Transparent Diffusible Microemulsion for Wick-Clogging Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-based reed diffuser compositions face issues with low perfume content, poor room impact, and stick clogging due to high solubilizer content, leading to unstable fragrance performance and inefficient evaporation.
Innovation Solution
A transparent diffusible microemulsion comprising a non-aqueous phase with specific perfume oils, nonionic solubilizers, and solvents like 1,2-propylenglycol and 1,2-pentanediol, optimized to enhance perfume solubility and stability, reducing solubilizer content while maintaining scent performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If water-based systems are used to reduce harmful solvents, then ecological safety is improved, but perfume content and room impact deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite solvent system combining multiple glycols (propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol) with specific ratios, creating a synergistic mixture that achieves both ecological safety and high perfume solubility. This composite approach allows the water-based system to dissolve sufficient perfume content while maintaining environmental benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of each solvent component and the HLB value of the solubilizer to achieve maximum perfume solubility. By precisely controlling the ratio of glycols and selecting solubilizers with specific HLB ranges (12-18), the system achieves high perfume content while remaining ecologically safe.
2Quantity of substance
If solubilizer content is increased to achieve required perfume solubility, then perfume content is improved, but wick clogging worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the solubilizer content within specific ranges (3-15% by weight) and selects solubilizers with optimized HLB values (12-18). This parameter optimization ensures sufficient perfume solubility while preventing excessive solubilizer accumulation that would cause wick clogging. The balanced formulation allows adequate fragrance dissolution without compromising wick permeability.
3Quantity of substance
If perfume content is increased to improve room impact, then fragrance performance is improved, but solubilizer content must increase worsening clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite solvent system with multiple glycols working synergistically, which enhances the overall solubilizing capacity of the formulation. This composite approach allows higher perfume content to be achieved without proportionally increasing solubilizer levels, as the multi-component solvent system provides enhanced dissolution capability through synergistic effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the HLB parameter of the solubilizer selection and controls its concentration within precise ranges. By selecting solubilizers with HLB values between 12-18 and limiting their content to 3-15% of the total formulation, the system achieves high perfume solubility with minimal solubilizer requirements, thereby avoiding wick clogging while maintaining strong fragrance performance.
4Productivity
If non-aqueous solvents like DPM are used to achieve good evaporation, then room impact is improved, but ecological safety worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects glycols with specific molecular weights, viscosities, and vapor pressure characteristics to replicate the evaporative performance of traditional solvents. By optimizing the chain length and hydroxyl group content of the glycol components, the formulation achieves appropriate evaporation rates for effective fragrance diffusion while maintaining ecological safety through water-based composition.
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 microemulsion achieves stable fragrance performance with reduced solubilizer amounts, preventing stick clogging and enhancing heart notes, with improved evaporation and clarity even at elevated temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a nonionic solubilizer... optimized to enhance perfume solubility
Implementation Method 2
diffusible microemulsion... improved evaporation... A distinction is made between diffusers in which the evaporation of the perfume oil takes place
Implementation Method 3
reducing solubilizer content while maintaining scent performance... preventing stick clogging
Data Source
AI summary
Suggested is a transparent diffusible microemulsion comprising a non-aqueous and an aqueous phase, said non-aqueous phase comprising or consisting of (a) at least one fragrance or perfume oil; (b) at least one nonionic solubilizer; (c) at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propylenglycol; 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol (MMB), dipropyleneglycol (DPG), dipropyleneglycol methyl ether (DPM), dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate (DPMA), and tripropylenglycol methyl ether (TPM); and (d) 1,2-pentanediol.