Shear-Thinning Surfactant Composition for Low-Water Shower Gel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower gels have high water content, making them inefficient and environmentally unfriendly due to large packaging and transportation emissions, and they are difficult to apply over large surfaces without dilution.
Innovation Solution
A shear-thinning surfactant composition with a higher concentration of anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic surfactants, allowing for easy spreading and sprayability, reducing water content, and eliminating the need for preservatives, which results in a more concentrated, eco-friendly product with reduced packaging and transportation emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the water content in shower gel is reduced to concentrate the product, then the environmental impact and packaging volume are reduced, but the viscosity increases making it difficult to spread and apply over large surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the rheological properties of the concentrated surfactant composition through specific pH control (pH 2-4) and the addition of particular ingredients like salts and co-surfactants. These parameter changes enable the product to exhibit shear-thinning behavior, where viscosity decreases under shear stress during application, making it easy to spread despite high concentration. The composition maintains low viscosity in applied form while containing minimal water (less than 10% by weight).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by creating a composition with time-dependent and stress-dependent viscosity characteristics. The surfactant composition dynamically adjusts its flow properties: it remains stable and concentrated at rest, but becomes fluid and easily spreadable when subjected to shear stress during application. This dynamic behavior allows the product to transition from a concentrated state to an applied state with optimal spreading characteristics.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the viscosity of the concentrated product is increased to maintain gel form, then the product stability is improved, but the sprayability and distribution over the body is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling pH (2-4), ionic strength, and surfactant concentration to achieve a unique rheological state. These parameter adjustments create a composition that maintains gel-like stability through electrostatic and steric interactions between surfactant molecules, while simultaneously enabling sprayability through shear-thinning behavior. The specific pH range optimizes both stability and flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining multiple surfactants (anionic, cationic, and nonionic types) in specific ratios within the concentrated composition. This composite surfactant system creates synergistic effects that provide both structural stability for gel formation and flow properties for easy spraying. The combination of different surfactant types allows the composition to exhibit both stability and sprayability simultaneously.
3Volume of stationary object
If the product is highly concentrated in surfactants, then the packaging and transportation volume are reduced by 40-50%, but the formulation complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing specific pH ranges (2-4) and concentration ratios for different surfactant types. These controlled parameters simplify the manufacturing process by providing clear formulation targets, reducing the need for complex quality control measures. The defined parameter ranges ensure consistent product performance while maintaining high surfactant concentration (greater than 90% by weight).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through the self-organizing properties of the surfactant molecules in the concentrated composition. The surfactants automatically form stable micellar structures and gel networks through their amphiphilic nature, eliminating the need for complex stabilizing agents or preservatives. This self-organization simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of ingredients and processing steps required.
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 composition enables efficient use of a smaller, more concentrated product that is easier to apply, reduces packaging and transportation emissions by 40-50%, and provides a pleasant foam experience while being safer for consumers and the environment.
Implementation Method 1
a shear-thinning composition concentrated in surfactants... The rheological properties of the composition according to the disclosure not only make possible easy spreading over the skin and/or hair but also make it possible to dispense the composition by a spray-generating device
Data Source
AI summary
A rheofluidifying surfactant composition structured into planar lamellar phases includes: a) at least one anionic surfactant and b) at least one compound selected from among amphoteric surfactants and non-ionic surfactants, in which the total active material of said surfactants is between 35 and 60% by weight relative to the total weight of said composition, in which the ratio of anionic surfactant is between 0.3 and 0.9, the ratio of amphoteric surfactant is between 0.0 and 0.7 and the ratio of non-ionic surfactant is between 0.0 and 0.7, said ratio being the ratio between the weight percentage of active material of said surfactant in said composition and the weight percentage of total active material of said surfactants in said composition, the pH of the composition being between 4 and 8, said at least one anionic surfactant being selected from the group comprising alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, sulfonates, derivatives of phosphoric acid, phosphates and alkyl phosphates, isethionates, taurates, sulfoccinates, alkyl sulfoacetates, anionic derivatives of proteins of plant origin, amino acids and amino acid derivatives, polypeptides, carboxylic acids and the salts of same, salts of fatty acids from saponification, lactic acid derivatives and alkyl polyglucoside derivatives, and said composition being free of sodium chloride other than that which may be provided by the surfactants.