Meltable Fragrant Detergent Object Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing fragrant detergents and cleaning agents result in a significant loss of fragrance due to volatility, leading to weak and short-lasting scents on treated objects, and are inefficient in product changes, causing waste and instability in temperature-sensitive components.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a three-step process: producing a melt dispersion with a water-soluble carrier material, mixing it with aesthetic agents outside the initial container, and reshaping to form solid melt bodies, which minimizes fragrance loss and allows for easy product changes without significant waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fragrance components are added to melt dispersion at elevated temperatures, then the production process is simplified, but the chemical integrity and stability of the fragrance components deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction process simplicityVSAvoidfragrance component stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The fragrance components are added to the melt dispersion before the carrier material is melted, so that when the carrier material is subsequently melted and mixed, the fragrance components are incorporated without being exposed to prolonged high temperatures. This preliminary addition protects the chemical integrity of the fragrance while maintaining production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing of fragrance components with the melt dispersion is performed rapidly at elevated temperatures only when necessary, minimizing the dwell time at high temperatures. The process quickly transitions through the high-temperature phase, reducing thermal degradation of fragrance components while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional detergent methods are used, then the production process is simple, but fragrance loss due to volatility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction process simplicityVSAvoidfragrance loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier material undergoes a phase transition from solid to liquid (melting) at controlled temperatures, creating a melt dispersion that effectively traps and retains volatile fragrance components. This phase transition mechanism prevents fragrance evaporation while maintaining production simplicity, as the melting process naturally confines the fragrance within the liquid carrier matrix.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Adaptability or versatility

If product changes are made in conventional production, then new product development is enabled, but waste material increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct change capabilityVSAvoidwaste material

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The production process is segmented into distinct stages: preparing the fragrance-containing melt dispersion separately, then adding the melted carrier material. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each stage and enables easy product changes by simply modifying the fragrance dispersion composition without wasting carrier material, thereby improving adaptability while reducing waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This method enhances the fragrance and color retention in the final product, reducing waste and maintaining the chemical integrity of temperature-sensitive components, resulting in improved scent and color performance.

Implementation Method 1

producing a melt dispersion comprising at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible melted carrier material with a melting point of >30° C. as the continuous phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

The melt dispersion thus obtained is cooled to a temperature below the melting point of the carrier material in order to solidify the melt dispersion and thereby obtain solid melt bodies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolidification: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP3728540B1Producing a meltable object containing a perfume

Publication Date: 2022.04.06 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing aesthetic meltable objects, involving producing a melt dispersion that comprises at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible carrier material and at least one solid material in a first container; and mixing the melt dispersion that was obtained in this manner with at least one aesthetic element, and shaping the melt dispersion that was obtained in this manner so as to produce solid meltable objects that contain an aesthetic element. The present invention also relates to the meltable objects produced in this method, to a detergent or cleaning agent containing same, to the use of such a detergent or cleaning agent for cleaning textiles or hard surfaces, and to corresponding methods for cleaning textiles or hard surfaces using such a detergent or cleaning agent.