Odor-Reducing Latex Paint with Embedded Adsorbents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Latex paints often emit unpleasant odors due to their components, and existing methods for odor reduction are temporary, require maintenance, and may have harmful side effects, necessitating a continuous, passive, and unobtrusive solution.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating odor-absorbing or adsorbing materials like zeolites, cyclodextrins, and activated carbon into latex paint compositions, along with optional odor-neutralizing agents and fragrance compounds, to reduce or neutralize odors both during application and after drying, while also providing long-term odor control in interior environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional latex paint is used, then the paint provides protective or decorative coating, but the paint emits unpleasant odors from its components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaint composition simplicityVSAvoidodor emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces odor-absorbing materials (activated carbon, zeolites, cyclodextrins) as intermediary substances within the paint composition. These materials act as mediators that absorb or adsorb odor molecules generated by paint components, buffers, solvents, and other additives, thereby reducing unpleasant odors while maintaining the paint's protective and decorative functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite paint material by combining traditional latex paint components with odor-absorbing materials. This composite formulation integrates the functional properties of paint binders, pigments, and solvents with the odor-trapping capabilities of activated carbon, zeolites, or cyclodextrins, achieving both coating performance and odor reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If odor-reducing agents are used, then unpleasant odors are reduced, but the solution is temporary and requires monitoring or maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor reductionVSAvoidodor control duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates odor-absorbing materials directly into the paint composition before application. This preliminary action ensures that odor control capability is built into the paint itself, so when the paint is applied to the surface, the odor-absorbing materials are already in position to capture odor molecules, providing continuous long-term odor control without requiring subsequent maintenance or additional agents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The paint composition contains self-contained odor-absorbing materials that automatically perform odor reduction without external intervention. The activated carbon, zeolites, or cyclodextrins embedded in the paint continuously absorb odor molecules from the environment, providing autonomous, long-duration odor control that does not require monitoring, maintenance, or replacement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If conventional odor removal methods are used, then odors are temporarily reduced, but harmful or dangerous side effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor removalVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts potentially harmful conventional odor removal methods into beneficial passive absorption. Instead of using chemical agents or electrical devices that may produce harmful byproducts, the patent employs physically adsorbing materials (activated carbon, zeolites, cyclodextrins) that safely trap odor molecules through physical adsorption, eliminating harmful side effects while maintaining effective odor reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 paint composition effectively reduces odors in the air by trapping or neutralizing odor particles, providing a continuous and pleasant scent, and preventing mold or mildew growth, thus addressing the issue of persistent odors in interior spaces.

Implementation Method 1

These materials are typically porous, such that an odor particle may associate with pores in the odor absorbing material to become trapped within the pore, thus removing the odor from the air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

Odor adsorbing materials include activated carbon, sodium bicarbonate, and cyclodextrins. Odor particles chemically or physically associate with the surface of the odor adsorbing materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS10076584B2Low odor latex paint capable of reducing interior odors
Publication Date: 2018.09.18 THE SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO

AI summary

A paint composition, which in some embodiments, has a low odor in the container, while during after application to a surface, and once the paint has dried on a surface is disclosed. A method of making such a paint composition is disclosed. A paint composition and method are also disclosed which include using a paint to control certain odors in interior rooms.