Toothpaste Binder System Reducing Stringiness and Tailing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toothpaste formulations containing calcium carbonate particles often exhibit a 'stringy' effect and 'tailing' during manufacturing due to the use of cellulose polymers like carboxymethyl cellulose, leading to filling and packaging issues, and the binder system incorporating magnesium aluminium silicate (MAS) is costly and complex to supply.
Innovation Solution
A toothpaste composition using a binder system comprising guar gum and at least one cellulose polymer, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, which reduces stringiness and tailing, and is substantially free of MAS, thereby providing good rheological properties and high stripe quality without the supply chain complexities of MAS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is used as a binder in toothpaste formulations containing calcium carbonate particles, then the toothpaste exhibits good binding and thickening properties, but the toothpaste exhibits a 'stringy' effect and 'tailing' during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the binder system by replacing CMC with a combination of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) in specific ratios (HEC: 0.5-2.0 wt%, HPC: 0.1-0.5 wt%). This parameter change in binder composition and ratios resolves the contradiction by maintaining binding strength while eliminating stringiness and tailing effects during manufacturing.
2Manufacturing precision
If magnesium aluminium silicate (MAS) is used in the binder system to control stripe quality, then high stripe quality is achieved, but the supply chain cost and complexity increase due to limited qualified suppliers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes magnesium aluminium silicate (MAS) from the binder system, replacing it with a combination of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC). This extraction eliminates the supply chain complexity and cost associated with MAS while maintaining high stripe quality through the alternative cellulose binder system.
3Manufacturing precision
If a binder system incorporating CMC and MAS is used to provide high stripe quality, then stripe quality is improved, but the toothpaste exhibits supply chain problems due to limited qualified suppliers of toothpaste-grade MAS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes magnesium aluminium silicate (MAS) from the binder system and replaces it with hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC). This extraction eliminates supply chain reliability issues associated with limited MAS suppliers while maintaining stripe quality through the alternative cellulose-based binder system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a universal binder system using hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) that can serve multiple functions: providing binding, thickening, stripe quality control, and eliminating supply chain issues. This multi-functional binder system replaces the need for specialized MAS while achieving equivalent or superior performance.
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 guar gum and cellulose polymer binder system effectively minimizes stringiness and tailing, achieving high stripe quality in toothpaste formulations with calcium carbonate, while reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying the supply chain by eliminating the need for MAS.
Implementation Method 1
a binder system comprising guar gum and at least one cellulose polymer
Implementation Method 2
Cellulose polymers, in particular carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), are widely used in toothpastes to act as a binder and thickener
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are toothpaste compositions comprising an orally acceptable vehicle; calcium carbonate; and a binder system comprising guar gum and at least one cellulose polymer.