High-Oil Antiperspirant Composition to Reduce Fabric Yellowing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Antiperspirant compositions with high levels of unsaturated oil cause staining and yellowing of fabrics on repeated use, especially when combined with metal-based antiperspirant actives.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a specific combination of alkoxylated aliphatic ether and polyalkylene glycol diester in the antiperspirant composition, with a weight ratio ranging from 0.05 to 2, along with 0.1 wt.% to 5 wt.% unsaturated oil and a total oil content of 55 wt.% to 65 wt.%, minimizes fabric staining while maintaining stability and skin care benefits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If unsaturated oil is included in the antiperspirant composition to provide skin care benefits, then skin care benefits are improved, but fabric staining and yellowing worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin care benefitsVSAvoidfabric staining and yellowing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by introducing specific alkoxylated aliphatic ethers (with controlled chain lengths and alkoxyl groups) and polyalkylene glycol diesters (with specific molecular weights and ester groups) to modify the interaction between oil components and fabric, thereby reducing staining while preserving skin care benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite oil system combining multiple components: alkoxylated aliphatic ethers, polyalkylene glycol diesters, and controlled amounts of unsaturated oil (0.1-5 wt%). This composite formulation achieves synergistic effects where the combination provides both skin care benefits and reduced fabric staining compared to individual components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If high levels of total oil content are included in the composition, then skin care benefits and application properties are improved, but fabric staining and composition stability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin care benefits and application propertiesVSAvoidfabric staining
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of various oil components, maintaining total oil content at high levels (50-80 wt%) while controlling the specific proportions of alkoxylated aliphatic ethers (10-40 wt%), polyalkylene glycol diesters (0.1-5 wt%), and unsaturated oil (0.1-5 wt%) to achieve both improved application properties and reduced fabric staining

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If metal based antiperspirant active is combined with unsaturated oil, then antiperspirant efficacy is improved, but fabric yellowing worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantiperspirant efficacyVSAvoidfabric yellowing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces alkoxylated aliphatic ethers and polyalkylene glycol diesters as intermediary substances that mediate between the metal-based antiperspirant active and fabric, preventing direct interaction that causes yellowing while maintaining the antiperspirant efficacy of the metal salts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4452192B1Antiperspirant composition
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 UNILEVER IP HLDG BV

AI summary

The present invention relates to antiperspirant composition, particularly to antiperspirant composition having high levels of oil.The present inventors have found that when compositions having an unsaturated oil such as sunflower seed oil is present in the antiperspirant composition together with high total oil content present in the composition, the fabric which comes in contact with the composition in the axilla tends to get stained on repeated use.The present inventors have found that the problem of staining or yellowing of fabrics is significantly lowered when a combination of an alkoxylated aliphatic ether with an alkyl chain length of C3 to C10 and specific polyethylene glycol diester of fatty acid with chain length of C12 to C18 is used in an antiperspirant composition having high total oil content including unsaturated oil and an antiperspirant active.