Chitosan-Based Coating System for Preservative and Chelating Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional preservatives in water-based consumer products are ineffective in enhancing performance, pose hazards, and are challenging to incorporate without affecting the product's usability or performance characteristics, especially in cleaners and coatings that require neutral pH and residue-free surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A water-based coating system utilizing a chitosan-based agent, such as chitosan acetate or chitosan citrate acetate, functioning as both a preservative and chelating agent, is incorporated into cleaning, polishing, and finishing agents to extend shelf-life and use-life while maintaining product performance and pH stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional preservatives are incorporated into water-based products, then microbial growth is prevented and shelf-life is extended, but the products face hazards such as corrosiveness, allergens, and environmental risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the preservative by using chitosan and its derivatives (acetate, lactate, citrate) instead of traditional preservatives. This parameter change maintains the preservative function while eliminating harmful properties like corrosiveness and environmental risks associated with conventional preservatives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite chitosan-based formulations combining chitosan with various salts (acetate, lactate, citrate) to create a preservative system that provides both microbial protection and chelating capabilities, while maintaining safety and environmental compatibility
2Reliability
If preservatives are added to cleaners and coatings, then microbial spoilage is prevented, but the product's usability and performance characteristics may be altered
Solution Approach 1:
The chitosan-based agent serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a preservative to prevent microbial spoilage, a chelating agent to bind metals, and maintains product performance characteristics. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to choose between preservation and usability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the preservative's chemical structure to chitosan and its derivatives, which have different functional properties compared to traditional preservatives. These parameter changes enable the preservative to maintain neutral pH, prevent residue, and preserve product performance while providing effective microbial protection
3Reliability
If incompatible materials are added to polishes and finishes, then microbial growth is controlled, but gloss, viscosity, pH, and color may be adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the additive to chitosan-based agents with specific properties: neutral to slightly alkaline pH, chelating capability, and compatibility with polish/finish formulations. These parameter changes prevent adverse effects on gloss, viscosity, pH stability, and color while providing microbial control
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite chitosan formulations (acetate, lactate, citrate) provides a balanced system that delivers microbial control without compromising the aesthetic and functional properties of polishes and finishes
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 chitosan-based coating system effectively prevents microbial growth, maintains pH levels, and reduces soap scum, ensuring the product's performance and clarity without adverse effects on gloss, viscosity, or color, even under extended storage conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a preservative that includes a chitosan based agent... functions as a preservative to increase both the shelf-life and use-life of the coating system
Implementation Method 2
the chitosan based agent may also function to assist with maintaining cleaner pH levels over time as well as function as a chelating agent to reduce soap scum
Data Source
AI summary
A chitosan based coating system. The coating system includes a carrier agent and a chitosan based agent preservative. The carrier agent may be a cleaning agent, a polishing agent, and/or a finishing agent. The chitosan based agent may be a chitosan acetate and salts thereof, chitosan citrate acetate and salts thereof, or combinations thereof. The coating system may include 0.01-5 weight percent chitosan based agent. The chitosan based agent functions as a preservative to increase both the shelf-life and use-life of the coating system as well as functions as a chelating agent to reduce soap scum.