Encapsulate Stability in Borate Consumer Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to manufacture liquid consumer product compositions that include both borate derivatives and encapsulates with polyvinyl alcohol, as aggregation occurs due to cross-linking reactions, leading to poor stability and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a specific order-of-addition process where encapsulates with polyvinyl alcohol are diluted to a certain concentration before combining with borate compounds, preventing aggregation by maintaining a safe distance between encapsulates, thereby minimizing cross-linking reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encapsulates including polyvinyl alcohol are combined with borate derivatives in conventional concentrations, then the product composition can be manufactured, but aggregation occurs due to cross-linking reactions leading to poor stability and aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the concentration of encapsulates during manufacturing. Specifically, the encapsulate concentration is maintained below a critical threshold (e.g., less than 5 wt%, preferably less than 3 wt%, and most preferably less than 1 wt%) to prevent cross-linking reactions between polyvinyl alcohol and borate derivatives. This concentration parameter control effectively prevents aggregation while maintaining product stability.
2Productivity
If encapsulates are provided as concentrated composition (encapsulate slurry), then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but aggregation occurs when combined with borate derivatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-diluting the encapsulate slurry to below the critical concentration threshold before combining with borate derivatives. This preliminary dilution step ensures that when encapsulates are introduced into the final product, they remain dispersed and do not aggregate, even though they were originally supplied as a concentrated slurry for manufacturing efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If higher concentration of encapsulates is used in the product composition, then performance is improved, but cross-linking reactions increase leading to aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing and maintaining the encapsulate concentration within a specific range (below critical thresholds of 5 wt%, 3 wt%, or 1 wt% depending on the embodiment). This parameter control allows the maximum feasible quantity of encapsulates to be incorporated into the product while preventing cross-linking reactions and aggregation, thus optimizing both performance and stability.
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 product compositions with reduced aggregation, improved stability, and enhanced performance by ensuring encapsulates remain dispersed, maintaining product quality and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
it is believed that the aggregation is a result from cross-linking due to hydrogen bonding that can occur between hydroxyl groups (—OH) of the borate derivatives and hydroxyl groups of the polyvinyl alcohol
Data Source
AI summary
Methods relating to making product compositions that include encapsulates and borate compounds, where the encapsulates include polyvinyl alcohol polymer. Compositions made from such methods.