Unit Dose Laundry Sachets With Fatty Acid Esters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-benefit laundry products compromise between cleaning and softening benefits, lacking the ability to independently adjust detergent and softener amounts in the wash cycle, and face issues with handling and dosing of active fabric softeners.
Innovation Solution
A unit dose fabric treatment system comprising a water-soluble container made from polymers like polyvinyl alcohols, filled with a liquid fabric softener composition including fatty acid esters, fatty acid soap, perfume, and a cationic deposition polymer, designed to provide effective softening and conditioning in a single dose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-benefit laundry products combine detergent and fabric softener, then both cleaning and softening benefits are provided, but the user cannot independently adjust the amount of detergent and softener added to the wash cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the laundry treatment system into separate functional components: a water-soluble container holding the fabric softener composition and a separate detergent composition. This segmentation allows the user to independently control and adjust the amounts of each component added to the wash cycle, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity by making the system modular rather than integrated.
2Productivity
If wash cycle time is short, then productivity is improved, but the water-soluble sachet must be soluble in the wash liquor before the end of the cycle to avoid residue
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters of the water-soluble polymer to optimize dissolution rate. By selecting specific polymers and adjusting their molecular weight, degree of hydrolysis, and compositional ratios, the sachet is engineered to dissolve completely within short wash cycle times (12-90 minutes) without leaving residue, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability through parameter optimization.
3Ease of operation
If fabric softener is made water-soluble in powder form, then ease of operation is improved, but problems of handling, caking in the container or wash cycle dispenser, and the need for a dosing device arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a flexible water-soluble polymer film or sachet to encapsulate the liquid fabric softener composition. This flexible container format eliminates the handling and caking problems associated with powder form while requiring no additional dosing devices - the sachet simply dissolves in the wash liquor to release the softener. This resolves the contradiction by providing ease of operation through a superior physical form that avoids the downsides of both powder and complex dosing systems.
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 system allows for precise control of fabric treatment, improving softening and conditioning benefits while avoiding residue issues by ensuring rapid dispersion in wash liquor, enhancing user flexibility and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a water soluble container which is formed from a water soluble polymer
Implementation Method 2
a cellulose ether cationic deposition polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A unit dose fabric treatment system comprises a water soluble container in which a liquid fabric treatment composition is disposed, the composition comprising one or more fatty acid esters wherein, in at least one of the fatty acid esters, the average proportion of C18 chains is less than 60%, preferably less than 50%, more preferably less than 40%, e.g. less than 30% by weight of the total weight of fatty acid chains in the fatty acid ester.