Cellulose Detergent Sheet Formulation for Fast Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional detergent products are bulky, require significant packaging, and often contain non-renewable materials, compromising environmental friendliness and cleaning efficacy, while polyvinyl alcohol-based detergent sheets are incompatible with certain additives like sequestrants or soil release polymers, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A detergent sheet comprising a combination of a swellable disintegrant with high water absorption ratio, a water-soluble cellulose-containing polymer, and graphene or its derivative, which dissolves quickly in water and includes surfactants, ensuring easy use and effective cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a detergent sheet uses a water-soluble film as a carrier, then convenience of use and portability are improved, but the film may cause foreign object contamination in the washing machine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water-soluble film material from the washing machine drum after it has served its purpose as a carrier. The film is designed to dissolve during washing, and the dissolved fragments are easily removed through the drainage system, preventing contamination accumulation in the machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the film material to optimize solubility characteristics. By adjusting molecular weight, hydrophilic group content, and crosslinking density, the film dissolves completely at washing temperatures while maintaining structural integrity during storage and handling, thus preventing contamination.
2Reliability
If the detergent sheet contains a large amount of surfactant, then washing performance is improved, but the risk of foam overflow increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient in surfactant distribution and incorporating different types of surfactants with varying foam characteristics in different regions of the detergent sheet. This allows high washing performance in areas requiring strong cleaning action while maintaining controlled foam generation in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material formulation by combining multiple surfactant types (anionic, nonionic, amphoteric) with different foam properties. This composite approach achieves synergistic washing performance while the diverse surfactant mixture naturally suppresses excessive foam formation through intermolecular interactions.
3Speed
If the detergent sheet uses highly soluble polymer materials, then dissolution speed is improved, but the molecular weight must be reduced which may affect film strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nested doll principle by incorporating a multi-layer structure where an inner core contains low molecular weight highly soluble polymer for rapid dissolution initiation, while outer layers contain progressively higher molecular weight polymers that provide structural strength. The layered nesting allows simultaneous achievement of fast dissolution and adequate strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-forming the film with a hierarchical molecular weight distribution and pre-positioning hydrophilic segments to facilitate water penetration. The film structure is prepared in advance with channels and regions of varying solubility that guide the dissolution process, allowing fast dissolution without compromising overall film integrity until water contact occurs.
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 detergent sheet provides eco-friendly, efficient cleaning efficacy comparable to conventional products, with quick dissolution and reduced friction, minimizing environmental impact and packaging waste.
Implementation Method 1
a water-soluble film as a carrier, the detergent composition is enclosed in the water-soluble film in the form of microcapsules
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is in the field of cleaning compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a detergent sheet for providing a cleaning composition on dissolution. There is a need to provide a 'eco-friendly' detergent product in sheet format providing cleaning efficacy at par with conventional products and easy to use. It is found that a combination of a swellable disintegrant having high water absorption ratio and a graphene or its derivative, which also contains a water-soluble polymer comprising cellulose containing compound and a surfactant, provides a 'eco-friendly' detergent sheet. The detergent sheet dissolves quickly in water. The detergent sheet has low coefficient of friction, it is non-sticky and easy to use. The present invention further describes a process of making the detergent sheet and a process of providing a cleaning composition from the detergent sheet.