Solid Textile-Treating Composition with Stabilized Colorant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile-treating compositions are not compatible with washing detergents, requiring separate treatment processes that consume extra water and energy, and often contain unstable colorants that fade over time.
Innovation Solution
Development of a solid textile-treating composition (STTC) with a water-soluble core, a coating containing a water-soluble polymer, a colorant, and a colorant stabilizer, along with a flow aid, which can be used in conjunction with detergents during washing cycles, stabilizing colorants and eliminating the need for additional rinse cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If liquid fabric softener is used to treat textiles, then textile softness is improved, but additional rinse cycle is required which consumes extra water and energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fabric softening agents with detergent compositions into a single integrated product. The solid textile-treating composition contains both cleaning agents and softening agents that work together during one wash cycle, eliminating the need for separate softening treatments and additional rinse cycles, thereby reducing water and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a detergent for cleaning and a fabric softener for softening textiles. This multi-functional approach allows users to achieve both cleaning and softening effects in a single wash cycle, eliminating the need for separate treatment steps.
2Stability of the object's composition
If liquid textile-treating compositions are used, then textile treatment is achieved, but excess volume and weight from water content increases transportation cost and container waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the textile-treating composition from liquid to solid form. This parameter change eliminates the need for water as a solvent, dramatically reducing the weight and volume of the composition while maintaining the effectiveness of the active ingredients. The solid form also eliminates transportation costs associated with heavy water content and reduces container waste.
3Ease of manufacture
If colorants are added to solid textile-treating compositions, then product identification and appeal are improved, but colorant stability deteriorates and fading occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces encapuslation technology as an intermediary mechanism to protect colorants from degradation. The colorants are encapsulated within protective matrices or coated with stabilizing agents that prevent direct exposure to degrading factors such as moisture, oxygen, and light, thereby maintaining color stability while still providing product identification and appeal.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition uses composite material structures where colorants are integrated within multi-layer matrices or combined with stabilizing polymers and coatings. This composite approach provides both the visual appeal of colored particles and the chemical stability needed to prevent fading during storage and use.
4Stability of the object's composition
If separate textile treatment processes are used, then specific textile properties can be improved, but process complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple textile treatment functions into a single integrated composition that can be applied in one wash cycle. The composition contains detergent agents, softening agents, and conditioning agents that work synergistically to clean, soften, and condition textiles simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate treatment processes and reducing overall process complexity.
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 STTC composition allows for effective textile softening and perfuming while maintaining color stability, reducing water and energy consumption by integrating with washing detergents, and preventing colorant fading.
Implementation Method 1
a coating containing a water-soluble polymer, a colorant, and a colorant stabilizer
Implementation Method 2
a water-soluble core
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are solid textile treating compositions; compositions containing colorants stabilized with one or more colorant stabilizers; compositions containing colorants that do not need to be stabilized by one or more colorant stabilizers; solid wash cycle conditioning agents; liquid textile treating compositions; cleaning agent compositions containing these; methods of making these; methods of treating textiles with these; textiles treated by these; containers containing the compositions; and methods of visually designating when a composition has reached or passed its pull date.