Carboxylated Starch Ester Polyglucose Polymers for Hair Fixatives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hair fixative polymers used in personal care applications are typically made from synthetic materials, which are not sustainable and difficult to replicate in terms of cost and performance, and lack compatibility with renewable sources and alcohol-based solvent systems.
Innovation Solution
Development of carboxylated starch ester-based polyglucose polymers, formed by reacting starch with anhydrides, which are soluble in alcohol-based solvent systems and compatible with propellants, offering a sustainable alternative with equal or improved performance to synthetic polymers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If synthetic polymers are used for hair fixative compositions, then cost and performance requirements are met, but sustainability is compromised due to non-renewable resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of natural starch by esterification with anhydrides to create carboxylated starch ester polyglucose polymers. This chemical transformation changes the physical and chemical properties of the polymer, enabling it to achieve synthetic-like performance while maintaining renewable resource origin. The degree of substitution and carboxyl content are controlled to optimize both sustainability and performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite polymer structures by combining starch backbone with esterified anhydride groups. This composite approach integrates the renewable nature of starch with the performance-enhancing chemical groups from anhydrides, resulting in a material that balances sustainability with functional performance comparable to synthetic polymers.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If natural polymers are used as sustainable alternatives, then environmental friendliness is improved, but solubility in alcohol-based systems and compatibility with propellants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically adjusts the chemical parameters of starch through controlled esterification reactions. By varying the type of anhydride, reaction conditions, and degree of substitution, the polymer's solubility parameters are modified to match alcohol-based solvent systems. This enables the natural polymer to dissolve properly in cosmetic formulations containing ethanol and be compatible with aerosol propellants like dimethyl ether.
3Reliability
If synthetic polymers are replicated to match performance, then cost and functionality are achieved, but complexity of replication and sustainability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to replicate complex synthetic polymer structures, the patent copies the desirable performance characteristics of synthetic polymers through chemical modification of simple starch molecules. The esterification process creates functional groups that mimic synthetic polymer behavior, achieving similar performance without the complexity of synthesizing entirely new polymer structures from scratch.
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 carboxylated starch ester-based polyglucose polymers provide effective hair styling performance, including spray rate, viscosity, and high humidity curl retention, while being environmentally friendly and cost-competitive with synthetic alternatives.
Implementation Method 1
The polyglucose polymer is obtained by reacting at least one starch ester with an anhydride, such as a cyclic anhydride or an acylic anhydride or mixtures thereof
Implementation Method 2
the polyglucose polymer is soluble in the alcohol based solvent system
Data Source
AI summary
A hair fixative composition includes at least one carboxylated starch ester based polyglucose polymer, an alcohol based solvent system, and a cosmetically acceptable additive, wherein the polyglucose polymer is soluble in the alcohol based solvent system. The polyglucose polymer is obtained by reacting at least one starch ester with at least one anhydride.