Latex Polymer Hair Styling Composition for Humidity Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hair-styling products face issues with stability, product spreadability, hair manageability, and low humidity resistance, particularly in aerosol and non-aerosol spray forms, due to the use of water-soluble film-forming polymers that result in sticky films and poor curl retention.
Innovation Solution
A combination of soft and hard latex film-forming polymers in high amounts of organic solvent, with a ratio typically ranging from 1:1 to 5:1, and the inclusion of coalescing agents or plasticizers to enhance film formation and durability, achieving a shear viscosity of up to 70 cP at 23°C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water-soluble film-forming polymers are used in traditional hair-styling products, then the products can be easily applied and spread, but they result in sticky films with poor humidity resistance and low curl retention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite polymer system combining water-soluble film-forming polymers (for ease of application) with water-insoluble latex polymers (for humidity resistance and curl retention). This composite approach allows the product to achieve both easy spreadability and reliable hold under humid conditions by leveraging the complementary properties of different polymer materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the film-forming polymers by incorporating latex polymers with specific glass transition temperatures and molecular weights. This parameter change transforms the film properties from sticky and humidity-sensitive to stable and humidity-resistant, while maintaining applyability through controlled polymer concentration and composition.
2Strength
If the concentration of water-soluble polymer increases to improve film formation, then the viscosity builds up rapidly resulting in sticky or tacky films, but lower concentration results in insufficient film formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the film-forming system by introducing water-insoluble latex polymers that form films at lower concentrations without creating stickiness. This parameter change allows adequate film formation at optimized polymer levels while eliminating the tacky residue problem associated with high concentrations of water-soluble polymers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer system where water-insoluble latex polymers complement water-soluble polymers to achieve effective film formation at lower overall polymer concentrations. The latex polymers provide structural integrity to the film without the sticky characteristics of high-concentration water-soluble polymer films.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional polymer solutions are used to provide hold, then they can be formulated simply, but they exhibit poor stability and manageability in aerosol and spray products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite formulation combining water-soluble and water-insoluble polymers that maintains relative formulation simplicity while dramatically improving product stability. The synergistic interaction between the two polymer types provides enhanced stability in aerosol and spray applications without requiring complex formulation approaches.
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 combination provides stable, long-lasting style control with natural movement and hold, even under high humidity conditions, while maintaining sprayability and improving curl retention compared to commercial benchmarks.
Implementation Method 1
as the solvent evaporates, the polymer solution becomes thicker on the hair surface
Implementation Method 2
latex film-forming polymers... provide extended-wear properties... stable, long-lasting style control with natural movement and hold
Data Source
AI summary
The instant disclosure relates to hair styling compositions and products comprising the hair styling compositions. The hair styling compositions include: one or more soft latex film-forming polymers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 35° C. or less; one or more hard latex film-forming polymers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 35° C. or more; less than 15 wt. % of water; and at least 80 wt. % of one or more organic solvents, wherein the composition has a shear viscosity of up to about 70 cP at 23° C. The compositions may further comprise one or more propellants, and are useful in products such as aerosol hair sprays, pump hair sprays, hair mousses, hair foams, hair gels, etc. The disclosure further relates to methods for styling the hair using the compositions and products.