Melt Core Dishwashing Tablet Reduces Plastic Spotting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic dishwashing agents often leave residues on plastic dishes, known as 'spotting' or 'filming', due to inadequate rinse and drying performance, especially on colored plastics like Tupperware, and the raw material methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) is difficult to compress in large quantities, leading to tablet caking and surface damage.
Innovation Solution
A dishwashing agent comprising a solid, compacted phase and a melt core phase with a combination of nonionic surfactants and complexing agents, such as aminocarboxylic acids, which allows for higher concentrations of MGDA and surfactants, reducing 'spotting' and improving cleaning performance on plastics without delaying dissolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressed core with high MGDA content is used, then the cleaning performance is improved, but tablet caking and surface damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the MGDA and surfactant formulation from solid powder to liquid melt, enabling higher concentrations without compression issues. The melt core allows incorporation of up to 40% surfactant and 60% complexing agent, whereas pressed cores are limited to much lower amounts due to caking problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition by forming a melt core that is liquid at processing temperature and solidifies upon cooling. This phase change enables the formulation of high concentrations of MGDA and surfactant in a manageable physical state during manufacturing, then transforms to a stable solid form in the final tablet.
2Reliability
If higher amounts of surfactant and MGDA are formulated in a pressed core, then the rinsing power is improved, but the powder becomes sticky and uncompressable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state from solid powder to liquid melt, allowing formulation of high surfactant (10-40%) and complexing agent (30-60%) concentrations that would be impossible in pressed powder form. The liquid state prevents stickiness and enables proper compression into tablets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite melt core formulation combining surfactant, complexing agent, and other ingredients in specific proportions (10-40% surfactant, 30-60% complexing agent). This composite liquid formulation achieves optimal rinsing performance while maintaining manufacturability through proper physical state control.
3Reliability
If a melt core with high MGDA and surfactant content is used, then the spotting on plastic dishes is reduced, but the dissolution time may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the physical state and composition parameters of the melt core to achieve high surfactant (10-40%) and complexing agent (30-60%) content while controlling dissolution characteristics. The formulation achieves reduced spotting on plastic dishes without excessive dissolution time delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a optimized composite melt core with specific proportions of surfactant, complexing agent, and other ingredients that balances rinsing performance (spotting reduction) with dissolution characteristics. The composite formulation achieves both improved cleaning effectiveness and acceptable dissolution timing.
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 agent effectively reduces 'spotting' on dishes, especially plastics, providing a visually clean impression and maintaining comparable dissolution profiles to conventional tablets while handling higher surfactant and MGDA amounts.
Implementation Method 1
the disintegration time or the dissolution time of the entire tablet with a melt core is not delayed, but shows a comparable dissolution profile
Implementation Method 2
at least one complexing agent from the group of aminocarboxylic acids and their salts, in an amount of 30 - 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the melt core
Implementation Method 3
at least one surfactant, in particular a nonionic surfactant, in an amount of 10 - 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the melt core
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a solid, multiphase dishwashing detergent comprising at least two phases and to the use of said dishwashing detergent, and to a method for cleaning dishes using said dishwashing detergent. The first phase is a solid, compacted phase. The second phase is a melt core, comprising at least one surfactant, in particular a non-ionic surfactant, in an amount of from 1 to 90 wt.-% relative to the total weight of the melt core, and at least one complexing agent from the group of the aminocarboxylic acids and their salts, in an amount of from 1 to 90 wt.-% relative to the total weight of the melt core.