Foamable Personal Care Composition Continuous Oil Phase Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Formulating continuous oil phase personal care compositions with desirable phase stability and high solid synthetic cleansing surfactant concentrations has been challenging, as solid surfactant particles tend to separate over time, and conventional stabilization methods can interfere with foam formation and lathering.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a small amount of fatty acid soap crystals (0.5 to 10% by weight) into the continuous oil phase of foamable fluid compositions, which aids in forming a microstructure that improves storage stability and surfactant release, allowing for high loadings of solid synthetic cleansing surfactants and maintaining lather properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If solid synthetic cleansing surfactant particles are dispersed in continuous oil phase, then high surfactant concentration is achieved, but phase stability deteriorates and particle separation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Fatty acid soap crystals serve as intermediary particles between the continuous oil phase and solid synthetic surfactant particles. These soap crystals form a microstructure that acts as a stabilizing network, preventing direct separation of surfactant particles from the oil phase while maintaining high surfactant concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition creates a composite system combining continuous oil phase, solid synthetic surfactant particles, and fatty acid soap crystals. This composite structure leverages the complementary properties of each component: the oil phase provides continuity, the surfactant particles provide cleansing function at high concentration, and the soap crystals provide structural stabilization.
2Stability of the object's composition
If viscosity modifiers and thickening agents are added to stabilize particle suspension, then phase stability is improved, but foam formation and lathering are impeded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using conventional viscosity modifiers that persist in the system and interfere with foam formation, the invention employs fatty acid soap crystals that provide temporary structural support during storage but do not interfere with the surfactant's foam-generating function during use. The soap crystals effectively 'disappear' or become inactive during the foaming process, allowing normal lathering.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional water-based compositions are used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but concentrate formation becomes problematic and gel formation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention fundamentally changes the continuous phase from water-based to oil-based. This parameter change eliminates the gel formation problem associated with water-based concentrates while maintaining ease of manufacture. The oil phase provides a stable medium for surfactant dispersion without the viscosity and gelation issues that plague water-based concentrate formulations.
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 compositions exhibit enhanced storage stability, viscosity, and lather generation, with the fatty acid soap crystals providing a thickening mechanism that prevents sedimentation and gelation, enabling creamy foam production without the need for heating and cooling steps in production.
Implementation Method 1
the fatty acid soap crystals providing a thickening mechanism that prevents sedimentation
Implementation Method 2
the fatty acid soap crystals providing a thickening mechanism
Implementation Method 3
a continuous oil phase in which is dispersed fatty acid soap crystals and solid synthetic cleansing surfactant
Implementation Method 4
In use, the composition is diluted with water, dissolving and releasing the surfactant and generating lather
Data Source
AI summary
A foamable, fluid personal cleansing composition having a continuous oil phase comprising at least one carrier oil, the continuous oil phase having fatty acid soap crystals and solid synthetic cleansing surfactant dispersed therein.