Leuco Polymers Laundry Bluing Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional whitening agents for textiles often adversely impact aesthetics or cause build-up over time, failing to effectively maintain whiteness and prevent yellowing due to light and air exposure.
Innovation Solution
Development of leuco polymers formed by reacting a polymer with a compound containing a leuco moiety and an electrophilic group, using co-monomers like aryl dicarboxylate, oxyalkyleneoxy, and oxypolyalkyleneoxy, which deposit onto textiles and change color upon exposure to triggers, enhancing whiteness without aesthetic issues.
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
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical state parameter of the whitening agent by using leuco polymers that exist in a reduced, colorless state during application and storage, then transform to an oxidized, colored state upon exposure to oxygen during washing. This parameter change allows the agent to provide whiteness enhancement without the continuous presence of colored compounds that adversely affect aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The leuco polymers are applied to textiles in advance in a stable, colorless state that does not adversely impact aesthetics. The actual whitening action occurs later when the polymers are triggered by oxygen exposure during the washing process, transforming to their colored state to counteract yellowing and enhance whiteness at the optimal moment.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional whitening agents are used to provide whiteness benefit, then whiteness enhancement is improved, but build-up over time occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic behavior to the whitening agent through leuco polymers that can reversibly transform between colorless and colored states. The polymers are deposited on textiles in a colorless state, then dynamically respond to oxygen exposure during washing by transforming to their colored state to provide whiteness enhancement, and can revert or remain stable without excessive accumulation.
3Illumination intensity
If traditional whitening agents are used to counteract fading and yellowing, then whiteness enhancement is improved, but over hueing occurs after multiple washes
Solution Approach 1:
The leuco polymers undergo parameter changes in their oxidation state, transitioning from a reduced colorless form during application to an oxidized colored form during washing. This controlled parameter change ensures that the whitening action occurs only when needed (during washing with oxygen exposure) and prevents continuous hueing that would occur with traditional agents present in their active colored state throughout storage and handling.
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 provide a stable, colorless state that transforms into an intense colored state upon exposure, effectively enhancing the perceived whiteness of textiles without adverse effects on aesthetics or build-up, effectively counteracting fading and yellowing.
Implementation Method 1
The change in coloration that occurs is typically visually perceptible to the human eye. All existing compounds have some absorbance in the visible light region (400-750 nm), and thus more or less have some color. In this invention, a dye is considered as a 'leuco dye' if it did not render a significant color at its application concentration and conditions, but renders a significant color in its triggered form.
Implementation Method 2
The leuco polymers are provided in a stable, substantially colorless state and then may be transformed to an intense colored state upon exposure to certain physical or chemical changes such as, for example, exposure to oxygen, ion addition, and exposure to light.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of obtaining a laundry care composition, the method comprising the steps of (a) reacting a compound with a polymer to form a leuco polymer and (b) mixing the leuco polymer with at least one laundry care ingredient. The compound includes at least one leuco moiety and at least one electrophilic group. The polymer is comprised of co-monomers of an aryl dicarboxylate, an oxyalkyleneoxy and an oxypolyalkyleneoxy and the polymer comprises at least one moiety selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, sulfhydryl, primary amine and secondary amine.