Micronized Biodegradable Polymer Powders for Cosmetic Texture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cosmetic and personal care products lack environmentally friendly, biodegradable options that are cost-effective and provide comparable results to synthetic products, with a need for micronized biodegradable polymers suitable for topical applications.

Innovation Solution

Development of micronized polylactic acid (PLA) powder compositions for use in cosmetic and personal care products, including skincare and scrub compositions, made from annual renewable resources that are biodegradable and have comparable manufacturing costs to synthetic products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synthetic polymers are used in cosmetic compositions, then product performance and stability are improved, but environmental friendliness and biodegradability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct performanceVSAvoidenvironmental friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of polymer origin from synthetic to biodegradable natural polymers (starch, cellulose, chitosan, alginate, gelatin). This substitution maintains functional performance while eliminating environmental persistence, directly resolving the contradiction between product reliability and environmental friendliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite polymer compositions by combining multiple biodegradable polymer types (starch with cellulose, chitosan with alginate, gelatin with other polymers). These composites achieve the functional performance previously only attainable with synthetic polymers while maintaining biodegradability, thus resolving the contradiction between performance and environmental friendliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable polymers are used in cosmetic compositions, then environmental friendliness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs biodegradable polymers that serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide the required cosmetic performance, ensure biodegradability for environmental friendliness, and offer cost advantages through natural abundance and simplified processing. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making biodegradable polymers economically competitive with synthetic alternatives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from expensive synthetic polymers to cost-effective biodegradable natural polymers. The use of abundant natural resources (starch from crops, cellulose from plants, chitosan from shellfish waste) fundamentally alters the cost structure, making environmentally friendly options economically viable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If micronized polymer particles are used in cosmetic compositions, then application performance and texture are improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication performanceVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments polymer materials into fine particulate forms with controlled size distributions. This segmentation enables the polymers to be incorporated into various cosmetic formulations (powders, creams, lotions) with improved application performance, texture, and sensory properties while managing processing complexity through standardized particle production methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8968787B2Composition comprising biodegradable polymers for use in a cosmetic composition
Publication Date: 2015.03.03 MICRO POWDERS INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to certain novel polymer powder compositions suitable for personal care and cosmetic compositions. The present invention also relates to cosmetic compositions comprising such novel polymer powders. The present invention also relates to processes for manufacturing the polymer powders, methods of making cosmetic and personal care compositions and the use of such cosmetic compositions in topical applications.