Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate in Liquid Cleansing Compositions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current liquid cleansing compositions face challenges in achieving a balance of low skin irritation, mildness, good foaming, and rinsability while minimizing the use of alkanolamides and EO/PO containing components, and there is a need for formulations that utilize naturally derived components to provide multi-functional properties.

Innovation Solution

The use of glyceryl caprylate/caprate as a thickener in non-emulsion, aqueous-based liquid cleansing compositions, which imparts viscosity-building, foaming, and skin-feel enhancing properties, allowing for a reduction in the use of synthetic ingredients and achieving a balance of desired performance characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If emollients are incorporated to enhance skin conditioning, then skin softness and moisturization are improved, but foaming properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin irritation and drynessVSAvoidfoaming ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Glyceryl caprylate/caprate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a thickening agent to provide viscosity, a skin-conditioning emollient to improve softness and moisturization, and a foaming booster to enhance foam volume and stability. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need to choose between skin conditioning and foaming performance.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite ingredient system combining glyceryl caprylate/caprate with surfactants to achieve a balanced formulation. The glyceryl caprylate/caprate (0.1-10% wt) works synergistically with anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, or cationic surfactants to provide both emollient properties and foaming enhancement, resolving the trade-off between skin conditioning and foaming ability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If alkanolamides and EO/PO containing components are used to achieve desired viscosity and foaming, then foaming and viscosity properties are improved, but skin irritation and safety concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoaming and viscosity performanceVSAvoidskin irritation and nitrosamine formation risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces potentially harmful synthetic ingredients (alkanolamides and EO/PO containing components) with a safer alternative: glyceryl caprylate/caprate derived from natural sources (coconut or palm kernel oil). This substitution maintains or improves foaming and viscosity performance while eliminating nitrosamine formation risks and reducing skin irritation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by using glyceryl caprylate/caprate (0.1-10% wt) instead of traditional EO/PO thickeners or alkanolamides. This parameter change achieves the desired viscosity and foaming performance through a different chemical mechanism that does not produce harmful byproducts, resolving the contradiction between performance and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple separate ingredients are used to achieve viscosity, foaming, and skin conditioning properties, then desired performance properties are achieved, but formulation complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin mildness and moisturizationVSAvoidformulation complexity and number of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Glyceryl caprylate/caprate is a multi-functional ingredient that simultaneously provides thickening (viscosity building), skin conditioning (emollient and moisturizing), and foaming enhancement properties. By incorporating this single ingredient at 0.1-10% wt, the formulation achieves multiple performance goals without requiring separate additives for each function, thereby reducing formulation complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges multiple functions (thickening, emollience, and foaming enhancement) into a single ingredient system. Instead of using separate thickeners, emollients, and foaming agents, the glyceryl caprylate/caprate combines these functions, simplifying the formulation and reducing the number of components needed to achieve desired performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Glyceryl caprylate/caprate effectively builds viscosity and enhances foaming properties in surfactant systems, providing improved skin and hair softness, mildness, and moisturization, while reducing the need for EO/PO containing thickeners and alkanolamides, thus addressing industry concerns and trends towards natural ingredients.

Implementation Method 1

glyceryl caprylate/caprate surprisingly imparts multifunctional performance properties to the cleansing composition, including viscosity building properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosity building:

Implementation Method 2

glyceryl caprylate/caprate surprisingly imparts multifunctional performance properties to the cleansing composition, including foaming properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP2285943B1Liquid cleansing compositions
Publication Date: 2016.08.10 STEPAN COMPANY
  • EP2285943B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2285943B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2285943B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid cleansing composition comprising a glyceryl caprylate/caprate ester that provides excellent viscosity-building properties, as well as enhanced foaming properties. The glyceryl caprylate/caprate ester is preferably glyceryl caprylate/caprate, and is preferably obtained by esterifying glycerin with C8-C10 fatty acids derived from coconut or palm kernel oil. The cleansing composition also comprises one or more surfactants, and optional additives, and can be formulated into a body wash, shampoo, 2-in-1 shampoo, facial cleanser, or liquid hand soap.