Sulfate-Free Hair Cleansing Composition Using Synergistic Surfactants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sulfate-free hair care products often lack lathering, foaming, and clarity, and rely on non-biodegradable emulsifiers, thickeners, and polymers that can be harmful to the environment and bio-accumulate.

Innovation Solution

A sulfate-free hair cleansing composition using alkyl poly glucoside compounds, betaine compounds, and acyl amino acid surfactants, which provides improved viscosity, stability, and biodegradability without the need for emulsifiers, thickeners, or hydrocolloids, maintaining excellent foaming and cleansing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If sulfate-free hair care compositions are formulated, then environmental sustainability and biodegradability are improved, but lathering performance, foaming, and clarity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidlathering performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by using specific sulfate-free surfactant combinations (alkyl poly glucoside compounds with 8-22 carbons, betaine compounds, and acyl amino acid surfactants) at optimized concentrations. This parameter change enables the formulation to achieve both environmental sustainability and adequate lathering performance without relying on traditional sulfates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite surfactant system combining three different types of sulfate-free surfactants (alkyl poly glucoside, betaine, and acyl amino acid) that work synergistically. This composite approach allows each component to contribute different properties, achieving balanced foaming, cleansing, and environmental compatibility that single surfactants cannot provide

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If emulsifiers, thickeners, and polymers are added to sulfate-free formulations, then viscosity and stability are improved, but biodegradability deteriorates and eco-toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviscosityVSAvoidbio-accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates harmful non-biodegradable components (emulsifiers like alkoxylated surfactants, synthetic thickeners, and problematic polymers) from the formulation. By removing these problematic substances, the composition achieves stability and viscosity through alternative means that are environmentally benign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses readily biodegradable ingredients that break down quickly in the environment rather than persistent substances. The surfactant system is designed to be effective during use but decompose completely after use, preventing bio-accumulation while maintaining functional performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Quantity of substance

If emulsifiers and thickeners are used in sulfate-free compositions, then solubility and viscosity are improved, but foaming performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidfoaming performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of surfactant components to achieve the desired balance. By carefully controlling the amounts of alkyl poly glucoside (5-15%), betaine compounds (3-10%), and acyl amino acid surfactants (2-8%), the formulation achieves adequate solubility for conditioning agents while preserving foaming performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite surfactant system creates synergistic effects where the combination of different surfactant types enhances overall performance. The mixed micelle structure formed by multiple surfactant types improves solubilization capacity while maintaining surface activity for foaming, achieving both goals simultaneously

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 composition achieves superior hair cleansing performance, excellent clarity, and improved foaming texture while being readily biodegradable, comparable to traditional sulfate-free formulations but with enhanced environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

at least one alkyl poly glucoside compound, at least one betaine compound, and at least one acyl amino acid surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP2785308B2Novel hair cleansing composition
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 LOREAL SA

AI summary

An aqueous hair cleansing composition comprising (a) at least one aikyi poly glycoside; (b) at least one betaine compound; and (c) at least one acyl amino acid, wherein the composition is sulfate free.