Staged Acrylic Polymer for Foamable Hand Soap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid hand soaps with acrylic-based thickeners face challenges in forming a stable, foamable consistency that can suspend particulate materials and maintain clarity, as they tend to form films and clog dispensers, while also failing to produce the desired voluminous foam and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A staged acrylic polymeric rheology modifier is developed, comprising a first stage polymeric core and a second stage polymeric shell, with specific monomer ratios and crosslinking agents, to provide low thickening efficiency, high suspending properties, and maintain product clarity, allowing for stable suspension of iridescent materials and preventing dispenser clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional acrylic-based thickeners are used to provide viscous rheology for stable suspension, then suspending properties are improved, but film formation and dispenser clogging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is synthesized in two distinct stages: first stage produces a polymeric core with specific properties, second stage forms a polymeric shell with different properties. This segmentation allows the core to provide suspension stability while the shell prevents film formation and dispenser clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the polymer particle have different functional properties. The core region is optimized for suspending particulate materials, while the shell region is designed to be non-film-forming and compatible with pump dispensers. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between suspension stability and film formation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If acrylic-based thickeners are used to maintain product consistency, then rheology stability is improved, but pumpability and foam generation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The two-stage polymer structure separates the rheology-modifying function (core) from the pumpability function (shell), allowing optimization of both properties simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer's physical and chemical parameters are precisely controlled during staged synthesis, including monomer ratios, molecular weight distribution, and crosslinking density, to achieve the optimal balance between rheology stability and pumpability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional thickeners are used to prevent settling, then suspension stability is improved, but product clarity and aesthetic appearance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The shell region of the polymer particle is specifically designed to be optically transparent while the core provides suspension functionality, achieving both stability and clarity through localized functional differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer consists of a composite structure with core and shell phases having different properties. This composite architecture allows the material to simultaneously provide suspension stability and maintain product clarity.
4Ease of operation
If water-thin consistency is used to improve pumpability, then dispenser operation is improved, but suspension stability and foam volume are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer's molecular characteristics are precisely engineered through staged synthesis to provide adequate suspension stability at low concentrations, enabling water-thin consistency while maintaining pumpability and suspension performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are multi-staged acrylic emulsion polymers and their use as rheology modifiers in the formulation of liquid personal care cleansers for the skin and hair. More particularly, the present technology relates to liquid cleansing compositions that possess the necessary rheology properties to stably suspend particles and insoluble materials within the cleanser but may also be used with pump dispensers to generate and dispense a creamy foam without fouling the pump mechanism.