Alkane Diols Suppress Salt Crystals in Cosmetic Preparations

The patent introduces alkane diols as intermediary substances that mediate between sodium chloride and water. These diols form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, creating a protective solvation shell around the salt ions and preventing direct crystallization. This intermediary mechanism allows high concentrations of sodium chloride (up to 5% or more) to remain stable in aqueous cosmetic preparations without forming disruptive salt crystals during storage or application.

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the impregnation solution by incorporating specific alkane diols (such as propylene glycol, butylene glycol, or their mixtures) at optimized concentrations. This parameter change modifies the evaporation kinetics and crystallization behavior of the salt solution. The diols reduce the rate of water evaporation from the wipe surface and alter the supersaturation dynamics, preventing salt crust formation even when large quantities of wipes are stored in non-hermetic containers with significant exposed surface area.

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating alkane diols into the salt-containing preparation before packaging. This pre-treatment ensures that the salt remains in solution form throughout storage and usage. When the preparation is dispensed through the aperture, the diols continue to prevent crystallization during the dispensing process, ensuring clean aperture edges that maintain good sealing contact for re-closure. The preliminary presence of diols prevents the self-enhancing salt crystal formation that would otherwise occur at the aperture interface.