Cellulose Ether Spherical Microparticles Without Spray-Drying Shrinkage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing spherical microparticles from natural materials in cosmetics use carbon disulfide, which is an environmental pollutant, and result in particle shrinkage and poor texture, leading to insufficient tactile sensation and moisture retention.

Innovation Solution

A method using a W/O type emulsion of low-substituted cellulose ether, prepared with environmentally friendly raw materials, followed by precipitation coagulation, to produce spherical microparticles with specific particle size, sphericity, and surface smoothness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If spray-drying is used to rapidly evaporate water from low-substituted cellulose ether dispersion solution, then production efficiency is improved, but particle shrinkage occurs resulting in poor sphericity and surface smoothness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidsphericity and surface smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses solvent exchange and controlled phase transition instead of rapid spray-drying evaporation. The dispersion solution undergoes controlled solvent removal through phase transition, allowing particles to maintain their spherical shape and surface smoothness while still achieving efficient production through the controlled process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary actions by first forming the spherical particles through controlled coagulation and solvent exchange before final drying. This preliminary structuring ensures that particles maintain their shape and surface quality throughout the subsequent drying process, avoiding the shrinkage that occurs with direct spray-drying

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If carbon disulfide is used to produce viscose solution for spherical microparticles, then production method is simplified, but environmental pollution occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction method simplicityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the harmful carbon disulfide solvent with environmentally friendly alternatives while maintaining the effectiveness of the viscose solution production process. This substitution converts a harmful manufacturing approach into a beneficial one, eliminating pollution while preserving production simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the solvent system by replacing carbon disulfide with alternative solvents that achieve the same functional results without environmental harm. This parameter change maintains the ease of manufacture while eliminating the harmful effects of carbon disulfide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If low-substituted cellulose ether spherical microparticle is added in small amount, then cosmetic composition safety is improved, but tactile sensation and moisture retention may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecosmetic composition safetyVSAvoidtactile sensation quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the microparticles by optimizing their size distribution, sphericity, and surface smoothness. These parameter changes enhance the tactile sensation and moisture retention properties, allowing effective performance even at low concentrations while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention emphasizes the spherical shape of the microparticles, optimizing their sphericity to improve tactile sensation. The spherical geometry with smooth surfaces provides better skin feel and moisture retention, enabling effective performance at lower concentrations while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 resulting spherical microparticles provide a pleasant tactile sensation and excellent moisture retention properties in cosmetic compositions, even with a small amount added.

Implementation Method 1

subjecting the W/O type emulsion to a precipitation coagulation treatment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation coagulation: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentUS20250345262A1Low-substituted cellulose ether spherical microparticle, and cosmetic composition using the same, as well as method of producing low-substituted cellulose spherical microparticle

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

A low-substituted cellulose ether spherical microparticle having an average particle size (D50) of primary particles on a volume basis by a dry laser diffraction method of 1 μm to 30 μm, a sphericity of 0.75 to 1.0, and a surface smoothness of 75% to 100%, and the like.