# US 8,784,689 B2 · Color-changing composition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,689 B2 - Document ID: US8784689B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/178,766 - Filed: 2011-07-08 - Published: 2012-06-07 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-06 - Assignees: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Applicants: Xuedong Song - Inventors: Xuedong Song - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784689B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/78: producing a change of colour - A61F 13/51496: {having visual effects} - A61L 15/56: Wetness-indicators or colourants - G01N 21/81: Indicating humidity - G01N 31/222: {for investigating moisture content} - A61F 2013/422: {the alarm being a colour change} - A61F 2013/8497: {having decorations or indicia means} - G01N 31/22: using chemical indicators (G01N31/02 takes precedence) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a color-changing composition and a multiple-component material including a substrate and a printed layer on the substrate. The printed layer includes a color-changing composition to indicate a change in condition, such as a change in wetness. The color-changing composition includes a matrix-forming component, a leuco dye, a Lewis Acid, a neutral surfactant and an organic solvent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A homogenous, color-changing liquid composition comprising: a matrix-forming component; a leuco dye; a Lewis Acid; a neutral surfactant; and an organic solvent; wherein the color-changing composition is capable of changing color when contacted by an aqueous-based liquid, causing the Lewis Acid to dissociate from the leuco dye. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein a molar ratio of the Lewis Acid to leuco dye ranges from 2 to 50. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of the neutral surfactant to leuco dye is less than 10. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the matrix-forming component is selected from one or more water-insoluble, film-forming polymers and copolymers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 4, wherein the water-insoluble, film-forming polymers and copolymers are selected from acrylate/acrylamide copolymers, polyurethane adhesives, methyl cellulose and copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the matrix-forming component is selected from a varnish and a small molecule and/or polymeric material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the color-changing composition includes more than one leuco dye. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the leuco dye is selected from fluoran leuco dyes, phthalide-type leuco dyes and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the color-changing composition includes more than one Lewis Acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the Lewis acid is selected from zinc salts, iron salts of chloride and salicylate and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the color-changing composition includes more than one neutral surfactant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1 wherein the neutral surfactant is selected from polyethylene glycol-based surfactants, polyoxyalkylene-based surfactants and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The homogenous color-changing composition of claim 1, wherein the color-changing composition includes more than one organic solvent. ### Claim 14 A multiple-component material, the material comprising: a substrate and a printed layer on the substrate, wherein the printed layer includes a homogenous color-changing composition comprising: a matrix-forming component; a leuco dye; a Lewis Acid; and a neutral surfactant wherein the Lewis Acid is capable of dissociating from the leuco dye when contacted by an aqueous solution, thereby changing the color of the homogeneous color-changing composition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The multiple-component material of claim 14, wherein the substrate is a non-woven material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The multiple-component material of claim 14, wherein the substrate is a polyolefin film. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A disposable absorbent article including the multiple-component material of claim 14 as part of an outer cover. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The multiple-component material of claim 14, wherein the printed layer is formed on the substrate in one or more patterns selected from stripes, dots, geometric shapes, irregular shapes, alpha-numeric characters, anthropomorphic images, pictorial representation of animals, pictorial representation of inanimate objects, cartoon characters, logos and trademarks. ### Claim 19 A disposable absorbent article including a multiple-component material, the material comprising: a substrate and a film layer on the substrate, wherein the film layer includes a color-changing composition comprising: 20% to 95% of a matrix-forming component; 0.1% to 10% of a leuco dye; 1% to 20% of a Lewis Acid; and 2% to 50% of a neutral surfactant wherein the Lewis Acid is capable of dissociating from the leuco dye when contacted by an aqueous solution, thereby causing a color-change of the homogeneous color-changing composition.