Keratin Fiber Dyeing via Polyquaternium-37 Carrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercially available hair dyes often damage hair fibers and fail to provide long-lasting, shiny, and homogeneous color while maintaining hair elasticity and suppleness.

Innovation Solution

A hair dye composition containing a carrier base with a combination of a fatty body, a nonionic surfactant, and a cationic polymer, specifically polyquaternium-37, which minimizes fiber damage and enhances care performance and dyeing results.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If oxidation dyes are used for permanent, intensive dyeing, then long-lasting dyeing results with excellent fastness properties are achieved, but the hair remains in a tactilely and visually unappealing state with damaged fiber structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedyeing durabilityVSAvoidfiber damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines direct dyes with a specific carrier base containing fatty bodies, nonionic surfactants, and cationic polymers (polyquaternium-37) to merge the dyeing function with hair care functions. This combination allows the dye to penetrate and bind to hair while simultaneously conditioning and protecting the fiber, resolving the contradiction between durable color and fiber damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier base is formulated as a composite material system integrating multiple functional components: fatty bodies for penetration and conditioning, nonionic surfactants for emulsification and distribution, and cationic polymers for positive charge interaction with damaged hair. This composite approach enables both intensive dyeing and fiber care to occur simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If direct dyes are used for temporary coloring, then the coloring process is simple and direct, but the color intensity and durability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedyeing process simplicityVSAvoidcolor durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of direct dyes by incorporating them into a specialized carrier base. The fatty bodies enhance penetration depth, the surfactants improve distribution and adhesion, and the cationic polymers increase binding strength through electrostatic interactions. These parameter changes transform temporary direct dyes into long-lasting colorings while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If standard commercial hair dyes are used, then color changing performance is achieved, but the hair elasticity and suppleness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor homogeneityVSAvoidhair elasticity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cationic polymer polyquaternium-37 acts as an intermediary between the direct dye and the hair fiber. It facilitates deep penetration of the dye while simultaneously forming a protective film that maintains hair elasticity and suppleness. This intermediary function allows color homogeneity to be achieved without compromising fiber strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier base components are distributed to provide local quality improvements: fatty bodies penetrate deeply to condition the cortex, surfactants coat the cuticle surface for smoothness, and cationic polymers bind to damaged areas to restore elasticity. This localized action ensures both uniform color and maintained hair strength throughout the fiber structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 achieves improved hair care and dyeing results with increased color intensity, durability, and homogeneity, while maintaining hair elasticity and suppleness, comparable to or exceeding standard commercial products.

Implementation Method 1

at least one cationic polymer (C), in particular polyquaternium-37

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

at least one nonionic surfactant (B) of the formula (II), where R1 represents a saturated or unsaturated C 6 -C 22 alkyl chain, G represents a sugar residue with 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p represents a number from 1 to 10

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

dyes or toning agents are usually used that contain so-called direct dyes as the coloring component. These are dye molecules that are absorbed directly onto the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2797669B1Conditioning dyeing agent for keratinous fibres

Publication Date: 2018.04.04 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The invention relates to a means for colouring keratinous fibres containing at least an oxidation dye pre-product and/or preliminary stage of a dye analogous to a natural dye and/or a direct dye in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, wherein the agent contains a support base combination made of at least a fatty body (A) with the formula (I), at least an non-ionising surfactant (B) with the formula (II), R R1-0-[G]p (II) and at least a cationic and/or amphoteric polymer (C).