Freshening compositions comprising malodor binding polymers and malodor counteractants
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current freshening compositions fail to effectively neutralize a broad range of malodors on fabrics and in the air, often causing discoloration or soiling, particularly when containing certain aldehydes and surfactants.
Innovation Solution
A freshening composition comprising a malodor binding polymer, such as homopolymeric polyethyleneimine, and aliphatic aldehydes, with an aqueous carrier, specifically formulated to be free of materials that would soil or stain fabrics, using a malodor binding polymer in an amount of 0.01% to 0.07% by weight and aliphatic aldehydes to neutralize malodors through chemical reaction or physical entrapment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If freshening compositions contain certain types or amounts of aldehydes and surfactants, then they may provide freshening effect, but they cause fabrics to turn yellow or brown under natural light and/or make fabric susceptible to soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes harmful substances (certain aldehydes and surfactants) from the freshening composition that cause fabric discoloration and soiling, while retaining the essential freshening function through alternative safe ingredients
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of aldehydes by using only safe, non-yellowing aliphatic aldehydes in controlled amounts, and uses the binding polymer to neutralize any harmful effects while enhancing the freshening benefit
2Reliability
If freshening compositions contain higher amounts of surfactants, then they may improve malodor neutralization, but they make fabric susceptible to soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of surfactant concentration to a specific optimal range (0.01-0.07% by weight), which is sufficient for malodor neutralization but low enough to prevent fabric soiling, representing a precise parameter optimization
3Ease of manufacture
If freshening compositions use conventional ingredients, then they are easy to manufacture, but they fail to effectively neutralize a broad range of malodors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite freshening composition combining multiple functional ingredients (binding polymer, safe aldehydes, surfactants, fragrance) that work synergistically to neutralize broad spectrum malodors while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional formulation techniques
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 composition achieves genuine malodor reduction, neutralizing a broad range of malodors, including those caused by microbes, without causing discoloration or soiling, and effectively reduces microbial presence on surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a malodor binding polymer, such as homopolymeric polyethyleneimine... to neutralize malodors through chemical reaction
Implementation Method 2
aliphatic aldehydes to neutralize malodors through chemical reaction or physical entrapment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Freshening compositions comprising a malodor binding polymer, a malodor counteractant comprising at least one aliphatic aldehyde, and an aqueous carrier, wherein the composition is essentially free of any material that would soil or stain fabric; and methods thereof are provided. In some embodiments, the malodor binding polymer comprises a homopolymeric polyethylenimine having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 2,000,000. Such freshening compositions may be used to reduce malodor and/or microbes on inanimate surfaces or in the air.