Particulate Fabric Care Composition for Liquid Detergent Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry detergent compositions containing polyester soil release polymers face stability issues in liquid form due to hydrolysis of ester bonds, limiting their use in combination with liquid detergents, and there is a need for a through-the-wash laundry care additive that provides soil release benefits to liquid detergent consumers.
Innovation Solution
A particle comprising a nonionic polyester soil release polymer and a polyalkylene glycol water-soluble carrier, with specific structural units and ratios, ensuring compatibility and stability, allowing for easy dissolution and effective cleaning when used with liquid detergents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If polyester soil release polymer is incorporated into liquid detergent composition, then soil release benefits are provided to consumers, but chemical stability deteriorates due to hydrolysis of ester bonds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a particle carrier system as an intermediary to deliver the polyester soil release polymer. The particle comprises a water-soluble carrier (such as polyethylene glycol or polyvinyl alcohol) that dissolves in the wash water, releasing the soil release polymer in a controlled manner. This intermediary carrier system protects the polymer from direct exposure to harsh liquid detergent conditions while still delivering the soil release benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical form of the polyester soil release polymer from liquid/dissolved state to particulate state. By formulating the polymer as a particle with specific characteristics (size, shape, composition), the system achieves both stability during storage and effective dissolution during the wash cycle. The particle parameters are optimized to ensure complete dissolution while maintaining polymer integrity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If polyester soil release polymer is used in liquid detergent, then through-the-wash soil release benefits are achieved, but hydrolysis of ester bonds occurs reducing stability
Solution Approach 1:
The polyester soil release polymer is pre-incorporated into the particle carrier during manufacturing. This preliminary action protects the polymer from degradation during storage and handling. The particle is designed to dissolve completely in the wash water, releasing the polymer at the appropriate time and place, ensuring through-the-wash benefits while maintaining stability throughout the product lifecycle.
3Reliability
If powder detergent is used with polyester soil release polymer, then chemical stability is improved, but convenience for liquid detergent consumers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the detergent formulation from powder to liquid-compatible particle form. The particles are designed to be fully water-soluble and compatible with liquid detergent formulations. This parameter change allows the soil release polymer to be stabilized (like in powder formulations) while maintaining compatibility with liquid detergent consumers' existing routines and appliances.
Solution Approach 2:
The particle formulation is designed to be universally compatible with both liquid and powder detergent systems. The water-soluble carrier and particle characteristics allow the same formulation to work effectively regardless of the detergent type, providing versatility and convenience for consumers who may use different detergent formulations.
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 particle provides enhanced soil release benefits, improved stability, and ease of use, enabling consumers to customize fabric care benefits independently of detergent amounts, with fast dissolution and effective cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
The particles show fast and complete dissolution into water
Implementation Method 2
In the washing process, soil release polymers can deposit on fibers, which change the surface properties of fabric
Implementation Method 3
The chemical stability of polyester soil release polymer in liquid composition is often a challenge due to hydrolysis of the ester bonds within polyester soil release polymers in liquid composition
Data Source
AI summary
A particle includes from 25% to 99%, by weight of the particle, a polyalkylene glycol water-soluble carrier; and from 1.0% to 75%, by weight of the particle, a nonionic polyester soil release polymer. The nonionic polyester soil release polymer includes (a) at least one terephthalate structural unit, (b) at least one alkylene glycol structural unit, (c) at least one polyalkylene glycol structural unit comprising at least one ethylene glycol moiety. The molar ratio between (i) ethylene glycol moiety present in the polyalkylene glycol structural unit (c) to (ii) terephthalate moiety present in the terephthalate structural unit (a) is at least 5.0. The particle has a mass of from 5.0 mg to 1.0 g; the particle has a longest dimension of at least 3.0 mm; and the particle has an aspect ratio of from more than 1.1 to less than 5.0.