Propylene Glycol Esters in Laundry Detergents for Wrinkle Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cellulose-containing textiles, such as cotton, easily crease due to swelling and low elastic restoring forces, necessitating ironing, and lose softness with repeated washing, with existing wrinkle-preventing finishes being toxic or unsuitable for household use.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating propylene glycol esters in laundry detergents and care products to reduce wrinkling and enhance softness, with concentrations of 0.01 to 30% by weight, which can be used in washing or as a post-wash treatment to minimize crease formation and improve fabric feel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional wrinkle-preventing finishes using cross-linking agents are applied to cellulose textiles, then the tendency to wrinkle is reduced and elastic recovery is improved, but the process becomes toxic and unsuitable for household use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewrinkle resistanceVSAvoidtoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful cross-linking agents (formaldehyde-urea, formaldehyde-melamine) from the wrinkle-preventing finish formulation, replacing them with non-toxic alternatives that provide similar wrinkle resistance without the harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses biodegradable, non-persistent chemicals that break down safely after use, replacing permanent industrial finishes with shorter-lived but safer alternatives suitable for repeated household application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If cellulose textiles are washed repeatedly, then cleanliness is maintained, but softness is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecleanlinessVSAvoidsoftness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates softening agents and protective components into the detergent formulation before washing occurs, so that the fabric is pre-treated with softening substances during the wash cycle itself, preventing softness loss rather than restoring it afterward

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines multiple functions (cleaning, softening, wrinkle prevention) into a single detergent formulation, eliminating the need for separate fabric softener or tumble drying steps while maintaining all benefits throughout repeated washes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Shape

If ironing is applied to cellulose textiles, then wrinkle appearance is removed, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewrinkle appearanceVSAvoidironing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies wrinkle-preventing finishes and elastic recovery enhancers to the textiles during the washing cycle before drying, so that the fabric is pre-prepared to resist wrinkle formation, eliminating or reducing the need for subsequent ironing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables textiles to self-recover from deformation through enhanced elastic properties, so the fabric automatically returns to its original shape without external intervention like ironing, making the textile care process self-sufficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3487972B1Propylene glycol ester as fabric care constituents

Publication Date: 2023.05.03 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a laundry detergent, laundry treatment agent, or laundry care agent, in particular a liquid laundry detergent, in particular liquid detergent, which contains 0.001 to 30 wt.%, preferably 0.01 to 4 wt.% of at least one propylene glycol ester and which gives textiles improved crease protection and increased softness after laundering. The invention also relates to the use of propylene glycol ester for minimizing the propensity to creasing, facilitating ironing and for increasing the softness of textiles.