Laundry Care Particles with Uniform Pore Radius Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fabric care additives in particle form often have irregular pore distributions and surface structures due to melt processing, leading to incomplete dissolution and reduced durability, which limits their effectiveness and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The development of particles with a specific composition comprising 20-99% water-soluble carrier and 0.1-45% fabric care benefit active agent, featuring a flat bottom, rounded top, and a porous structure with uniform pore radii distribution across thirds, enhancing stability and dissolution in wash cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If melt processing is used to form porous particles, then particles can be formed with porous structure, but bubbles coalesce and rise out of the molten material causing large pores at outer surface, irregular rough outer surface, and eruptions of bubbles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the precursor material by controlling temperature and viscosity during processing. By maintaining the precursor material in a molten state with controlled viscosity and cooling it gradually, the patent prevents bubble coalescence and eruption while forming uniform pores throughout the particle, resolving the contradiction between achieving porous structure and maintaining manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the precursor material from molten state to solidified state. By controlling the phase transition process and timing, the patent ensures that pores are formed uniformly throughout the particle before the outer surface solidifies, preventing the harmful effects of bubble coalescence and eruption that occur when phase transition is not properly controlled
2Reliability
If particles sink during washing, then they may become trapped in folds and creases of laundry, but they dissolve more completely compared to floating particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies buoyancy control by adjusting the particle density to be slightly less than water, causing particles to float rather than sink. This counteracts the gravitational force that would cause particles to sink and become trapped in laundry folds, while the controlled porous structure ensures complete dissolution during the wash cycle, resolving the contradiction between dissolution completeness and avoiding trapping
3Volume of stationary object
If particles have large pores at outer surface, then pores can form during solidification, but the outer surface becomes irregular and rough reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the processing parameters by controlling the cooling rate and temperature gradient during solidification. This ensures that pores are formed uniformly throughout the particle volume rather than concentrating at the outer surface, maintaining both sufficient pore volume for functionality and a smooth, durable outer surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by forming the porous structure uniformly throughout the particle before the outer surface solidifies. By controlling the solidification process to maintain molten state longer in the center while the outer surface begins to set, the patent prevents surface irregularities while ensuring uniform pore distribution throughout the particle volume
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
These particles ensure complete dissolution and improved distribution of fabric care benefits, providing a more effective and user-friendly laundry experience with enhanced stability and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
Particles having a porous structure can float in the water as the wash liquor is formed
Implementation Method 2
about 20% to about 99% by weight water soluble carrier
Data Source
AI summary
A composition including a plurality of individual particles. The individual particles include a water soluble carrier and a fabric care benefit active agent. Each individual particle has a flat bottom, a rounded top, and maximum height. Each individual particle has a porous bottom third, a porous middle third, and a porous top third. The bottom third average pore radius and the top third average pore radius differ by less than about 15 μm.