Compact Fluid Laundry Detergent Shear Thinning Viscosity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compaction of fluid laundry detergents leads to increased viscosity, causing dispensing issues and poor performance, while low viscosities lack cleaning efficacy, necessitating a balance in formulation and packaging that is currently unachieved.
Innovation Solution
A compact fluid laundry detergent composition with a shear-thinning property, comprising 5-45% water and non-aminofunctional solvent by weight, and a water-insoluble container, achieving viscosities between 1,000 and 10,000 cps, with specific surfactant, perfume, and solvent ratios to ensure effective dispensing and cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the water and/or solvent content is reduced to compact the fluid laundry detergent, then the concentration of cleaning ingredients is improved, but the viscosity increases causing dispensing difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the rheological properties of the detergent through specific viscosity ranges (100-10,000 cP at 20°C) and shear-thinning characteristics. This allows the compacted detergent to maintain high concentration while achieving appropriate dispensing flow characteristics through controlled viscosity parameters rather than simply adjusting water content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dynamic property of shear-thinning behavior where the detergent viscosity changes based on applied shear stress. The detergent exhibits high viscosity at rest (maintaining compactness) but reduces viscosity under shear stress during dispensing (improving flow), thus resolving the contradiction between concentrated formulation and dispensing ease.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the viscosity is increased to maintain product stability, then the phase separation is reduced, but the measurable dispensing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise viscosity parameter ranges (100-10,000 cP at 20°C) that balance composition stability with measurability. This controlled parameter approach ensures the detergent remains stable without becoming overly viscous, allowing accurate volume measurement in dispensing containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The shear-thinning characteristic enables the detergent to exhibit different viscosity states: higher viscosity at rest for stability, and lower viscosity during dispensing for easy flow and accurate measurement. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between stability and measurability.
3Ease of operation
If the water content is increased to improve dispensing flow, then the ease of operation is improved, but the compaction and concentration are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shear-thinning property allows the detergent to maintain high concentration with limited water content while achieving good dispensing flow through shear-induced viscosity reduction. The detergent flows easily during dispensing (under shear) but remains concentrated and stable at rest (without shear).
Solution Approach 2:
By controlling viscosity within specific ranges and optimizing the water content to fall between 5-45%, the patent achieves a balance where the compact detergent maintains high concentration while still providing adequate dispensing flow characteristics through rheological parameter optimization.
4Ease of operation
If the viscosity is decreased to improve dispensing, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cleaning performance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shear-thinning behavior ensures the detergent provides adequate viscosity for cleaning performance at rest, while reducing viscosity under shear stress during dispensing to improve ease of operation. This dynamic viscosity adjustment resolves the contradiction between cleaning efficacy and dispensing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes viscosity parameters (100-10,000 cP at 20°C) to maintain sufficient thickness for cleaning performance while allowing easy dispensing. The controlled viscosity range ensures both adequate cleaning reliability and improved ease of operation without sacrificing one for the other.
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 solution provides a compact, easy-to-use, and aesthetically appealing laundry detergent with controlled viscosity, ensuring non-messy dispensing and effective cleaning, comparable to noncompact detergents.
Implementation Method 1
a compact fluid shear thinning laundry composition comprising a sum of water and non-aminofunctional solvent of from about 5% to about 45%, by weight of the composition; wherein composition has a neat viscosity, Vn, of from about 1,000 cps to about 10,000 cps as measured at 20 s-1, a diluted viscosity, Vd, that is less than or equal to about 0.5Vn, as measured at 20 s-1 and a low shear viscosity Vn of from 10000cps to 500000cps as measured at 0.5s-1
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of commerce for laundering comprising: (a) a compact fluid laundry composition comprising a sum of water and non-aminofunctional solvent of from 5% to 45% by weight of the composition,- and (b) a water-insoluble container releasably storing said compact fluid laundry detergent composition; wherein said compositon has a neat viscosity, Vn, of from 1,000 cps to 10,000 cps as measured at 20 s-1, and a diluted viscosity, Vd, that is less than or equal to 0.5Vn, as measured at 20 s-1, and wherein preferably said laundry composition thins on dilution and wherein said water insoluble container is selected from squeeze containers and pump containers.