Unit Dose Detergent Pack Rigidity via Ethoxylated Fatty Acid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unit dose detergent products with high solvent content face challenges in maintaining pack rigidity and integrity, leading to potential leakage or breakage, especially in multi-chamber designs, due to excessive weight distribution causing film overstretching and rupture.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an ethoxylated fatty acid into the solvent system, which stabilizes the unit dose product and enhances pack rigidity, while maintaining high solvent content levels, using a solvent system comprising water and non-aqueous solvents like propylene glycol and glycerin, within a water-soluble or water-dispersible film container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high solvent content is used in unit dose detergent formulations, then cleaning performance and efflorescence prevention are improved, but pack rigidity deteriorates causing sagging and floppy appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the solvent system by introducing ethoxylated fatty acid esters (with specific H/E ratios) and adjusting the proportions of glycerin, propylene glycol, and other solvents. This parameter optimization allows maintaining high total solvent content (30-70% by weight) while improving pack rigidity through enhanced solvent-solvent and solvent-film interactions.
2Reliability
If high solvent content is used in unit dose formulations, then efflorescence is prevented, but pack integrity deteriorates leading to rupture and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite solvent system combining multiple components: water, glycerin, propylene glycol, and ethoxylated fatty acid esters. This composite formulation leverages the complementary properties of each component to achieve both efflorescence prevention and enhanced pack integrity through synergistic interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of individual solvents within the total solvent system. By controlling the specific proportions of glycerin (5-30% by weight), propylene glycol (5-30% by weight), and ethoxylated fatty acid esters (10-40% by weight), the formulation achieves pack integrity while preventing efflorescence.
3Reliability
If high solvent content is used in multi-chamber unit dose products, then cleaning performance is maintained, but weight distribution causes sagging in lower chambers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the density and viscosity parameters of the liquid composition by incorporating ethoxylated fatty acid esters with specific molecular weights and H/E ratios. This creates more uniform weight distribution across multi-chamber configurations, preventing sagging while maintaining 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 inclusion of ethoxylated fatty acid stabilizes the unit dose product, preventing leakage and breakage, while maintaining cleaning performance and aesthetic appeal, even with high solvent content, and improves long-term pack rigidity.
Implementation Method 1
a container formed from a water-soluble or water-dispersible film material and a liquid composition being entrapped in the container
Implementation Method 2
Glycerin and glycols (e.g., propylene glycol) are non-aqueous solvents, which are used in an amount sufficient to bind water, solvate materials, and fill volume within the detergent pack
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides stable unit dose compositions with enhanced pack rigidity. Such unit dose compositions comprise water, at least one non-aqueous solvent, an ethoxylated fatty acid, a beneficial composition, and a water-soluble container formed from a water-soluble or water-dispersible film material.