Carrageenan Laundry Gel Composition for Benefit Agent Dissolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers desire additional benefits from laundry detergents and fabric conditioners, such as perfumes or fabric care ingredients, but existing ancillary compositions do not dissolve sufficiently during the laundry cycle to effectively deliver these benefits to varied fabrics.

Innovation Solution

A laundry composition comprising a hydrocolloid gel matrix with sodium chloride for curing, which includes carrageenan, benefit agents, and water, ensuring improved dissolution during the laundry process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hydrocolloid gel matrix is used to deliver benefit agents during the laundry process, then the benefit agents can be effectively delivered to fabrics, but the composition does not dissolve sufficiently during the laundry cycle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery of benefit agentsVSAvoiddissolution rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the hydrocolloid gel matrix by incorporating specific salts (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride) at controlled concentrations. This modifies the gel's dissolution properties, enabling it to break down effectively during the laundry cycle while still delivering benefit agents to fabrics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite hydrocolloid gel matrix combining carrageenan or guar gum with various salts (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride) and benefit agents. This composite structure provides both the gel matrix functionality for benefit agent delivery and the dissolution properties needed for effective laundry process integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If traditional laundry detergents and fabric conditioners are used, then cleaning and softening functions are provided, but additional benefit agents like perfumes or fabric care ingredients are not sufficiently delivered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcentration of benefit agentsVSAvoideffectiveness of benefit agent delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the laundry care function into separate components: traditional detergents for cleaning, and a separate hydrocolloid gel matrix ancillary composition for delivering benefit agents. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, with the gel matrix providing controlled delivery of perfumes, fabric care ingredients, and other benefit agents that traditional products cannot effectively deliver.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 composition effectively delivers benefit agents to fabrics, providing improved cleaning, protection, and additional benefits like softening or perfuming, addressing the need for varied fabric care in modern laundry baskets.

Implementation Method 1

using sodium chloride salt for curing the gel provides improved dissolution during the laundry process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCuring:

Implementation Method 2

a hydrocolloid gel matrix with sodium chloride for curing, which includes carrageenan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Data Source

PatentUS20260049261A1Laundry composition comprising carrageenan, benefit agent and sodium chloride

Publication Date: 2026.02.19 CONOPCO INC

AI summary

A laundry composition comprising; hydrocolloid; benefit agent; salt; and water; wherein the salt comprises sodium chloride.