Powdered Soap Particle Composition for Flowability and Solubility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing powder soaps exhibit poor flowability and feel while maintaining solubility, limiting their suitability for personal care applications.

Innovation Solution

A powdered soap composition comprising discrete particles with an average size of at least 600 microns, containing a fatty component, cationic polymer, and clay, with specific particle size distributions and low water content to enhance flowability and feel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water content is increased to improve solubility, then solubility is improved, but flowability and feel deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidflowability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter to at least 600 microns, which fundamentally alters the relationship between water content and flowability. This parameter change allows the powder to maintain good flowability even with higher water content (7-15%), thereby resolving the contradiction between solubility and flowability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces particle size as a new dimension (at least 600 microns) to the formulation space. This dimensional change creates a new operating regime where traditional trade-offs between solubility and flowability no longer apply, allowing both properties to be optimized simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If water content is decreased to improve flowability, then flowability is improved, but solubility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflowabilityVSAvoidsolubility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the particle size parameter to at least 600 microns, the patent enables the system to maintain solubility at lower water contents (1-3%), thus resolving the contradiction between flowability and solubility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different properties to different aspects of the product: large particle size (≥600 microns) provides good flowability, while the particle composition and structure maintain solubility. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If particle size is increased to improve flowability, then flowability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflowabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the soap into discrete particles of at least 600 microns, which improves flowability. The segmentation is achieved through controlled granulation processes that balance particle size requirements with manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies a minimum particle size parameter (600 microns) that optimizes flowability while remaining compatible with standard industrial granulation and drying equipment, thus managing manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4021588B1Personal care compositions

Publication Date: 2026.02.04 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

Described herein is a powdered soap comprising a plurality of particles, each of the particles comprising: an ionic polymer; and a fatty component comprising compounds having C8 to C18 chains.