Nanoemulsion Stability via Phase Inversion Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oil-in-water emulsions in cosmetics and dermatology face stability issues due to high emulsifier concentrations, leading to skin irritation and unsatisfactory cosmetic qualities, and the phase inversion temperature technique requires improvements for stable and non-irritant nanoemulsions with a low phase inversion temperature.

Innovation Solution

A cosmetic or dermatological composition comprising a lipophilic phase with hydrocarbon-based oils, including isoparaffins and cycloalkanes, and a nonionic emulsifying system with a high lipophilic phase to emulsifying system weight ratio, obtained via the phase inversion temperature technique, ensuring stability and non-irritancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high concentrations of emulsifiers are used to improve stability of conventional emulsions, then stability is improved, but skin irritation and unsatisfactory cosmetic qualities occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies phase inversion temperature technique where the emulsion system undergoes phase transition between water-in-oil and oil-in-water states at specific temperature. This allows formation of stable nanoemulsions with reduced emulsifier concentration by exploiting the thermodynamic phase behavior of the surfactant-oil-water system, thereby maintaining stability while reducing skin irritation from excessive emulsifiers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the emulsion system by controlling temperature during preparation and storage. By optimizing temperature parameters during the phase inversion process and maintaining specific temperature ranges, the patent achieves stable nanoemulsions with lower emulsifier concentrations, thus reducing skin irritation while preserving cosmetic qualities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional mechanical emulsification methods are used to create fine emulsions, then emulsion fineness is improved, but substantial energy input is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulsion finenessVSAvoidenergy input

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical emulsification methods (rotor-stator, high-pressure homogenizer) with a thermal-based phase inversion approach. By using temperature control and phase transition phenomena instead of mechanical force, the patent achieves fine nanoemulsion droplet formation with substantially reduced energy input while maintaining manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If phase inversion temperature technique is used to obtain fine stable emulsions, then emulsion stability and fineness are improved, but phase inversion temperature must be optimized to ensure low temperature and stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidphase inversion temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes multiple parameters including surfactant concentration, oil phase composition, and temperature profile during phase inversion. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the patent achieves a balance where the phase inversion temperature is sufficiently low for practical application while maintaining emulsion stability and fineness through controlled phase transition

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 stable, non-irritant, and biodegradable oil-in-water nanoemulsions with a low phase inversion temperature, enhancing cosmetic qualities and skin protection against dehydration.

Implementation Method 1

By virtue of their amphiphilic structure, these emulsifiers position themselves at the oil phase/aqueous phase interface, and thus stabilize the dispersed oil droplets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAmphiphilic structure: Amphiphiles

Implementation Method 2

a mixture of an aqueous phase and a lipophilic phase is prepared, and is brought to a temperature above the PIT temperature, the phase inversion temperature of the system, which is the temperature at which the equilibrium between the hydrophilic and lipophilic properties of the emulsifier(s) used is reached

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase inversion temperature: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS10729649B2Cosmetic nanoemulsion

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 TOTALENERGIES ONETECH

AI summary

A cosmetic or dermatological composition in the form of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion, including: a lipophilic phase (a) including at least one hydrocarbonated oil comprising at least one isoparaffin, and at least one cycloalkane, an emulsifying system (b) including at least one non-ionic emulsifier, and an aqueous phase (c), where the ratio between the lipophilic phase (a) and the emulsifying system (b) is higher than, or equal to, 0.5 in terms of weight.