Antimicrobial Cleaning Composition with Polymer Residue Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional antimicrobial compositions for hard surfaces are often fast-acting but leave residues, reducing surface shine and being less suitable for food-contact surfaces, with high residuality leading to longer but undesirable effects.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a detersive surfactant, antimicrobial agent, and specific surface modification polymers, such as hydrophobically modified cationic polymers, oxazoline homopolymers, and amides, which are stable, aqueous, and pH-controlled to maintain transparency and antimicrobial efficacy without residue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high levels of antimicrobial actives are used to achieve fast acting and broad spectrum activity, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but surface shine is reduced and visible residues are left

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial efficacyVSAvoidsurface residue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the composition by using specific polymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone and its copolymers) that modify how antimicrobial actives interact with surfaces. These polymers enable the use of lower concentrations of antimicrobial agents while maintaining efficacy, thereby reducing visible residues and preserving surface shine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite formulations combining polymers (PVP, PVP-VA, PVP-AA) with antimicrobial actives. This composite approach allows the polymer matrix to enhance the performance and residuality of the antimicrobial agent at lower concentrations, solving the contradiction between efficacy and residue formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If high levels of antimicrobial actives are used to achieve fast acting and broad spectrum activity, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but suitability for food-contact surfaces is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial efficacyVSAvoidfood-contact safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention reduces the concentration parameter of antimicrobial actives by utilizing polymer-enhanced delivery systems. This allows achieving the same antimicrobial effect with lower chemical concentrations, making the composition safer for food-contact surfaces while maintaining broad-spectrum efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The polymers (PVP and its copolymers) act as intermediaries that carry and release antimicrobial actives in a controlled manner. This intermediary system reduces the need for high concentrations of potentially harmful antimicrobial agents, thereby improving safety for food-contact applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If greater residuality of actives is used to provide longer lasting benefits, then duration of antimicrobial action is improved, but surface shine is reduced and visible residues are left

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduration of antimicrobial actionVSAvoidsurface residue

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite polymer-antimicrobial formulations where polymers like PVP-VA and PVP-AA provide a residual matrix that slowly releases antimicrobial actives. This composite structure extends the duration of antimicrobial action while maintaining lower overall concentrations, thus avoiding excessive residue and shine reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The polymers are applied first to create a residual film on the surface, which then serves as a carrier for the antimicrobial actives. This preliminary action establishes a foundation for prolonged antimicrobial activity without requiring high concentrations of actives, thereby preventing excessive residue formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 composition provides effective broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity without leaving residues, maintaining surface shine and being suitable for food-contact surfaces with enhanced residual antimicrobial efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

a surface modification polymer, wherein the surface modification polymer is selected from the group consisting of: hydrophobically modified cationic polymer, oxazoline homopolymer, oxazoline, copolymer, vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer (PVP)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface modification:

Implementation Method 2

a detersive surfactant; an amide of formula I: R1-CO—NR2R3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

leaving the hard surface to dry without rinsing the surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS10647948B2Polymer containing antimicrobial hard surface cleaning compositions

Publication Date: 2020.05.12 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

The need for a fast acting and broad spectrum antimicrobial composition which does not reduce surface shine and does not leave visible residues on the surface, while also providing greater residuality of the actives can be met by formulating antimicrobial compositions as described herein.