Room Temperature Ionic Liquids Hair Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cosmetic compositions that condition keratin materials, such as hair, often result in greasiness and material transfer due to the use of fluid compounds like silicones and quaternary ammonium salts, lacking effective alternatives for excellent conditioning without these drawbacks.
Innovation Solution
The use of non-polymeric organic salts with a melting point below 60°C, specifically Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs), which are incorporated into cosmetic compositions to provide conditioning benefits while avoiding greasiness and material transfer, offering excellent solvating power, electrical conductivity, and being non-volatile and non-flammable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fluid compounds with low surface tension (such as silicones) are used for conditioning, then ease of disentangling is improved, but greasiness and material transfer occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of surface tension by using ionic liquids with tailored cation-anion combinations. Instead of relying on low surface tension fluids like silicones, the invention employs room temperature ionic liquids that provide conditioning through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding, achieving ease of disentangling without the greasy feel and material transfer associated with traditional low surface tension compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite ionic liquid structures comprising specific cations (such as imidazolium, pyridinium, or ammonium) paired with specific anions (such as halides, tetrafluoroborate, or hexafluorophosphate). These composite molecular structures provide synergistic effects where the cation interacts with keratin through electrostatic and hydrogen bonding while the anion modulates solubility and reduces greasiness, achieving effective conditioning without material transfer.
2Ease of operation
If quaternary ammonium salts are used for conditioning, then excellent conditioning is obtained, but the hair becomes greasy and laden with material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by replacing traditional quaternary ammonium salts with room temperature ionic liquids. These ionic liquids have lower viscosity and different molecular weight characteristics that prevent the heavy, laden feel while maintaining excellent conditioning through their unique electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions with keratin materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs ionic liquids that can be easily rinsed away and do not accumulate on the hair surface like quaternary ammonium salts. The molecular structure of these ionic liquids allows for effective conditioning during the treatment phase while enabling complete removal during rinsing, preventing the buildup and greasiness associated with persistent conditioning agents.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the use of, and a composition containing, at least one non-polymeric organic salt with a melting point of less than 60° C. These organic salts may be imidazolium, pyrazolium, pyridinium, pyrimidinium or tetraalkylphosphonium salts. The invention composition may be used for washing (cleaning) and/or conditioning keratin materials, and especially the hair.