Low-Viscosity High-Polyol Self-Foaming Composition with Vh/Icao Surfactants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-foaming compositions fail to achieve low viscosity and high polyol levels, particularly with glycerine concentrations above 20% to less than 70%, while maintaining desirable foaming characteristics, as they lack surfactant systems with defined Vh/Icao values of 0.1 to 0.25 comprising 50% or more of the surfactant system.
Innovation Solution
Formulating self-foaming compositions with greater than 20% to less than 70% polyol, preferably glycerine, and using a surfactant system where 50% or more of the surfactants have a Vh/Icao value of 0.1 to 0.25, ensuring low viscosity and effective foaming without propellant gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high levels of polyol (20% to less than 70% by wt.) are used in self-foaming compositions, then moisturization is enhanced, but viscosity increases and pumpability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing a specific surfactant system with defined Vh/Icao values (0.1 to 0.25) comprising 50% or more of the total surfactant system. This parameter change enables the formulation to maintain low viscosity (less than 25 cP) even at high polyol concentrations (20% to less than 70% by wt.), thereby resolving the contradiction between enhanced moisturization and pumpability
2Quantity of substance
If high polyol concentrations (20% to less than 70% by wt.) are used, then moisturization is improved, but self-foaming capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies and applies a critical parameter - the Vh/Icao value of surfactants (where Vh is the volume of hydrophobic groups in the micellar core, Ic is the length of hydrophobic groups, and ao is the cross-sectional area of hydrophilic groups). By selecting surfactants with Vh/Icao values of 0.1 to 0.25 that comprise 50% or more of the surfactant system, the formulation maintains self-foaming capability even at high polyol concentrations (20% to less than 70% by wt.), thus resolving the contradiction between moisturization and self-foaming capability
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional surfactant systems are used in high polyol compositions, then formulation is simplified, but low viscosity and self-foaming properties cannot be achieved simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a specific parameter range for surfactant selection (Vh/Icao value of 0.1 to 0.25) that must comprise 50% or more of the surfactant system. This parameter-based approach provides clear formulation guidelines that simplify the manufacturing process while ensuring the composition achieves both low viscosity (less than 25 cP) and self-foaming properties, resolving the contradiction between formulation simplicity and viscosity control
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 compositions maintain low viscosity for pumpability, provide high polyol concentrations for enhanced moisturization, and achieve stable, creamy foam that maintains shape without spreading, demonstrating superior foaming attributes.
Implementation Method 1
greater than 0.75 to 25% by wt. of a surfactant system comprises a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof, wherein 50% or more of the surfactant in the surfactant system comprises surfactant of Vh/Icao value (where Vh stands for the volume of the hydrophobic groups in the micellar core, Ic is the length of the hydrophobic groups in the micellar core, and ao is the cross-sectional area occupied by the hydrophilic group at the micelle-solution interface) having a value of 0.1 to 0.25
Implementation Method 2
greater than 20% to less than 70% polyol (e.g., glycerine)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides high viscosity, low polyol compositions. By using surfactant system wherein 50% or more of the surfactant system comprises a surfactant of defined Vh/Icao value, it is possible to provide such composition having good foam appearance. If surfactants of such value are not used, the high polyol, low viscosity composition have “bad” foam attributes (not “self-foaming), when measured for example after pumping through mechanical pump (composition has 0 to 0.5% propellant gel or gas).