PVOH Blend Film Composition for Cold-Wash Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-soluble polymeric films used in household care compositions often incompletely dissolve during wash cycles, leaving residue on items, especially under stressed conditions like cold water and short wash cycles, due to changes in solubility characteristics and chemical interactions with laundry actives.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble film made from a blend of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resins, including a PVOH copolymer and a PVOH polymer with specific anionic monomer units, which provides improved solubility, tensile strength, and modulus properties, reducing residue and maintaining structural integrity during washing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water-soluble polymeric films are used under stressed wash conditions (cold water, short wash cycles), then energy cost is reduced and consumer desire for colder wash water is met, but the films incompletely dissolve and leave residue on items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by blending two different PVOH resins with distinct solubility characteristics. The first PVOH resin provides cold water solubility while the second PVOH resin provides hot water solubility, creating a composite film material that dissolves completely across a wide temperature range including cold wash conditions, thereby eliminating residue without requiring hot water
2Reliability
If PVOH resin blend is formulated with specific proportions of copolymer and polymer, then solubility characteristics are improved and residue is reduced, but film formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing specific formulation parameters including the ratio of first PVOH resin to second PVOH resin (e.g., 70:30, 60:40, 50:50), molecular weights of the resins, and degree of hydrolysis. By systematically adjusting these parameters, the invention achieves reliable solubility across temperature ranges while providing clear guidance for formulation, thus managing complexity through defined parameter ranges
3Object-generated harmful factors
If film is designed for complete dissolution, then residue is eliminated, but structural integrity and mechanical properties during manufacturing and storage may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a multi-component resin blend where each PVOH resin contributes different properties to specific regions or aspects of the film's performance. The first PVOH resin dominates the cold water dissolution behavior while the second PVOH resin maintains structural integrity, allowing the film to exhibit different properties in different operational contexts (manufacturing/storage vs. dissolution)
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 PVOH resin blend film achieves reduced residue, enhanced mechanical properties, and improved solubility, ensuring complete dissolution and maintaining pouch integrity, even under aggressive washing conditions, while maintaining compatibility with laundry actives.
Implementation Method 1
water-soluble film formed from the PVOH resin blend exhibits a beneficial combination of two or more of aqueous dissolution properties
Data Source
AI summary
Articles that include water-soluble films and household care composition, where the films include a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resin blend and optionally one or more additional components such as plasticizers, fillers, surfactants, and other additives. The PVOH resin blend includes a PVOH copolymer including one or more types of anionic monomer units such as a PVOH terpolymer and a PVOH polymer such as another PVOH anionic copolymer or a partially or completely hydrolyzed PVOH homopolymer. When the PVOH copolymer and PVOH polymer are blended in particular proportions and/or selected with regard to various criteria related to physical and chemical film properties, the resulting water-soluble film formed from the PVOH resin blend exhibits substantially improved aqueous dissolution properties, tensile strength properties, and/or tensile modulus properties.