Laundry Treating Chemistry Using Pickering Emulsion to Prevent Dye Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residential laundry settings face challenges in preventing dye transfer between fabric items during washing, as existing methods require sorting by color and type, which is time-consuming and inefficient, and may lead to dye bleeding and transfer due to varying fabric and dye types, with consumers unaware of treatment processes applied during manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a laundry treating appliance that uses a treating chemistry comprising a water-soluble cationic dye absorber, surfactant system, and emulsifier to form a Pickering emulsion, which disperses dyes within the wash solution, reducing dye transfer by inhibiting dye partitioning from fabric surfaces and redistribution onto other surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If laundry items are sorted by color and type before washing, then dye transfer between items is reduced, but the washing process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
A Pickering emulsion is introduced as an intermediary substance in the wash water that actively binds to loose dyes through interaction with particulates, preventing dye transfer to other fabric items. The emulsion consists of dye absorbers, surfactants, and particulate matter that work together to sequester dyes in the wash solution, eliminating the need for manual sorting while maintaining dye transfer prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The treating chemistry composition performs self-service by automatically dispersing and binding to loose dyes during the wash cycle without requiring user intervention for sorting. The cationic dye absorbers and surfactant system actively seek out and bind to anionic dyes on fabric surfaces, providing automated dye transfer prevention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If laundry items are washed separately to prevent dye transfer, then dye bleeding is minimized, but washing efficiency and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The Pickering emulsion composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a dye absorber, surfactant, and stabilizing agent in a single universal treating chemistry that can be used with mixed laundry loads of any color combination. This multi-functional approach enables washing diverse items together while preventing dye bleeding, thereby maintaining high washing productivity
3Object-affected harmful factors
If treating chemistry is applied to disperse dyes in the wash solution, then dye transfer is inhibited, but the complexity of the washing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treating chemistry is formulated as a composite Pickering emulsion combining dye absorbers, surfactants, and particulate matter in a single integrated composition. This composite structure leverages the synergistic interactions between components to achieve effective dye dispersion and transfer prevention, while the emulsion format simplifies application compared to multiple separate treatments
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
Enables the laundering of mixed or unsorted laundry loads with minimal dye transfer, maintaining fabric integrity and preventing dye bleeding onto other items or surfaces, thus addressing inefficiencies and uncertainties in residential dye management.
Implementation Method 1
a Pickering emulsion is formed by the interaction of the particulates with dye present in the laundry treating solution to disperse the dye within the laundry treating solution
Implementation Method 2
to disperse the dye within the laundry treating solution
Implementation Method 3
a water soluble cationic dye absorber
Implementation Method 4
water soluble cationic dye absorber
Implementation Method 5
a surfactant system comprising at least one surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
A reduced dye transfer cycle of operation for a laundry treating appliance having a treating for receiving laundry for treatment includes a treating chemistry application phase where a treating chemistry is supplied to the treating chamber, the treating chemistry including at least one water soluble cationic dye absorber, a surfactant system, and an emulsifier.