Concentrated Soap Composition Anti-Crystallization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal cleansing products face environmental sustainability challenges due to high water content, energy consumption, and issues with crystallization in soap-based formulations, leading to inefficient lathering and waste.
Innovation Solution
A flowable concentrated soap composition with a specific fatty acid mixture, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, and polypropylene glycol as anti-crystallization agents, optimized for viscosity and stability, reduces water usage and prevents crystallization, allowing for quick lathering and controlled dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high levels of soap are used in concentrated cleansing compositions, then environmental sustainability and water conservation are improved, but crystallization occurs leading to visual displeasure and stability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific intermediary substances (crystallization inhibitors such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or glycerol) that mediate between the high soap concentration and water content, preventing direct crystallization of soap molecules while maintaining the concentrated formulation's stability and visual clarity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies physical parameters of the formulation by controlling the concentration of crystallization inhibitors within specific ranges (1-15% weight), adjusting the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol (200-10,000), and optimizing the soap-to-water ratio to prevent crystallization while maintaining environmental sustainability benefits
2Quantity of substance
If high levels of soap are used in concentrated compositions, then water usage is reduced, but viscosity becomes difficult to control and evenness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses viscosity-modifying agents (polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or glycerol) as intermediaries that interact with both the soap molecules and water, creating a balanced formulation where high soap concentration does not lead to uneven viscosity, ensuring consistent flow and application performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls viscosity parameters by adjusting the concentration of polyethylene glycol (1-15% weight) and its molecular weight (200-10,000), optimizing the balance between concentrated formulation and flow characteristics to achieve even viscosity throughout the product
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 composition achieves stable viscosity and prevents crystallization, enhancing environmental sustainability by minimizing water usage and energy consumption while maintaining effective lathering and dosing accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
from about 1 to about 15% of a first anti-crystallization agent which is sodium lauryl ether sulfate with an average ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 2 moles ethylene oxide per mole of sulfate; and from about 2 to about 15% by weight of a second anti-crystallization agent which is polypropylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 195 to about 10,000
Data Source
AI summary
A flowable concentrated soap cleansing composition is provided which includes from 40 to 65% of C12-C18 fatty acid mixture in combined amount of salt and free acid forms, the mixture having C12-C14 chain length present in greater amount than C16-C18 chain length of fatty acid. Further, the composition includes 25 to 50% water, 1 to 15% of a first anti-crystallization agent, and 2 to 15% of a second anti-crystallization agent. The first anti-crystallization agent is sodium lauryl ether sulfate with a weight average ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 2 moles ethylene oxide per mole of sulfate. The second anti-crystallization agent is polypropylene glycol of weight average molecular weight ranging from 195 to 10,000. The composition has a viscosity ranging from 10 to 100 Pa*s at 20° C. as measured after 2 minutes at 10 rpm on a Brookfield Viscometer using Spindle RV 7.