Silicone-Modified Polysaccharide Thickening Agent for Cosmetics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current oil-based thickening agents fail to effectively thicken silicone oils and other oil-based ingredients while maintaining a pleasant user experience and stability, as existing silicone-modified polysaccharides and emulsifying agents either provide inadequate thickening or result in tacky compositions.

Innovation Solution

A combination of a silicone-modified polysaccharide compound and a silicone emulsifying agent, specifically dimethicone/PEG-10/15 crosspolymer, is used to create an oil-based thickening agent that significantly enhances viscosity and pleasantness in oil-based compositions, particularly with low-viscosity silicone oils and light isoparaffins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If polyether-modified silicone or silicone-modified polysaccharide is used alone to thicken silicone oil, then some thickening effect is achieved, but the thickening effect is very limited and the composition becomes tacky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickening effectVSAvoidtackiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines polyether-modified silicone and silicone-modified polysaccharide into a single thickening agent composition. The synergistic interaction between these two components produces a strong thickening effect while preventing the tackiness that occurs when either component is used alone at effective concentrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite thickening system by integrating two different types of modified silicones (polyether-modified and polysaccharide-modified) into one formulation. This composite approach allows the benefits of both materials to complement each other, achieving high viscosity without the detrimental tacky feel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If large amounts of polyether-modified silicone or silicone-modified polysaccharide are added to increase thickening effect, then viscosity increases, but the composition becomes tacky and pleasantness of use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveviscosityVSAvoidpleasantness of use

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By merging polyether-modified silicone and silicone-modified polysaccharide in specific ratios, the patent achieves significant thickening at lower overall concentrations. This combination allows the composition to reach desired viscosity levels without requiring large amounts of thickening agent that would cause tackiness and reduce pleasantness of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If existing thickening agents are used to thicken low-viscosity silicone oils, then some viscosity increase is achieved, but the thickening effect is inadequate and stability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickening effectVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a composite thickening agent specifically optimized for low-viscosity silicone oils. The combination of polyether-modified silicone and silicone-modified polysaccharide creates a stable system that effectively increases viscosity of low-viscosity base oils while maintaining long-term formulation stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 combination achieves a high thickening effect without tackiness, enabling the formation of oil-based compositions that are stable and pleasant to use, suitable for cosmetic preparations, with improved spreadability and a clean feel.

Implementation Method 1

an oil-based thickening agent which has a large thickening effect on oil-based ingredients

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThickening effect:

Implementation Method 2

the composition overall is of increased viscosity (thickened) compared with the viscosities of the respective compositions obtained by adding and blending

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity enhancement:

Data Source

PatentEP2995295B1Oil-based thickening agent, oil-based thickening composition, and cosmetic preparation

Publication Date: 2019.10.16 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are: an oil-based thickening agent which is capable of providing an oil-based composition that has a high thickening effect on an oil component such as a silicone oil, while achieving excellent feeling of use; an oil-based thickening composition which contains this oil-based thickening agent and a liquid oil component; and a cosmetic preparation in which this oil-based thickening agent or oil-based thickening composition is blended. An oil-based thickening agent which is composed of a silicone-modified polysaccharide compound represented by formula (1) and a silicone emulsifying agent. (In the formula, PL represents a glucose residue of pullulan; R1 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1-10 carbon atoms; R2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1-10 carbon atoms or a siloxy group represented by -OSi(R3)3; R3 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1-8 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 1-10; a is 0 or 1; and b is 0, 1 or 2. The average number of bonded silicone compounds (substitution degree of silicone compounds) per one constituent sugar unit of the polysaccharide compound is 0.5-2.5; and the average molecular weight of the silicone-modified polysaccharide compound is 50,000-10,000,000.)