Oral Care Peroxide Stabilization via Surfactant HLB Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Peroxide-containing oral care compositions face stability issues due to high reactivity with common ingredients and spontaneous decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, leading to variable efficacy and storage challenges.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a surfactant system with an HLB value of 4 to 13, combined with a polyhydric alcohol such as propylene glycol, to create a more hydrophobic environment that stabilizes the peroxide source, reducing decomposition and maintaining efficacy over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydrogen peroxide is used as a peroxide source in oral care compositions, then whitening and cleaning efficacy is improved, but stability deteriorates due to spontaneous decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewhitening and cleaning efficacyVSAvoidperoxide stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a surfactant system with specific HLB value (4-13) as an intermediary substance that mediates between the peroxide source and other formulation components. This surfactant system acts as a stabilizing agent that reduces the reactivity between hydrogen peroxide and common oral care ingredients, thereby preventing spontaneous decomposition while maintaining whitening and cleaning efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the HLB value parameter of the surfactant system to fall within the specific range of 4-13. This parameter change fundamentally alters the interaction between the peroxide source and the formulation matrix, creating a more stable environment that prevents decomposition while preserving the desired cleaning and whitening properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If peroxide compounds are used to clean and whiten teeth, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but reactivity with common ingredients increases causing decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficacyVSAvoidreactivity with common ingredients

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surfactant system with HLB value of 4-13 serves as a protective intermediary layer between the peroxide compounds and common oral care ingredients. This intermediary surfactant system reduces direct harmful interactions and redox reactions between peroxide and other formulation components, thereby minimizing decomposition while maintaining cleaning efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful high reactivity of peroxide compounds into a beneficial stabilized state by introducing the surfactant system. The surfactant system modifies the reactivity characteristics of peroxide, transforming it from a highly reactive unstable substance into a controlled active agent that maintains cleaning efficacy without causing unwanted decomposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If high levels of peroxide are initially formulated, then whitening efficacy is improved, but variable delivery occurs due to decomposition over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewhitening efficacyVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary stabilization action by incorporating the surfactant system with HLB value of 4-13 into the formulation before storage. This preliminary measure creates a stable formulation matrix that prevents peroxide decomposition during storage, ensuring that the peroxide remains stable and delivers consistent whitening efficacy throughout the product shelf life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The surfactant system acts as a protective agent that prevents the peroxide from undergoing premature decomposition. By using this stabilizing surfactant, the formulation maintains its peroxide content and whitening efficacy throughout storage, eliminating the problem of variable delivery that would occur with unstable peroxide formulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 solution significantly enhances peroxide stability, ensuring consistent whitening and cleaning efficacy even after long-term storage by reducing electron transfer in redox reactions, thus maintaining the effectiveness of the composition.

Implementation Method 1

reducing electron transfer in redox reactions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRedox reactions: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 2

increasing the hydrophobicity of the composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

hydrogen peroxide can spontaneously decompose to form oxygen gas and water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP3203976B1Oral care compositions comprising a peroxide source, a polyhydric alcohol and a surfactant

Publication Date: 2021.05.05 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

Provided is an oral care composition comprising a peroxide source, a polyhydric alcohol and a surfactant system having an HLB value of from 4 to 13, wherein the combined amount of the polyhydric alcohol and the surfactant system is from 60 weight % to 95 weight % by total weight of the composition, and wherein the weight ratio of the polyhydric alcohol to the surfactant system is from 9:1 to 1:4. The composition is resistant to peroxide decomposition.