Leuco Polymer Bluing for Textile Whiteness Without Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional whitening agents for textiles often adversely impact aesthetics or cause buildup over time, failing to provide effective whiteness benefits without hue distortion.
Innovation Solution
The use of leuco polymers, specifically comprising a leuco monomer and an alkene, which are polymerized to create a stable, colorless form that transforms into an intense colored state upon exposure to physical or chemical triggers, enhancing the apparent whiteness of textiles without adverse effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional whitening agents are used at levels providing consumer noticeable whiteness benefits, then whiteness enhancement is improved, but finished product aesthetics are adversely impacted or buildup occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the whitening agent from a permanently colored state to a leuco form that exists in equilibrium between colored and colorless states. This parameter change in the chemical state allows the agent to provide whiteness enhancement when needed while avoiding continuous deposition and aesthetic degradation. The leuco form has reduced molar attenuation coefficient, enabling it to function as a whitening agent without the adverse effects of traditional permanently colored agents.
2Illumination intensity
If highly depositing whitening agents are used to provide whiteness benefit, then whiteness enhancement is improved, but buildup over time and over hueing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the whitening agent to be discarded in its colored form during washing and recovered in its leuco form on the fabric. The leuco form deposits on the fabric and then transforms to the colored state during the wash cycle to provide whiteness, then reverts to leuco form for subsequent cycles. This cycle of discarding the colored form and recovering the leuco form prevents permanent buildup while maintaining effectiveness.
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 leuco polymers effectively enhance the perceived whiteness of textiles, providing a desired hue without impacting aesthetics or causing buildup, ensuring long-lasting color benefits.
Implementation Method 1
The leuco polymer... may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes such as, for example, exposure to oxygen
Implementation Method 2
The leuco polymer... may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes such as, for example, exposure to light
Implementation Method 3
The leuco polymer has a molecular weight of at least 500 and is obtainable by polymerization of the leuco monomer and one or more alkene co-monomers
Data Source
AI summary
A leuco polymer includes a leuco monomer and an alkene. The leuco polymer has a molecular weight of at least 500 and is obtainable by polymerization of the leuco monomer and one or more alkene co-monomers. The leuco monomer consists of an alkene covalently bound to a leuco moiety and the leuco monomer has a molar extinction coefficient at a wavelength in the range 400 to 750 nm of less than 1000 M−1cm−1. The alkene monomer(s) have a molar extinction coefficient at a wavelength in the range 400 to 750 nm that is less than 100 M−1cm−1. Methods of making the leuco polymer, laundry care compositions comprising the leuco polymer and methods of treating textiles with such laundry care compositions.