Silicone Protectant Composition with Optimized Solvent Ratio

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing silicone-based automotive protectants require high silicone content to achieve desired gloss and shine, leading to increased costs, and there is a need for formulations that can provide similar performance with lower silicone levels.

Innovation Solution

A protectant composition with a novel ratio of silicone to organic solvent, specifically between 0.5:1 and 3:1, which allows for reduced silicone content while maintaining gloss and shine performance, incorporating mineral oil and natural oils as organic solvents, and optionally including rheology modifiers for stability and application ease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high silicone content is used in automotive protectants, then desired gloss and shine performance is achieved, but raw material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegloss and shine performanceVSAvoidsilicone content
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of silicone from traditional high levels (20-40% by weight) to optimized lower levels (10-20% by weight), while adjusting the carrier solvent composition to maintain effective silicone coating on substrate surfaces. This parameter optimization achieves cost reduction while preserving gloss and shine performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite protectant formulation combining silicone with specific carrier solvents (isoparaffinic hydrocarbons, naphthenic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons) and optional additives (waxes, polymers, surfactants). This composite approach enhances the efficiency of lower silicone concentrations, allowing reduced silicone content while maintaining or improving performance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If high silicone content is used in automotive protectants, then desired gloss and shine performance is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegloss and shine performanceVSAvoidraw material costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the silicone concentration parameter from 20-40% down to 10-20% by weight, directly reducing the quantity of expensive silicone raw material required. This parameter change lowers material costs while the adjusted carrier solvent system ensures adequate silicone delivery and film formation for desired gloss performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive carrier solvents (isoparaffinic, naphthenic, and aromatic hydrocarbons) that can be used in higher quantities to replace expensive silicone. These cheaper solvents serve as effective vehicles for delivering silicone to substrate surfaces, reducing overall formulation cost while maintaining performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS8974589B2Silicone protectant compositions
Publication Date: 2015.03.10 ENERGIZER AUTO INC

AI summary

The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods of use for an automotive protectant composition and/or automotive cleaning composition. The protectant composition and/or cleaning composition includes silicone, organic solvent, rheology modifier and water. The composition also optionally includes other components. The weight ratio of the silicon to the organic solvent is at least 0.5:1 and generally no more than 3:1. The organic solvent generally is or includes mineral oil.