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Water soluble coating with predictable rate of dissolution

June 17, 2011

I am looking for a coating that will slowly dissolve in water. I suppose it's an unusual request, as I haven't had much success locating a product like this:

Opaque, tinted coating
Water soluble
Predictable rate of solubility
Dissolution time = (N wash cycles) * (duration of wash cycle)

The intention is that it can indicate items have been washed a number of times, say 30, 75 and 100. Indicated values don't have to be very precise, ±10% would be ideal, ±25% acceptable.

My application would require something like an adhesive patch or ink, which erodes or changes colour at a more or less understood rate in our specific wash chemistry.

Chris Metcalfe
manufacturing - Mississauga, Mississuaga, Canada