Hair Shaft (Meth)Acrylate Polymerization for Internal Damage Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair treatments primarily focus on superficially improving the appearance of damaged hair, failing to effectively repair internal structural damage caused by environmental exposure, physical abuse, and chemical treatments, leading to weakened and vulnerable hair that is prone to further damage.
Innovation Solution
A non-aqueous hair treatment composition containing (meth)acrylate monomers, di(meth)acrylate monomers, trifunctional monomers, and polymerization initiators, which undergo thermal or photopolymerization within the hair shaft to strengthen and repair internal damage, enhancing properties such as break force and elastic modulus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional hair products (gels, lotions, creams, masques) are used to improve hair appearance, then visual appearance is temporarily improved, but the hair remains in a weakened state and is more vulnerable to additional damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of hair treatment from superficial coating to internal structural modification. By using monomeric compositions that penetrate and polymerize within the hair shaft, the treatment transforms hair from a weakened state to a strengthened state through covalent bonding, while simultaneously improving visual appearance through refractive index modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure within the hair shaft by combining the polymerized monomeric material with the hair's natural keratin structure. This composite provides both mechanical reinforcement (improved strength and elasticity) and optical enhancement (improved visual appearance), resolving the contradiction between appearance improvement and strength maintenance.
2Ease of manufacture
If chemical treatments (bleaching, oxidation) are used to change hair color, then color change is achieved, but internal structural damage occurs including cracks, voids, and destruction of disulfide cross links
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies monomeric compositions to hair before or after chemical treatments to prevent or repair structural damage. The monomers penetrate into damaged areas and polymerize to reform cross-links and fill voids, thereby protecting the hair structure during or after chemical processing while maintaining color change capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effects of chemical treatments by using the same chemical environment that causes damage to instead facilitate beneficial polymerization. The monomeric compositions utilize the open cuticle structure created by chemical treatments to penetrate deeper and polymerize within the cortex, transforming the damaged state into an opportunity for structural reinforcement.
3Ease of operation
If thermal or mechanical processing (blow drying, flat ironing, brushing) is used to style hair, then styling is achieved, but cumulative physical damage occurs leading to splitting and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies monomeric compositions before thermal or mechanical processing to provide protective cushioning within the hair shaft. The polymerized material acts as an internal reinforcement structure that absorbs and distributes stress from external forces, preventing splitting and breakage during styling while maintaining styling capability.
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 significantly improves hair strength and durability by at least 5-10% in break force and elastic modulus, providing inherent protection against future damage and resisting washing out, while maintaining a natural feel.
Implementation Method 1
thermal-or photo-polymerizable compositions for repairing and/or improving human hair
Implementation Method 2
thermal-or photo-polymerizable compositions for repairing and/or improving human hair
Implementation Method 3
the polymeric chains are bonded by chemical linkages that include covalent, ionic and hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described for applying polymerizable compositions containing selected (meth)acrylate monomers to human hair to significantly improve the hair's physical properties, where the method involves temporarily delaying polymerization of the composition for a time sufficient to allow absorption of the composition inside the hair shaft, thereby restricting polymerization of the monomer exclusively to inside the hair shaft, while preventing unwanted polymerization on the outer surface of the hair. The result is hair that is measurably stronger and exhibits an improved physical condition, better manageability, and healthier appearance with greater resistance to future hair damage.