Oil-in-Water Emulsion via Intermediate Phase Surfactant System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional emulsification methods for oil-in-water type emulsions face challenges in incorporating various oil agents, particularly low-molecular-weight polar oils, leading to limited formulation freedom and stability issues, with high surfactant amounts causing filminess when applied to the skin.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the formation of an intermediate phase by mixing surfactants that form Lα and H1 phases with water, allowing for efficient emulsification of diverse oil agents with reduced surfactant amounts, enhancing temporal and temperature stability and skin feel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large amount of surfactant is incorporated to improve emulsion stability, then emulsion stability is improved, but filminess occurs when applied to the skin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidfilminess
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the surfactant system by selecting specific HLB value ranges (10-16 for first surfactant, 3-10 for second surfactant) and controlling their concentration ratio (70-99.9% and 0.1-30% respectively). This parameter optimization enables stable emulsification with reduced surfactant total amount, thereby preventing filminess while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite surfactant system comprising two different types of surfactants with complementary HLB values. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the combination of surfactants provides superior emulsion stability at lower total concentrations compared to single surfactant systems, thus reducing filminess.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional emulsification methods are used, then emulsification can be achieved, but formulation freedom is limited and temporal stability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemulsification capabilityVSAvoidformulation freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention establishes specific parameter ranges for surfactant HLB values and concentration ratios that enable versatile formulation design. By defining first surfactant HLB (10-16) and second surfactant HLB (3-10) with specific concentration ratios, the method provides a flexible framework that can accommodate various oil agents including low-molecular-weight polar oils, achieving both ease of manufacture and formulation freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If high polarity oil agents are used to achieve refreshing feel, then refreshing feel is improved, but emulsion stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefreshing feelVSAvoidemulsion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a composite surfactant system with complementary HLB values that creates synergistic emulsification effects. This composite approach provides sufficient interfacial stabilization even for high polarity oil agents, enabling the use of refreshing oils without compromising emulsion stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 method enables the production of oil-in-water emulsions with excellent stability and a refreshing feel, reducing surfactant usage and filminess, while effectively emulsifying a wide range of oil agents, resulting in a stable and cosmetically effective composition.

Implementation Method 1

a first surfactant which forms an Lα phase in at least one aqueous solution having a concentration of 40 to 80% by mass, and a second surfactant which forms an H1 phase in at least one aqueous solution having a concentration of 40 to 80% by mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal phase formation: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

surface chemical techniques utilizing the interfacial tension-reducing ability of surfactants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

emulsification methods have been proposed and, generally speaking, surface chemical techniques utilizing the interfacial tension-reducing ability of surfactants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Implementation Method 4

the interfacial tension-reducing ability of surfactants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterfacial tension reduction: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3391872B1Oil-in-water type emulsion composition and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 POLA CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES INC
  • EP3391872B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3391872B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3391872B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Provided are: an oil-in-water type emulsion composition which has excellent temporal and temperature stability and exerts a good feeling of use; and a method of producing the same. Emulsification is carried out through a specific intermediate phase formed by mixing a surfactant capable of forming an Lα phase, a surfactant capable of forming an H1 phase, and water. The intermediate phase preferably has an interfacial tension of 0.01 to 8 mN/m in terms of relative value with respect to polyperfluoromethylisopropyl ether. The oil-in-water type emulsion composition is produced by a production method that includes the step of sequentially adding an oil phase component and an aqueous phase component to the intermediate phase. In addition, it is preferred to use a combination of a first surfactant and a second surfactant, in which combination the viscosity of a mixed aqueous solution of the first and second surfactants is less than half of the sum of the viscosity values of individual aqueous solutions of the first and second surfactants at the same concentration as the total concentration of the surfactants in the mixed aqueous solution.