Capsule Production Using Polymer Matrix Crosslinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for formulating liquid detergents and cleaning agents often result in products that are not aesthetically pleasing due to insolubility issues with polymeric or particulate active ingredients, leading to undesired discoloration, agglomeration, and phase separation, and are limited in active ingredient concentration.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a solution of a natural polymer, such as carrageenan or alginate, being contacted with a suspension of a polymeric active ingredient in a water-miscible non-solvent, followed by crosslinking to produce capsules with a high active ingredient content, allowing for a higher mass ratio of active ingredient to matrix, enabling the incorporation of swelling active ingredients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If polymeric or particulate active ingredients are dispersed as solid in liquid detergents, then the active ingredient can be incorporated into the liquid detergent, but the product becomes aesthetically unpleasing due to irregular particles, flakes, or precipitates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies encapsulation technology where polymeric active ingredients are enclosed within capsule shells formed from a polymer matrix. This flexible shell structure contains the active ingredient in a controlled manner, preventing the formation of irregular particles and flakes in the liquid detergent, thereby maintaining aesthetic appearance while ensuring active ingredient incorporation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition during the encapsulation process, where the polymer matrix undergoes gelation or crosslinking to transform from a liquid or semi-liquid state to a solid capsule structure. This parameter change enables the active ingredient to be trapped within the forming capsule, converting it from a dispersed solid phase to an encapsulated form that maintains aesthetic appearance in the liquid detergent.
2Quantity of substance
If the concentration of active ingredient in the polymer/active substance mixture is increased, then the active ingredient content in capsules is improved, but the mixture viscosity increases too much and becomes unprocessable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs temperature control as a critical parameter change during the encapsulation process. By heating the polymer/active ingredient mixture above the gelation temperature, the system transitions from a gel state to a more fluid state, restoring processability even at high active ingredient concentrations. This allows the mixture to be processed into capsules while maintaining high active ingredient content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes periodic temperature cycling during the encapsulation process, alternating between heating phases (to reduce viscosity and improve processability) and cooling phases (to allow gelation and capsule formation). This periodic action enables the system to achieve both high active ingredient content and manufacturability by rhythmically changing the physical state of the mixture.
3Reliability
If polymeric active ingredients are used in liquid detergents, then cleaning performance is improved, but incompatibilities between active ingredient components lead to discoloration, agglomeration, or destruction of washing-active ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts polymeric active ingredients from direct contact with other detergent components by enclosing them within capsule structures. This separation prevents incompatibility reactions between the active ingredients and other components in the liquid detergent, eliminating issues such as discoloration, agglomeration, and destruction of washing-active ingredients while preserving cleaning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where polymeric active ingredients are contained within an inner polymer matrix, which is itself enclosed within a capsule shell. This multi-layer nesting provides physical barriers that prevent direct interaction between incompatible components, ensuring stability of the overall detergent composition while maintaining the cleaning efficacy of the encapsulated active ingredients.
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 process enables the production of capsules with a high active ingredient content, allowing for their stable introduction into liquid detergents or cleaning agents, maintaining aesthetic appeal and effectiveness over storage and use.
Implementation Method 1
crosslinking the polymer
Implementation Method 2
the gelation of the polymer being dependent on the temperature, in particular on the temperature at which the gelation takes place or on a gelation temperature
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing capsules from a polymeric matrix, the capsules thus obtained and their use, as well as liquid washing or cleaning agents comprising corresponding capsules.