Anion-Modified Cellulose Composition for Clear Stable Thickening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing viscous aqueous compositions containing cellulose fiber suffer from poor transparency, thickening performance, and insufficient emulsifying power, especially when combined with oil-based raw materials or water-miscible organic solvents, leading to viscosity loss.

Innovation Solution

A viscous aqueous composition comprising anion-modified cellulose fiber with specific monoamines having varying organic values and a controlled molar ratio, combined with water, to enhance transparency, thickening, and emulsifying power, even in the presence of water-miscible organic solvents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If cellulose fiber is insufficiently defibrated to maintain composition stability, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but transparency and thickening performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition stabilityVSAvoidtransparency and thickening performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by specifying precise defibration conditions (microfluidizer pressure of 50-200 MPa, number of passes 1-10) to control the degree of cellulose fiber segmentation. This transforms the physical state of cellulose from insufficiently defibrated to properly defibrated, achieving both transparency and thickening performance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled processing parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining defibrated cellulose fiber with specific anionic surfactants (having HLB value 8-18) and optional co-surfactants. This composite approach enhances both transparency and thickening performance through synergistic interactions between components, while the surfactant system stabilizes the emulsion without requiring excessive defibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If cellulose fiber is sufficiently defibrated to improve transparency and thickening performance, then emulsifying power for oil-based raw materials becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransparency and thickening performanceVSAvoidemulsifying power
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two distinct functional systems: defibrated cellulose fiber (providing transparency and thickening) and anionic surfactants (providing emulsifying power). The surfactant is grafted onto or associated with the cellulose fiber structure, creating a hybrid material that simultaneously delivers segmentation performance and emulsification capability for oil-based raw materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a composite material where anionic surfactants are integrated with defibrated cellulose fiber. The surfactant components (with HLB 8-18) compensate for the loss of emulsifying power during defibration, while the cellulose backbone maintains transparency and thickening. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between defibration benefits and emulsification requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If water-miscible organic solvent is added to achieve desired formulation, then viscosity decreases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation flexibilityVSAvoidviscosity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-grafting hydrophobic surfactant chains onto the cellulose fiber structure before adding water-miscible organic solvents. This preliminary modification creates steric and electrostatic barriers that prevent solvent-induced viscosity collapse, allowing the formulation to tolerate high concentrations of alcohols or other water-miscible solvents while maintaining adequate viscosity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system where the surfactant-modified cellulose fiber acts as a viscosity-stabilizing network even in the presence of water-miscible organic solvents. The surfactant components interact with both the cellulose structure and the organic solvent, creating a stabilized composite that maintains viscosity despite solvent addition, thereby achieving formulation flexibility without sacrificing thickening performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 achieves high transparency, strong thickening performance, and effective emulsifying power for oil-based raw materials, while maintaining viscosity when mixed with water-miscible solvents, suitable for use in skin external preparations.

Implementation Method 1

an anion-modified cellulose fiber in which anionic groups form salts with monoamines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonic bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

in the case of being added together with, for example, oil-based raw materials to try to obtain emulsion compositions, emulsifying power for the oil-based raw materials is insufficient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Data Source

PatentUS12551427B2Viscous aqueous composition and skin external preparation
Publication Date: 2026.02.17 DKS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a viscous aqueous composition that has high transparency and high thickening performance, has high emulsifying power for oil-based raw material, or exerts strongly, in the case of being mixed with a water-miscible organic solvent, a viscosity retention effect.A viscous aqueous composition according to an embodiment includes (a) an anion-modified cellulose fiber including anionic groups forming salts with monoamines, and including, as the monoamines, a monoamine (A) having, in an organic conceptual diagram, an organic value of 200 or more and a monoamine (B) having an organic value of less than 200, and (b) water.