Seamless Water-Filled Capsules for Long-Term Moisture Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-enclosed capsules fail to retain moisture over a long period due to water transpiration through the shell, leading to a loss of content liquid.
Innovation Solution
A water-enclosed capsule with a lipophilic enclosing layer having a specific gravity of 0.79 to 1.05 and a shell thickness of 80 µm or more, optionally containing a viscosity-adding agent, and a method of forming a three-layered liquid drop using a triple concentric nozzle followed by contact with a cooling solvent to create a seamless capsule.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water or aqueous solution is enclosed in a capsule, then the capsule can contain hydrophilic content liquid, but water transpires through the shell soon after capsulation resulting in failure to retain moisture over long period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite shell structure consisting of an inner layer made of hydrophilic material and an outer layer made of hydrophobic material. This composite structure combines the advantages of both materials: the hydrophilic inner layer maintains compatibility with the aqueous content liquid, while the hydrophobic outer layer provides effective water transpiration resistance, thereby solving the contradiction between containing hydrophilic content and preventing water loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the shell: the inner layer is designed with hydrophilic characteristics to interact favorably with the aqueous content, while the outer layer is designed with hydrophobic characteristics to resist external water and prevent transpiration. This local differentiation of material quality allows the shell to simultaneously achieve content compatibility and moisture retention.
2Reliability
If lipophilic material is used for enclosing layer to prevent water transpiration, then water resistance improves, but formulating property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite shell structure where the inner hydrophilic layer ensures good formulating properties and compatibility with aqueous content, while the outer hydrophobic layer provides the necessary water resistance. This composite approach allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously without compromising either formulating property or water resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies hydrophilic material locally at the inner layer to ensure good formulating property and content compatibility, while applying hydrophobic material locally at the outer layer to provide water resistance. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction between formulating property and water resistance.
3Reliability
If shell thickness is increased to prevent water transpiration, then water resistance improves, but capsule becomes harder to formulate and process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves effective water resistance through a composite structure rather than increasing overall thickness. The combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic layers provides superior water transpiration resistance compared to a single thick layer, while maintaining better formulating properties and processability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent concentrates the water resistance function in the outer hydrophobic layer, allowing the inner hydrophilic layer to be optimized for formulating properties. This local functional differentiation achieves water resistance without compromising ease of manufacture.
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 capsule maintains enclosed water percentage over time, exhibiting excellent water resistance and allowing for varied physical properties of the enclosing layer for different applications, such as cosmetics or tobacco products.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the three-layered liquid drop with a cooling solvent to form a water-enclosed pre-capsule
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a technology for a water-enclosed seamless capsule that may seal and retain the moisture of a content liquid in a capsule over a long period of time. In a water-enclosed capsule including a water-containing core containing water and an enclosing layer disposed on the outside of the water-containing core, it has become possible to seal and retain the moisture of the water-containing core in a capsule over a long period of time when the enclosing layer consists of a lipophilic composition having a specific gravity adjusted within a specific range, or when the shell thickness of the enclosing layer is at a predetermined shell thickness or more, which is a range to be retained.