Solid Conditioning Composition for Stable Hydrophobic Particle Deposition
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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, leading to wastage due to their small particle size and instability in aqueous treatment liquors.
Innovation Solution
A non-porous dissolvable solid structure with a carrier material is used to maintain hydrophobic conditioning agents at desired particle sizes ranging from 2 µm to 120 µm, which dissolves in an aqueous solution to form an aqueous treatment liquor, ensuring effective deposition and retention on 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 of the conditioning agent from liquid emulsion to solid particles, and changes the particle size parameter from small (typically <1 μm) to larger sizes (1 μm to 2000 μm). This parameter transformation allows the conditioning agent to maintain formulation stability while significantly improving deposition and retention on treated surfaces, as the larger solid particles are less prone to being washed away compared to small emulsion droplets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system by dispersing hydrophobic conditioning agent particles within an aqueous liquid composition. This composite structure allows the hydrophobic particles to maintain their size and stability while being delivered through the aqueous medium, resolving the contradiction between formulation stability and surface retention effectiveness
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 encapsulation systems and uses it as free-standing solid particles directly dispersed in the aqueous composition. By removing the encapsulation layer, the conditioning agent can be deposited directly on surfaces in its active form, enhancing effectiveness while maintaining good deposition and retention through optimized particle size and surface properties
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 method allows for enhanced deposition and retention of hydrophobic conditioning agents on treated surfaces, providing improved hand feel and softness benefits by maintaining particle size consistency during packaging, shipping, and use.
Implementation Method 1
a non- porous dissolvable solid structure comprising a carrier material, and at least 5%, by weight of the consumer product composition, of a hydrophobic conditioning agent disposed within the carrier material of the non-porous dissolvable solid structure
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A consumer product composition comprises a non-porous dissolvable solid structure comprising a carrier material and at least about 5%, by weight of said consumer product composition, of a hydrophobic conditioning agent disposed within said carrier material. Preferred products are shampoos, hair conditioners, laundry detergents and fabric softeners. Preferably the carrier material comprises a polyethylene glycol and 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.