Concentrated Conditioning Composition With Flowable Rheology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-based cleansing compositions, such as shampoos and conditioners, often require hydration and mixing by consumers, leading to issues like non-homogeneous products and increased plastic waste, while concentrated forms are difficult to process and package efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated conditioning composition comprising 6-10% fatty alcohol, 1.0-10.0% cationic surfactant or polymer, humectants, and 60-90% water, allowing for direct use without hydration and achieving flowable rheology for easy packaging and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If concentrated conditioning compositions are formulated with high solids content to reduce packaging volume and plastic waste, then environmental sustainability improves, but the composition becomes difficult to process and package in standard containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the concentration ranges of key ingredients: fatty alcohols (6-10%), cationic surfactants/polymers (1.0-10.0%), and water (60-90%). This optimization allows the composition to achieve high concentration (2-2.5x) while maintaining processability and flowable rheology suitable for standard packaging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple conditioning agents (cationic surfactants and/or cationic polymers) with fatty alcohols and humectants in specific ratios. This composite approach enables the formulation to achieve both high concentration and desirable rheological properties that facilitate easy processing and packaging
2Productivity
If conventional concentrates are formulated to reduce water content, then shipping efficiency improves, but consumers face difficulty in hydration and mixing to achieve homogeneous products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-formulating the concentrate with optimal amounts of humectants (0.5-20%) and thickening agents, along with proper rheology modifiers, so that the product is ready for direct use or easy mixing. The composition is designed beforehand to achieve homogeneous mixing and desirable viscosity upon contact with water, eliminating consumer effort in hydration and mixing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by formulating the concentrate with self-thickening capabilities and automatic homogenization properties. The composition contains ingredients that automatically adjust viscosity and ensure uniform distribution when diluted, allowing the product to serve itself without requiring consumer intervention for proper hydration and mixing
3Reliability
If high levels of conditioning agents are used to maintain performance in concentrated form, then product efficacy is maintained, but viscosity increases making the composition non-flowable and difficult to expel from containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the total conditioning agent content (1.0-10.0%) and adjusting the ratio between cationic surfactants and cationic polymers. It also controls fatty alcohol content (6-10%) and includes rheology modifiers to maintain optimal viscosity, ensuring the concentrated composition remains flowable and easily expelable from containers while preserving product efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediaries by incorporating humectants (such as glycerin, propylene glycol, butylene glycol) and thickening agents that act as mediators between the conditioning agents and water. These intermediaries help regulate viscosity and flow properties, allowing high levels of conditioning agents to be present without making the composition non-flowable
Data Source
AI summary
A concentrated conditioning composition comprises: 6 to 10% by weight of a fatty alcohol; 1.0 to 10.0% by weight of a conditioning agent comprising a cationic surfactant, cationic polymers, or a combination thereof; a humectant, wherein the humectant comprises propylene glycol, butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerin, triethylene glycol, erythritol, capryl glycol, hyaluronic acid, polypropylene glycol-7 proypyl heptyl ether, or a combination thereof; a thickening agent; and 60 to 90% by weight of water. The concentrated conditioning composition has a level of concentration of 2.5, preferably wherein the level of concentration is 2.0, as compared to a base, non-concentrated conditioning composition.