Aqueous Formulation Color Stability via Phase Segregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chelating agents like MGDA in aqueous formulations for automatic dishwashing and laundry care suffer from color fading within two weeks, which is commercially unacceptable and perceived as a decrease in activity, affecting the visual appeal and effectiveness of the products.
Innovation Solution
The formulation includes a combination of at least one pigment or dyestuff, a dispersant selected from copolymers of ethylenically unsaturated C4-C10-dicarboxylic acid and C4-C20-olefins, and a chelating agent such as MGDA, with a specific weight ratio and concentration, maintaining the color stability for over 14 days by separating the chelating agent and colorant into different phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If chelating agent and colorant are mixed in the same aqueous phase, then the formulation is simple and homogeneous, but the color fades within two weeks
Solution Approach 1:
The formulation is divided into two distinct phases: an aqueous phase containing the chelating agent and an oil phase containing the colorant. This segmentation prevents direct contact between the chelating agent and colorant, thereby preventing color fading while maintaining formulation stability over more than 14 days.
Solution Approach 2:
An oil phase acts as an intermediary medium that separates the chelating agent (in aqueous phase) from the colorant (in oil phase). This intermediary layer prevents the harmful interaction between chelating agents and colorants while allowing both components to coexist in the same formulation without direct contact.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If chelating agent and colorant are kept in different phases, then color stability is maintained, but the formulation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The formulation utilizes phase separation based on immiscibility parameters - the chelating agent is dissolved in the aqueous phase while the colorant is dissolved in the oil phase. This parameter-based separation (aqueous vs. oil solubility) maintains color stability for more than 14 days while keeping the formulation structure relatively simple and manageable.
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 aqueous formulations maintain color stability for more than 14 days, providing a visually appealing and effective solution for care compositions, ensuring the chelating agent's activity is not linked to color fading, thus meeting commercial and consumer expectations.
Implementation Method 1
copolymers of at least one ethylenically unsaturated C 4 -C 10 -dicarboxylic acid and at least one C 4 -C 20 -olefin
Implementation Method 2
Chelating agents such as methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) and their respective alkali metal salts are useful and environmentally friendly sequestrants for alkaline earth metal ions such as Ca 2+
Data Source
AI summary
Aqueous formulation containing (A) at least one pigment or at least one dyestuff, (B) at least one dispersant selected from (B1) copolymers of at least one ethylenically unsaturated C4-C10-dicarboxylic acid and at least one C4-C20-olefin and their respective alkali metal salts and (B2) aromatic sulfonic acids and their respective alkali metal salts.(C) at least one chelating agent selected from MGDA, GLDA, IDS and citric acid and their respective ammonium and alkali metal salts. (D) water, wherein the concentration of the pigment (A) or dyestuff (A) is in the range of from 5 to 500 ppm,referring to the total aqueous formulation, and wherein the weight ratio of dispersant (B) to the pigment (A) or dyestuff (A), respectively, is in the range of from 1:5 to 3:1.