Titanium Dioxide Aqueous Cosmetic Stability via Silica Coating and Gums

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sunscreens face challenges in stably incorporating micronized titanium dioxide into the water phase, leading to uneven distribution and deposition on reactor vessel walls, which complicates production and reduces the effectiveness of UV protection in aqueous formulations.

Innovation Solution

A cosmetic preparation comprising an aqueous phase with titanium dioxide particles coated with silica or organopolysiloxane, combined with gums like gellan, sclerotium, or xanthan, which forms a stable and finely distributed gel, preventing titanium dioxide deposition and enabling uniform distribution within the water phase for emulsification with an oil phase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If titanium dioxide is incorporated into the water phase, then UV protection effectiveness is improved, but the titanium dioxide particles clump together and deposit on reactor vessel walls

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUV protection effectivenessVSAvoidparticle distribution stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance (gum) that mediates between the titanium dioxide particles and the water phase. The gum acts as a bridge, allowing the hydrophobic titanium dioxide particles to be stably incorporated into the hydrophilic water phase without clumping or depositing on vessel walls, thus resolving the contradiction between UV protection effectiveness and particle distribution stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining titanium dioxide particles with gum substances. This composite approach allows the titanium dioxide to maintain its UV protective properties while the gum provides stability and prevents aggregation, solving the contradiction between maintaining UV protection effectiveness and ensuring particle distribution stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If titanium dioxide is incorporated into the water phase, then aqueous pigment-based sunscreen production is enabled, but extensive cleaning of reactor vessel walls is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaqueous formulation capabilityVSAvoidproduction process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The gum serves as an intermediary that enables aqueous formulation capability while preventing the harmful effect of vessel wall deposition. This allows the production process to be simplified by eliminating extensive cleaning requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between aqueous formulation capability and manufacturing ease

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If titanium dioxide particles are used as UV filter, then UV protection is provided, but the particles cannot be evenly distributed in a sustained manner

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUV protectionVSAvoidparticle distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gum acts as a mediator that enables sustained even distribution of titanium dioxide particles throughout the water phase. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining both UV protection reliability and manufacturing precision through the stabilizing effect of the gum on particle distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution allows for the stable and uniform distribution of titanium dioxide in the water phase, preventing vessel wall deposition and enhancing UV protection in aqueous sunscreen formulations, while also allowing for the production of aqueous pigment-based sunscreens with improved stability and effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

This aqueous preparation forms a flexible gel in which the titanium dioxide particles are stable and finely distributed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Implementation Method 2

the titanium dioxide particles are advantageously coated with silica or an organopolysiloxane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

This water phase containing titanium dioxide should be suitable for emulsification with an oil phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Data Source

PatentUS20240423884A1Cosmetic having titanium dioxide in the aqueous phase
Publication Date: 2024.12.26 BEIERSDORF AG

AI summary

Cosmetic preparation containing or consisting of an aqueous phase containing titanium dioxide particles and one or more gums (INCI: Gum) and the preparation thereof.