Cationic Dextran Hair Conditioner for Slip With Less Rinse Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for new hair conditioning agents that provide conditioning benefits and have a higher natural origin index compared to conventional silicone-based agents, while addressing concerns about the persistence and potential toxicity of silicone compounds.
Innovation Solution
A hair conditioner formulation using a cationic dextran polymer functionalized with quaternary ammonium groups, with a molecular weight of 50,000 to 3,000,000 Daltons, which acts as a conditioning polymer to restore hydrophobicity and reduce combing force on treated hair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional conditioner formulations are used to achieve adequate slip and detangling, then conditioning performance is improved, but the product becomes excessively foamy and requires large amounts of water for rinsing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the conditioner by incorporating specific ingredients (polyquaternium-55, behentrimonium methosulfonate, and/or cetrimonium chloride) at controlled concentrations. These parameter changes reduce excessive foaming while preserving slip and detangling performance, thereby reducing water required for rinsing.
2Quantity of substance
If conditioner formulations are designed to be non-foamy, then water consumption is reduced, but the product lacks adequate slip and detangling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material formulations combining multiple conditioning agents (polyquaternium-55, behentrimonium methosulfonate, and/or cetrimonium chloride) with specific surfactant systems. This composite approach provides adequate slip and detangling while controlling foam generation, reducing water consumption during rinsing.
3Ease of operation
If cationic polymers are used to provide conditioning benefits, then hair combability is improved, but the product becomes excessively foamy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific cationic polymers (polyquaternium-55) with controlled molecular weights and charge densities. This localized optimization of polymer properties provides conditioning benefits and improves combability while minimizing excessive foaming through precise molecular characteristic selection.
4Ease of operation
If conditioning agents are increased to improve detangling, then ease of combing is enhanced, but the formulation becomes unstable and overly foamy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of conditioning agents within specific ranges (polyquaternium-55: 0.01-5%, behentrimonium methosulfonate: 0.1-5%, cetrimonium chloride: 0.1-5%). These parameter changes maintain formulation stability while providing adequate detangling performance without excessive foaming.
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 formulation effectively restores hydrophobicity to damaged hair and reduces the force required to comb treated hair, providing improved conditioning benefits without the use of silicone-based agents.
Implementation Method 1
rinse-off conditioners which rely on electrostatic attraction to a negatively charged hair surface
Implementation Method 2
surfactants and other ingredients commonly associated with shampoos, such as foaming agents, builders, and the like
Data Source
AI summary
A hair conditioner formulation is provided, comprising: a dermatologically acceptable vehicle; and a conditioning polymer, wherein the conditioning polymer is a cationic dextran polymer, comprising a dextran polymer functionalized with quaternary ammonium groups; wherein the dextran polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 3,000,000 Daltons; wherein the quaternary ammonium groups are selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium moieties of formula (A) bound to a pendent oxygen on the dextran polymer wherein is a pendent oxygen on the dextran polymer; wherein X is a divalent linking group bonding the quaternary ammonium moiety to the pendent oxygen on the dextran polymer; wherein each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of a C1-3 alkyl group; and wherein each R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of a linear or branched C4-16 alkyl group.