Encapsulated Water-Soluble Benefit Agents That Resist Emulsification Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing encapsulation processes for solid, water-soluble benefit agents, such as melamine formaldehyde and urea formaldehyde, fail to effectively encapsulate these agents due to dissolution during the emulsification step and interaction with encapsulating materials, leading to instability and loss of benefit in consumer products.
Innovation Solution
A process using cross-linked melamine formaldehyde and urea formaldehyde encapsulation that stabilizes solid, water-soluble benefit agents by forming particles with a shell material and a core material, including a protective suspension agent and an optional hydrophobic organic material, ensuring at least 75% of particles have a fracture strength of 0.1 MPa to 5 MPa, allowing for controlled release when the product is used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If melamine formaldehyde or urea formaldehyde encapsulation process is used, then protection system is provided, but solid, water soluble benefit agents dissolve during emulsification step and interact with melamine or urea during polymerization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective suspension agent as an intermediary substance that coats the solid, water-soluble benefit agent before encapsulation. This protective layer prevents the benefit agent from dissolving during the emulsification step and from interacting with melamine or urea during polymerization, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing protection and maintaining stability.
2Reliability
If encapsulation process is used to protect benefit agents, then degradation is prevented, but benefit agents cannot be released when product is used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the encapsulation shell parameters by using cross-linked melamine formaldehyde or urea formaldehyde polymers with specific fracture strength characteristics. The shell is designed to be stable during storage but to fracture and release the benefit agent under specific usage conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and release.
3Reliability
If solid, water soluble benefit agents are encapsulated, then protection is provided, but dissolution during emulsification prevents effective encapsulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by coating the solid, water-soluble benefit agent with a protective suspension agent before the encapsulation process begins. This pre-protection ensures that the benefit agent does not dissolve during subsequent emulsification steps, making the encapsulation process feasible and effective.
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 encapsulation process results in stable consumer products that effectively release the majority of the solid, water-soluble benefit agent when needed, maintaining product performance and extending shelf life.
Implementation Method 1
a protective suspension agent that prevents the solid, water soluble benefit agent from dissolving during the emulsification step
Implementation Method 2
cross-linked melamine formaldehyde and/or urea formaldehyde encapsulation, where a core material comprising a solid, water-soluble benefit agent and a protective suspension agent is coated with a shell material
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to encapsulated, solid, water soluble benefit agents and products comprising such encapsulates, as well as processes for making and using such encapsulates and products comprising such encapsulates. In one aspect, the present application relates to a melamine formaldehyde and/or urea formaldehyde encapsulation process that offers as solution to the dissolution of solid, water soluble benefit agents during the process's emulsification step.