Laundry Detergent Particle Perfume Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry detergents face challenges in achieving effective deposition and retention of perfume on fabrics during the washing and rinsing process, resulting in poor damp fabric freshness profiles, as most perfume is retained in the wash liquor and removed during rinsing.
Innovation Solution
A solid free-flowing particulate laundry detergent composition is formulated with a particle comprising a continuous phase of fatty material and a discontinuous phase containing hydrophobized polyethylene glycol polymer, silicone/petrolatum, and perfume, optimized to improve perfume deposition and retention on fabrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If perfume is included in the laundry powder product to improve freshness profile, then the freshness performance is improved, but most of the perfume is retained in the wash liquor and removed during rinsing, resulting in poor deposition and retention on fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a surfactant as an intermediary substance that binds perfume molecules and facilitates their transfer from the wash liquor to the fabric surface. The surfactant forms mixed micelles with the perfume, acting as a carrier that deposits the perfume onto the fabric during the washing process, thereby improving deposition and retention while reducing perfume loss in the wash liquor.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite perfume-surfactant system where the surfactant and perfume form a combined structure (mixed micelles or complex). This composite structure allows the perfume to be delivered more effectively to the fabric, improving deposition and retention. The surfactant component provides the interface between the aqueous wash liquor and the fabric, while the perfume component provides the desired freshness effect.
2Reliability
If increasing perfume levels in the laundry powder product to improve freshness profile, then the freshness performance is improved, but this is not a feasible or efficient option due to cost and performance limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the perfume delivery system by introducing surfactants that alter how perfume behaves in the wash liquor. Instead of simply increasing perfume concentration, the invention modifies the delivery mechanism through surfactant-perfume interactions, achieving better freshness performance at lower perfume levels and improving manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant acts as a mediator that enables more efficient perfume utilization. By using the surfactant as an intermediary carrier, the system achieves better freshness performance without needing to increase perfume levels, thereby improving the feasibility and efficiency of the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If improving the deposition and retention of perfume on fabric, then the freshness performance is improved, but the rinsing process removes more perfume from the fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant serves as a binding intermediary that holds perfume molecules to the fabric surface. During rinsing, the surfactant-perfume complex remains attached to the fabric due to the surfactant's affinity for both the perfume and the fabric surface, thereby reducing perfume removal during rinsing while maintaining good deposition and retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where perfume is bound to surfactant molecules that are themselves attached to the fabric. This multi-component composite (fabric-surfactant-perfume) provides stronger retention during rinsing compared to free perfume molecules, reducing loss while maintaining freshness 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 significantly enhances the freshness profile, especially the damp fabric freshness, by ensuring better deposition and retention of perfume, providing a meaningful and consumer-noticeable improvement in laundry detergent performance.
Implementation Method 1
the use of a discontinuous phase of hydrophobized polyethylene glycol polymer, together with an emulsifier, silicone/petrolatum and perfume, when made into a particle having a continuous phase of fatty material
Implementation Method 2
a continuous phase comprising from 66 wt % to 100 wt %, by weight of the continuous phase, fatty material
Data Source
AI summary
A solid free-flowing particulate laundry detergent composition can include a particle, wherein the particle includes a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase, wherein the continuous phase includes fatty material selected from: fatty acid and/or salts thereof; fatty alcohol; and any combination thereof, wherein the discontinuous phase includes: non-ionic and/or anionic emulsifier surfactant; hydrophobized polyethylene glycol polymer; silicone and/or petrolatum; and perfume.