Spray-Dried Porous PHA Particles for Oil Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) particles used as texturizing agents in cosmetics have limitations in absorbing oily substances, leading to a greasy sensation on the skin and inadequate 'soft focus' effect, without compromising product flowability.
Innovation Solution
A process involving spray drying with an expanding agent, such as ammonium bicarbonate, is used to produce porous PHA particles, creating a porous structure that enhances oil absorption and light scattering properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional PHA particles are used as texturizing agents, then the cosmetic product achieves basic texturizing effects, but the capacity to absorb oily substances is insufficient, leading to greasy sensation on skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by creating PHA particles with a porous internal structure through spray drying with expanding agents. The porous structure provides increased surface area and void spaces that enhance oil absorption capacity, directly resolving the contradiction between basic texturizing function and insufficient oil absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the PHA particles by controlling the spray drying process parameters (temperature, pressure, atomization rate) and expanding agent characteristics to create particles with optimized pore size distribution and surface properties, thereby enhancing oil absorption while maintaining texturizing effects.
2Quantity of substance
If PHA particles are added to improve oil absorption, then skin greasiness is reduced, but the flowability of the cosmetic product may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The porous structure of the PHA particles provides high oil absorption capacity within a controlled particle size range (1-100 μm), allowing the particles to remain suspended and mobile in the cosmetic formulation, thus maintaining flowability while enhancing oil absorption performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes particle size distribution and surface characteristics of the porous PHA particles to ensure they remain suspended in the cosmetic product without excessive settling or clumping, thereby preserving flowability while achieving enhanced oil absorption.
3Quantity of substance
If the capacity of PHA particles to absorb oily substances is increased, then the soft focus effect is enhanced, but the flowability of the product is negatively influenced
Solution Approach 1:
The porous PHA particles provide enhanced soft focus effect through improved light scattering properties resulting from the porous internal structure, while the controlled particle size and surface properties maintain product flowability and application performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite PHA particles with porous internal structure and controlled external morphology, combining the light scattering properties needed for soft focus effect with flowability-maintaining surface characteristics and size distribution.
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 porous PHA particles effectively absorb oily substances, reducing skin greasiness and providing a soft focus effect while maintaining product flowability, with improved oil absorption and lower bulk and tapped densities.
Implementation Method 1
providing an aqueous suspension comprising the PHA and an expanding agent which decomposes at the operating temperature of the atomization chamber, with the formation of at least one gaseous compound
Implementation Method 2
injecting the aqueous suspension into the atomization chamber provided at the operating temperature, so as to cause instantaneous evaporation of the aqueous suspension and decomposition of the expanding agent
Data Source
AI summary
A process for producing porous particles of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) includes the following steps: providing a spray drying atomization chamber heated to an operating temperature comprised between 50° C. and 300° C.; providing an aqueous suspension having the PHA and an expanding agent which decomposes at the operating temperature of the atomization chamber, with the formation of at least one gaseous compound; and injecting the aqueous suspension into the atomization chamber provided at the operating temperature, so as to cause instantaneous evaporation of the aqueous suspension and decomposition of the expanding agent, with formation of the porous PHA particles. The particles obtained from said process can be used to obtain cosmetic compositions that are soft to the touch, with high oil absorbing capacities and high flow index, able to generate a uniform, filling effect for wrinkles and skin furrows, making the skin more glossy and compact.