Alkoxylated Ester Inverse Emulsions for Personal Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inverse emulsions used in personal care products often result in viscous solutions that are difficult to disperse, and the oil phases used can be undesirable in final products, limiting their emolliency and rheological benefits.
Innovation Solution
The development of inverse emulsions using alkoxylated ester oils as the continuous phase, which allows for improved viscosity build and emolliency, and reduces the need for surfactants through self-emulsification properties, by incorporating water-soluble polymers formed via inverse emulsion polymerization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional inverse emulsions use mineral oil or standard ester oils as the continuous phase, then the emulsion can be formed and used as a thickener, but the emolliency and skin feel properties are insufficient and the rheological benefits are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the oil phase by selecting specific ester oils with particular molecular structures and properties (such as isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, and their combinations) to optimize both emolliency and thickening performance, resolving the contradiction between improved properties and formulation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite oil phases combining multiple ester oils (e.g., mixtures of isopropyl myristate and isopropyl palmitate) to achieve synergistic effects that provide both excellent emolliency and rheological modification, thereby improving reliability while managing formulation complexity
2Quantity of substance
If viscous polymers are directly mixed with water to form thickened solutions, then thickening is achieved, but the polymers form difficult-to-disperse lumps and the solution becomes highly viscous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inverse emulsion polymerization where polymers are first synthesized in a continuous oil phase (forming an inverse emulsion), then the emulsion is inverted by diluting with water. This reverse approach allows viscous polymers to be formed in a non-aqueous medium first, ensuring uniform distribution before contact with water, thus achieving high viscosity build while maintaining excellent dispersibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses oil phase as an intermediary medium during polymerization, allowing viscous polymers to be formed and dispersed uniformly in oil before the final inversion step with water. This intermediary step prevents direct aggregation of polymers with water, resolving the contradiction between viscosity build and dispersibility
3Ease of operation
If inverse emulsion polymerization is used to make thickeners, then the polymers are well dispersed in non-aqueous medium, but the oil phases used are not desirable in final personal care products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the continuous phase by selecting specific ester oils (isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, and their combinations) that are both effective for inverse emulsion polymerization and desirable for personal care applications, thus resolving the contradiction between dispersion quality and product desirability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite oil phases combining multiple ester oils to achieve both excellent dispersion properties during polymerization and desirable characteristics in the final personal care product, simultaneously satisfying both requirements
4Quantity of substance
If standard inverse emulsion formulations are used, then the basic thickening function is achieved, but the overall level of emulsifier surfactants needed cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs alkoxylated esters that possess self-emulsification properties, allowing the oil phase to automatically emulsify and stabilize the inverse emulsion without requiring high levels of additional emulsifier surfactants. This self-service capability reduces substance loss while maintaining the thickening function
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of alkoxylated ester oils in inverse emulsions enhances skin feel and rheological properties, simplifies product formulation, and allows for increased secondary oil incorporation without stability issues, providing effective thickening and emolliency in personal care products.
Implementation Method 1
Further alkoxylated esters can provide significant self emulsification and this can be used to reduce the overall level of emulsifier surfactants needed in the end products
Implementation Method 2
a disperse aqueous phase comprising a solution or dispersion of at least one water soluble polymer, particularly a polymer that forms a viscous solution or dispersion in water
Implementation Method 3
making the thickening polymer by an inverse emulsion polymerisation process
Data Source
AI summary
Inverse emulsions made by inverse emulsion polymerisation have a disperse aqueous phase comprising a solution or dispersion of at least one water soluble polymer, particularly a polymer that forms a viscous solution or dispersion in water, and a continuous oil phase which is or includes an ester oil including an alkoxylated alcohol group. The inclusion of ester oil including an alkoxylated alcohol group provides these oils in emulsions, particularly personal care emulsions made by inversion of the inverse emulsions on dilution with water.