Acrylic Emulsion Coating for Cut Flower Storage Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cut flowers have short shelf lives due to dehydration, infection, and ethylene evolution, making long-distance transportation costly and inefficient, and existing solutions often involve toxic or unpleasant materials.
Innovation Solution
An odor-free acrylic emulsion comprising acrylic monomers or oligomers and nonionic, non-phytotoxic surfactants is applied to cut flowers, forming a protective polymer film that inhibits water loss and microbial growth, while avoiding unpleasant odors and toxic substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If cut flowers are transported by air freight for long-distance shipping, then the flowers can reach distant markets, but the high cost of air freight makes the operation uneconomical due to the perishable nature of the flowers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a protective coating to cut flowers before transportation to prevent dehydration and microbial infection. This preliminary protective action enables the flowers to withstand long-distance air freight transportation without deteriorating, thus resolving the contradiction between transport distance and storage stability.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If existing protective materials are used to extend shelf-life of cut flowers, then storage time is increased, but toxic materials or unpleasant odors are introduced that contradict the aesthetic purpose of the flowers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the protective coating by using natural substances with specific molecular weights and compositions. The coating comprises water-soluble polymers with molecular weights of 10,000-1,000,000 Da and natural resins, which provide protective functionality without introducing toxicity or unpleasant odors, thus resolving the contradiction between extended shelf-life and harmful factors.
3Reliability
If a protective coating is applied to cut flowers to prevent dehydration and infection, then storage stability is improved, but the coating materials may stain the flowers or release toxic substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite coating system combining water-soluble polymers and natural resins. This composite material provides enhanced protective properties while maintaining biocompatibility. The specific combination prevents staining and toxic substance release while improving storage stability, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method extends the storage life of cut flowers by several weeks, maintaining their appearance and preventing dehydration and infection without emitting harmful substances.
Implementation Method 1
Said emulsion layer is consequently converted to a relatively stable film which protects the body of the flower against destructive processes
Implementation Method 2
an odor-free acrylic emulsion comprising at least one acrylic monomer or oligomer, and a nonionic, non-phytotoxic surfactant
Implementation Method 3
forming a protective polymer film that inhibits water loss and microbial growth
Data Source
AI summary
A composition and method increases storage stability of cut flowers, particularly roses. A liquid composition is applied onto the cut flowers, and then it is converted to a protective polymeric film of a thickness of from about 0.001 to about 0.5 mm.