Conditioning Gel Phase Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair conditioning compositions fail to achieve superior conditioning benefits while maintaining a non-greasy feel the next day, as they often result in excessive solid deposition leading to lank hair.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a conditioning gel phase is developed, where the mixture of molten fatty alcohol and an aqueous isotropic solution of cationic surfactant is maintained at a controlled temperature of 55°C to 65°C, with careful temperature management and controlled addition of water and ingredients to achieve improved conditioning capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If materials are mixed in water at around 70°C using standard processes, then the conditioning composition can be manufactured, but the conditioner thickness and next-day clean feel are inferior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from the conventional 70°C to a lower range of 55-65°C during the mixing of fatty alcohol and aqueous isotropic solution. This parameter change fundamentally alters the gel phase structure formation, enabling superior conditioning performance with improved thickness and next-day clean feel while using lower solids levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by carefully controlling and maintaining the temperature at 55-65°C before and during the mixing process. The fatty alcohol is pre-heated to 80-85°C to maintain it in liquid phase prior to addition, and the mixture temperature is controlled by modifying the temperature/rate of addition. This preliminary temperature control ensures the right gel phase structure forms from the outset.
2Reliability
If higher solids levels are used to achieve superior conditioning, then conditioning benefits improve, but the hair becomes lank and greasy the following day due to excessive deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter to 55-65°C (lower than conventional 70°C) which fundamentally alters how the conditioning composition interacts with hair. This parameter change enables superior conditioning benefits to be achieved with lower solids levels (0.01-10% fatty alcohol), preventing excessive deposition that causes lank and greasy hair the next day.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions by maintaining fatty alcohol in liquid phase (pre-heating to 80-85°C) before mixing, then controlling the mixture temperature to form a specific gel phase structure. The controlled phase behavior during mixing and cooling creates an optimized conditioning composition that delivers benefits without excessive solids deposition.
3Ease of manufacture
If the temperature of the mixture is not carefully controlled, then the process is simpler, but the right conditioning gel phase structure cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a specific temperature parameter range of 55-65°C (most preferably 60°C) for the mixing process. This parameter specification balances manufacturing feasibility with achieving the right gel phase structure. The temperature is controlled by modifying the temperature/rate of addition of fatty alcohol to the aqueous isotropic solution, providing a practical control method.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating fatty alcohol to 80-85°C to maintain it in liquid phase before addition, and by controlling the mixture temperature through modified temperature/rate of addition. This preliminary preparation simplifies the manufacturing process while ensuring the right gel phase structure forms, as the materials are already in the optimal state for mixing.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the weight ratio of cationic surfactant to fatty alcohol is too high, then eye irritancy increases, but if too low, then hair feels squeaky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the weight ratio parameter of cationic surfactant to fatty alcohol to specific ranges (from 1:1 to 1:10, preferably 1:1.5 to 1:8, optimally 1:2 to 1:5). This parameter optimization simultaneously reduces eye irritancy (by not using excessive cationic surfactant) and prevents squeaky hair feel (by maintaining sufficient ratio). The temperature parameter change to 55-65°C also influences this balance by affecting gel phase structure and ingredient interaction.
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 process results in a conditioner with superior thickness and next-day clean feel, despite lower solids levels, demonstrating enhanced conditioning performance and efficient use of ingredients.
Implementation Method 1
the fatty alcohol is maintained at a temperature sufficient to maintain the fatty alcohol in a liquid phase
Implementation Method 2
The improvement thus resides in the balance of thermal energy at the point of mixing the fatty alcohol with the isotropic mixture
Data Source
AI summary
Process for making a conditioning gel phase comprising: forming an aqueous isotropic solution of cationic surfactant; mixing the aqueous isotropic solution of cationic surfactant withmoltenfatty alcohol wherein the temperature during mixing the fatty alcohol with the isotropic cationic surfactant solution is maintained from 55oC to 65oC.