Fabric Conditioner Encapsulated Perfume Dispersion Sequence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fabric conditioner compositions face issues with poor dispersion and aggregation of encapsulated perfume, leading to inconsistent performance and visual appearance, particularly when calcium chloride and benzalkonium chloride are absent.

Innovation Solution

Adding encapsulated perfume to the water phase before the molten active phase in the fabric softener composition process, ensuring good dispersion and preserving the integrity of the fragile encapsulated perfume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If encapsulated perfume is added to the mixture after the molten active is added to the water phase, then the encaps are preserved and minimised damage occurs, but poor dispersion and aggregation occur leading to inconsistent performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencaps preservationVSAvoiddispersion consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulated perfume is added to the water phase before the molten active is added, reversing the conventional sequence. This preliminary action ensures that the encaps are already dispersed in the water phase when the molten active is introduced, preventing aggregation while still protecting the fragile encaps from damage during the mixing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If encapsulated perfume is added late in the process, then perfume loss during drying is prevented, but poor dispersion and aggregation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperfume lossVSAvoiddispersion uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By adding the encapsulated perfume to the water phase at an earlier stage before the molten active is introduced, the encaps achieve proper dispersion and uniform distribution throughout the composition. This preliminary incorporation prevents both aggregation and perfume loss during subsequent drying processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If encaps are introduced after molten active addition, then fragile encaps are preserved, but visual appearance deteriorates due to aggregation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencaps integrityVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The encapsulated perfume is incorporated into the water phase before the molten active is added, ensuring that the encaps are evenly distributed throughout the composition. This preliminary action maintains both the integrity of the fragile encaps and the visual appearance of the final product by preventing aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach results in improved visual properties and consistent performance of the fabric conditioner, with minimal damage to the encapsulated perfume and no significant aggregation, maintaining fragrance delivery effectively.

Implementation Method 1

dispersing the encapsulated perfume in water, before the addition of the fabric softening active to the water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Data Source

PatentEP2294167B1Improvements relating to fabric conditioners
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 UNILEVER PLC

AI summary

A process for preparing a composition, said composition comprising a fabric softening active, an encapsulated perfume and a non-confined perfume, wherein the process comprises the step of dispersing the encapsulated perfume in water before the addition of the fabric softening active to the water, leads to dispersibility and visual benefits without damage to the encapsulates.