Defibrillated Cellulose Microfibrils with Polyols for Low-Shear Redispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Defibrillated primary cell wall material with cellulose microfibrils, having a degree of crystallinity less than 50%, loses structuring properties when dried, requiring high-shear treatment to recover functionality in aqueous media, which is costly and limits its use in shear-sensitive products.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating polyols between the cellulose microfibrils allows for the recovery of structuring properties under low-shear mixing, enabling the use of dry defibrillated primary cell wall material in hair cleansing compositions without additional co-additives, thus reducing energy and cost requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If defibrillated primary cell wall material is dried to reduce bulk and transport energy, then storage and transport efficiency improve, but the material loses structuring properties and requires high-shear treatment to recover functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport energyVSAvoidstructuring properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating polyols into the defibrillated primary cell wall material before drying. This pre-treatment ensures that when the material is later reconstituted in aqueous media, the polyols facilitate rapid redispersion and recovery of structuring properties without requiring high-shear treatment, thus preserving functionality while enabling dry storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polyols as an intermediary substance that mediates between the dried cell wall material and aqueous media. The polyols act as a bridge that enables the dried material to redisperse and regain its structuring properties under low-shear conditions, eliminating the need for high-shear equipment while maintaining reliability of the structuring function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If high-shear treatment is used to recover structuring properties of dried defibrillated primary cell wall material, then functionality is restored, but manufacturing cost and energy input increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructuring propertiesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating polyols into the defibrillated primary cell wall material before drying. This pre-treatment ensures that when the material is later reconstituted in aqueous media, the polyols facilitate rapid redispersion and recovery of structuring properties without requiring high-shear treatment, thus preserving functionality while enabling dry storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polyols as an intermediary substance that mediates between the dried cell wall material and aqueous media. The polyols act as a bridge that enables the dried material to redisperse and regain its structuring properties under low-shear conditions, eliminating the need for high-shear equipment while maintaining reliability of the structuring function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If high-shear treatment is used to recover structuring properties, then functionality is restored, but applicability to shear-sensitive products is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructuring propertiesVSAvoidapplicability to shear-sensitive products
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating polyols into the defibrillated primary cell wall material before drying. This pre-treatment ensures that when the material is later reconstituted in aqueous media, the polyols facilitate rapid redispersion and recovery of structuring properties without requiring high-shear treatment, thus preserving functionality while enabling dry storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses polyols as an intermediary substance that mediates between the dried cell wall material and aqueous media. The polyols act as a bridge that enables the dried material to redisperse and regain its structuring properties under low-shear conditions, eliminating the need for high-shear equipment while maintaining reliability of the structuring function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If co-additives are used to improve dispersibility of dry defibrillated primary cell wall material, then dispersibility improves, but ingredient list complexity increases and consumer acceptance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedispersibilityVSAvoidingredient list
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by using polyols that are already present in or can be easily incorporated into hair care formulations. These polyols self-organize around the cell wall material during low-shear mixing, enabling dispersibility and recovery of structuring properties without requiring additional specialized co-additives, thus keeping the ingredient list simple and consumer-friendly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 use of polyols in dry defibrillated primary cell wall material enables efficient redispersion and recovery of structuring capabilities in aqueous media under low-shear conditions, enhancing the stability and applicability of hair cleansing products while maintaining consumer acceptance with minimal ingredient lists.

Implementation Method 1

the defibrillated primary cell wall material comprises polyol distributed between the fibrils

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS11918678B2Hair cleansing composition
Publication Date: 2024.03.05 CONOPCO INC

AI summary

Hair care cleansing composition comprising—a) from 1 to 50 wt % of a cleansing surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactant, zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactant, non-ionic and mixtures thereof; and b) from 0.01 to 3 wt %, by weight of the total composition, of defibrillated primary cell wall material comprising cellulose microfibrils, wherein • the defibrillated primary cell wall material comprises up to 20 wt. % of water, based on the total weight of the fibrils; and wherein • the cellulose has an average degree of crystallinity of less than 50%, and wherein • the defibrillated primary cell wall material comprises polyols distributed between the fibrils.