High Viscosity Gel Cleansing Compositions with Polymeric Thickeners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleansing compositions face challenges in achieving high viscosity and stability while maintaining emollient and cleansing benefits, especially with high oil and silicone content, which typically reduce viscosity and cause phase separation.
Innovation Solution
A gel cleansing composition incorporating a high-electrolyte polymeric thickener, such as acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, combined with an anionic surfactant like disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, which creates a high viscosity and stable gel-like texture without emulsifiers, even with up to 40% oil content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high amounts of oil (up to 40% wt%) are added to provide emollient benefits, then the cleansing and moisturizing performance is improved, but the viscosity decreases and phase separation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific polymeric thickener as an intermediary substance that mediates between the oil phase and water phase. This polymer forms a stable network structure that entraps oil droplets, preventing phase separation while maintaining high viscosity even at 40% oil content. The polymer acts as a structural scaffold that holds the emulsion together without requiring traditional emulsifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the thickening agent by selecting a polymer with specific properties: high electrolyte tolerance, high compatibility with anionic surfactants, and high viscosity-building capability. By changing the parameter of oil content from conventional limits to up to 40% wt%, the patent achieves both high emollient benefit and stable gel structure through the synergistic interaction between the polymer and anionic surfactant.
2Reliability
If silicone is added to aid in combability, then the cosmetic performance is improved, but the viscosity of the shampoo decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite system combining the polymeric thickener with anionic surfactants and silicone. This composite material approach allows the silicone to provide combability benefits while the polymer network maintains overall viscosity. The synergistic interaction between components enables each ingredient to contribute its primary function without compromising the others, achieving both high viscosity and improved combability.
3Reliability
If conventional surfactant cleansers include emulsifier and high oil content, then emollient benefits are improved, but stability deteriorates due to phase separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates traditional emulsifiers from the formulation, relying instead on the unique combination of polymeric thickener and anionic surfactant. This extraction of unnecessary components simplifies the formulation while achieving the desired stability through the polymer-surfactant synergistic system that can stabilize high oil content without conventional emulsifying agents.
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 composition achieves high viscosity and stability, maintaining a firm structure and foaming capacity, even at elevated temperatures, for extended periods without phase separation, providing a light and fresh skin feel.
Implementation Method 1
The gel cleansing composition includes a polymeric thickener having a high electrolyte property... The cleansing composition is a gel having a viscosity greater than 25,000 cps
Implementation Method 2
The gel cleansing composition includes an anionic surfactant that is not a sulfate... providing a light and fresh skin feel
Data Source
AI summary
A cleansing composition includes at least one polymeric thickener having a high electrolyte property and at least one anionic surfactant. The cleansing composition is a gel having a viscosity greater than 25,000 cps. In some embodiments, the cleansing composition is essentially free of sulfates and is essentially free of emulsifiers. In some embodiments, the at least one anionic surfactant includes at least one anionic sulfate surfactant, and the cleansing composition is essentially free of salt.