Melamine-Formaldehyde Foam Composition for Durable Wet Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Melamine-formaldehyde foams used for cleaning hard surfaces require substantial amounts of solvent to effectively remove soils and stains, leading to durability issues as they crumble when used with water.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a linear polymer, such as polyethylene glycol, into the melamine-formaldehyde foam to enhance its cleaning performance and durability, allowing for improved soil and stain removal while maintaining surface safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If melamine-formaldehyde foam is used to clean hard surfaces with water, then soil and stain removal performance is improved, but durability deteriorates as the foam crumbles into small particles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines melamine-formaldehyde foam with polyethylene glycol linear polymer to create a composite cleaning implement. The polyethylene glycol (0.1-5 weight %) acts as a binder that holds the foam structure together, preventing crumbling while maintaining the foam's cleaning effectiveness. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating two materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the melamine-formaldehyde foam by incorporating polyethylene glycol with specific molecular weight (500-10,000 g/mol) at controlled concentrations (0.1-5 weight %). This parameter change enhances the foam's structural integrity and durability without compromising its soil removal capability, thus resolving the reliability-durability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If substantial amounts of water are used to remove soils and stains, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the foam structure deteriorates and crumbles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil removal effectivenessVSAvoidfoam structure stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The polyethylene glycol linear polymer serves as an intermediary substance between the water and the melamine-formaldehyde foam structure. It acts as a bridge that allows water to penetrate and activate the cleaning action while simultaneously protecting the foam structure from disintegration. The polyethylene glycol molecules interact with both water and foam, mediating their interaction to prevent crumbling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If melamine foam is used for cleaning, then good surface safety profile is achieved, but durability upon use deteriorates due to crumbling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface safetyVSAvoiddurability upon use

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the polyethylene glycol at specific locations within the foam structure where it provides localized reinforcement. The polyethylene glycol is distributed throughout the foam matrix (0.1-5 weight %) to create local bonding zones that prevent crumbling while maintaining the overall gentle surface interaction characteristics of the original melamine foam.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3545028B1Cleaning implement comprising a modified open-cell foam

Publication Date: 2023.07.12 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a cleaning implement that includes a melamine-formaldehyde foam. The melamine-formaldehyde foam includes from about 0.1 to about 5 weight % of at least one linear polymer with a number average molecular weight Mn in the range from 500 to 10,000 g/mol. Additionally the present invention encompasses processes for making and methods for cleaning hard surfaces with a cleaning implement according to the present invention.