Solid Vehicle Cleaning Composition for Rapid Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle wash packs face challenges in quick dissolution in water at temperatures between 50° F. to 90° F. and in avoiding damage to vehicle exterior paint and coatings during and after washing, particularly at elevated temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cleaning composition comprising a combination of builders, surfactants, chelating agents, and optional fragrance and dye, formulated to be in solid form, using sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sugars, anionic and amphoteric surfactants, and chelating agents like citric acid, which ensures quick dissolution and protection of vehicle surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If vehicle wash packs use conventional formulations, then they can provide cleaning function, but they take prolonged time to dissolve in water at temperatures between 50°F to 90°F
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the wash pack formulation by using supersaturated solutions, amorphous solid forms, and eutectic mixtures of cleaning agents with lower melting points. These parameter changes enable the formulation to dissolve rapidly in cold water while maintaining effective cleaning concentrations, resolving the contradiction between fast dissolution and cleaning efficiency.
2Speed
If vehicle wash packs use elevated temperatures for faster dissolution, then dissolution speed improves, but damage occurs to vehicle exterior paint and coatings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the typically harmful effect of heat into a beneficial mechanism by utilizing the exothermic dissolution of supersaturated salts and the melting of eutectic mixtures. This generates localized warmth that accelerates dissolution without requiring external heating, thereby achieving fast dissolution speed while preventing thermal damage to vehicle surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water-soluble polymers and surfactants as intermediary substances that facilitate rapid dissolution through enhanced wetting and solubilization effects. These intermediaries enable the cleaning agents to dissolve quickly at ambient temperatures without needing elevated heat, thus preventing damage to paint and coatings while maintaining dissolution speed.
3Ease of operation
If vehicle wash packs are formulated for quick dissolution, then convenience is improved, but cleaning mechanical force is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite formulations combining multiple cleaning agents (surfactants, solvents, abrasives) in supersaturated or amorphous states within a water-soluble matrix. This composite structure enables rapid dissolution for convenience while the synergistic interaction of components maintains or enhances cleaning mechanical force through combined chemical and physical cleaning mechanisms.
4Loss of time
If vehicle wash packs use powder form, then dissolution speed can be improved, but loss of single-dose convenient-use benefits occurs due to prolonged agitation by hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cleaning formulation into pre-measured, compressed tablets or capsules containing supersaturated solutions and amorphous cleaning agents. This segmentation allows the entire single-dose portion to dissolve rapidly in water without requiring prolonged hand agitation, maintaining both quick dissolution and the convenience of single-dose use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of water-soluble components, particularly the dissolution of supersaturated salts and melting of eutectic mixtures at ambient temperatures. These phase transitions occur rapidly upon contact with water, enabling quick dissolution of the segmented single-dose formulation without manual agitation, thus preserving convenience benefits.
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 effectively cleans vehicles without damaging exterior surfaces or coatings, maintaining performance at normal and high temperatures, and dissolves quickly in water, maintaining the convenience of single-dose use.
Implementation Method 1
the composition dissolves in water within about 1 to about 5 minutes at about 50° F. to about 90° F.
Implementation Method 2
at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants
Implementation Method 3
at least one chelating agent
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a vehicle cleaning composition in solid form, a vehicle wash pack comprising a unit dose or multiple doses of the vehicle cleaning composition and a process for washing the surface of a vehicle using the vehicle cleaning composition.