Alkoxylated Polyhydric Alcohol Esters for Cosmetic Thickening
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetic thickeners, particularly those based on alkoxylated alcohols, struggle to stably thicken difficult-to-thicken preparations such as those containing alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides or those free of ether sulfate, and often have limited viscosity control across varying pH levels.
Innovation Solution
The use of alkoxylated polyhydric alcohol esters, specifically those with a residue obtained by removing all alcoholic hydroxy groups from polyhydric alcohols, an alkylene group with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and an acyl residue of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, which provide stable thickening and conditioning properties, especially when combined with solubilizers like PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides or Deceth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional thickeners (alkoxylated alcohols) are used, then they can thicken most cosmetic preparations, but they fail to stably thicken difficult-to-thicken preparations containing alkyl/alkenyl oligoglycosides or free of ether sulfate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the thickener by using alkoxylated polyhydric alcohol esters with specific molecular weight ranges (5,000-500,000) and specific alcohol radicals (from trimethylolpropane, glycerol, pentaerythritol, etc.). These parameter changes enable the thickener to effectively thicken difficult-to-thicken preparations containing alkyl/alkenyl oligoglycosides or free of ether sulfate, resolving the contradiction between thickening stability and formulation compatibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If thickeners with high viscosity control are used, then they can achieve desired viscosity, but their thickening effect becomes pH-dependent and limited to narrow acidity/alkalinity ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects polyhydric alcohol esters with specific molecular weights (5,000-500,000) and specific alcohol radicals, which inherently provide pH-independent thickening properties. This parameter selection enables the thickener to maintain stable viscosity control across broad pH ranges, resolving the contradiction between precise viscosity control and pH range applicability.
3Reliability
If alkoxylated polyhydric alcohol esters with specific alkylene ratios are used, then thickening performance is greatly increased, but the compound structure becomes more specific and harder to synthesize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies numerical ratios of alkylene radicals (2 carbon atoms to 3 carbon atoms) ranging from 1:1 to 12:1, particularly preferably 3:1 to 12:1. These parameter specifications optimize thickening and conditioning properties while remaining compatible with standard chemical manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between high thickening performance and ease of manufacture.
4Quantity of substance
If solubilizers are added to incorporate alkoxylated polyhydric alcohol esters into cosmetic preparations, then water content can be kept low, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses solubilizers as intermediary substances to incorporate alkoxylated polyhydric alcohol esters into cosmetic preparations. The solubilizers facilitate the integration of the thickener into the formulation system, enabling low water content formulations while managing formulation complexity through the mediating role of these auxiliary substances.
Data Source
AI summary
Thickeners comprising at least one polyfunctional alcohol ester of formula (I), where G is a radical which is obtained by removing all alcoholic hydroxy groups from a polyhydric alcohol; A is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, where all identical or different alkylene groups may be randomly distributed or present in blocks, n is a number from 101 to 200, and the total of m + p represents the total number of alcoholic hydroxy groups in the polyhydric alcohol, and RCO is an acyl radical of saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched fatty acids having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, are proposed.