Temperature-Stable Cosmetic Emulsions Without Acrylate Polymers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cosmetic emulsions face challenges in achieving low stickiness and temperature stability against clump formation at low temperatures without using acrylate-based polymers, which are increasingly criticized for unclear biodegradability.

Innovation Solution

A cosmetic emulsion comprising an emulsifier system that forms a liquid-crystalline network, combined with hydroxypropyl starch phosphate and/or Distarch Phosphate, and Gellan Gum, replaces acrylate-based polymers, ensuring low stickiness and temperature stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If acrylate-based polymers are used to stabilize O/W emulsions, then temperature stability and protection against flocs or clumps are improved, but biodegradability becomes unclear and environmental concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidbiodegradability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing acrylate-based polymers with a combination of biodegradable polymers (xanthan gum, guar gum, sclerotium gum) and specific emulsifiers. This parameter change maintains temperature stability while improving biodegradability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite emulsion system combining multiple biodegradable polymers (xanthan gum, guar gum, sclerotium gum) with specific emulsifiers (glyceryl stearate, cetearyl glucoside, sorbitan stearate). This composite approach achieves the temperature stability previously provided by acrylates while ensuring biodegradability, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If short-chain diols are used to improve temperature stability, then stability against flocs or clumps is improved, but stickiness of the formulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidstickiness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the composition parameters by completely excluding short-chain diols and instead using a specific combination of biodegradable polymers and emulsifiers. This parameter change achieves temperature stability without the stickiness side effect, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful stickiness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes short-chain diols from the formulation entirely, replacing their stabilizing function with a combination of biodegradable polymers and specific emulsifiers. This extraction eliminates the stickiness problem while maintaining temperature stability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful stickiness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If individual biopolymers or different combinations are used to replace acrylates, then biodegradability is improved, but temperature stability or stickiness becomes inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoidtemperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite system combining three specific biodegradable polymers (xanthan gum, guar gum, sclerotium gum) with specific emulsifiers (glyceryl stearate, cetearyl glucoside, sorbitan stearate) in defined proportions. This composite approach overcomes the limitations of individual biopolymers, achieving both biodegradability and adequate temperature stability, thus resolving the contradiction between biodegradability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional emulsion system where the combination of biodegradable polymers and specific emulsifiers simultaneously provides biodegradability, temperature stability, and appropriate texture. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction by making a single formulation that achieves multiple goals that individual biopolymers could not achieve alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 emulsion maintains stability and reduces clump formation at low temperatures, even without short-chain diols, while minimizing stickiness, thus addressing the limitations of acrylate-based polymers.

Implementation Method 1

an emulsifier system which forms a liquid-crystalline network in the emulsion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid-crystalline network formation: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

the formulations are well protected against formation of flocs and/or clumps when stored for relatively long periods for example for 30 days at −10° C.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature stability:

Data Source

PatentUS20250268802A1Temperature stable emulsions
Publication Date: 2025.08.28 BEIERSDORF AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a cosmetic emulsion.