Porous Dissolvable Solid Structure for Hydrophobic Coating Deposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing consumer products face challenges in effectively depositing and retaining hydrophobic benefit agents on treated surfaces due to their small particle size, which often leads to wastage, and existing solutions like deposition aids or encapsulation systems can increase costs or create compatibility issues.

Innovation Solution

A consumer product comprising a porous dissolvable solid structure with a hydrophobic coating applied, which breaks down into large particles when dissolved in an aqueous solution, enhancing deposition and retention of benefit agents on surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If small particle size benefit agents are used in aqueous liquid formulations, then stability of the formulation is improved, but deposition and retention on treated surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformulation stabilityVSAvoiddeposition and retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The benefit agent is segmented into large particles that are incorporated into a porous dissolvable solid structure. This segmentation allows the benefit agent to maintain stability in the aqueous formulation while enabling effective deposition on surfaces through the dissolution of the solid structure, which releases the large particles for retention on treated surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The porous dissolvable solid structure acts as an intermediary carrier between the aqueous formulation and the benefit agent particles. It allows the hydrophobic benefit agents to be stabilized in the aqueous environment during formulation while enabling their release and deposition on surfaces through dissolution, resolving the contradiction between stability and deposition effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If deposition aids and coacervates are used to enhance deposition of small particle size benefit agents, then deposition and retention is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition and retentionVSAvoidproduct complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for deposition aids and coacervates by using a porous dissolvable solid structure as the delivery mechanism. This simplifies the product formulation while maintaining effective deposition and retention of benefit agents on treated surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The porous dissolvable solid structure serves multiple functions: it acts as a carrier for the benefit agents, provides a matrix for controlled release, and facilitates deposition on surfaces. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate deposition aids, reducing product complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If encapsulation systems are used to deliver hydrophobic benefit agents, then deposition and retention is improved, but effectiveness of the benefit agents deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition and retentionVSAvoidbenefit agent effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using encapsulation to protect and deliver benefit agents, the invention inverts the approach by using a porous dissolvable solid structure that allows direct contact and interaction between the benefit agents and the treated surface. This inversion maintains the effectiveness of the benefit agents while achieving reliable deposition and retention through the dissolution process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 allows for improved deposition and retention of hydrophobic benefit agents on treated surfaces, providing enhanced consumer benefits without the need for additional deposition aids, thus reducing waste and complexity.

Implementation Method 1

The consumer product can be dissolved in an aqueous solution to form an aqueous treatment liquor. Upon dissolution, the hydrophobic coating can be transformed from a liquid film coating into large discrete particles by action on (via dissolution and/or shear) the solid structure supporting the hydrophobic coating dissolving in the aqueous solution.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

a hydrophobic coating comprising a benefit agent. The hydrophobic coating is applied to the porous dissolvable solid structure and the hydrophobic coating has an average thickness and/or maximum thickness of less than about 1000 microns.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoating: Coatings

Data Source

PatentUS9877899B2Consumer product comprising a fibrous web structure with a silicone conditioning agent coating

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A consumer product comprises: (a) a porous dissolvable solid structure, and (b) a hydrophobic coating comprising a benefit agent. The hydrophobic coating is applied to the porous dissolvable solid structure and the hydrophobic coating has an average thickness and/or maximum thickness of less than about 1000 microns. A method of forming an aqueous treatment liquor comprises the steps of: (a) providing a consumer product, (b) providing an aqueous solution, and (c) dissolving the consumer product in the aqueous solution to form an aqueous treatment liquor comprising a hydrophobic portion and an aqueous portion.