Foaming Cleanser Viscosity Control for Foam Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Foaming hand soaps typically have low viscosity, leading to runny and messy foam that does not stand up for a significant period, and lack enhanced skin feel properties.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous foamable composition comprising castor oil maleate, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, glycerin, surfactant, and optionally PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides, with glycerin present in greater amounts than other ingredients, providing a viscosity of 1 to 100 mPas, which enhances foam stand-up and skin feel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the viscosity of foaming hand soap is kept very low for easy dispensing through a foaming dispenser, then the dispensing function is improved, but the foam stand-up time decreases and the foam becomes runny and messy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispensing easeVSAvoidfoam stand-up time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the viscosity parameter of the foaming cleanser from the conventional very low viscosity (for easy dispensing) to a higher viscosity range of 10 to 1000 cP. This parameter change allows the cleanser to maintain foam structure and stand-up time while still being dispensable through foaming dispensers, thereby resolving the contradiction between dispensing ease and foam stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the viscosity of foaming hand soap is increased to improve foam stand-up time, then the foam stability is improved, but the dispensing through foaming dispenser becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoam stand-up timeVSAvoiddispensing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the viscosity parameter to a specific range of 10 to 1000 cP, which is high enough to provide foam stand-up time but low enough to allow dispensing through conventional foaming dispensers. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between foam stability and dispensing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional foaming cleansers are used with low viscosity, then they can be easily dispensed, but they lack enhanced skin feel properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispensing easeVSAvoidskin feel quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the viscosity parameter to 10-1000 cP and formulates the cleanser with specific ingredients (surfactants, co-surfactants, and conditioning agents) to provide enhanced skin feel properties. This allows the cleanser to maintain dispensing ease while adding the desired skin feel quality that was previously compromised by low viscosity formulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3348630B1Foaming cleanser
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

An aqueous, foamable composition comprising castor oil maleate, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, glycerin, surfactant, and optionally PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides. The composition is useful as a foaming cleanser that dispenses a foam that has enhanced skin feel and optionally increased foam stand up so that it is less runny and messy.