Jammed Oil-in-Water Toothpaste for Yield Stress and Opacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toothpaste compositions require additional ingredients like thickening agents and solid opacifiers to achieve suitable yield stress and opacity, which can lead to formulation instability and consumer preference for simpler compositions.
Innovation Solution
A jammed oil-in-water emulsion toothpaste composition with specific droplet sizes and emulsifier, achieving high yield stress and opacity without these additives through controlled mixing and gradual addition of the hydrophobic phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If thickening agents are added to increase yield stress, then the toothpaste can stand up on bristles and be dispensed properly, but the formulation becomes more complex and may become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophobic phase droplets self-assemble into a jammed emulsion structure that inherently provides high yield stress without requiring external thickening agents. The system serves itself by using the droplet packing and interfacial properties to generate the necessary mechanical strength for toothpaste functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the emulsion by controlling droplet size distribution and hydrophobic phase volume fraction to achieve a jammed state. This parameter adjustment transforms the system from a simple emulsion to a structured jammed emulsion with high yield stress, eliminating the need for additional thickening agents.
2Reliability
If multiple ingredients are added to achieve desired properties, then the toothpaste performance is improved, but the number of ingredients increases and consumer preference for simpler compositions is not met
Solution Approach 1:
The jammed emulsion structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides yield stress for proper dispensing, offers opacity through light scattering by droplets, and ensures formulation stability. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate thickening agents and opacifiers, reducing the total ingredient count while maintaining performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite-like structure within the emulsion by forming a jammed network of hydrophobic phase droplets. This internal composite structure, consisting of densely packed droplets with specific size distributions, provides multiple desired properties (yield stress, opacity, stability) that would traditionally require separate additive components.
3Force
If additional ingredients are introduced to achieve desired properties, then the toothpaste functionality is enhanced, but formulation instability occurs due to ingredient interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for thickening agents by using the jammed emulsion structure itself to provide the required yield stress. By removing these additional ingredients, the source of potential ingredient interactions and formulation instability is eliminated, while the desired mechanical properties are maintained through the droplet packing structure.
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 provides unexpectedly high yield stress and opacity without thickening agents or opacifiers, ensuring stability and consumer-friendly formulation.
Implementation Method 1
the toothpaste composition has an opaque appearance without having to include solid opacifiers
Implementation Method 2
jammed oil-in-water toothpaste composition comprising (a) aqueous phase; (b) hydrophobic phase; and (c) emulsifier
Implementation Method 3
emulsifier
Data Source
AI summary
Jammed oil-in-water emulsion toothpaste compositions. Jammed oil-in-water emulsion toothpaste compositions with unexpectedly high yield stress values and/or high opacity without the use of a solid opacifier. Jammed oil-in-water emulsion toothpaste compositions with a hydrophobic phase with a particular droplet size of from about 0.4 microns to about 1000 microns, which can lead to toothpaste compositions with unexpectedly high yield stress values and/or high opacity without the use of a solid opacifier.