Dissolvable Solid Structure for Hydrophobic Conditioning Agent Deposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumer product compositions containing hydrophobic conditioning agents face challenges in maintaining effective deposition and retention on treated surfaces due to small particle sizes, which can lead to wastage and undesired residue or staining, especially in laundry processes.

Innovation Solution

A non-porous dissolvable solid structure comprising a carrier material with a hydrophobic conditioning agent and a particulate spacer material, where the hydrophobic conditioning agent has a mean particle size of 1 µm to 500 µm and the particulate spacer material has a mean particle size of 55 µm to 750 µm, ensuring effective deposition and minimizing adherence to treated surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If small particle size conditioning agents are used, then stability in aqueous liquid product is improved, but deposition and retention on treated surface deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability in aqueous liquid productVSAvoiddeposition and retention on treated surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning agent is divided into multiple discrete particles with controlled size distribution (1-500 µm), allowing them to be suspended stably in aqueous liquid while maintaining sufficient size for effective deposition on treated surfaces, resolving the contradiction between stability and retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If relatively large particle size conditioning agents are used in dissolvable solid structures, then deposition and retention on treated surface is improved, but adherence or smearing against treated fibrous surface before full dissolution occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition and retention on treated surfaceVSAvoidundesired residue or staining on treated surface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The particle size of conditioning agents is precisely controlled within the 1-500 µm range, and the solid structure is designed with specific dissolution characteristics to ensure complete dissolution before the conditioning agents adhere to the treated surface, eliminating staining while maintaining effective deposition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If encapsulation systems are used for hydrophobic conditioning agents, then deposition and retention on surfaces is improved, but effectiveness of conditioning agents is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition and retention on surfacesVSAvoideffectiveness of conditioning agent

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning agent particles are released directly from the dissolvable solid structure without encapsulation, allowing them to maintain their inherent effectiveness and conditioning properties while still achieving improved deposition and retention through controlled particle size and dissolution behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3529344B1Consumer product composition

Publication Date: 2023.07.05 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

Figure 1~2

AI summary

A consumer product composition comprises a non-porous dissolvable solid structure comprising a carrier material, and hydrophobic conditioning agent and particulate spacer material disposed within the carrier material, wherein the hydrophobic conditioning agent has a mean particle size of from about 1 µm to about 500 µm and the particulate spacer material has a mean particle size of from about 55 µm to about 750 µm.