Fluorinated Anionic Polyelectrolyte Reduces Glycerin Stickiness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations containing glycerin face issues with stickiness, which is compounded by the need for silicone oils to mitigate this effect, but the use of silicone oils is undesirable due to handling complexities and consumer perception.

Innovation Solution

Development of linear, branched, or crosslinked anionic polyelectrolytes derived from polymerization of fluorinated monomers with strong acid functions, which effectively reduce or eliminate stickiness without requiring silicone derivatives, by forming high molecular weight polymers that thicken aqueous phases over a wide pH range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If silicone oils are added to limit or eliminate the sticky effect of glycerin, then the stickiness is reduced, but the preparation complexity increases and consumer perception deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestickinessVSAvoidpreparation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for silicone oils by using a specifically designed anionic polyelectrolyte that directly addresses the stickiness problem. The polymer contains fluorinated alkyl chains and strong acid functions that interact with glycerin to reduce stickiness without requiring silicone additives, thus removing the harmful dependency on silicone oils while simplifying the formulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the thickening agent by using a novel anionic polyelectrolyte with specific structural features (fluorinated monomers with strong acid functions). This parameter change allows the polymer to directly modify the surface properties and reduce stickiness of glycerin-containing formulations without needing silicone oils, thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing stickiness and maintaining formulation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If silicone oils are added to reduce stickiness, then the sticky effect is limited, but consumer perception worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesticky effectVSAvoidconsumer perception
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes silicone oils from the formulation by using an anionic polyelectrolyte that inherently provides anti-stick properties. The polymer's fluorinated structure and strong acid functions create a non-sticky surface without requiring silicone additives, thus eliminating the consumer perception issue associated with silicone oils while maintaining the desired low-stickiness effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite polymer structure combining fluorinated monomers (for low surface energy and anti-stick properties) with strong acid function monomers (for thickening and stability). This composite material approach creates a single integrated thickening agent that provides both thickening and anti-stick functions without needing separate silicone oil components, thereby improving consumer perception while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Force

If conventional thickening polymers are used to increase viscosity, then the thickening performance is achieved, but the ability to reduce stickiness without silicone oils is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviscosityVSAvoidstickiness
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal anionic polyelectrolyte that performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a thickening agent (providing viscosity) and as an anti-stick agent (reducing stickiness). The polymer's dual functionality eliminates the need for separate silicone oil additives, allowing a single material to address both thickening and stickiness control requirements that conventional polymers could not achieve alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite polymer structure integrating fluorinated chains (providing low surface energy for anti-stick properties) with strong acid functional groups (providing thickening capability). This composite material design allows the single polymer to deliver both high viscosity and low stickiness, resolving the limitation of conventional thickening polymers that could only provide viscosity control without addressing stickiness.

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 anionic polyelectrolytes provide significant thickening performance while inhibiting stickiness, allowing for the formulation of glycerin-containing products without silicone oils, enhancing handling and consumer acceptance.

Implementation Method 1

natural polymers such as xanthan or guar gums are quite widely used but have the classic disadvantages of natural products (fluctuating quality and prices). This is why synthetic thickening polymers are widely used to increase the viscosity of creams, emulsions and various topical solutions.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilic polymer thickening:

Implementation Method 2

They found that polymer powders resulting from the precipitating polymerization of fluorinated monomers and monomers possessing a strong acid function solved these problems.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymer-glycerin interaction:

Data Source

PatentEP2806852B1New thickening polymer reducing the stickiness of glycerine-based cosmetic formulas
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 SOC DEXPLOITATION DE PROD POUR LES IND CHEM SEPPIC

AI summary

A linear, branched or cross-linked anionic polyelectrolyte, resulting from the polymerisation, for 100 molar per cent: a) of a molar proportion greater than or equal to 50% and less than or equal to 99% of monomeric units derived from a monomer comprising a strong, free and partially or completely salified acid function; b) of a molar proportion greater than or equal to 1% and less than or equal to 50% of a monomer of formula (I): CH2=CH(R1)-C(=0)-0-(CH2)n-CF3 (I), formula (I) wherein the radical R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, and n represents an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3; c) optionally of a molar proportion greater than 0% and less than or equal to 5 molar per cent, of monomeric units derived from at least one monomer of formula (II): R2-C(=0)-0-[(CH2-CH(R4)-0]m-R3 (II), formula (II) wherein m represents a number greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 50, R2 represents an unsaturated aliphatic monovalent radical comprising from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl radical or an ethyl radical and R3 represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon aliphatic radical, comprising from 8 to 30 carbon atoms, and d) optionally of a molar proportion greater than 0% and less than or equal to 5% of at least one monomer with diethylenic or polyethylenic cross-linking. The use thereof as a thickener in topical compositions.