Bleach-Free Laundry Sanitizer Core-Shell Microcapsules for Fragrance Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bleach-free laundry sanitizers fail to provide effective sanitization and fragrance perception throughout the washing and drying cycles due to stability issues in harsh environments, such as those with acidic or basic pH and the presence of organic solvents, leading to fragrance leakage and disrupted release profiles.
Innovation Solution
A bleach-free laundry sanitizer composition incorporating microcapsules with a polymer-encapsulated benefit agent in core-shell microcapsules, using a shell material that includes a hydrated polymer phase and polymeric stabilizer, such as a complex coacervate, to enhance fragrance perception and stability in harsh conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional polymeric shells are used to encapsulate fragrance in aqueous slurries, then fragrance leakage is reduced, but shell stability deteriorates when exposed to harsh environments containing cationic surfactants, organic solvents, and extreme pH levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite shell structure comprising an outer polymeric shell (providing mechanical strength and leakage resistance) and an inner hydrophilic polymer coating (providing stability in harsh environments). This composite approach allows each material to contribute its advantageous properties, resolving the contradiction between leakage resistance and environmental stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the shell material properties by incorporating hydrophilic polymer coatings that change the surface characteristics and chemical properties of the microcapsule shell. This parameter change enables the shell to maintain stability in harsh environments containing cationic surfactants and organic solvents while preserving the integrity of the encapsulated fragrance.
2Ease of manufacture
If encapsulated fragrance is added to bleach-free laundry sanitizer, then fragrance perception is enhanced throughout washing and drying cycles, but the harsh chemical environment causes shell degradation and fragrance leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a hydrophilic polymer coating to the microcapsule shell beforehand, creating a protective cushioning layer that shields the shell from degradation by harsh chemicals in the laundry sanitizer. This pre-protection allows the fragrance to be released consistently throughout washing and drying cycles without shell degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophilic polymer coating acts as an intermediary layer between the microcapsule shell and the harsh chemical environment. This intermediary protects the shell from direct contact with degrading agents while still allowing the fragrance to be released when needed, thus maintaining both integrity and fragrance perception.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional shell materials are used in harsh environments with organic solvents and extreme pH, then manufacturing is simpler, but shell stability and fragrance encapsulation performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shell into two functional parts: an outer polymeric shell providing structural integrity and an inner hydrophilic polymer coating providing chemical stability. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining ease of manufacture through sequential application processes.
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 effectively sanitizes laundry while providing consistent fragrance perception from washing to drying cycles, despite exposure to harsh conditions, by maintaining the integrity of the microcapsule shell and controlled fragrance release.
Implementation Method 1
a shell material that includes a hydrated polymer phase and polymeric stabilizer, such as a complex coacervate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bleach-free laundry sanitizer composition comprising at least one microcapsule composition comprising a polymer encapsulating a benefit agent, wherein the benefit agent is encapsulated in core-shell microcapsules comprising a core and a shell surrounding the core.