Low-Viscosity O/W Emulsions with Nanoscale Droplets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil-in-water emulsions for cosmetics face challenges in achieving very small oil droplet sizes, homogeneous distribution, low viscosity, storage stability under fluctuating temperatures, and ease of dilution without gelling, while maintaining these properties during long-term storage and use in cosmetics applications such as impregnating textiles and paper.
Innovation Solution
The development of low-viscosity O/W emulsions with oil droplet diameters between 0.01 and 0.3 μm, using a specific emulsifier mixture of ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oils with a mass ratio of 1 to 15 mol and 20 to 80 mol of ethylene oxide, and a polarity index of 15 to 55 mN/m, which can be produced using the phase inversion process at temperatures below 90°C, ensuring stability and sprayability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional emulsifiers are used to produce O/W emulsions, then oil droplet sizes can be reduced below 500 nm, but viscosity becomes too high for good sprayability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the emulsifier system by combining specific non-ionic emulsifiers (fatty alcohol ethoxylates) with anionic emulsifiers (fatty acid soaps or alkyl sulfonates). This compositional parameter change enables achieving both small droplet sizes (0.01-0.3 μm) and low viscosity (<300 mPas) simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between droplet size reduction and viscosity control.
2Manufacturing precision
If high phase inversion temperatures (up to 95°C) are used to produce stable PIT emulsions, then droplet size distribution becomes more homogeneous, but storage stability deteriorates due to water content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the process parameter of phase inversion temperature to an optimal range of 70-90°C, avoiding excessively high temperatures. Combined with the dual emulsifier system, this parameter change achieves homogeneous droplet distribution while maintaining storage stability, preventing the emulsion from breaking down during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite emulsifier system combining non-ionic emulsifiers (for droplet formation and homogeneity) with anionic emulsifiers (for stability and prevention of coalescence). This composite approach enables achieving both homogeneous droplet distribution and storage stability without requiring excessively high phase inversion temperatures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If emulsions are stored in cold conditions, then viscosity increases and sprayability deteriorates, but storage stability should be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the emulsifier composition parameters by incorporating anionic emulsifiers with specific HLB values (12-18) that provide cold-temperature stability. This compositional parameter change prevents excessive viscosity increase during cold storage while maintaining emulsion stability and sprayability.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional emulsifier mixtures are used, then emulsions can be produced, but they gel or crystallize at high temperatures during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the emulsifier system by selecting specific non-ionic emulsifiers (fatty alcohol ethoxylates with 2-10 ethylene oxide units) combined with anionic emulsifiers. This parameter change prevents gelation and crystallization at high temperatures while maintaining ease of production.
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 resulting emulsions exhibit excellent storage stability, maintain low viscosity, and can be easily diluted, providing a homogeneous distribution of oil droplets, making them suitable for various cosmetic applications, including impregnating textiles and paper without gelling, even at cold temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
heating selected O/W emulsions with special non-ionic emulsifiers above the phase inversion temperature and then cooling. This PIT process assumes O/W emulsions with large oil droplets, which when heated undergo a phase reversal into a W/O emulsion, which is reversible
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the field of oil-in-water emulsions for cosmetics, and to low-viscosity O/W emulsions with very small-sized oil droplets, to a method for the production of same, and to the use of same for impregnating textiles and paper for cosmetics.