Dyed Material Cross-Linking for Wash-Resistant Color Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dyed materials, particularly hair, experience significant color loss due to leaching of dye molecules when exposed to water or solvents, leading to reduced color intensity and vibrancy, with existing alternatives like formaldehyde being undesirable due to health concerns and other methods being unsatisfactory.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a composition comprising electrophilic species such as aldehydes and succinimidyl esters, in combination with chelating agents and/or salts of amines and carboxylic acids, to contact and treat dyed materials, thereby reducing or preventing color loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If formaldehyde is used to prevent color loss, then color retention is improved, but health safety deteriorates due to carcinogenic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces formaldehyde with a composition containing aldehydes (0.1-10% w/w) and succinimidyl esters (0.1-10% w/w) that are less harmful but require higher concentrations and shorter contact times to achieve the same color protection effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite composition combining multiple electrophilic species (aldehydes and succinimidyl esters) with chelating agents and conditioning agents to achieve color retention without the harmful effects of formaldehyde, creating a multi-component system that compensates for the reduced efficacy of individual safer components
2Illumination intensity
If small dye molecules are used for coloring, then color vibrancy is improved, but color loss increases due to faster leaching rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces electrophilic species (aldehydes and succinimidyl esters) as intermediaries that react with both the dye molecules and the keratinous material, creating cross-links that anchor the dye to the material and prevent leaching while maintaining color vibrancy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dye-material interface by introducing electrophilic species that modify the binding characteristics, transforming the interaction from physical adsorption to chemical bonding, thereby reducing leaching of small vibrant dye molecules
3Ease of operation
If repeated washing is performed to clean the material, then hygiene is improved, but color loss increases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrophilic species and chelating agents before washing to pre-protect the dye molecules, creating a protective chemical bond structure that withstands subsequent washing cycles and prevents color loss during hygiene maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses chelating agents to sequester metal ions that could catalyze dye degradation and uses conditioning agents to create a protective layer on the material surface, cushioning the dye molecules against the mechanical and chemical stresses of repeated washing
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 method effectively reduces color loss from dyed materials by at least 10% to 90% compared to untreated controls, providing improved wash fastness and color retention over time.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the material with a composition comprising an electrophilic species selected from aldehydes, succinimidyl esters and mixtures thereof
Implementation Method 2
contacting the material with a composition comprising a chelating agent and/or a salt of an amine and a carboxylic acid
Data Source
AI summary
A method of combatting colour loss from a dyed material, the method comprising the steps of: (1) contacting the material with a composition comprising an electrophilic species selected from aldehydes, succinimidyl esters, and mixtures thereof; (2) contacting the material with a composition comprising a chelating agent and/or a salt of an amine and/or a carboxylic acid.