Thickening and cleaning composition as well as application and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a thickening and cleaning composition as well as application and a preparation method thereof, and particularly discloses a self-thickening composition consisting of one or more N-acyl acidic amino acids and / or one salt thereof and one or more ampholytic surfactants. According to the present invention, the preparation method and the application thereof in cosmetics, personal care, home care and other fields have characteristics of excellent thickening property and easy use applicability, and especially can be used in the cleaning formula for improving the foam quality, the mildness and other properties.

Description

[0001] This invention is a divisional application of Chinese patent application No. 201680073632.8, filed on December 14, 2016, entitled "A Thickening Cleaning Composition and Its Application and Preparation Method".

[0002] Citation of relevant applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 267,275, filed December 14, 2015, pursuant to 35 USC § 119(e), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a self-thickening surfactant composition, its preparation method, and its application in cosmetics and personal care, home care, industrial and public institution cleaning, oil fields, etc. Background Technology

[0004] The cosmetics and personal care industry has witnessed the growing popularity and importance of sulfate-free personal care cleansing products containing environmentally friendly, sustainable, and mild surfactants. Amino acid surfactants are considered "greener," milder, and more sustainable than sulfate surfactants. Among amino acid surfactants, N-acyl acidic amino acids and their salts, such as acylglutamic acid and its sodium, potassium, and TEA salts, are widely known for their superior mildness in personal care formulations compared to other traditional surfactants such as commonly used alkyl ether sulfates. Because acylglutamic acid surfactants are made entirely from natural, renewable, and sustainable raw materials—fatty acids, glutamic acid, and / or their salts—acylglutamic acid surfactants are among the greenest and most sustainable surfactants available on the market for use in cosmetics and personal care formulations. Fatty acids are derived from coconut oil, palm oil, or palm kernel oil, while glutamic acid and its salts are produced through fermentation. Acylglutamate surfactants are known for their excellent safety, biodegradability, sustainability, and outstanding performance in foam volume, foam quality, hard water resistance, mildness, easy washing, moisturizing properties, reduction of skin absorption of alkyl ether sulfates, soft skin feel, and color retention in dyed hair. Therefore, they are the most likely to become the next generation of surfactants and completely replace currently popular surfactant types, such as alkyl ether sulfates, such as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES).

[0005] However, a long-standing and significant challenge has prevented the widespread use of acylglutamate surfactants in personal care products: thickening acylglutamate-containing surfactant systems is extremely difficult for any cleaning formulation. Of the four common classes of amino acid-based surfactants—acylglycinate, acylsarcosine, acylalanine, and acylglutamate—acylglutamate is the most difficult to thicken due to its unique molecular structure containing two relatively large heads of water-soluble carboxylic acid groups. To overcome this thickening difficulty associated with acylglutamate surfactants, various specialized polymers have been attempted to thicken surfactant systems containing acylglutamate. However, polymer methods have achieved only very limited success, and most conventional thickening methods, including many conventional polymers and salting, simply do not work. Even with the limited success of polymer methods, adding sufficient amounts of polymeric thickeners to personal care cleaning compositions containing acylglutamate presents new problems that often lead to poor sensory properties, poor foaming, tackiness during rinsing, and increased costs.

[0006] Chinese patent application publication CN104095764A discloses a self-thickening composition of a viscoelastic micelle system composed of cocamidopropyl hydroxysulfonate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. However, this patent application does not address any thickening issues related to acylglutamate surfactants, which are much more difficult to thicken than acyl sarcosinate surfactants. US Patent No. 8,193,137 discloses a thickening composition containing an N-acyl acidic amino acid and / or one of its salts, an amphiphilic substance, an inorganic salt, and water as essential components. However, this invention only achieves a relatively low viscosity range for "sulfate-free" surfactant systems, even with very high concentrations of acylglutamate salts such as sodium cocamidopropyl glutamate (20-26%) and very high contents of amphiphilic substances (5-14%), and this leads to a significant increase in cost. Furthermore, the application of this thickening composition is quite limited, mainly in conventional shampoo and shower gel compositions containing sodium lauryl ether sulfate as the main surfactant, rather than in sulfate-free cleaning formulations that primarily contain green, renewable, and sustainable acylglutamate as the main surfactant.

[0007] Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop an economical and practical polymer-free thickening solution to address the thickening challenges of clean compositions containing acylglutamate, especially when acylglutamate is used as the primary surfactant. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention provides a self-thickening composition to overcome the challenges of the aforementioned acylglutamate surfactant systems.

[0009] On the one hand, this invention provides an efficient, economical, and polymer-free thickening solution for sulfate-free aqueous cleaning formulations using acylglutamate as the main surfactant. The aforementioned self-thickening surfactant composition can be achieved by using one or more N-acyl acidic amino acids and / or their salts as component A, one or more amphoteric surfactants as component B, water as the medium as component C, and optionally one or more additives and other components as component D, with suitable weight percentages and weight ratios within a pH range of 4.0-7.0.

[0010] On the other hand, the present invention provides an easy-to-use and easy-to-thicken acylglutamate surfactant mixture and a non-polymer acylglutamate thickener that can be used in any aqueous cleaning formulation and is self-thickening within a suitable pH range.

[0011] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for preparing the composition.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention provides the use of the composition in any aqueous cleaning formulation, including but not limited to personal care, home care, public institution and industrial cleaning.

[0013] This invention is the first to discover a highly efficient and cost-effective self-thickening composition comprising one or more acylglutamate surfactants, one or more amphoteric surfactants, water as a medium, and optionally one or more additives and / or other ingredients. The thickening composition of this invention can be completely polymer-free, and amphoteric surfactants are a common class, widely used in personal care, and readily available at a reasonable cost. The thickening composition of this invention effectively and cost-effectively solves the thickening challenges of acylglutamate surfactants, enabling its widespread use in personal care formulations.

[0014] The thickening compositions of this invention can be used for personal care purposes, such as shampoos, facial cleansers, shower gels, liquid detergents, baby shampoos, feminine washes, etc. The thickening compositions of this invention can also be used for treating or caring for skin and / or hair, as well as for home care, such as handwashing detergents, carpet and fabric care products, or laundry powder / liquid, or for public and industrial applications, such as dairy product cleaners or oilfield applications, etc.

[0015] Therefore, the present invention can be illustrated by the following (but not limited to) embodiments: [1] A composition containing the following components: A. One or more N-acyl acidic amino acids and / or their salts; B. One or more amphoteric surfactants; C. Optional component: water; D. One or more other ingredients may be selected; Component C (water) may be added alone and / or together with any one of components A, B and / or D; the composition has a pH range of about 4.0 to about 7.0 and a viscosity range of about 200 to about 100,000 mPa·s when mixed with water.

[0016] [2] A composition containing the following components: A. One or more N-acyl acidic amino acids and / or their salts; B. One or more amphoteric surfactants; C. Water; D. One or more other ingredients may be selected. Component C (water) may be added alone and / or together with any one of components A, B and / or D; the composition has a pH range of about 4.0 to about 7.0 and a viscosity range of about 200 to about 100,000 mPa·s.

[0017] The composition of [3][1] and [2] wherein the N-acyl acidic amino acid of component A is selected from N-acylglutamic acid, N-acyl aspartic acid, or mixtures thereof, and its salt is selected from sodium, potassium, ammonium or triethanolamine (TEA) salts or mixtures thereof.

[0018] Any one of the compositions in [4][1] to [3], wherein the acyl group of the acyl acidic amino acid is derived from one or more fatty acids containing a C8 to C22 carbon chain.

[0019] [5][4] compositions wherein the fatty acids are selected from caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidic acid, benzolic acid, cocoic acid, palmitic fatty acids and hydrogenated tallow fatty acids, and mixtures thereof.

[0020] [6][3] to [5] any one of the compositions, wherein the N-acylglutamic acid is selected from cocoyl glutamic acid, octanoic acid glutamic acid, octanol glutamic acid, lauroyl glutamic acid, myristoyl glutamic acid, palmitoyl glutamic acid and mixtures thereof; and wherein the salt is any one or a mixture of cocoyl glutamate, octanoic acid glutamate, octanol glutamate, lauroyl glutamate, myristoyl glutamate, palmitoyl glutamate, and contains one or two cations selected from sodium, potassium, ammonium, trimethylamine and mixtures thereof.

[0021] [7][1] to [6] any one of the compositions, wherein the amphoteric surfactant of component B is selected from one or more types of betaine, hydroxysulfobetaine (also known as "sulfobetaine-Sulfobetaines" or "sulfobetaine-Sultaines"), phosphate betaine, imidazoline amphoteric surfactant, amphoteric acetate, propionate and mixtures thereof.

[0022] [8][1] to [7] any one of the compositions, wherein the amphoteric surfactant of component B is selected from cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauramidopropyl betaine, lauryl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysulfonyl betaine, lauramidopropyl hydroxysulfonyl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysulfonyl betaine, lauryl hydroxysulfonyl betaine, sodium lauryl acetate, sodium cocamidopropyl amphoteric acetate, disodium lauroyl amphoteric diacetate, disodium cocamidopropyl amphoteric diacetate and mixtures thereof.

[0023] Compositions of any one of [9][1] to [8], wherein one or more other components as component D are selected from anionic and / or nonionic surfactants, cationic and / or cationic surfactants, fatty amines, conditioning agents, siloxanes, vegetable oils, synthetic oils, moisturizers, polymers, active substances, vitamins, sunscreens, anti-dandruff agents, skin brighteners, plant extracts, chelating agents, salts, colorants, dyes, pH adjusters, fragrances, preservatives, and mixtures thereof.

[0024] The composition of

[10] [9], wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from acylglycinate, acylsarcosine, acylalanine, acylmethyl taurate, alkyl isothiosulfate, alkyl ether carboxylate, alkyl sulfosuccinate, fatty acid salt, alkyl sulfate, alkyl ether sulfate and combinations thereof; the cationic surfactant is selected from quaternary ammonium surfactants, such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium halide, octadecyl ammonium halide and mixtures thereof; the cationic surfactant is selected from fatty amines, such as stearamide propyl dimethylamine, stearamide propyl diethylamine, behenamide propyl dimethylamine, behenamide propyl diethylamine and mixtures thereof; and the nonionic surfactant is selected from alkyl polyglucosides, alkanolamines, alkoxylated triglycerides, amine oxides, and sorbitol esters.

[0025] The composition of any one of

[11] [1] to

[10] , wherein the active content of component A is 0.5-60% by weight, preferably 1.0-50%; more preferably 2.0-40%; even more preferably 3.0-30%; further preferably 3.5-20%; particularly preferably 4.0-10.0%.

[0026] The composition of any one of

[12] [1] to

[11] , wherein the active content of component B is 0.5-60% by weight, preferably 1.0-50%; more preferably 1.5-40%; even more preferably 2.0-30%; further preferably 2.5-20%; particularly preferably 3-10%.

[0027] In any one of the compositions

[13] [1] to

[12] , the water as component C is 0.01-98% by weight, preferably 10-95%; more preferably 15-90%; even more preferably 20-85%; further preferably 30-80%; particularly preferably 40-75%. In some other embodiments, the composition may preferably be in a more concentrated range of 0.01-50%.

[0028] The composition of any one of

[14] [1] to

[13] , wherein the weight percentage of one or more optional other components as component D is 0-20%, preferably 0.05-15%; more preferably 0.1-10%; even more preferably 0.2-8%; further preferably 0.5-5%; particularly preferably 1-3%.

[0029] The composition of any one of

[15] [1] to

[14] , wherein the pH range is 4.0-7.0; preferably 4.5-6.5; more preferably 4.8-6.3; even more preferably 4.9-6.0; further preferably 5.0-5.5; particularly preferably 5.1-5.4.

[0030] The composition of any one of

[16] [1] to

[15] , wherein the total weight percentage of components A and B is 1-100%, preferably 2-80%; more preferably 3-70%; even more preferably 4-60%; further preferably 5-50%; particularly preferably 5-20%.

[0031] The composition of

[17] [1] and [2], wherein component A is 0.5-60% by weight; component B is 0.5-60% by weight; water is 0.01-98% by weight; and component D is 0-20% by weight.

[0032] The composition of

[18] [1] and [2], wherein the weight ratio of component A to component B is between 95:5 and 5:95, preferably 10:1 to 1:10; more preferably 5:1 to 1:5; even more preferably 4:1 to 1:4; further preferably 3:1 to 1:3; particularly preferably 2:1 to 1:2.

[0033] The composition of

[19] [1] and [2], wherein the water weight percentage is 0.01-75% to provide a concentrated self-thickening composition of surfactant mixture.

[0034]

[20] A self-thickening composition comprises an N-acyl acidic amino acid and / or its salt (component A) and an amphoteric surfactant (component B), the composition having a pH range of about 5.5 to about 12.0 and a viscosity suitable for transport and handling, wherein the viscosity of the composition will increase to the desired higher viscosity when it is used in a formulation by diluting it with water and adjusting the pH.

[0035]

[21] A method for preparing any one of the compositions of [1] to

[19] , comprising the steps of (a) mixing component A and component B with optional component C and optional component D in a suitable weight percentage; (b) stirring the mixture under mild heating as needed until it becomes homogeneous; and (c) adjusting the pH with an acid and / or a base until the desired viscosity is obtained.

[0036]

[22] A method for preparing

[20] thickening composition, comprising mixing component A and component B in a limited amount of water at a pH in the range of about 5.5 to about 12.0 until they become homogeneous.

[0037]

[23] A method for preparing a concentrated mixture of composition

[19] , wherein component A and component B are mixed with 0.01-75% water to prepare a mixture of acylglutamate surfactants having the desired active content.

[0038]

[24] A composition as an acylglutamate surfactant thickener comprising one or more amphoteric surfactants as component B, optionally water and / or component D, which can be used as a standalone acylglutamate surfactant thickener to thicken compositions containing acylglutamate surfactants.

[0039]

[25] A method for preparing the above

[24] acylglutamate thickener, comprising mixing one or more amphoteric surfactants as component B, optionally water and one or more components D, which can be used to thicken compositions containing acylglutamate surfactants.

[0040]

[26] A cleaning composition comprising any one of [1] to

[20] for use in cosmetics or personal care, home care, public institutions and industries, oil fields.

[0041]

[27]

[26] Cleaning compositions, wherein the cleaning composition is for cosmetic or personal care purposes.

[0042]

[28]

[26] or

[27] a cleaning composition wherein the cosmetic or personal care cleaning composition is selected from liquid cleaners, shower gels, body gels, shampoos, baby shampoos and facial cleansers.

[0043]

[29]

[26] Cleaning compositions, wherein the cleaning composition is for home care purposes.

[0044]

[30]

[26] or

[29] cleaning compositions, wherein the home care cleaning composition is selected from liquid hand sanitizer, liquid dishwashing liquid, liquid laundry detergent, fabric cleaner, carpet cleaner and furniture cleaner.

[0045]

[31]

[26] Cleaning compositions, wherein the cleaning compositions are for public institutions and industrial use.

[0046]

[32]

[26] or

[31] cleaning compositions, wherein the public institution or industrial cleaning composition is selected from hand sanitizers, dairy cleaners, fabric cleaners, carpet cleaners and furniture cleaners.

[0047]

[33]

[26] Cleaning compositions, wherein the cleaning compositions are used in oilfield applications.

[0048] These and other aspects or advantages of the invention will be clearly set forth in the following detailed description, examples and claims. Detailed Implementation

[0049] Amino acid surfactants (also known as amino acid surfactants) are more environmentally friendly, safer, and gentler surfactants, making them ideal for personal care and cosmetic applications because they offer greater safety, gentleness, and sustainability compared to currently popular alkyl alcohol ether sulfate surfactants such as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES). Among the four main amino acid surfactants—acylglycinate, acylglutamate, acylsarcosinate, and acylalanine—acylglutamate is the most sustainable and cost-effective. It could potentially be the first to replace currently popular alkyl alcohol ether sulfate surfactants such as SLES, and this replacement would be better for both humans and the environment. Furthermore, this invention addresses the thickening challenges of acylglutamate, enabling its widespread application in any cleaning formulation.

[0050] This invention successfully achieves the goal of providing a highly efficient and cost-effective non-polymer thickening solution for sulfate-free clean formulations in aqueous phases containing acylglutamate as the main surfactant. Specifically, this thickening solution is achieved through a self-thickening composition comprising one or more N-acyl acidic amino acids and / or their salts as component A, one or more amphoteric surfactants as component B, an aqueous medium as component C, and optionally one or more additives and / or other components as component D, in a suitable weight percentage within a pH range of 4.0-7.0, producing the desired high viscosity range at the appropriate pH. This self-thickening composition can increase viscosity by 5-5000 times or more up to approximately 100,000 mPa·s or higher within a pH range of 4.0-7.0, provided that the total weight percentage of components A and B and the weight ratio of components A to B are suitable.

[0051] In this invention, the N-acyl acidic amino acid and / or its salt, which is component A, can be obtained by the well-known Schott-Baumann reaction method, which involves the reaction of acidic amino acids with fatty acid halides. The acidic amino acid, which is component A, can be glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or a mixture thereof. It can be any of the L-, D-, or DL-type forms, or a combination of two or more forms selected from these forms. Among acidic amino acids, glutamic acid is favored due to its excellent stability and properties after acylation. The acylglutamate salt and its salt, which are component A, can be represented by the following general formula I: General Formula I R1 is a straight-chain or branched carbon chain from C5 to C21, a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group containing one or more double bonds, and can be composed of a single fatty acid or a mixture of two or more fatty acids; and each of M1 and M2 represents H, Na, K, NH4, triethylamine (TEA), or the like, respectively. M1 and M2 can be the same or different. Furthermore, the acylglutamate and / or its salt can be in high-purity solid form or in liquid form as an aqueous solution, the latter being preferred due to its ease of handling.

[0052] The acyl group can be derived from long-chain fatty acids, including but not limited to C6-C22 saturated and / or unsaturated fatty acids. Examples include caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, behenic acid, coconut fatty acid, palmitic acid, hydrogenated tallow acid, etc. One or a mixture of two or more of the above fatty acids can be used. Coconut fatty acid, lauric acid, and myristic acid are preferred due to their excellent performance in foaming, foam quality, and skin feel.

[0053] The salt of component A, i.e., M1 or M2, is not limited in any way. For example, M1 or M2 can be an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium, an alkaline earth metal such as calcium or magnesium, an organic amine such as ammonia, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine, or an organic salt of a basic amino acid such as arginine or lysine. One or a mixture of one or more of the above salts can be used. Alkali metal salts, organic amine salts, and basic amino acid salts are preferred; sodium, potassium, triethylamine, and arginine are more preferred because they are readily available and have advantages in operation and performance.

[0054] The one or more amphoteric surfactants used as component B in this invention include, but are not limited to, betaine, hydroxysulfobetaine (also known as "sulfonate betaine" or sulfobetaine), phosphate betaine, imidazoline amphoteric surfactants; amphoteric acetates, propionate esters, and the like, which may be in solid or liquid form, with aqueous solutions preferred due to ease of handling. One or more mixtures of the above-mentioned amphoteric surfactants may be used. The two types of betaine, sulfobetaine, and phosphate betaine can be represented by two commonly used general formulas, namely alkyl betaine in general formula II and alkylamino betaine in general formula III, as follows: General Formula II: Alkyl Betaine Formula III: Alkylaminobetaine In this formula, R2 is a C6 to C22 alkyl or alkenyl group, R3 and R4 independently represent H or C1 to C4 alkyl groups, and R3 and R4 can be the same or different, n = 1 to 6, R5 = C5 to C21 alkyl or alkenyl group, and Z = -COO, -SO3, -CHOHCH2SO3, -HP04, or -CHOHCH2OP(OH)O2. The alkyl betaine shown in Formula II is typically formed by the condensation of an alkyl tertiary amine with a haloacid such as chloroacetic acid, chloroethanesulfonic acid, chlorohydroxypropylsulfonic acid, chlorophosphate, chlorohydroxyethyl phosphate, etc. Typical examples are dimethylhexylamine, dimethyloctylamine; dimethyldecylamine, dimethyllaurylamine, methylethyllaurylamine, dimethylcocoylamine, dimethylmyristylamine, dimethylhexadecylamine, dimethylstearylamine, methylhexylstearylamine, dimethylamine, dimethyloctadecyltearylamine, and mixtures thereof.

[0055] R5 in Formula III includes, but is not limited to, straight-chain or branched saturated C5-C21 alkyl groups, or unsaturated C5-C21 alkenyl groups derived from long-chain fatty acids. The preparation of betaine represented by Formula III typically involves first reacting a fatty acid with dimethylpropanediamine to form an intermediate, then condensing this intermediate with a haloacid such as chloroacetic acid, chloroethylsulfonic acid, chlorohydroxypropylsulfonic acid, chlorophosphate, chlorohydroxyethylphosphonic acid, or industrial mixtures thereof. Typical fatty acids include, but are not limited to, C6-C22 saturated fatty acids, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, isooctanoic acid, isostearic acid, cocoa acid, palmitic acid, soybean acid, erucic acid, etc., preferably C8-C22 fatty acids, more preferably C8-C18 fatty acids.

[0056] Typical betaines and hydroxysulfonate betaines include, but are not limited to: lauroyl betaine, lauroylpropyl betaine, cocoyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauroyl hydroxysulfonate betaine, lauroamide propyl hydroxysulfonate betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysulfonate betaine, lauroyl phosphate betaine, cocamidoethyl hydroxyethyl phosphate betaine, etc.

[0057] Sodium alkyl amphoteric acetate can be represented by general formula IV as follows: Formula IV Alkyl imidazoline can be represented by the general formula V as follows: General formula V In formulas IV and V, R6 refers to a straight-chain or branched saturated C7-C21 alkyl group, or a straight-chain or branched monounsaturated or polyunsaturated C7-C21 alkenyl group derived from a long-chain fatty acid. In formula IV, m = 1 or 2. The preparation of sodium alkyl amphoteric acetate typically involves first preparing an intermediate via a noncyclization reaction of a long-chain fatty acid and hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine, followed by a reaction of this intermediate with sodium chloroacetate. Alkyl imidazoline amphoteric surfactants are typically prepared as cyclic intermediates via a cyclization reaction of a long-chain fatty acid and hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine, followed by a reaction product of this cyclic intermediate with sodium chloroacetate and industrial mixtures thereof. Typical long-chain fatty acids include, but are not limited to, C6-C22 saturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, isooctanoic acid, isostearic acid, cocoic acid, palmitic acid, soy acid, erucic acid, etc., preferably C8-C22 fatty acids, more preferably C8-C18 fatty acids.

[0058] The water used as component C in this invention is not limited in any way, as long as it has a purity level suitable for cleaning formulations. It can be derived from a medium containing components A or B, or both, or added separately in addition to the water content in the medium containing components A or B, or both. Specifically, deionized water, distilled water, purified water, well water, natural water, groundwater, public water, hard water, soft water, etc., can be used. One or more mixtures of these waters can be used. Deionized water or distilled water is preferred because it is very suitable for the product preservation and hygiene of applications using this invention.

[0059] The choice of one or more other components as component D in this invention is not particularly limited. These components include, but are not limited to, one or more additional anionic and / or nonionic surfactants, cationic compounds, including but not limited to cationic or cationic surfactants, conditioning agents, humectants, polymers, siloxanes, active ingredients, chelating agents, salts, fragrances, preservatives, etc. Some of these additives can have a further thickening synergistic effect with the self-thickening composition disclosed in this invention, particularly cationic surfactants such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, behenyltrimethylammonium sulfate, hydrogenated tallow trimethylammonium chloride, and fatty amines such as hexadecyl dimethylamine, octadecyl dimethylamine, docosyl dimethylamine, stearamide propyl dimethylamine; behenamide propyl dimethylamine, and other cationic compounds have been found to produce a significant synergistic thickening effect on the thickening composition. Here, cationic surfactants refer to quaternary ammonium compounds, and cationic surfactants refer to alkylamines, such as tertiary, secondary, or primary amines, or analogs thereof, with relatively long alkyl carbon chains. These alkylamine compounds exhibit relatively strong cationic properties in acidic systems. Cationic or cationic surfactants include, but are not limited to, quaternary ammonium surfactants, alkyl tertiary amines, alkylamide tertiary amines, acylarginine esters, and acyllysine esters. Cationic surfactants can be represented by the following general formula VI: General formula VI Wherein, R7 = C8 to C28 alkyl, alkenyl, alkylamidopropyl or alkenylamidopropyl groups; while R8, R9 and R10 are C1 to C5 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or carboxylic acid ester groups or polyoxyethylene groups with a molar addition number of less than 10.

[0060] Typical quaternary ammonium salt surfactants include, but are not limited to, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, stearoyltrimethylammonium chloride, diammonium hydrogen sulfate, and hydrazine trichloride.

[0061] Typical alkylamines include, but are not limited to, hexadecyl dimethylamine, octadecyl dimethylamine, and docosylpropyl dimethylamine.

[0062] Typical acyl arginine esters include, but are not limited to, cocoyl arginine ethyl ester and lauroyl arginine methyl ester.

[0063] Typical acyl lysine esters include, but are not limited to, lauroyl lysine ethyl ester. Conditioners can be any skin or hair conditioner, including but not limited to polyquaternium-10, polyquaternium-7, siloxanes, quaternary ammonium salts, long-chain alkylamines, etc. Other optional additives, such as moisturizers, polymers, siloxanes, active ingredients, chelating agents, salts, fragrances, preservatives, etc., are not particularly limited and can be used alone or in combination as needed.

[0064] In addition to the components described above, the self-thickening composition of the present invention may also appropriately contain various other optional additives and other ingredients as component D in general cosmetic formulations, over-the-counter drugs, etc., in which case the effect of the present invention is not significantly negatively affected. For example, one or more optional additives as component D may include all types of other surfactants (anionic surfactants such as acylsarcosinate, acylglycinate, acylalanine, acylmethyl taurate, sulfosuccinate, isothiocyanate, alkyl ether carboxylates, fatty acid salts, and even alkyl sulfates and alkyl ether sulfates; nonionic surfactants such as alkyl glucosides; cationic surfactants such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, etc.), vegetable oils and synthetic oils such as olive oil, camellia oil, coconut oil, hydrogenated castor oil, beeswax, lanolin, squalene, petrolatum, silicone oil, etc. Polymer thickeners such as carbomer, acrylate copolymers, xanthan gum, cellulose, guar gum, starch, carrageenan, sodium alginate, bentonite, lithium montmorillonite, etc.; modifiers including simple quaternary ammonium salts such as behenyltrimethylammonium sulfate and polymers such as polyquaternium-10, polyquaternium-7, etc.; preservatives, chelating agents, fragrances, colorants, dyes, pigments, and active ingredients such as sunscreens, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, antibacterial agents, antiperspirants, anti-dandruff agents, skin whitening agents, moisturizers, vitamins, cooling or warming sensory agents, pH adjusters, etc., depending on the specific use and function of the cleansing composition and cosmetic composition.

[0065] In the thickening composition of the present invention, the weight percentages of components A and B are both in the range of about 0.5-60%, the weight percentage of component C is in the range of 0.01-98%, and the weight percentage of component D is in the range of 0-20%. The weight percentage of component A is preferably 1.0-50%, more preferably 2.0-40%, even more preferably 3.0-30%, further more preferably 3.5-20%, and particularly more preferably 4.0-10.0%; the weight percentage of component B is preferably 1.0-50%, more preferably 1.5-40%, even more preferably 2.0-30%, further more preferably 2.5-20%, and particularly more preferably 3-10%. The weight ratio of component A to component B can be between 95:5 and 5:95, preferably between 10:1 and 1:10; more preferably between 5:1 and 1:5; even more preferably between 4:1 and 1:4; further preferably between 3:1 and 1:3; and particularly preferably between 2:1 and 1:2. The weight percentage of water as component C can be between 0.01% and 98%, and the water can be derived from component A or component B, or a medium containing both, and can be added alone or in combination. The weight percentage of one or more optional additives and other components as component D can be between 0% and 20%, preferably between 0.05% and 15%, more preferably between 0.1% and 10%, even more preferably between 0.2% and 8%, further preferably between 0.5% and 5%, and particularly preferably between 1.0% and 3.0%.

[0066] In this invention, the weight ratio of components A, B, and D to the total weight of component C is typically between 2:98 and 70:30. When the total weight of components A, B, and D is less than 2%, the self-thickening effect becomes insufficient, while when the total weight of components A, B, and D is greater than 70%, other problems such as solubility and precipitation may occur. A preferred ratio is approximately 5:95 to 60:40.

[0067] The total weight percentage of components A, B, C, and D should be 100%.

[0068] The method for preparing the thickening composition in this invention includes the steps of: (a) mixing component A and component B in a fixed proportion under cold process conditions or at a mild heating temperature; then (b) adding water as component C; and (c) adjusting the pH to a suitable pH range of 4.0-7.0 with acid to achieve the desired viscosity, thereby obtaining the above-mentioned self-thickening composition. When using one or more optional additives and other components as component D, component D can be added before or after mixing components A, B, and C, and the pH value can be adjusted under cold process conditions or at a moderately elevated temperature.

[0069] The acid used to adjust the pH value in this invention can be an inorganic acid and / or an organic acid. One acid or a mixture of two or more acids can be used. Examples include, but are not limited to, citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, amino acids, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid.

[0070] The thickening compositions of the present invention typically have a viscosity of about 200 to about 100,000 mPa·s or higher. Preferably, the viscosity of the thickening compositions of the present invention is 500-50,000 mPa·s, more preferably 1,000-30,000 mPa·s, even more preferably 3,000-20,000 mPa·s, further more preferably 4,000-18,000, and particularly more preferably 5,000-12,000 mPa·s. The viscosity can be easily controlled by changing the pH value of the thickening composition in the range of 4.0-7.0, the total weight percentage of component A and component B, and the weight ratio of component A and component B.

[0071] Because the thickening composition of this invention can be made from a concentrate of a surfactant mixture containing only components A and B, the viscosity of the concentrated mixture can be very high in the pH range of 4.0-7.0, but very low above pH 7, facilitating handling and transportation. This is a significant advantage compared to other viscous surfactants that often cause problems during handling.

[0072] The thickening composition of this invention can be used directly by incorporating it into cosmetic and cleaning compositions, and it can also be used as a concentrated mixture, which can be diluted to the desired active content level at the desired viscosity within a pH range of 4.0 to 7.0. Furthermore, it can be used in the design of cosmetic and cleaning formulations to thicken acylglutamic acid surfactant cleaning formulations using the principle of the self-thickening composition of this invention.

[0073] The use of the thickening composition in this invention is not limited in any way and can provide a variety of cleaning and cosmetic compositions. For example, cosmetic liquid soaps, various forms of facial cleansers, cleaning cosmetics such as shampoos, baby shampoos, shower gels, body gels, feminine washes, and liquid hand sanitizers can be used with the thickening composition. Furthermore, the thickening composition described above in this invention can also be used in household care products, including but not limited to liquid detergents, laundry detergents, surface cleaners, fabric care products, carpet care products, etc. It can also be used in public institutions and industrial applications, such as dairy product cleaners and hospital liquid hand sanitizers.

[0074] As mentioned above, acylglutamate surfactants are sulfate-free, mild, safe, green, and highly sustainable surfactants, poised to become the next generation of surfactants. They are high-performance anionic surfactants with multifunctional properties including cleaning, emulsification, penetration, and solubilization. Cleaning compositions containing acylglutamates exhibit numerous advantages, including safety, sustainability, mildness, non-irritation, excellent skin feel, better color retention in dyed hair, luxurious foam quality, and a pH value similar to that of skin. Therefore, developing personal care cleansing formulations using acylglutamates as the primary surfactant is highly desirable.

[0075] Cleaning formulations containing acylglutamate can be widely used in personal care products such as shampoos, shower gels, and hand sanitizers; household care products such as liquid detergents, laundry detergents, carpet care products, furniture care products, and fabric care products; and public and industrial applications such as hospital hand sanitizers and dairy product cleaners.

[0076] Typically, the required viscosity range for cleaning compositions used in commercial products is 1,000 to 10,000 mPa·s, with some requiring 10,000 mPa·s or higher. As mentioned above, acylglutamate surfactants are inherently very difficult to thicken due to the unique molecular structure of their two relatively large water-soluble carboxylic acid groups, and conventional thickening methods, such as salting, are completely ineffective with acylglutamate surfactants. Even when the active content of a sodium cocoyl glutamate solution reaches up to 25%, its viscosity is only about 10 mPa·s. Even when combined with other auxiliary surfactants such as amphoteric surfactants, conventional methods achieve only very limited thickening effects, with viscosities of only about 200 mPa·s or lower. This invention is based on the surprising discovery that a certain weight percentage and weight ratio of acylglutamate and amphoteric surfactant, combined with a suitable pH range, can provide excellent thickening effects.

[0077] Through a series of meticulously designed studies, the inventors of this invention have surprisingly discovered an extremely effective and economical self-thickening composition containing one or more acylglutamic acids and their salts in a suitable weight percentage as component A, and one or more amphoteric surfactants in a suitable weight percentage as component B, with the weight ratio of component A to component B being appropriate, achieving a viscosity of about 200 to about 100,000 mPa·s within a suitable pH range, which is 100 to 10,000 times higher than that of conventional systems.

[0078] The one or more amphoteric surfactants used as component B in this invention exhibit excellent stability under both acidic and alkaline pH conditions. They are also very mild and readily soluble in water, demonstrating good foam stability, foam quality, and system stability. Furthermore, the amphoteric surfactants possess the properties of cationic surfactants, exhibiting a certain degree of antimicrobial activity, which can enhance the softness, conditioning properties, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of the cleaning composition.

[0079] When the term "about" is used for parameters such as quantity, pH, or temperature, unless otherwise specified, it means that the parameter can vary by at least 10%, preferably within 5%, more preferably within 2%, and even more preferably within 1%. For example, a pH value of "about 5" should be interpreted as being in the range of 4.5 to 5.5, preferably 4.75 to 5.25, more preferably 4.9 to 5.1, and even more preferably in the range of 4.95 to 5.05. As those skilled in the art will understand, when a parameter is not significant, the numbers are generally given for illustrative purposes only and not for limitation.

[0080] The terms “one,” “a,” or “the” used here refer to both the singular and plural forms. Generally, when using the singular or plural form of a noun, it refers to both the singular and plural forms of that noun.

[0081] Example The present invention is further described in detail in the following embodiments. These embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting. The raw materials used as component AD in the thickening composition and cleaning composition embodiments of the present invention are listed in Table 1 below: Table 1: Components AD used in the embodiments of the present invention *Product name: EVERSOFT TM EVERMILD TM EVERMINE TM EVERPRO TM EVERGUARD TM EVERLIPID TM EVERQUAT TM All products, including those with generic names, are supplied by SINO LION USA, the international marketer of these products. Products with generic names are available from the open market. The last column of Table 1 provides the product codes for most SINO LION raw materials; for convenience, these codes may be used elsewhere in this application.

[0082] Examples 1-12 Thickening and cleaning compositions were prepared according to the formulations described in Table 2, and their viscosity was evaluated using the following method. Viscosity was measured at room temperature, which varied from 22 to 26°C. A Buchner viscometer “DV2Textra” was used at 20 rpm for 30 seconds, with rotors 3-7 selected depending on the viscosity. For each formulation in Table 2, the following experimental procedure was used: components A, B, and C, and optional component D, were accurately weighed according to the amounts in Table 2, and, if necessary, thoroughly mixed until homogeneous under gentle heating. The resulting composition was adjusted to the desired pH with 50% citric acid or 30% NaOH and allowed to stand overnight for at least 12 hours, then the viscosity was measured at room temperature the following day. Table 2 shows the viscosity of various thickening compositions with different weight percentages of components A and B and different weight ratios of components A and B within the pH range of 5.0-5.6.

[0083] As can be seen from the results of Examples 1 to 12 in Table 2, in order to obtain the thickening composition of the present invention containing N-acyl acids and / or their salts as component A, amphoteric surfactants as component B, and water as component C, a suitable weight ratio of component A to component B is required, along with a suitable total active ingredient content within a suitable pH range. For compositions containing only EVERSOFT... TM UCS-30S as component A and EVERMILD TM SB450 (lauromamide propyl hydroxysulfonyl betaine) as component B in the thickening composition, studies have found that EVERSOFT TM UCS-30S (disodium cocoyl glutamate) can be thickened by approximately 3 to approximately 700 times, with a component A to component B weight ratio between 0.34:1 and 3:1, a pH of approximately 5.2, and a total active ingredient content of 15%, resulting in a viscosity of approximately 30 to approximately 7260 mPa·s. Representative data are shown in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2 in Table 2. The results from Examples 1-3 show that the composition containing components A and B exhibits a significant thickening effect, up to approximately 1400 times, compared to component B alone. Surprisingly, it was found that, in addition to the weight ratio of components A and B and the total active ingredient content, a suitable pH value is also essential for any thickening composition to achieve the desired viscosity. If the pH value is incorrect, the composition will not thicken at all, even if the weight ratio and total active ingredient content are appropriate.

[0084] For the compositions described in Table 2, those containing EVERSOFT TM UCS-30S as component A, and EVERMILD TMLG-30 (sodium lauroyl amphoteric acetate) was prepared as a thickening composition and a cleaning composition for component B in Examples 4 to 6 together with Comparative Examples 3 and 4, and the viscosity of component A to component B at different weight ratios was measured at pH ~ 5.2 and a suitable total active ingredient content of 15% (by weight).

[0085] As can be seen from the results of Examples 4 and 6 and Comparative Example 1 in Table 2, compared with component A alone, the product containing EVERSOFT... TM UCS-30S is used as component A, and EVERMILD TM The thickening composition of this invention, with LG-30 as component B, water as component C, and citric acid as a pH adjuster as component D, can be thickened to approximately 1754 times. It was found that when the weight ratio of component A to component B is in the range of 0.072:1 to 5.43:1, EVERSOFT... TM UCS-30S (disodium coconut glutamate) can be thickened by approximately 3 to approximately 1754 times, with a viscosity ranging from 30 to 17540 mPa·s. The thickening effect reaches its maximum when the weight ratio of component A to component B is approximately 0.34:1, while the thickening effect is not significant when the weight ratio of component A to B is greater than approximately 5:1, as shown in Comparative Example 4 at pH values ​​of approximately 5.2. It should be noted that the correct pH value is essential for any thickening composition to achieve the desired viscosity.

[0086] Table 2 also shows that, in the compositions described in Examples 7 to 9, for those containing EVERSOFT TM UCS-30S (disodium cocoyl glutamate) is used as component A, and EVERMILD TM A further thickening composition containing SB450 (lauromamide propyl hydroxysulfonate betaine) as component B, water as component C, and citric acid as component D, showed a dramatic increase in viscosity from approximately 1340 times to approximately 3095 times compared to Comparative Example 1, with Example 9 reaching a viscosity of 30950 mPa·s. Table 2 also clearly shows that the compositions described in Examples 10 to 12 contain EVERSOFT. TM UCS-30S (disodium cocoyl glutamate), as component A, contains EVERMILD. TM SB450 and EVERMILD TM A further thickening composition, with LG-30 as component B, water as component C, and citric acid as a pH adjuster and other optional additives as component D, exhibits a dramatic increase in viscosity. In Example 10, the viscosity reached 78,200, approximately 7820 times higher than the acylglutamic acid solution in Comparative Example 1. It was also found that by changing the weight ratio of the two components B, i.e., EVERMILD…TM SB450 and EVERMILD TM The LG-30's weight ratio is from 0 (only EVERMILD) TM LG-30 (as component B) becomes infinite (only EVERMILD) TM SB450 is used as component B, while maintaining the percentage of component A and the total weight percentage of both components B consistent with the pH value of ~5.2 in Example 12. When the composition changes in Example 12, with EVERMILD... TM SB450 and EVERMILD TM As the weight ratio of LG-30 increased from 0 to 0.67, the viscosity of the various resulting compositions monotonically increased from 2,770 mPa·s to 10,360 mPa·s, and with EVERMILD TM SB450 and EVERMILD TM LG-30 has a weight ratio between 0.67 and 9.04, and a viscosity that varies within a limited range of 10,360 to 13,480 mPa·s, as shown in Example 12. EVERMILD TM SB450 and EVERMILD TM LG-30 reaches its highest viscosity of 13,480 mPa·s at a weight ratio of 4.02:1, while only EVERMILD... TM The viscosity of the composition obtained with SB450 as component B is 11,640 mPa·s at pH 5.2. As can be seen from the above, the higher the active content of the thickening composition, the higher the achievable viscosity, which is impossible to achieve with conventional techniques for cleaning compositions containing acylglutamate surfactants.

[0087] Examples 13-20 Thickening compositions as surfactant mixtures were prepared according to the formulations described in Table 3, and their application in cleaning compositions was demonstrated. Viscosity was evaluated using the methods described above. The composition in Example 13 was prepared by mixing components A, B, and C, then adjusting the pH to 5.22, and allowing the resulting composition to stand overnight at room temperature. Viscosity was then measured and recorded in Table 3. Using Example 13 as a surfactant mixture with a total active ingredient content of 25%, sufficient active ingredient content was achieved for self-thickening at a suitable pH when diluted with water for application. As shown in Table 3, Comparative Example 5 was prepared by diluting the surfactant mixture in the composition of Example 13 with water at a weight ratio of 60:40. The resulting composition had a pH of 5.32 and a very low viscosity of 125 mPa·s. Example 14 was prepared using the same method as Comparative Example 5, except that the pH of the composition was adjusted to 5.20, and the resulting composition had a viscosity of 5,920 mPa·s, clearly demonstrating that the pH of the composition is critical to the thickening effect. The composition in Example 14 was prepared by adding an optional component D such as EFA (EVERLIPID). TMThe composition in Example 15 was prepared using EFA (abbreviation for OLEESTERISL, see Table 1 for more information), and the composition in Example 16 was prepared by adding another component, D-ISL (abbreviation for OLEESTERISL, see Table 1 for more information), using the composition in Example 15; while the composition in Example 17 was prepared using the composition in Example 16 by adjusting the pH to 5.19. It is clear from Examples 14-17 that EFA has a positive effect on the viscosity of the thickening composition, while ISL has a negative effect. Notably, when the pH changes from 4.91 to 5.73, the viscosity of the composition in Example 17 ranges from 10 (pH = 5.73) to 2480 (pH = 5.39) mPa·s, while the composition becomes cloudy at pH 5.0 or below. Examples 18-21 were prepared using a similar method to Examples 14-17, and the viscosity results of the resulting compositions are listed in Table 3. As can be seen from Examples 18 to 19 in Table 3, when 5% APG (cocoyl glucoside, a nonionic surfactant) was mixed with 60% of the surfactant mixture from Example 13 and water, without adjusting the pH to 5.15, the viscosity of the resulting composition increased from 6,890 mPa·s to 7,500 mPa·s. When 1.0% EFA was added to the composition of Example 19 to prepare Example 20, without adjusting the pH, the viscosity also increased from 7,500 mPa·s (Example 19) to 7,700 mPa·s (Example 20), and when the pH was adjusted to 5.12 (Example 21), the viscosity further increased to 8,080 mPa·s. This demonstrates that EFA, an amphoteric conditioner, has a positive effect on the viscosity of surfactant mixtures. Examples 18 to 21 clearly show that self-thickening surfactant mixtures can be incorporated into clean formulations with other additives such as nonionic surfactants, conditioners, and other additives, resulting in easy handling and suitable viscosity, which is not achievable with conventional techniques.

[0088] Comparative Examples 6-17 Other thickening and cleaning compositions containing one component A and two components B, component C (water), and various optional components D were prepared according to the formulations described in Comparative Examples 6-17 in Table 4. The experimental procedures used were similar to those described above. As can be seen from Table 4, except for Comparative Example 16, most compositions thickened to a viscosity of no more than 500 mPa·s under given conditions, further demonstrating that a combination of subtle conditions is required to obtain the thickening compositions.

[0089] Table 2. Viscosities of various thickening compositions for different weight percentages and weight ratios of components A and B in Examples 13-15 and Comparative Examples 1-4. Table 3. Viscosities of thickening mixtures containing different components D in Examples 13-21 and Comparative Example 5. Table 4. Comparative Examples 6-17. Viscosities of various compositions of component A and component B at different pH values ​​with different weight percentages and weight ratios. *-UCS / ULS: UCS values ​​are listed normally, while ULS values ​​are listed as " / xxx" to distinguish them from UCS. This also applies to SB450 / SB30, LG-30 / CAB; EFA / ISL / / Na2EDTA; EVERMINE 18 / 22. ** When there is no viscosity, it is recorded as "~1".

[0090] The thickening and cleaning compositions of the present invention can provide a viscosity in the range of about 200 to about 100,000 mPa·s, preferably 500-50,000 mPa·s, more preferably 1,000-30,000 mPa·s, even more preferably 3,000-20,000 mPa·s, further more preferably 4,000-18,000, and particularly more preferably 5,000-12,000 mPa·s. The following formulation examples illustrate the invention but do not limit its application. The compositions of the present invention can be prepared by mixing each individual component with water, and various premixes of the components can also be used, and a wide variety of optional components can be added as component D to produce an infinite variety of formulations.

[0091] Formulation Examples 1-11 The following liquid cleansing compositions were prepared according to conventional methods. Suitable viscosities for personal care cleansing formulations can be obtained. Table 5 shows formulation examples 1 through 4 of the "sulfate-free" glutamic acid mild body wash; all formulation examples confirm the effectiveness of EVERSOFT. TM UCS-30S can be used as a primary surfactant in conjunction with other amphoteric surfactants such as EVERMILD. TM SB450, CAB and / or EVERMILD TM LG-30 is used in sulfate-free systems and achieves an ideal viscosity of approximately 4,000 to approximately 23,000 mPa·s within a pH range of 5.0–5.7, making it highly suitable for personal care cleaning formulations. Studies have found that EVERPRO contains the amino acid-derived preservative lauroyl arginine ethyl ester HC1. TM LCG, a cationic compound, plays a synergistic role in thickening in formulations 1 and 4, as also demonstrated in formulation examples 2 and 3, which contain 3.0% EVERPRO. TMLCG formulation 3 has a slightly higher viscosity than formulation without EVERPRO. TM LCG formulation 2 viscosity.

[0092] Table 6 shows formulations 5 to 7, illustrating examples of sulfate-free and polymer-free glutamic acid-based mild shampoo formulations with good foaming and cleansing properties, and with conditioning agents such as EVERLIPID. TM EFA and OleEster TM ISL exhibits good compatibility and provides sufficient viscosity up to 21,000 mPa·s at a pH of 5.22.

[0093] Table 7 presents examples 8 to 11 of “sulfate-free” glutamic acid cleaning formulations, with a viscosity range of 3,800 to 9,200 mPa·s within a pH range of 5.01–5.25, suitable as a base for any personal care cleaning formulation such as shower gel, shampoo, baby shampoo, hand soap, dishwashing liquid, etc. Formulations 8 to 11 are transparent viscous liquids, but additional ingredients can be added as needed to make them opaque, pearlescent, or colored formulations.

[0094] Table 5. Examples of "Sulfate-Free" Glutamic Acid Mild Shower Gel Formulas 1-4 Table 6. Examples of "Sulfate-Free" Glutamic Acid Mild Shampoo Formulas 5-7 Table 7. Examples 8-11 of “Sulfate-Free” Glutamic Acid Cleaning Formula Industrial applicability This invention is readily scalable to industrial scale by simply mixing an acylglutamic acid and / or its salt as component A with one or more amphoteric surfactants as component B, optional water as component C, and optional one or more other ingredients as component D. It can be processed cold or heated, depending on the specific formulation. Thickening compositions can be obtained within a specific pH range when the weight ratio of component A to component B is within a suitable range and when there is a sufficient total active ingredient content. Furthermore, according to this invention, compositions consisting of glutamic acid surfactants, one or more amphoteric surfactants, or a certain amount of water, and premixes of two or more amphoteric surfactants can be obtained on an industrial scale. These compositions are easy to use and readily thickened mixtures, commercially valuable for cleaning compositions and cosmetic and personal care applications such as skin and hair care.

[0095] While the invention has been described in detail for ease of understanding, it will be apparent that certain modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments or preferred embodiments described herein are illustrative rather than restrictive, and the invention is not limited to the details described herein, but can be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims. All patent or non-patent citations referenced in this application are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A sulfate-free self-thickening composition comprising the following components: A. 5.07-13.2% by weight of disodium cocoyl glutamate; B. 4.87-11.2% by weight of lauramidopropyl hydroxysulfonate betaine; C. Water; and D. Optional one or more other ingredients; in, The weight ratio of component A to component B is in the range of 2.08:1 to 0.52:1; the viscosity of the composition is in the range of 1,880-78,200 mPa·s at a pH value in the range of 5.10-5.

57.

2. A sulfate-free self-thickening composition comprising the following components: A. 3.80-8.61% by weight of disodium cocoyl glutamate; B. 6.39-11.2% by weight of sodium lauroyl amphotericate; C. Water; and D. Optional one or more other ingredients; in, The weight ratio of component A to component B is 0.34:1 to 1.35:1; the viscosity of the composition is 4,750-17,540 mPa·s at a pH value ranging from 5.09 to 5.

22.

3. A sulfate-free self-thickening composition comprising the following components: A. 5.07-10.1% by weight of disodium cocoyl glutamate; B. 5.61-11.2% by weight of lauramidopropyl hydroxysulfonate betaine; C. Water; and D. 1.48-8.32% by weight of sodium lauroyl amphotericate; in, The composition has a viscosity range of 13,480-78,200 mPa·s at pH values ​​ranging from 5.17 to 5.

57.

4. A sulfate-free self-thickening composition comprising the following components: A. 7.5% by weight of disodium cocoyl glutamate; B. 5.4% by weight of cocamidopropyl betaine; C. Water; and D. 3.2% by weight of sodium lauroyl amphoteric acid; in, The composition has a viscosity of 16,600 mPa·s at a pH of 5.

5.

5. A sulfate-free self-thickening composition comprising the following components: A. 6.25% by weight sodium lauroyl glutamate; B. 6% by weight of cocamidopropyl betaine; C. Water; and D. Optional one or more other ingredients; in, The composition has a viscosity of 3,800 mPa·s at a pH of 5.

17.

6. A cleaning composition comprising any one of claims 1-5, for use in cosmetic or personal care, home care, or public and industrial applications.

7. The cleaning composition according to claim 6, wherein the cleaning composition is used for cosmetic or personal care purposes.

8. The cleaning composition according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cosmetic or personal care cleaning composition is selected from liquid cleansers, shower gels, body washes, shampoos, baby shampoos, and facial cleansers.

9. The cleaning composition according to claim 6, wherein the cleaning composition is for home care purposes.

10. The cleaning composition according to claim 6 or 9, wherein the home care cleaning composition is selected from liquid hand sanitizer, liquid dishwashing liquid, and liquid laundry detergent.

11. The cleaning composition of claim 6, wherein the cleaning composition is intended for use in public institutions and industrial applications.

12. The cleaning composition according to claim 6 or 11, wherein the cleaning composition for public and industrial use is selected from hand sanitizers, dairy cleaners, fabric cleaners, carpet cleaners, and furniture cleaners.

13. The cleaning composition of claim 6, wherein public and industrial use refers to oilfield applications.

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