Foamable Oil-Water Emulsion Stability and Propellant Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foamable cosmetic emulsions lack long-term stability, often separating into oil and water phases, making them unsuitable for fixed foaming devices and requiring mechanical shaking, which is not feasible in all applications, and they rely on synthetic propellants that can be environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
A foamable oil-in-water emulsion with a water content of 70% and surfactant content between 0.01% and 10% by weight, comprising nonionic emulsifiers, cosurfactants, oils, and polar solubilizers, which maintains stability for three months at various temperatures without the need for shaking and eliminates the use of synthetic propellants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional foamable emulsions are used, then foam formation is achieved, but long-term stability is lost and phase separation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the emulsion system by using microemulsion technology with specific surfactant concentrations (0.01-10% by weight) and oil phase fractions (10-40% by weight), achieving both stability and foamability through optimized compositional parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite emulsion system combining multiple components: nonionic surfactants, fatty acid esters, oils, and water in specific ratios to form a microemulsion that inherently resists phase separation while maintaining foam generation capability
2Ease of operation
If emulsions require shaking for stability, then homogeneity is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to mechanical requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The microemulsion formulation is designed to be self-stabilizing through its compositional structure, automatically maintaining homogeneity without requiring external mechanical intervention such as shaking or stirring before use
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the surfactant-to-oil ratio and using specific microemulsion formulations with low interfacial tension, the system achieves spontaneous stability that eliminates the need for operational shaking
3Productivity
If synthetic propellants are used for foam generation, then foamability is improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates synthetic propellant gases from the formulation, replacing them with air or inert gases that have no environmental harm, while maintaining foam generation through surfactant-based mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful role of propellants into a beneficial surfactant-based foam generation system that uses benign materials, turning an environmental problem into a sustainable solution
4Reliability
If high surfactant amounts are used for foam stability, then foam quality improves, but skin irritation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the surfactant concentration parameter to a narrow range (0.01-10% by weight), achieving the minimum effective concentration that provides sufficient foam stability while remaining below irritation thresholds for skin contact
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 emulsion achieves long-term stability, allowing use in fixed foaming devices without mechanical aids, reduces skin irritation due to lower surfactant amounts, and ensures rapid skin absorption of the foam, providing a pleasant feel and improved compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
A foamable oil-in-water emulsion comprising: A) one or more emulsifiers, where at least one nonionic emulsifier is present, B) one or more cosurfactants, C) one or more oils, D) optionally one or more polar solubilizers
Implementation Method 2
F) one or more surfactants, with the proviso that the water content of the emulsion is 70% by weight and the content of surfactant(s) (F) is from 0.01 to less than 10% by weight
Implementation Method 3
at least one nonionic emulsifier is present
Implementation Method 4
D) optionally one or more polar solubilizers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to foamable oil-in-water emulsions containing: A) one or more emulsifiers, at least one of which is a non-ionic emulsifier, B) one or more cotensides, C) one or more oils, D) optionally, one or more polar solubilizers, E) optionally, auxiliary and additive substances, F) one or more surfactants, G) water, H) optionally, water-soluble substances, provided that the water content of the emulsion is ≧70% by weight and the concentration of surfactant(s) F) is from 0.01 to less than 10% by weight, each based on the entire emulsion. The invention further relates to a method for producing the oil-water emulsions according to the invention, to foams obtained from these oil-water emulsions, to a method for producing the foams, and to the application of the oil-water emulsions according to the invention and to the foams produced therefrom.