Pre-emulsified Conditioning Actives in Shampoo Formulations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hair care compositions face challenges in providing stable conditioning benefits while maintaining cleaning efficacy, as hydrophobic natural conditioning actives often cause product instability due to strong interactions with micellar surfactant systems, leading to viscosity reduction and phase separation.

Innovation Solution

The use of pre-emulsified emulsions containing metathesized unsaturated polyol esters, specifically soy oligomers, with controlled particle sizes and anionic surfactants, which enhance stability and deposition of conditioning actives in hair care compositions, thereby improving hair conditioning benefits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydrophobic natural conditioning actives are included in shampoo formulations, then conditioning benefits are improved, but product stability deteriorates due to strong interactions with micellar surfactant systems causing viscosity reduction and phase separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct stabilityVSAvoidphase separation and viscosity reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pre-emulsified conditioning actives as an intermediary form between the hydrophobic natural conditioning agents and the aqueous surfactant system. These pre-emulsions contain the hydrophobic actives dispersed in an oil phase with emulsifiers, creating stable droplets that interact with the micellar system without causing phase separation. This intermediary form allows the conditioning benefits to be delivered while maintaining product stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and dispersion parameters of the conditioning actives by pre-emulsifying them before incorporation into the shampoo formulation. By controlling particle size, emulsion stability, and composition of the pre-emulsified actives, the patent achieves compatibility with the micellar surfactant system while maintaining product stability and preventing harmful interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conditioning actives are added to provide hair conditioning benefits, then hair conditioning benefits are improved, but cleaning efficacy may be compromised due to trade-offs in lather profiles and weigh-down effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehair conditioning benefitsVSAvoidweigh-down effects and lather profile degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the conditioning active into pre-emulsified droplets with controlled size and composition. This segmentation allows the conditioning active to be delivered in a controlled manner to the hair surface without excessive accumulation that would cause weigh-down effects. The emulsified form also allows better integration with the cleaning surfactant system, maintaining lather profiles while providing conditioning benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If silicone-based conditioning actives are used, then conditioning benefits are improved, but cost increases and environmental concerns arise due to petroleum-based nature and rising costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconditioning benefitsVSAvoidcost and environmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, petroleum-based silicone conditioning actives with natural, renewable conditioning agents delivered in a pre-emulsified form. This substitution reduces both cost and environmental impact while maintaining conditioning benefits. The pre-emulsification technology enables effective delivery of these natural actives, making them a viable alternative to traditional silicone-based conditioners.

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 provides a stable hair care composition with enhanced conditioning benefits and improved deposition of actives, addressing the instability issues and weight concerns associated with hydrophobic natural conditioning agents, while maintaining effective cleaning performance.

Implementation Method 1

pre-emulsified emulsion comprising metathesized unsaturated polyol esters that are oligomers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

anionic surfactant, wherein the composition is stable with respect to emulsion particle size, viscosity and visual phase separation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicelle formation: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP2981245B1Personal care composition comprising a pre-emulsified formulation

Publication Date: 2023.03.01 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

The present invention is directed to a personal care composition comprising a pre-emulsified emulsion comprising from about 0.25% to about 80% of one or more materials selected from the group comprising metathesized unsaturated polyol esters, sucrose polyesters, fatty esters with a molecular weight greater than or equal to 1500 and mixtures thereof or, by weight of said hair care composition; wherein an emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric and mixtures thereof wherein the average particle size of the pre-emulsified emulsion is from about 20 nanometer to 20 microns; from about 5% to about 50% of one or more anionic surfactants, by weight of said hair care composition; at least about 20% of an aqueous carrier, by weight of said hair care composition wherein the composition is stable with respect to one of the following measures selected from emulsion particle size, viscosity or visual phase separation and mixtures thereof.