Low Substituted Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Scrubbing Agent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Personal care compositions using synthetic resins cause marine pollution, while those with crushed plant seeds have poor skin feel, and those with water-absorbent swellable particles have inadequate cleansing properties.

Innovation Solution

A personal care composition incorporating low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose with specific particle size, aspect ratio, and hydroxypropoxy group content, which is biodegradable and swellable, providing both good skin feel and effective cleansing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synthetic resins such as polystyrene are used as scrubbing agents, then cleansing property is improved, but environmental impact increases due to persistence and marine pollution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleansing propertyVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from synthetic resin to low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, which has different biodegradability characteristics. This material substitution maintains cleansing effectiveness while eliminating persistence and marine pollution issues, directly resolving the environmental impact problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs biodegradable low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose particles that decompose naturally after use, replacing persistent synthetic resins. This approach allows the scrubbing agent to perform its function effectively and then break down harmlessly, eliminating long-term environmental accumulation.

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

2Reliability

If crushed products of plant seeds such as apricot hulls are used as scrubbing agents, then cleansing property is improved, but skin feel deteriorates due to hardness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleansing propertyVSAvoidskin feel
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the scrubbing agent by using low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose with controlled particle size (10-200 μm) and aspect ratio (0.5-2.0). These parameter adjustments provide sufficient cleansing action while ensuring softness and comfort on the skin, resolving the skin feel problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If water-absorbent swellable particles such as glucomannan are used as scrubbing agents, then skin feel is improved, but cleansing property deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin feelVSAvoidcleansing property
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the substitution degree of hydroxypropyl cellulose to be low (0.01-0.10), which maintains the particles' ability to absorb water and swell for good skin feel, while simultaneously preserving sufficient structural integrity and hardness for effective cleansing action. This balanced parameter selection resolves the contradiction between skin feel and cleansing property.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves a low environmental impact, excellent cleansing property, and improved skin feel, making it suitable for daily use.

Implementation Method 1

low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose which is biodegradable and swellable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater absorption and swelling: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose which is biodegradable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS20230270655A1Personal care composition and usage method thereof
Publication Date: 2023.08.31 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a personal care composition having not only a low environmental impact and a good skin feel but also a high cleansing property. The object can be achieved by a personal care composition containing water and low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, wherein the low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose has an average particle size (D50) on a volume basis by dry laser diffraction of 30 μm to 200 μm and an aspect ratio equal to or more than 1.0 and less than 5.0, and the like.