Benefit Agent Emulsions for Consumer Product Deposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing consumer product compositions face challenges in effectively depositing hydrophobic benefit agents onto negatively charged surfaces due to interference from anionic surfactants, leading to poor shelf stability, increased deposition of undesired substances, and reduced efficacy of benefit agents.

Innovation Solution

A benefit agent emulsion is created with a cationic deposition aid that is pre-adsorbed onto the benefit agent, forming a stable emulsion that is then combined with other composition ingredients, allowing for efficient deposition and retention of hydrophobic benefit agents on surfaces like hair, skin, and fabric without unwanted substances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If cationic polymers are used as deposition aids in cleansing products containing anionic surfactants, then benefit agent deposition is improved, but shelf stability deteriorates due to complex formation and flocculation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebenefit agent depositionVSAvoidshelf stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific cationic polymer with controlled molecular weight (10,000-1,000,000 Daltons) and charge density (1-10 mmol/g) as an intermediary that mediates between the anionic surfactant and hydrophobic benefit agent. This intermediary forms stable complexes that prevent direct interaction between surfactants and benefit agents, thereby maintaining shelf stability while enabling effective deposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes specific parameters of the cationic polymer including molecular weight (10,000-1,000,000 Daltons), charge density (1-10 mmol/g), and concentration (0.1-10% by weight). These parameter changes ensure the polymer forms stable complexes with anionic surfactants without causing flocculation, resolving the contradiction between deposition efficiency and shelf stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If deposition aids are used to increase benefit agent deposition, then benefit delivery is improved, but undesired materials such as soil are also deposited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebenefit agent depositionVSAvoidundesired material deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating microenvironments around hydrophobic benefit agents through cationic polymer complexes. The polymer locally concentrates benefit agents at the interface between the aqueous surfactant solution and the substrate, enabling selective deposition of benefit agents while excluding undesired materials like soil through controlled local interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure consisting of cationic polymer-benefit agent-surfactant complexes. This composite material has selective affinity for the substrate, where the cationic polymer provides deposition capability, the hydrophobic benefit agent provides the desired function, and the complex structure prevents co-deposition of undesired materials through controlled interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If anionic surfactants are used in cleansing products, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but hydrophobic benefit agent deposition deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficacyVSAvoidbenefit agent deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cationic polymer serves as a mediator that bridges the anionic surfactant and hydrophobic benefit agent. It forms stable complexes with the anionic surfactant, preventing direct adsorption of surfactants onto the benefit agent, thereby maintaining both cleaning efficacy and benefit agent deposition capability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enhances the deposition and retention of benefit agents, improving the delivery of benefits such as hair conditioning, skin moisturizing, and fabric softening while minimizing the deposition of undesired materials, thus providing effective and cost-efficient consumer products.

Implementation Method 1

a cationic deposition aid which may be adsorbed to the surface of the benefit agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

facilitate increased deposition and retention of benefit agents contained therein onto a substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9993418B2Benefit agent emulsions and consumer products containing such emulsions
Publication Date: 2018.06.12 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Consumer product compositions providing enhanced hydrophobic benefit agent deposition. The benefit agent is provided as a benefit agent/deposition aid emulsion, where the benefit agent is physically adsorbed to the deposition aid before the emulsion is added to the balance of ingredients.