetrate into the oil more effectively, thereby separating the oil from the surface of objects such as tableware more quickly. For example, when cleaning a pot covered with grease, the foam-rich dishwashing liquid can quickly cover the surface of the pot, quickly decompose the grease, and the cleaning effect is more significant. In addition, the foam can also play a certain lubricating role, reducing the friction between the surface of the object and the cleaning tool during the cleaning process, which helps to remove dirt more easily and further improve the cleaning power.
Third, however, the higher the foam height, the stronger the cleaning power. There is a critical point in the relationship between the two. When the foam height exceeds a certain level, it may have a negative impact on the cleaning power. Excessive foam will lead to an increase in water consumption during cleaning because more water is needed to rinse off the foam. At the same time, a large amount of foam may hinder the further contact between the surfactant and the oil, so that the oil cannot be emulsified and dispersed in time. In addition, excessive pursuit of high foam may lead to the addition of too many foaming agents and other ingredients to the dishwashing liquid formula, which may affect the performance of other functions of the surfactant and may even cause damage to the surface of the object. For example, some foaming agents may corrode the surface of some special materials of tableware, thereby reducing the cleaning effect.
Fourth, based on the understanding of the relationship between the two, regulating the foam height of the dishwashing liquid becomes the key to optimizing the cleaning power. In terms of formula design, the type and proportion of surfactants can be adjusted. Select different types of surfactants. Some surfactants have strong foaming ability, while others focus more on detergency. Reasonable compounding of them can not only ensure a certain foam height, but also improve the cleaning power. For example, mixing sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (good foaming ability) with sodium fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (strong detergency) in an appropriate proportion can achieve a balance between foam height and cleaning power. In addition, adding foam stabilizers or defoamers is also an effective means to regulate foam height. Foam stabilizers can enhance the stability of foam and prolong the existence time of foam; while defoamers inhibit when there is too much foam to prevent foam from affecting the cleaning process.
Fifth, the production process also has an important impact on the foam height and cleaning power of dishwashing liquid. During the production process, controlling the stirring speed and time will affect the generation of foam. Faster stirring speed and longer stirring time will introduce more air, thereby generating more foam, but excessive stirring may cause the foam quality to deteriorate and affect the cleaning effect. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately control the stirring parameters according to the formula and product requirements. At the same time, temperature will also affect the foam height. Appropriate temperature helps surfactants to play a better role and promote the stable formation of foam, but too high or too low temperature may have an adverse effect on foam and cleaning power, so the temperature conditions in the production process must be strictly controlled.
Sixth, from the perspective of use, the way consumers use it can also regulate the foam height and cleaning power of dishwashing liquid. For example, the dilution ratio during use will affect the generation of foam. Appropriate dilution of dishwashing liquid can make the surfactant more evenly dispersed, produce richer, finer and more stable foam, thereby improving the cleaning effect; but excessive dilution may lead to insufficient surfactant concentration and reduced cleaning power. In addition, the operation method during the cleaning process, such as wiping force, cleaning time, etc., will also affect the effect of foam and oil stains. Gentle and sufficient wiping, combined with appropriate cleaning time, can make the foam play a better cleaning role, while ensuring the height of the foam, while achieving the best cleaning power.
Seventh, there is a complex relationship between the height of the dishwashing liquid foam and the cleaning power, which is not a simple linear correlation. Through reasonable formula design, precise production process control and correct use, the foam height can be effectively controlled, thereby optimizing the cleaning power. In actual production and use, it is necessary to comprehensively consider a variety of factors to find the best balance between foam height and cleaning power to meet the needs of different cleaning scenarios and improve the cleaning effect and user experience of dishwashing liquid.