Unit-Dose Laundry Detergent Viscosity for Cold Quick Washes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry wash processes under stressed conditions, such as cold and quick washes, often leave detergent residues on fabrics due to undissolved detergent composition, especially in automatic washing machines with low agitation, overfilled conditions, and low water usage, which are environmentally friendly but inefficient in cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble unit dose article with a non-Newtonian liquid laundry detergent composition, having a viscosity of at least 4.5 Pa·s at 0.5 s−1, is used in automatic washing machines, comprising a water-soluble film that dissolves to release the detergent, ensuring effective cleaning while minimizing residues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If stressed wash conditions (cold, quick, low agitation, low water) are used, then environmental friendliness and resource efficiency are improved, but detergent dissolution is incomplete and residues remain on fabrics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the detergent composition by incorporating solubility-enhancing agents and optimizing the molecular structure of surfactants and polymers. This allows the detergent to maintain effective cleaning power while dissolving completely under cold, quick wash conditions, thereby eliminating residues without requiring high energy consumption or large water volumes.
2Quantity of substance
If stressed wash conditions (cold, quick, low agitation, low water) are used, then resource efficiency is improved, but detergent dissolution is incomplete and residues remain on fabrics
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent composition is formulated with modified solubility parameters through the selection of specific surfactant molecules and solubility-enhancing agents. This enables complete dissolution in reduced water volumes under cold wash conditions, achieving resource efficiency while preventing residue formation on fabrics.
3Loss of energy
If conventional detergent compositions are used under stressed wash conditions, then resource consumption is reduced, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates due to incomplete dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular parameters of the detergent components, particularly surfactant hydrophile-lipophile balance and polymer chain structure, to enhance solubility and cleaning action in cold water. This ensures reliable cleaning efficiency is maintained under low-energy stressed wash conditions without compromising dissolution completeness.
4Quantity of substance
If conventional detergent compositions are used under stressed wash conditions, then resource consumption is reduced, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates due to incomplete dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent formulation employs solubility-enhancing agents and optimized surfactant molecular structures that maintain high cleaning efficiency in reduced water volumes. The modified composition parameters ensure complete dissolution and effective stain removal even under cold, quick wash conditions with low water usage.
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 process effectively reduces detergent residues on fabrics during environmentally friendly wash cycles while maintaining efficient cleaning, as demonstrated by slower detergent dissolution and reduced residue deposition compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a water-soluble unit dose article comprising a water-soluble film and between 4 ml and 35 ml of a liquid laundry detergent composition
Implementation Method 2
wherein the liquid laundry detergent is non-Newtonian, wherein the liquid laundry detergent composition has a viscosity of at least 4.5 Pa·s at a shear rate of 0.5 s−1
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises a process of washing fabrics using a water-soluble unit dose article.