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Solution Overview
Problem
Current encapsulated benefit agents face issues such as high permeability in surfactant and water-containing products, limited compatibility with certain formulations, instability during product processing, and inadequate deposition on treated surfaces, leading to premature release or failure to release the benefit agent effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of encapsulated benefit agents using an interfacial polymerization process with a polyacrylate shell, allowing for a wide range of benefit agents to be encapsulated with improved safety, permeability, and friability, ensuring controlled release and reduced leakage, particularly in surfactant-containing compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional encapsulation methods (urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, interfacial polymerization with polyisocyanate/polyamine/polyol, complex coacervation, inorganic shells) are used to encapsulate benefit agents, then the benefit agents can be protected and delivered, but the capsules exhibit high permeability in surfactant and water-containing products leading to premature release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the capsule shell by using polyacrylate polymers with specific molecular weights (10,000-1,000,000 g/mol) and functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, or amine groups). This parameter change creates a shell that is sufficiently impermeable to prevent benefit agent leakage in surfactant-containing compositions while maintaining controlled release capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structure by combining polyacrylate polymer with specific functional groups to create a shell that integrates both protective and release functionalities. The composite nature of the polyacrylate shell provides both structural integrity for protection and controlled permeability for sustained release, resolving the contradiction between stability and leakage.
2Loss of substance
If capsules are made highly stable to prevent leakage, then benefit agent retention improves, but the capsules fail to release the benefit agent effectively during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic functionality to the capsule shell through polyacrylate polymers containing responsive functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, or amine groups). These groups allow the shell to dynamically adjust its permeability in response to environmental conditions such as pH changes, surfactant presence, or mechanical stress, enabling both leakage prevention and effective release as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the polyacrylate shell structure, specifically the molecular weight range (10,000-1,000,000 g/mol) and functional group composition, to create a shell with tunable permeability. This allows the shell to maintain low permeability for protection while enabling controlled release through sustained diffusion or triggered release mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional encapsulation methods are used, then some benefit agents can be encapsulated, but compatibility with certain formulations and sites is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by using polyacrylate polymers with versatile functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, or amine groups) that can interact with various formulation components including surfactants, solvents, and water. This multi-functional shell structure provides broad compatibility across different personal care, cleaning, and fabric care compositions while maintaining reliable benefit agent delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes in the polyacrylate shell composition, specifically the molecular weight and functional group selection, to optimize compatibility with different formulation types. The carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, or amine groups can form hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions, or other compatible interactions with various formulation components, enhancing versatility across applications.
4Ease of operation
If capsules are designed for controlled release, then benefit agent delivery improves, but the capsules may not withstand product processing and application conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameter of the polyacrylate polymer (10,000-1,000,000 g/mol) to achieve the right balance between mechanical strength and controlled release. Higher molecular weights provide greater mechanical stability to withstand processing and application conditions, while the functional groups maintain controlled release capabilities through sustained diffusion mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite shell structure using polyacrylate polymer that integrates both mechanical strength and controlled release functionality. The polymer network provides structural integrity for mechanical stability, while the functional groups and porous structure enable controlled benefit agent release throughout the product lifecycle.
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 encapsulated benefit agents exhibit lower leakage and controlled release of the active ingredients, maintaining effectiveness in consumer products while withstanding processing and application conditions, providing enhanced delivery and stability.
Implementation Method 1
Another approach is to utilize interfacial polymerization, wherein acrylate monomers are dispersed in a hydrophobic benefit agent, followed by polymerization of the dispersed monomers which then migrate to an oil/water interface to form a shell that surround the benefit agent.
Implementation Method 2
The encapsulated benefit agents exhibit lower leakage and controlled release of the active ingredients
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to encapsulated benefit agents, compositions comprising such encapsulated benefit agents and processes for making and using compositions comprising such encapsulated benefit agents. Such encapsulated benefit agents eliminate or minimize one or more of the drawbacks of current encapsulated benefit agents and thus provide formulators with additional perfume delivery opportunities.