Solid conditioning composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer product compositions containing hydrophobic conditioning agents face challenges in maintaining stable, large particle sizes to effectively deposit and retain these agents on treated surfaces, often leading to wastage due to their small particle size and instability in aqueous environments.
Innovation Solution
A non-porous dissolvable solid structure is used to house hydrophobic conditioning agents, with a carrier material like polyethylene glycol setting the desired particle size, which remains constant during packaging, shipping, and storage, and upon dissolution in water, allows for effective deposition on treated surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If hydrophobic conditioning agents are incorporated in aqueous liquid compositions as emulsions with small particle size, then the formulation stability is improved, but the deposition and retention on treated surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from liquid to solid, and the particle size parameter from small (<1 μm) to large (1-2000 μm), while maintaining formulation stability through the solid structure. This resolves the contradiction by allowing large particles to be delivered without the instability issues of liquid emulsions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a solid structure as an intermediary delivery system that contains the hydrophobic conditioning agent. This solid structure mediates between the need for large particle size (for good deposition) and formulation stability, allowing the conditioning agent to be delivered effectively without requiring small particle emulsions.
2Reliability
If encapsulation systems are used for hydrophobic conditioning agents, then the deposition and retention on surfaces is enhanced, but the effectiveness of the conditioning agents is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conditioning agent from complex encapsulation systems and delivers it directly in a solid structure. This eliminates the limitations imposed by encapsulation while maintaining good deposition and retention, as the conditioning agent is delivered in its active form without interference from delivery system constraints.
3Stability of the object's composition
If small particle size conditioning agents are used, then the formulation stability is improved, but the loss of substance through washing down the drain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter from small (<1 μm) to large (1-2000 μm) and the physical state from liquid to solid. This allows the conditioning agent to maintain formulation stability in solid form while the large particle size ensures good deposition and retention on surfaces, preventing wash-off and reducing substance loss.
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 large particle size of the hydrophobic conditioning agents is maintained in the aqueous treatment liquor, enhancing deposition and retention on surfaces, providing improved consumer benefits compared to smaller particle size agents.
Implementation Method 1
a non-porous dissolvable solid structure comprising from about 30% to about 95%, by weight of the consumer product composition, of a carrier material
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A consumer product composition comprises a non-porous dissolvable solid structure comprising from about 30% to about 95%, by weight of the consumer product composition, of a carrier material, and from about 5% to about 50%, by weight of the consumer product composition, of a hydrophobic conditioning agent disposed within the carrier material of the non-porous dissolvable solid structure. The carrier material comprises a polyethylene glycol material, or mixtures thereof, having a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 50,000. The hydrophobic conditioning agent is selected from the group consisting of silicone materials, organic conditioning oils, hydrocarbon oils, fatty esters, metathesized unsaturated polyol esters, silane-modified oils, and mixtures thereof. Preferred products are shampoos, hair conditioners, laundry detergents and fabric softeners. Preferably the conditioning agent comprises a silicone or polyisobutene. The conditioning agent is preferably disposed in the carrier as particles having a mean particle size of 2 to 2000 microns. A method of treating a surface comprises dissolving the consumer product composition in an aqueous solution to form an aqueous treatment liquor and contacting the surface with the liquor.