Colored Abrasive Particles in Liquid Cleaning Compositions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current scouring compositions face challenges in achieving effective cleaning performance while maintaining surface safety and aesthetics, as they often damage surfaces due to hard abrasive particles and have an undesirable appearance when using natural abrasive particles from nut shells or seed stones.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cleaning composition utilizing colored abrasive particles derived from nut shells, stones, or plant materials, where the particles are colored to match or contrast with the liquid, ensuring both effective cleaning and aesthetic appeal, and can be formulated at low concentrations to avoid surface damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If very hard abrasive particles are used, then cleaning performance is improved, but surface safety deteriorates (surface damage occurs)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the hardness parameter of abrasive particles by selecting natural materials (nut shells, seed stones, wood) with controlled hardness levels that are sufficient for cleaning but not excessively hard to cause damage. The particles are treated to achieve optimal hardness for cleaning performance while maintaining surface safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite abrasive particles that combine natural materials with coating materials or binders to enhance cleaning effectiveness while controlling surface damage. The composite structure allows optimization of both cleaning performance and surface safety properties.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If natural abrasive particles from nut shells or seed stones are used, then surface safety is improved, but aesthetics deteriorate (muddy-like appearance)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color treatments to natural abrasive particles to mask their inherent muddy or brown colors. The particles are coated with pigments or dyes that give them aesthetically pleasing colors matching the cleaning composition, while maintaining their natural abrasive properties and surface safety profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses coating materials or binders as intermediaries between the natural abrasive particles and the liquid cleaning composition. These intermediaries not only provide aesthetic appearance but also help suspend the particles in the liquid formulation, preventing muddy appearance while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
3Productivity
If high levels of abrasive particles are used, then cleaning performance is improved, but formulation cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of abrasive particles in the liquid formulation, achieving effective cleaning performance at low particle levels (e.g., 0.1-10% by weight). This reduces formulation complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through optimized particle size and surface treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical abrasion from high concentrations of particles with enhanced surface treatment and coating technologies on fewer particles. The particles are treated with surfactants or functional coatings that improve their cleaning effectiveness, allowing lower particle concentrations to achieve the same cleaning performance.
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 provides good cleaning performance on various surfaces with a safe surface profile and aesthetically pleasing appearance, even at low abrasive particle levels, effectively removing soils and stains without damaging surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
Scouring compositions such as particulate compositions or liquid (incl. gel, paste-type) compositions containing abrasive components are well known in the art. Such compositions are used for cleaning a variety of surfaces; especially those surfaces that tend to become soiled with difficult to remove stains and soils.
Implementation Method 2
The coloured particles can be either toned to match the colour of the liquid cleaning composition, or have a different (or contrasting) colour from the liquid cleaning composition colour.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a liquid, cleaning composition comprising colored abrasive cleaning particles.