Cationic Dye-Polymer Composition for Bleach-Stable Fabric Shading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dye technologies for fabrics lack effective solutions for providing both shading and soil removal benefits while maintaining color stability against bleaching agents, particularly in laundry detergents.

Innovation Solution

A detergent composition containing a dye-polymer with a cationically charged dye monomer and alkene co-monomers, which is soluble in sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions, providing a blue or violet hue and enhanced soil removal capabilities when used in textile treatments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If cationic dyes are used to shade cotton fabrics, then shading benefit is achieved, but color stability against bleaching agents deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshading benefitVSAvoidcolor stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining cationic dye molecules with polymer carriers to create dye-polymer conjugates. This composite structure allows the dye to maintain its shading properties while the polymer carrier provides resistance to bleaching agents, thus resolving the contradiction between shading benefit and color stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer carrier acts as an intermediary between the cationic dye and the fabric substrate. It mediates the interaction by binding the dye to the fabric through multiple mechanisms (electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic effects, hydrogen bonding), protecting the dye from bleaching while maintaining its shading function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If anionic reactive dyes bound to polysaccharide polymers are used, then shading benefit on cellulosic garments is achieved, but applicability to other fabric types deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshading benefitVSAvoidapplicability to fabric types

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by designing cationic dye-polymer compositions that can interact with multiple fabric types through different mechanisms. The cationic charge allows interaction with anionic sites on cellulosic fabrics, while hydrophobic interactions and other forces enable binding to protein-based and synthetic fabrics, making the composition versatile across different fabric types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If dyes are made insoluble to resist bleaching, then color stability is improved, but ease of application and uniform distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor stabilityVSAvoidease of application

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the solubility characteristics of the dye-polymer composition. The composition is designed to be sufficiently soluble in aqueous detergent formulations for easy application and uniform distribution, while the polymer structure provides resistance to bleaching agents, thus achieving both ease of application and color stability through optimized solubility parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 dye-polymer composition effectively shades fabrics while improving soil removal and altering fabric feel, maintaining color integrity even in the presence of bleaching agents.

Implementation Method 1

Dyes are coloured molecules having high extinction coefficients in the visible range. Molar extinction coefficients is a standard scientific way to quantify the absorption of light by a molecule.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)