Cellulose Detergent Sheet Composition for Fast Dissolution and Low Stickiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional detergent products are bulky, use non-renewable materials, and often lack compatibility with eco-friendly ingredients like sequestrants or soil release polymers, compromising cleaning efficacy, while existing detergent sheets using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are not environmentally friendly and may not include these ingredients effectively.
Innovation Solution
A detergent sheet comprising a combination of a swellable disintegrant with high water absorption ratio, a water-soluble polymer containing cellulose compounds, and a slip additive like erucamide or oleamide, which dissolves quickly in water and reduces friction, ensuring effective cleaning without using PVA.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional detergent products are used, then cleaning efficacy is maintained, but the products are bulky and consume significant packaging materials
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state and concentration parameters of the detergent formulation by removing water and inert fillers, transforming conventional liquid/powder detergents into concentrated sheet format. This parameter change reduces product volume by approximately 90% and eliminates the need for substantial packaging materials while maintaining cleaning efficacy through optimized concentration of active ingredients.
Solution Approach 2:
The detergent sheet employs a composite material structure combining water-soluble polymer matrix (such as PVA, HPMC, or starch) with embedded detergent actives, surfactants, and functional ingredients. This composite approach allows the sheet to dissolve in water and release cleaning agents effectively, achieving both volume reduction and maintained cleaning performance.
2Ease of operation
If PVA-based detergent sheets are used, then sheet format benefits are achieved, but environmental friendliness is compromised and compatibility with certain ingredients is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters of the sheet material by replacing or supplementing PVA with biodegradable and renewable materials such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), starch, or other natural polymers. This parameter change maintains the water-soluble sheet format convenience while improving environmental compatibility and enabling use of additional eco-friendly ingredients like sequestrants and soil release polymers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs biodegradable sheet materials that can be naturally decomposed after use, allowing the sheet carrier to break down in the environment rather than persist as waste. This discarding approach with biodegradable materials eliminates the environmental harm associated with non-biodegradable PVA while maintaining the convenient sheet format.
3Loss of substance
If concentrated detergent format is used, then packaging material consumption is reduced, but processing and handling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the concentrated detergent into a thin film or sheet format that is flexible, lightweight, and easy to handle. This thin film structure simplifies processing compared to handling highly concentrated liquids or powders, as the sheets can be easily manufactured, stored, transported, and dosed without special equipment or procedures, thereby reducing processing complexity despite the concentrated format.
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 cleaning efficacy comparable to conventional products, is easy to use, and environmentally friendly by using renewable materials, with rapid dissolution and reduced stickiness.
Implementation Method 1
a swellable disintegrant having water absorption ratio greater than 1
Implementation Method 2
a water-soluble polymer comprising a cellulose containing compound having a solubility at least 0.5% by weight in distilled water at 25° C.
Implementation Method 3
a slip additive selected from erucamide, oleamide, stearamide and combinations thereof
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 and select slip additive, which also contain a water-soluble polymer comprising cellulose derivative and surfactant, provides a ‘eco-friendly’ detergent sheet. The sheet dissolves quickly in water yet does not stick to each other on storage, thus 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.