Multi-Layer Laundry Detergent Article Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unit dose detergent articles for automatic laundry machines suffer from poor dissolution of carrier materials, leading to undissolved residues and incomplete detergent release, which affects cleaning efficacy and consumer satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A laundry detergent article comprising a water-soluble sheet material with a detergent formulation structured as multiple layers, including outer sheets and intermediate layers, where the intermediate layers are formulated with high solubility and stability to ensure rapid detergent dispersion and retention within the sheets, preventing leakage and enhancing cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water soluble film carriers are used to deliver unit dosage amounts of laundry products, then convenient unit dose provision is achieved, but poor dissolution of the carrier material occurs leading to undissolved residues
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent article is divided into multiple discrete layers (water-soluble outer layers, intermediate layer, inner water-soluble layers) that can dissolve at different rates. This segmentation allows the outer layers to dissolve first, releasing detergent while the inner layers maintain structural integrity longer, ensuring complete dissolution without residues.
Solution Approach 2:
The article uses composite material structures combining water-soluble polymers with detergent formulations. The water-soluble outer layers are made from specific polymers that dissolve rapidly, while the intermediate layer contains detergent materials that dissolve at controlled rates, creating a composite system that ensures complete dissolution.
2Quantity of substance
If detergent materials are retained by the carrier, then detergent delivery is achieved, but poor dissolution properties of detergents retained by the carrier exacerbate residue formation
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the detergent article have different dissolution properties. The outer water-soluble layers are designed to dissolve rapidly, while the intermediate layer with detergent materials dissolves at a controlled rate. This local quality differentiation ensures detergent is released as the outer layers dissolve, preventing residue formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-soluble outer layers are designed to dissolve first before the detergent-containing intermediate layer. This preliminary dissolution action creates water pathways that facilitate subsequent detergent dissolution and release, ensuring complete detergent dissolution without residues.
3Loss of information
If multiple detergent compositions are deposited as distinctive fillers, then visual queueing of differentiated product types is achieved, but dissolution uniformity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
Different detergent compositions are deposited in specific regions (intermediate layers) between water-soluble outer layers. Each region can contain different colored or scented detergent materials, providing visual identification while the surrounding water-soluble structure ensures uniform dissolution across all product types.
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 solution ensures complete dissolution of detergents during wash cycles, improving cleaning efficacy, maintaining consumer expectations, and providing visual differentiation of detergent types while optimizing solubility and stability, thus enhancing the overall laundry experience.
Implementation Method 1
The sheet material includes pores that provide for improved infiltration of water for diffusion of the detergent materials retained thereby through the sheet material and dissolution of the sheet material itself
Implementation Method 2
The sheet material includes pores that provide for improved infiltration of water for diffusion of the detergent materials retained thereby through the sheet material
Implementation Method 3
Such compositions can be provided in a form that imparts stability so that the compositions remain in a solid or semi-solid state and thus avoid running or seeping out of the boundaries defined by the outer sheets
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides cleaning articles. The articles can be formed of two outer layers separated by an intermediate layer that can comprise one or more independent and separate compositions. The outer layers can be formed of a solid foam and can particularly be configured to allow access of the surrounding environment to the intermediate layer compositions. The outer layers can provide rapid infiltration of water to facilitate diffusion of the intermediate layer compositions through the outer layers, and dissolution of the outer layers and the intermediate layer(s).