Cleanser

Abstract

To provide a cleanser that is easy to use, good to clean, and easy to rinse off.SOLUTION: A cleanser comprises water and acicular cellulose having an aspect ratio of 3 or more and a particle size of 350 μm or more. The cleanser contains 1 mass% or more of the acicular cellulose based on the total weight of the cleanser.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning agent. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cleaning agent which is easy to use and has excellent cleaning properties and is also easy to rinse off. [Background technology]

[0002] There are various types of detergents for cleaning the skin, and many of them use surfactants such as soap as a cleaning base. On the other hand, scrub detergents that contain scrubbing agents such as clay minerals and can remove dirt by physical action while providing an excellent feeling of use are also known.

[0003] Various types of scrubbing agents are known for use in such scrubbing cleaners, and inorganic powders such as talc, silica, and clay, and polymer powders such as polyethylene and polystyrene are commonly used. Scrubbing agents exert a cleaning effect by physically acting on dirt on the skin, but at the same time they can irritate the skin, which can impair usability. From this perspective, scrubbing agents have been studied, and a gommage cleaning composition containing fibrous cellulose has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0004] However, according to the research of the present inventors, conventionally known fibrous scrubbing agents have low cleaning ability, and unless a surfactant is combined with them, sufficient cleaning ability cannot be obtained, and there is room for improvement in usability. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6611667 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6611749 Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the following inventions are provided. [1] A cleaning agent comprising water and needle-like cellulose having an aspect ratio of 3 or more and a particle size of 350 μm or more, the cleaning agent comprising 1% by mass or more of the needle-like cellulose based on the total mass of the cleaning agent. [2] The cleaning agent according to [1], wherein the aspect ratio of the needle-like cellulose is less than 100. [3] The cleaning agent according to either [1] or [2], wherein the needle-like cellulose is derived from natural materials. [4] The cleaning agent according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the needle-like cellulose is derived from bamboo. [5] The cleaning agent according to any one of [1] to [4], further comprising a polyhydric alcohol. [6] The cleaning agent according to any one of [1] to [5], further comprising a thickener. [7] The cleaning agent according to any one of [1] to [6], further comprising a powder having a particle size of less than 350 μm. [8] The cleaning agent according to any one of [1] to [7], which is a scrub cleaning agent for cleansing the skin.

[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning agent which is easy to use and has excellent cleaning properties, and is also easy to rinse off.

[0008] The detergent according to the present invention contains needle-like cellulose having a specific shape and water, and further contains other components as required. Each component will be described below.

[0009] [Needle cellulose] The needle-shaped cellulose used in the present invention has a needle shape with an aspect ratio of 3 or more. Cellulose has the molecular formula (C6H 10 O5) n It is an organic polymer in which many β-glucose molecules are polymerized in a linear chain through glycosidic bonds.

[0010] Since cellulose molecules have a linear molecular structure as described above, ultrafine aggregates of cellulose molecules are generally bundled and used as various materials. Then, they can be mechanically crushed to produce fine fibrous or particulate materials. Among such fine materials, those with a large aspect ratio are called cellulose nanofibers or fibrous cellulose. The needle-like cellulose in the present invention has an aspect ratio of 3 or more, but if it is too large, the cleaning effect may be impaired or the cleaning agent may be unnecessarily thickened. For this reason, the aspect ratio is preferably less than 100, more preferably 5 to 80, and even more preferably 10 to 70.

[0011] Here, the aspect ratio is the average value of [particle size (maximum length) of needle-shaped cellulose] / [particle diameter of needle-shaped cellulose]. The particle size and particle diameter of a single needle-shaped cellulose can be measured by observation under a microscope, etc.

[0012] Furthermore, the needle-like cellulose used in the present invention has a particle size of 350 μm or more, and preferably 500 μm or more, in order to obtain a sufficient cleaning effect.

[0013] Cellulose can be produced by biosynthesis using glucose as a raw material, or by extraction from natural products such as plants. The shape of the produced cellulose may vary depending on the production method and conditions, but for the cleaning agent of the present invention, needle-shaped cellulose derived from natural materials is preferred. Various natural materials such as bamboo, beech, wheat, oats, and sugar cane are used as natural materials from which cellulose can be obtained, but the cellulose used in the present invention is preferably derived from bamboo or beech, and particularly preferably derived from bamboo. The reason for this has not yet been fully elucidated, but needle-shaped cellulose derived from natural materials tends to provide an excellent feeling of use, and this tendency is particularly strong for cellulose derived from bamboo.

[0014] Such needle-like cellulose derived from natural materials is commercially available in various types, for example, as the SENSOCEL (trade name) series, from which an appropriate one can be selected and used depending on the purpose.

[0015] In the detergent according to the present invention, the content of needle-shaped cellulose is 1% by mass or more, preferably 3% by mass or more, based on the total mass of the detergent. Although there is no particular upper limit to the content of needle-shaped cellulose, if it is too high, the effect becomes saturated and the feeling of use may deteriorate, so that it is generally 20% by mass or less, preferably 10% by mass or less.

[0016] [water] The cleansing agent according to the present invention contains water. As the water, water used in cosmetics, quasi-drugs, etc., such as purified water, ion-exchanged water, tap water, etc., can be used.

[0017] In the present invention, water functions as a medium for uniformly dissolving or dispersing the detergent components. The content of water varies depending on the types and contents of other components to be combined, but is generally 30 to 99% by mass, and preferably 40 to 80% by mass.

[0018] [Other ingredients] The detergent of the present invention exerts its cleaning function by the scrubbing effect of the specific needle-shaped cellulose. Therefore, the detergent of the present invention may be composed only of the specific needle-shaped cellulose and water, but other components can be added to improve the cleaning effect, usability, storage stability, etc.

[0019] The cleansing agent according to the present invention may contain a moisturizing agent. Various moisturizing agents are known, and among these, polyhydric alcohols are preferably used because they have a high moisturizing effect and are also highly safe.

[0020] The polyhydric alcohol can be selected from those that can be generally used in cleansing agents. Dihydric alcohols (e.g., ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, 2-butene-1,4-diol, hexylene glycol, octylene glycol, etc.); Trihydric alcohols (e.g., glycerin, trimethylolpropane, etc.); Tetrahydric alcohols (e.g., pentaerythritol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, etc.); Pentahydric alcohols (e.g., xylitol, etc.); Hexahydric alcohols (e.g., sorbitol, mannitol, etc.); and Polyhydric alcohol polymers (e.g., diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyglycerin, etc.) In addition, polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers, polyhydric alcohol ether esters, sugar alcohols, etc. can also be used. Of these, glycerin or dipropylene glycol is preferred. Furthermore, these polyhydric alcohols can be used in combination of two or more kinds.

[0021] The content of polyhydric alcohol in the cleaning agent according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but when it is contained, it is preferably 0.1 to 30 mass %, and more preferably 1 to 20 mass %, based on the total mass of the cleaning agent.

[0022] The cleaning agent according to the present invention may also contain a thickener. Various types of thickeners are known, and any one of them may be selected according to the purpose and used in the cleaning agent according to the present invention. The stability of the cleaning agent is improved by adding a thickener.

[0023] The thickener may be any natural or other suitable thickener that can be incorporated into pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, such as carboxyvinyl polymer, water-soluble cellulose ether, xanthan gum, carrageenan, gellan gum, starch, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, pullulan, sodium / magnesium silicate, bentonite, acrylamide copolymer, sodium acroyldimethyltaurate / hydroxyethyl acrylate copolymer, agar, polyurethane, and hydrophobic polyether urethane.

[0024] The amount of thickener in the cleaner according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but when it is contained, it is preferably 0.05 to 1 mass% based on the total mass of the cleaner. By adding a thickener in an amount of 0.05 mass% or more, the stability is sufficiently improved, but if the amount is too large, the cleaning properties may be impaired, so care should be taken.

[0025] The cleaning agent according to the present invention may further contain a powder having a particle size of less than 350 μm. The particle shape of the powder is not particularly limited, and any shape such as granular, needle-like, fibrous, or flat can be adopted. Such a powder has an effect of supplementing the scrubbing effect of needle-like cellulose. Examples of such powder include hydrocarbon polymer powders such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, polyamide polymer powders such as nylon, vinyl polymer powders such as polyvinyl chloride, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, and polyvinylidene fluoride, polyurethane polymer powders, and general-purpose polymer materials such as copolymers of these, inorganic powders represented by talc and titanium, etc. It is also preferable to use cellulose particles derived from natural materials.

[0026] The cleaning agent according to the present invention may further contain oils, neutralizing agents, chelating agents, preservatives, medicines, freshening agents, fragrances, and the like.

[0027] Examples of oils include liquid oils, solid oils, waxes, hydrocarbon oils, synthetic ester oils, and silicone oils.

[0028] Examples of the neutralizing agent include basic compounds such as potassium hydroxide and monoethanolamine, and buffers such as lactic acid-sodium lactate and citric acid-sodium citrate.

[0029] Examples of the chelating agent include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and sodium hexametaphosphate.

[0030] Preservatives include phenoxyethanol, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, and hexachlorophene.

[0031] Examples of the drugs include anti-inflammatory agents, whitening agents, activators, blood circulation promoters, antiseborrheic agents, and anti-halogen products.

[0032] Examples of cooling agents include menthol, menthol derivatives such as menthyl lactate, camphor, and camphor derivatives.

[0033] Examples of the fragrance components include linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, citral, and the like.

[0034] In addition to the above-mentioned components, the cleaning agent according to the present invention can further contain a surfactant. Since various surfactants can exert a cleaning effect, the present invention can also contain a surfactant to further improve the cleaning effect. However, in the present invention, since the specific needle cellulose exerts a sufficient scrubbing effect, it is possible to exert a sufficient cleaning effect without adding a surfactant, and since foaming caused by the surfactant may impair the scrubbing effect, it is preferable not to contain a surfactant.

[0035] The cleansing agent of the present invention can be used for cleaning objects other than the skin, but since it is highly effective in removing dirt from the skin surface and has an excellent feel when used on the skin, it is ideal as a scrub cleansing agent for cleaning the skin. EXAMPLES

[0036] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Contents are expressed as mass % based on the total mass, unless otherwise specified.

[0037] [Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7] The detergents of each example were prepared according to the formulation shown in Table 1. The feel of using these detergents was evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are also shown in Table 1.

[0038] [Usability] Artificial sebum was applied to the arm, and each of the prepared cleansing agents was applied thereon, and the usability was evaluated when the agent was rubbed with a finger. A: It seems to trap dirt well. B: It gives the impression of catching dirt. C: I feel a rough, irritating sensation on my skin. D: There is no impression of dirt being trapped.

[0039] [Washability] Artificial sebum was applied to the arm, and each of the prepared cleansing agents was applied thereon, rubbed with a finger, and the state of the remaining dirt was evaluated. A: The cleaning effect is very good. B: Excellent cleaning effect C: Poor cleaning effect D: No cleaning effect at all

[0040] After each cleaning agent was applied, the condition of the skin was evaluated after rinsing the cleaning agent off with running water. A: The cleaning agent, including the cellulose components, has been completely washed away. B: A small amount of cellulose components remained on the skin. C: Cellulose components remain on the skin, causing a rough, irritating sensation when rubbing the skin while rinsing.

[0041] [Table 1]

[0042] The raw material, shape and particle size of the cellulose used are as follows: (A) Acicular cellulose A: derived from bamboo, acicular, particle size 350 μm (product name: SENSOCEL bc200) (B) Acicular cellulose B: derived from bamboo, acicular, particle size 700 μm (product name: SENSOCEL bc1000) (a) Powdered cellulose a: derived from bamboo, powdered, particle size 20 μm (product name: SENSOCEL bc20) (b) Powdered cellulose b: derived from bamboo, powdered, particle size 50 μm (product name: SENSOCEL bc40) (c) Powdered cellulose c: derived from beech, powdered, particle size 1-7 μm (product name: SENSOCEL 5) (d) Granular cellulose d: derived from beech, granular, particle size 400-850 μm (product name: SENSOCEL 400G) (e) Granular cellulose e: derived from corn, granular, particle size 1900 μm (product name: SENSOCEL cc600) (f) Fibrous cellulose f: wood-derived, fibrous, particle size 100 μm (product name: VITACEL CS150F) (g) Fibrous cellulose g: wood-derived, fibrous, particle size 300 μm (product name: VITACEL CS300FC)

Claims

1. A cleaning agent comprising water and needle-like cellulose having an aspect ratio of 3 or more and a particle size of 350 μm or more, the cleaning agent comprising 1% by mass or more of the needle-like cellulose based on the total mass of the cleaning agent.

2. 2. The cleaning agent of claim 1, wherein the needle-like cellulose has an aspect ratio of less than 100.

3. 3. The cleaning agent according to claim 1, wherein the needle-like cellulose is derived from natural materials.

4. 3. The cleaning agent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the needle-like cellulose is derived from bamboo.

5. 3. The cleaning agent according to claim 1, further comprising a polyhydric alcohol.

6. 3. The cleaning agent of claim 1, further comprising a thickening agent.

7. 3. The cleaning agent of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a powder having a particle size of less than 350 μm.

8. 3. The cleaner according to claim 1, which is a scrub cleaner for cleansing the skin.

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