Detergent Tablet Hardness via High MW Crosslinked Polymer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic dishwashing detergent tablets face challenges in maintaining sufficient hardness for handling and transportation while ensuring controlled dissolution during wash cycles, with issues of clumping, incomplete dissolution, and shape deformation under varying operational conditions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a crosslinked acrylic acid polymer with a weight average molecular weight of at least 500,000, which provides the necessary hardness and controlled dissolution, eliminating the need for conventional binders and ensuring consistent performance across different wash cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional binders are used to maintain tablet hardness, then tablet strength is improved, but controlled dissolution is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetablet hardnessVSAvoidcontrolled dissolution

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the acrylic acid polymer to at least 500,000, which fundamentally alters the polymer's physical properties. This high molecular weight creates a structure that provides mechanical strength while maintaining water solubility, resolving the contradiction between hardness and controlled dissolution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite tablet structure combining crosslinked acrylic acid polymer with detergent active ingredients. The crosslinked network provides structural integrity and hardness, while the inherent water solubility of the polymer ensures controlled dissolution, achieving both requirements simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If tablets are made harder for handling and transportation, then ease of operation is improved, but disintegration control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling during packaging and transportationVSAvoiddisintegration control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the molecular weight parameter to at least 500,000, the patent creates a polymer with optimal balance between mechanical properties and dissolution characteristics. The high molecular weight provides sufficient hardness for handling while the crosslinked structure controls water absorption rate, ensuring precise disintegration timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The crosslinked acrylic acid polymer provides continuous structural support throughout storage and handling, then transitions smoothly to controlled dissolution during wash cycles. This continuous functionality ensures both ease of operation and precise disintegration control without interruption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If tablets dissolve quickly for effective cleaning, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but tablet stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidtablet stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular weight to at least 500,000, creating a polymer that dissolves at an optimal rate. This high molecular weight structure provides initial stability during storage, then enables rapid yet controlled dissolution during use, achieving both tablet stability and cleaning efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The tablet exhibits dynamic behavior: stable and intact during storage and handling, then transitions to controlled dissolution during wash cycles. The crosslinked acrylic acid polymer structure enables this dynamic transition, maintaining stability when needed and providing rapid dissolution for effective cleaning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 use of crosslinked acrylic acid polymer in dishwashing detergent tablets results in tablets that maintain hardness during handling and transportation, while achieving controlled and consistent dissolution rates in automatic dishwashing machines, independent of their position and operational conditions, ensuring effective cleaning and efficient use.

Implementation Method 1

a crosslinked acrylic acid polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 500,000

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrosslinking:

Implementation Method 2

mixing the detergent composition with a crosslinked acrylic acid polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 500,000; and compressing the mixture into a tablet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectControlled dissolution:

Data Source

PatentUS9920288B2Tablet dishwashing detergent and methods for making and using the same

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 DIVERSEY INC

AI summary

A tablet including a dishwashing detergent composition and a crosslinked acrylic acid polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 500,000.