Anionic Zwitterionic Surfactant System for Shower Gel Formulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of foaming emulsions for shower gel products requires a large number of ingredients, making them time-consuming and expensive to create while maintaining high foaming, sensory, and rheological characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant, such as sodium laureth sulfate, and a zwitterionic surfactant, like cocoamidopropyl betaine, in combination with a preservative and a rheology modifier, provides a balanced formulation with a minimal number of ingredients, achieving desirable foaming, sensory, and rheological characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large number of ingredients are used in foaming emulsions, then foaming characteristics and sensory properties are improved, but formulation complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoaming characteristicsVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines anionic and zwitterionic surfactants into a single synergistic system that delivers both high foaming characteristics and sensory properties. This merging of surfactant types creates a unified formulation approach that reduces the total number of ingredients needed while maintaining or improving performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surfactant system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: generating foam, providing sensory properties, ensuring stability, and delivering cleansing efficacy. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ingredients targeted at each individual property, thereby reducing formulation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a large number of ingredients are used in foaming emulsions, then sensory properties are improved, but manufacturing time and logistical effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensory propertiesVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By merging sensory-enhancing components into the core surfactant system rather than adding them as separate additives, the formulation process is streamlined. The anionic-zwitterionic surfactant combination inherently provides sensory benefits, eliminating the need for additional processing steps to incorporate separate sensory agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a large number of ingredients are used in foaming emulsions, then rheological characteristics are improved, but formulation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverheological characteristicsVSAvoidnumber of ingredients
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges rheology-modifying functionality into the surfactant system itself through the synergistic interaction between anionic and zwitterionic surfactants. This combination naturally provides desirable rheological characteristics without requiring separate thickening or stabilizing agents, thereby reducing the total ingredient count.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 composition is storage stable and provides effective skin cleansing with a simple formula, maintaining high foaming and sensory properties comparable to products with more ingredients, while reducing the number of components and production costs.

Implementation Method 1

a surfactant system consisting essentially of an anionic surfactant and a zwitterionic surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS11648193B2Personal care compositions
Publication Date: 2023.05.16 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

A personal care composition comprising a surfactant system consisting essentially of an anionic surfactant and a zwitterionic surfactant; a preservative; a pH modifier; and a rheology modifier, wherein the ratio of anionic surfactant to zwitterionic surfactant is about 1:1 to about 2.2:1 of the total composition by weight.