Sulfonic Acid Amide Polymers Salt Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crosslinked polymers based on 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid lack optimal sensory property profiles and thickening performance, especially in salt-containing compositions and at acidic pH values.
Innovation Solution
Development of polymers comprising specific monomers with sulfonic acid groups, such as 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, open-chain amides, and trifunctional crosslinkers, which provide a balanced structural unit composition to enhance skin feel, thickening properties, and stability in salt-containing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional crosslinked polymers based on 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid are used, then basic thickening and gel formation are achieved, but sensory property profile and thickening performance in salt-containing compositions are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining multiple monomer types (sulfonic acid monomers, amide monomers, and crosslinking agents) to create a polymer with enhanced and balanced properties. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating different functional components that collectively provide both reliable thickening performance and adaptability to salt-containing compositions, which single-component polymers cannot achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by systematically adjusting the compositional parameters of the polymer, specifically the ratios of sulfonic acid groups, amide groups, and crosslinking density. By optimizing these parameters, the polymer achieves improved thickening performance while maintaining versatility in salt-containing environments, resolving the technical contradiction through precise parameter control.
2Ease of operation
If polymers are designed for optimal skin feel, then sensory properties are improved, but thickening performance in acidic pH environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating polymer structures with spatially distributed functional groups - sulfonic acid groups that provide acid stability and thickening performance, and amide groups that contribute to skin feel. This local differentiation of functional properties within the polymer structure allows simultaneous optimization of both skin feel and acidic pH thickening performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining monomers with different functional properties (sulfonic acid for acid stability, amides for sensory properties) to create a polymer that exhibits both improved skin feel and reliable thickening performance at acidic pH, resolving the contradiction through functional complementarity.
3Reliability
If crosslinking density is increased to improve thickening performance, then viscosity is enhanced, but stability in salt-containing compositions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the crosslinking density to an optimal range rather than maximizing it. By controlling the crosslinking agent content and molecular weight parameters, the polymer achieves sufficient thickening performance while maintaining compositional stability in salt-containing compositions, resolving the contradiction through balanced parameter selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses local quality by creating a heterogeneous crosslinked structure where crosslinked regions provide thickening performance while uncrosslinked regions maintain flexibility and salt stability. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction between thickening performance and salt stability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to water-soluble or water-swellable polymers that contain a) 20.0 to 98.97 mole-% of one or more repeating structural units originating from special monomers with sulfonic acid groups or the salts thereof such as e.g. 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid or the salts thereof, b) 1.0 to 60.0 mole-% of one or more repeating structural units containing an amide group and d) 0.01 to 8.0 mole-% of one or more repeating structural units originating from special crosslinking agents with at least three polymerizable double bonds. The polymers for example have an advantageous sensory property profile and are highly suitable as thickening agents even in salt-containing compositions. They are furthermore advantageously suitable for producing cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical compositions.