Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Polymer Association for Shine and Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair care products that provide shine often leave an oily finish and have poor conditioning effects, while rinse-off conditioners fail to effectively deposit conditioning agents on hair, leading to environmental concerns due to wastewater pollution.
Innovation Solution
A non-covalently bonded reaction product of a hydrophilic polymer with an acid group and a hydrophobic polymer containing an amine group, which thickens an oil phase upon heating and swells in water, enhancing thickening, emulsifying, and sensory properties for personal care applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If silicones are used as shine agents in spray or non-aqueous gel products, then shine enhancement is improved, but the product leaves an oily finish on hair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hydrophilic polymer chains with hydrophobic silicone segments to create an association product that functions as both a thickener and shine agent. This composite structure allows the molecule to interact with both water and oil phases, enabling shine enhancement without the unwanted oily finish of conventional silicone products.
Solution Approach 2:
The association product has different functional regions: hydrophilic portions that interact with water and provide thickening, and hydrophobic silicone portions that interact with hair to provide shine. This local differentiation of properties within a single molecule allows simultaneous delivery of multiple functions without compromising performance.
2Ease of operation
If rinse-off conditioners are used to condition hair, then ease of application is improved, but conditioning agent deposition on hair is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The association product remains active throughout the entire product lifecycle - during application, drying, and after rinsing. The hydrophobic silicone segments continuously interact with hair surfaces to provide conditioning and shine, while the hydrophilic segments maintain product stability in aqueous formulation, ensuring continuous useful action from application through to final result.
3Reliability
If leave-on conditioners are formulated to deposit conditioning agents, then conditioning effect is improved, but the product may leave an oily finish
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the molecular parameters of conventional silicones by incorporating hydrophilic polymer chains, fundamentally changing the product's interaction with water and hair. This parameter change allows the product to deposit conditioning agents effectively while the hydrophilic portions prevent excessive oiliness by interacting favorably with water and controlling the product's overall hydrophobicity.
4Force
If acrylate-based thickeners are used to thicken aqueous systems, then viscosity is improved, but the product lacks effective oil phase thickening and emulsifying properties
Solution Approach 1:
The association product performs multiple functions simultaneously: it thickens aqueous phases through hydrophilic polymer interactions, thickens oil phases through hydrophobic silicone interactions, and provides emulsifying properties by bridging between water and oil phases. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate additives for each function.
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 provides a thickened aqueous system that offers conditioning, shine-enhancement, and a clean after-feel, improving hair combability and luster while minimizing environmental impact by effectively depositing conditioning agents on hair.
Implementation Method 1
a non-covalently bonded reaction product of a hydrophilic polymer with an acid group and a hydrophobic polymer containing an amine group, which thickens an oil phase upon heating
Implementation Method 2
the physical association of acid containing aqueous thickeners with a hydrophobic polymer containing at least one amine group can thicken an oil phase. The thickening of the oil phase occurs upon heating and is irreversible.
Implementation Method 3
The non-covalently bonded reaction product can also readily swell in water, displaying enhanced thickening, emulsifying and sensory properties compared to acrylate based thickener alone.
Implementation Method 4
The non-covalently bonded reaction product can also readily swell in water, displaying enhanced thickening, emulsifying and sensory properties
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided herein a composition comprising the non-covalent bonded reaction product of a hydrophilic polymer containing an acid functional group and a hydrophobic polymer which contains an amine group bound directly to the hydrophobic polymer backbone; and, optionally a diluent, as well as a process of making such a composition.