Skin Cleansing Composition Foam Retention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional skin cleansing agents, such as alkyl sulfate and polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate, suffer from issues like sliminess during rinsing, leaving a tight feeling, and poor foaming properties, making them unsuitable for washing large areas like the whole body with a rich lather.

Innovation Solution

A skin cleansing composition combining alkyl ether carboxylic acid or its salt with a specific molecular weight distribution and alkyl sulfate or polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate, which produces a large volume of fine and soft foam that does not easily drip off the skin, enhancing rinsing properties and foaming capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alkyl sulfate or polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate is used as a primary cleansing base, then cleansing effectiveness is improved, but the foam readily drips off the skin and leaves a tight feeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleansing effectivenessVSAvoidfoam retention on skin
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines alkyl ether carboxylic acid (gentle to skin) with alkyl sulfate or polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate (good cleansing) to create a composite surfactant system. This composite formulation maintains the cleansing effectiveness of sulfate-based surfactants while the ether carboxylic acid component improves foam retention and reduces the tight feeling, resolving the contradiction between cleansing power and foam quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the alkyl ether carboxylic acid components: average carbon number of R1 from 10.8 to 12.8, average value of n from 2.5 to 3.4, and specific mass percentages of components with n=0 (9.9-27%) and n=1,2 (total <40%). By optimizing these parameters, the formulation achieves both effective cleansing and improved foam retention properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If alkyl ether carboxylic acid-based surfactants are used, then gentleness to skin is improved, but foaming properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin gentlenessVSAvoidfoam volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges alkyl ether carboxylic acid (skin-gentle) with alkyl sulfate or polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate (high foaming) in specific ratios. The alkyl ether carboxylic acid content is controlled at 5-50 mass%, with optimal ranges of 10-30 mass%. This combination allows the formulation to exhibit both the skin gentleness of ether carboxylic acid and the rich foaming properties of sulfate-based surfactants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional skin cleansing agents are used, then cleansing capability is improved, but rinsing properties deteriorate due to sliminess

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleansing capabilityVSAvoidrinsing properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular weight distribution parameters of alkyl ether carboxylic acid by controlling the average carbon number (10.8-12.8) and the distribution of ethylene oxide units (n=0: 9.9-27%, n=1,2: total <40%). This parameter optimization ensures rapid rinsing without sliminess while maintaining effective cleansing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 provides excellent foaming and rinsing properties, making it suitable for washing large areas without the issues of sliminess or foam dripping, thereby improving the overall cleansing experience.

Implementation Method 1

alkyl ether carboxylic acid or a salt thereof... and (B) an alkyl sulfate or polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS9522105B2Skin cleansing composition
Publication Date: 2016.12.20 KAO CORP

AI summary

A skin cleansing composition, comprising(A) an alkyl ether carboxylic acid or a salt thereof represented by formula (1):wherein, R1 represents an alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, n represents a number of from 0 to 20, and M represents a hydrogen atom, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or organic ammonium,wherein, R1 has an average carbon number of from 10.8 to 12.8 and the average value of n is from 2.5 to 3.4,and wherein, the alkyl ether carboxylic acid or a salt thereof contains a component in which n=0 in an amount of from 9.9 to 27% by mass, and contains a component in which n=1 and a component in which n=2 in a total amount of less than 40% by mass, and(B) an alkyl sulfate or polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate represented by formula (2):wherein, R2 represents an alkyl group or an alkenyl group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, m represents a number of from 0 to 20 and the average of m is less than 2, and Y represents a hydrogen atom or a cation selected from alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkyl ammonium, alkanol ammonium, and glucammonium.R1—O—(CH2CH2O)n—CH2—COOM  (1)R2—O—(CH2CH2O)m—SO3Y  (2)