Crosslinked Polymer Nail Enamel Strips for Quick Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nail polish applications require extensive drying time, especially for French manicures, which involve multiple layers, and often necessitate professional UV light curing and salon visits.
Innovation Solution
Development of self-adhesive nail enamel strips with a cross-linked polymer layer that can be applied at home, featuring a base coat layer with pigments and a transparent top coat layer with cross-linked polymers, cured using UV or thermal methods, allowing for quick application and long-lasting wear without UV light treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid nail polish is applied and dried in air, then the nail can be coated without professional assistance, but the drying time is extensive especially for multiple layers
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is pre-crosslinked during manufacturing before the nail strip is applied to the nail. This preliminary crosslinking action creates a durable coating that doesn't require extended drying time after application, as the crosslinking has already occurred during production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state of the polymer from uncrosslinked to crosslinked, fundamentally altering the drying/curing characteristics. The crosslinked polymer provides immediate durability upon application without requiring the extended evaporation time needed for traditional liquid polishes
2Reliability
If UV light curing is used for nail polish, then long-lasting wear and shine are achieved, but professional salon assistance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The crosslinking action is performed in advance during manufacturing rather than requiring UV light exposure at the time of application. This allows the consumer to apply the strip at home without needing UV lamps or professional equipment, while still achieving the wear resistance of cured polymers
Solution Approach 2:
The UV light curing step is extracted from the application process and moved to the manufacturing process. This removes the need for specialized equipment at the point of use, making the treatment accessible to consumers while maintaining the durability benefits of crosslinked polymers
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple layers of nail polish are applied for French manicure, then fancy designs are created, but the total drying time is greatly increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple enamel layers are pre-applied and pre-crosslinked during manufacturing to create complex designs before the strip reaches the consumer. This allows fancy French manicure designs to be created in advance, eliminating the need for consumers to wait for each layer to dry during application
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple enamel layers with different designs are combined into a single integrated strip during manufacturing. The crosslinked structure binds these layers together, allowing the consumer to apply the entire multi-layer design as one unit rather than applying and drying separate layers sequentially
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 nail enamel strips provide long-lasting wear and shine with minimal application time, eliminating the need for UV light curing and salon visits, enabling easy and quick application of fashionable nail designs, including French manicures.
Implementation Method 1
These liquid nail polish products further have a cross-linking agent to effect the cross-linking of the cross-linkable polymer. The nail polish treatment that is provided by these liquid products is long-lasting, wear-resistant, and has a good shine.
Implementation Method 2
The nail enamel film is sufficiently pliable that it can conform to the contours of a user's nail. After application of the nail enamel film to the user's nail, the nail enamel film is allowed to dry in air to allow residual solvent to evaporate.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a nail enamel strip having a substrate layer and a nail enamel film with one or more nail enamel layers, at least one of the nail enamel layers having a cross-linked polymer. The nail enamel film is detachably adhered to the substrate layer. Further, there is provided a method for making the nail enamel strips, and a method of applying the nail enamel strip on a nail.