Salt-Hydrate Perfume Matrices for High-Load Laundry Scent Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particulate laundry scent additives face challenges in carrying high levels of perfume due to the weakening effect of water on particle structure integrity, limiting the weight fraction of perfume that can be included.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a matrix of water-soluble polymer, salt hydrate, and perfume, where anhydrous salt is introduced to manage water content, allowing for high perfume load by hydrating into a salt hydrate with a controlled onset of melt, ensuring stable particle formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water is used to carry perfume in the particle matrix, then perfume solubility and distribution are improved, but particle structure integrity is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of water from liquid to bound state by incorporating it into salt hydrate crystals. This parameter change allows water to be present in the particle without weakening the particle structure, as the water is locked in the crystal lattice rather than being free liquid water that would compromise structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of water-soluble polymer, salt hydrate, and perfume. The salt hydrate acts as a structural framework that incorporates water and perfume within its crystal lattice, creating a composite structure that maintains both high perfume content and structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If anhydrous salt is added to manage water content, then particle stability is improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anhydrous salt automatically absorbs and binds water from the melt composition through spontaneous hydration when cooled, forming salt hydrate crystals. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external water management systems or complex drying processes, as the salt hydrate formation naturally occurs during the cooling and solidification of the particle matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to bound state through salt hydrate crystal formation. This phase transition occurs automatically during the cooling process, providing a natural mechanism for water management and particle stabilization without requiring additional manufacturing steps or complex equipment.
3Ease of manufacture
If high water content is used in particle formation, then ease of particle formation is improved, but drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts free water from the melt composition by incorporating it into salt hydrate crystals during the cooling and solidification process. This extraction of water from the liquid phase eliminates the need for lengthy drying operations, as the water is automatically removed from the particle matrix through crystallization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary water management by forming salt hydrate crystals during the initial cooling and solidification of the particle matrix. This preliminary action of water binding occurs before the particles are formed, eliminating the need for subsequent drying steps and reducing overall manufacturing time.
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 enables the production of stable particles with higher perfume content, maintaining structural integrity and reducing manufacturing complexities, such as lengthy drying times and particle weakness.
Implementation Method 1
mixing anhydrous salt with the melt composition or a component thereof and hydrating the anhydrous salt to form a salt hydrate
Implementation Method 2
The particles dissolve or disperse in the wash to release the perfume
Implementation Method 3
solidifying the mixture; wherein the mixture is deposited on the moving conveyor as an extrudate and the extrudate is cut to form the particles
Data Source
AI summary
A composition including a plurality of particles, each of the particles including: about 40% to about 90% by weight of the particles water soluble polymer; about 1% to about 40% by weight of the particles of a salt hydrate; and about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the particles perfume; wherein the perfume is dispersed in a matrix of the water soluble polymer and the salt hydrate. A process for forming particles that includes using an anhydrous salt to manage water.