Laminate Packaging for High Moisture Bar Soap

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Solution Overview

Problem

High moisture bar soaps face issues of moisture loss, mold growth, and chemical reactions with paperboard packaging, leading to stained products during storage.

Innovation Solution

A laminate packaging material comprising a paperboard with a thermoplastic layer and a fungicide, such as chlorothalonil and p-tolyl diiodomethyl sulfone, is used to minimize moisture loss and inhibit mold growth on the packaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional paperboard packaging is used for high moisture bar soap, then the packaging is simple and cost-effective, but moisture loss occurs through evaporation or absorption into the paperboard

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture lossVSAvoidpackaging structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by creating a laminate packaging structure that combines paperboard with a polypropylene barrier layer. This composite structure leverages the advantages of both materials: the paperboard provides structural integrity and cost-effectiveness, while the polypropylene layer provides moisture barrier properties to prevent moisture loss from the high moisture bar soap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional paperboard packaging is used for high moisture bar soap, then the packaging is simple, but mold growth occurs on the paperboard material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold growthVSAvoidpackaging structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The laminate structure combines paperboard with a polypropylene barrier layer that prevents mold growth. The polypropylene layer acts as a physical barrier that prevents mold spores from contacting and growing on the paperboard surface, while the paperboard maintains its structural function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The polypropylene barrier layer serves as an intermediary between the high moisture bar soap and the paperboard packaging. It prevents direct contact between the moisture-rich soap environment and the paperboard surface, thereby preventing mold growth on the packaging while allowing the paperboard to maintain its structural role.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional paperboard packaging is used for high moisture bar soap, then the packaging is simple, but colored stains develop on the bar soap and packaging from chemical reactions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical stainingVSAvoidpackaging structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The polypropylene barrier layer acts as an intermediary that prevents direct chemical interaction between the high moisture bar soap and the paperboard packaging. This barrier layer is chemically inert and prevents the chemical reactions that would otherwise cause colored stains to form on both the soap and packaging surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The laminate packaging combines paperboard with a chemically inert polypropylene layer. This composite structure provides a barrier that prevents chemical reactions between the soap components and the paperboard, thereby preventing stain formation while maintaining the benefits of paperboard packaging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution effectively reduces moisture loss and prevents mold growth and chemical staining on the packaging, maintaining the high moisture content of the bar soap and extending its storage stability.

Implementation Method 1

moisture loss (via evaporation or absorption into the paperboard packaging material)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

treating the paperboard package with a fungicide comprising chlorothalonil and p-tolyl diiodomethyl sulfone, and then packaging the high moisture bar soap composition in the treated paperboard package

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFungicide action: Preservative

Data Source

PatentUS8129327B2Packaging for high moisture bar soap
Publication Date: 2012.03.06 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Packaging is provided for high moisture bar soap compositions to address a number of potential problems associated with high moisture bar soap compositions, such as minimizing moisture loss, inhibiting mold growth on paperboard material used in the packaging, and preventing the development of colored stains on the bar soap and packaging resulting from chemical reaction between the high moisture bar soap and the paperboard, especially recycled paperboard. The bar soap packaging comprises a laminate material comprising a paperboard material, a thermoplastic material disposed on at least one side of the paperboard material, and a fungicide. Further provided is a method of inhibiting the growth of mold on a paperboard package which can result from storage of a high moisture bar soap composition in the paperboard package by treating the paperboard package with a fungicide comprising chlorothalonil and p-tolyl diiodomethyl sulfone, and then packaging the high moisture bar soap composition in the treated paperboard package.