Voided Latex Opacifiers for Detergent Formulation Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detergent opacifiers face challenges with formulation stability and efficient opacifying characteristics at low use levels, particularly in concentrated detergents and unit dose packets, where they often require high water content or exhibit compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous dispersions of voided latex particles are used as opacifiers, comprising a core and shell polymer structure with a void fraction of 28-50% and particle sizes between 50 nm to 1000 nm, providing enhanced opacity with reduced opacifier dosage and stability across various solvents like propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional opacifiers are used in liquid detergent formulations, then the detergent achieves opaque appearance, but the opacifier requires high water content and exhibits limited formulation stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the opacifier by using voided latex particles with specific void fractions (20-60%) and particle sizes (50-1000 nm). These parameter modifications enable the opacifier to achieve desired opacity with lower water content (5-50% by weight) while maintaining formulation stability across various detergent types including concentrated and unit dose formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite voided latex particles comprising a polymer matrix with embedded voids or cavities. This composite structure provides both opacifying functionality and improved compatibility with detergent formulations, allowing stable performance in diverse solvent systems without requiring high water content.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional opacifiers are used to achieve opaque appearance, then the detergent looks luxurious, but the opacifier exhibits spotting or residue formation and limited compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the particle size parameter to 50-1000 nm and void fraction to 20-60%, which optimizes the opacifier's interaction with detergent formulation components. These parameter changes prevent aggregation and residue formation while maintaining compatibility with various surfactants and solvents, eliminating spotting issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The voided latex particles possess localized void structures within their composition, creating specific optical properties at the particle level. This local structural quality enables effective light scattering for opacity while the polymer matrix composition ensures uniform distribution and compatibility throughout the detergent formulation, preventing harmful spotting effects.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional opacifiers are used in unit dose detergent packets, then the detergent provides cleaning function, but the opacifier requires high water content that conflicts with water-soluble film stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the water content parameter to 5-50% by weight through optimized voided latex particle formulations. This parameter reduction enables the detergent to be enclosed in water-soluble films for unit dose packets without causing premature dissolution, while still achieving the desired opaque appearance and cleaning 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 voided latex particles achieve significant opacity with 50% or more reduction in opacifier usage, ensuring stable formulations and attractive performance in all detergent types, including unit dose packets, while minimizing water content.
Implementation Method 1
Opacifiers are materials that make a liquid system opaque. Thus, opacifiers are used to modify the appearance or aesthetics of detergents
Implementation Method 2
Opacifiers are usually formed of submicron sized particles that are delivered to a formulation as a suspension of the particles in a solvent (typically water)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a detergent composition that contains an opacifier with improved opacifying characteristics. The composition comprises an opacifier, a surfactant, a solvent, and optionally a builder, wherein the opacifier is an aqueous dispersion of voided latex particles have a composition as described herein.