Microcapsules Comprising Black Pigments for Cosmetics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Carbon black pigments in cosmetics are difficult to handle due to their fine particle size, leading to aggregation, dustiness, and poor dispersion, which complicates manufacturing and results in uneven color and formulation stability issues, while their nano-sized form raises safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
Development of monolayered microcapsules with a core of black pigment, such as carbon black or black iron oxide, encapsulated in a polymeric shell of polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, or cellulose-based materials, with a controlled particle size ranging from 1 to 100 μm, enhancing safety and handling, and avoiding nano-sized issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If carbon black pigment is used to provide intense black color, then color effect is improved, but particle aggregation and dustiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The carbon black pigment is segmented into individual particles and encapsulated within microcapsules. This segmentation prevents aggregation while maintaining the intense black color property of carbon black, as each microcapsule contains discrete pigment particles that remain separated during formulation processing.
Solution Approach 2:
A polymeric wall material acts as an intermediary between the carbon black pigment particles and the external environment. This polymeric shell prevents direct contact between pigment particles, eliminating dustiness and aggregation issues while allowing the pigment to maintain its coloristic properties when released in the final cosmetic formulation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fine particle size carbon black is used to improve dispersion, then surface area increases, but handling difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fine carbon black particles are segmented into microcapsules with controlled dimensions (1-100 μm). This segmentation maintains the high surface area to volume ratio beneficial for dispersion while providing a particle size that is easily handled with conventional equipment, eliminating the handling difficulties associated with ultrafine powders.
Solution Approach 2:
The particle size parameter of carbon black is changed from nanoscale (0.05-0.5 μm) to microscale (1-100 μm) through encapsulation. This parameter change improves handling characteristics while preserving the dispersion properties, as the microcapsules can be uniformly distributed in formulations without requiring special handling procedures for ultrafine particles.
3Stability of the object's composition
If carbon black particles are made smaller to increase surface area, then wetting improves, but energy required for dispersion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carbon black is segmented into microcapsules that present a controlled surface area. The polymeric wall material provides sufficient surface area for wetting by formulation components while the encapsulated structure prevents the extreme surface area effects of ultrafine particles that would require excessive energy for dispersion.
4Illumination intensity
If nano-sized carbon black is used to improve color effect, then pigment performance improves, but safety concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nano-sized carbon black particles are segmented into microcapsules with dimensions of 1-100 μm. This segmentation maintains the color effect properties of carbon black while ensuring the particles are no longer classified as nanomaterials, thereby addressing safety concerns associated with nano-particle inhalation and skin penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric wall material serves as an intermediary barrier between the carbon black pigment and the user's skin or respiratory system. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between the pigment particles and biological tissues, addressing safety concerns while allowing the pigment to function effectively in the cosmetic formulation.
Data Source
AI summary
Monolayered microcapsules comprising a black pigment and cosmetic formulations comprising them are provided for use particularly in mascara and eye liner formulations. The black pigment may be carbon black, black iron oxide, or both.