Washing powder is a common cleaning product, mainly used for washing clothes. In the formula of washing powder, many different ingredients are included, and one of the important additives is CMC, which is called Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium in Chinese. CMC is widely used in many daily consumer products as a thickener, stabilizer and suspending agent. For washing powder, the main function of CMC is to improve the washing effect of washing powder, maintain the uniformity of powder, and play a role in water retention during the washing process. Understanding the content of CMC in washing powder is of great significance for understanding the performance and environmental protection of washing powder.
1. The role of CMC in washing powder
CMC acts as a suspending agent and thickener in washing powder. Specifically, its role includes the following aspects:
Improve washing effect: CMC can prevent dirt from re-depositing on fabrics, especially prevent some tiny particles and suspended soil from accumulating on the surface of clothes. It forms a protective film during the washing process to reduce the possibility of clothes being contaminated by stains again.
Stabilize the formula of washing powder: CMC can help prevent the separation of ingredients in the powder and ensure its uniform distribution during the storage of washing powder. This is very important for maintaining the long-term effectiveness of washing powder.
Water retention and softness: CMC has good water absorption and water retention, which can help washing powder dissolve better and retain a certain amount of water during the cleaning process. At the same time, it can also make clothes softer and smoother after washing, and not easy to become dry.
2. CMC content range
In industrial production, the content of CMC in washing powder is usually not very high. Generally speaking, the content of CMC in washing powder ranges from **0.5% to 2%**. This is a general ratio that can ensure that CMC plays its due role without significantly increasing the production cost of washing powder.
The specific content depends on the formula of the washing powder and the process requirements of the manufacturer. For example, in some high-end brands of washing powder, the content of CMC may be higher to provide better washing and care effects. In some low-end brands or cheap products, the content of CMC may be lower, or even replaced by other cheaper thickeners or suspending agents.
3. Factors affecting CMC content
Different types of laundry detergent formulations may require different amounts of CMC. Here are a few factors that affect CMC content:
Types of laundry detergent: Regular and concentrated laundry detergents have different CMC contents. Concentrated laundry detergents usually require a higher proportion of active ingredients, so the CMC content may be increased accordingly.
Purpose of laundry detergent: Laundry detergents specifically for hand washing or machine washing differ in their formulations. The CMC content in hand-washing laundry detergents may be slightly higher to reduce irritation to the skin of the hands.
Functional requirements of laundry detergents: In some laundry detergents for special fabrics or antibacterial laundry detergents, the CMC content may be adjusted according to specific needs.
Environmental requirements: With the increase in environmental awareness, many detergent manufacturers have begun to reduce the use of certain chemical ingredients. As a relatively environmentally friendly thickener, CMC may be used more in green products. However, if alternatives to CMC are lower in cost and have similar effects, some manufacturers may choose other alternatives.
4. Environmental protection of CMC
CMC is a natural derivative, usually extracted from plant cellulose, and has good biodegradability. During the washing process, CMC does not cause significant pollution to the environment. Therefore, as one of the ingredients in laundry detergent, CMC is considered to be one of the more environmentally friendly additives.
Although CMC itself is biodegradable, other ingredients in laundry detergent, such as some surfactants, phosphates and fragrances, may have adverse effects on the environment. Therefore, although the use of CMC helps to improve the environmental performance of laundry detergent, it is only a small part of the overall formula of laundry detergent. Whether it can be completely environmentally friendly depends on the use of other ingredients.
As an important ingredient in laundry detergent, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) mainly plays the role of thickening, suspending and protecting clothes. Its content is usually between 0.5% and 2%, which will be adjusted according to different laundry detergent formulas and uses. CMC can not only improve the washing effect, but also provide soft protection for clothes, and at the same time has a certain degree of environmental protection. When choosing laundry detergent, understanding the role of ingredients such as CMC can help us better understand the performance of the product and make more environmentally friendly choices.
Post time: Oct-12-2024