Dishwashing Paste Polymerization via Polyvalent Cations

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashing paste compositions take too long to achieve the desired hardness, often resulting in an undesirable 'rock-like' texture due to slow polymerization processes, which increases quarantine time and manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a source of polyvalent cations, such as alkaline earth metal salts like magnesium chloride or calcium chloride, to accelerate the polymerization process, reducing quarantine time and maintaining the desired hardness without developing a 'rock-like' texture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional monovalent sodium cation polymerization process is used, then the composition avoids rock-like texture, but the quarantine time is excessively long and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequarantine timeVSAvoidtexture stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the ionic parameter from monovalent sodium cations to divalent calcium cations, which fundamentally alters the polymerization kinetics. This parameter change accelerates the hardening process while maintaining texture stability, resolving the contradiction between reduced quarantine time and reliable texture control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces calcium carbonate as an intermediary substance that provides controlled release of calcium cations. This intermediary mechanism enables accelerated polymerization without direct addition of excessive calcium salts, thereby reducing quarantine time while preventing rock-like texture through controlled cation release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If faster polymerization is achieved through industry formulas, then quarantine time is reduced, but the composition develops rock-like texture over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardening speedVSAvoidtexture consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the cation valency parameter from monovalent to divalent, which accelerates polymerization rate while maintaining long-term texture stability. The divalent calcium cations provide optimal balance between hardening speed and composition stability, avoiding rock-like texture development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by using calcium carbonate particles that provide localized calcium cation release throughout the composition. This distributed, controlled release mechanism ensures uniform polymerization acceleration without creating localized over-hardening zones that would cause rock-like texture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If high amount of abrasive/filler material is used, then the composition achieves desired hardness, but the polymerization process becomes slow and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehardnessVSAvoidpolymerization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses calcium carbonate as an intermediary that serves dual purposes: providing the necessary hardness through abrasive particles and accelerating polymerization through released calcium cations. This intermediary function resolves the contradiction between maintaining hardness and improving polymerization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the calcium carbonate serve multiple functions simultaneously: as abrasive filler for hardness, as pH buffer, and as source of calcium cations for accelerated polymerization. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same component contribute to both hardness and polymerization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 dishwashing paste compositions achieve a hardness of 5-8 mm in five days or less and maintain it for over 90 days, reducing inventory costs and ensuring a suitable texture.

Implementation Method 1

The mechanism by which conventional dishwashing paste compositions achieve the desired level of hardness is through the polymerization of silica

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization:

Implementation Method 2

The alkaline pH of the composition (modified by the sodium carbonate) causes the silica surface charge to become more negative by hydroxyl ion adsorption, as well as by surface silanol group ionization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 3

The monovalent sodium cation allows polymerization to occur by shielding the negative charge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic shielding: Electrostatic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10745652B2Dishwashing pastes
Publication Date: 2020.08.18 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

Described herein, are dishwashing paste compositions comprising: an abrasive; a pH modifying agent in an amount effective to provide a pH greater than 7; a structuring agent; and a source of polyvalent cations. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described.