Zinc Oxide Powder Sebum Solidification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Zinc oxide powders used in cosmetics take too long to solidify sebum, which hinders effective suppression of make-up fading.

Innovation Solution

A zinc oxide powder with a water-soluble substance content of 0.30% by mass or less and a mass ratio of alkali metal to alkaline earth metal between 1:2 to 10:1, combined with surface treatment using inorganic or organic components, to accelerate sebum solidification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional zinc oxide powder is used in cosmetics, then it provides ultraviolet-shielding function and gas transmission-suppressing function, but it takes too long to solidify sebum, making it difficult to suppress make-up fading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesebum solidification effectivenessVSAvoidsebum solidification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of zinc oxide powder by controlling the content of water-soluble substances (0.01-0.30% by mass) and the mass ratio of alkali metal to alkaline earth metal (1:2 to 10:1). This parameter optimization enables the powder to solidify sebum rapidly within 30 minutes, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and time consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite zinc oxide powder containing multiple elements (Zn, Al, Si, Ca, Mg, Na, K) with specific compositional ratios. This composite structure combines the ultraviolet-shielding properties of zinc oxide with the sebum-solidifying properties of alkali and alkaline earth metals, achieving both rapid sebum solidification and cosmetic functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of time

If zinc oxide powder with high water-soluble substance content is used, then sebum solidification may be accelerated, but transparency and dispersibility are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesebum solidification timeVSAvoidtransparency and dispersibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent precisely controls the water-soluble substance content within 0.01-0.30% by mass and the alkali metal to alkaline earth metal ratio within 1:2 to 10:1. This narrow parameter range optimization ensures rapid sebum solidification while maintaining the transparency and dispersibility required for cosmetic applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies surface treatment to the zinc oxide powder using inorganic components (silica, alumina) or organic components (silicone compounds, fatty acids, polyolefins). This surface modification creates local quality changes that improve dispersibility and maintain transparency without affecting the core sebum-solidifying functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 significantly shortens the sebum solidification time and enhances the cosmetic's ability to prevent make-up fading while maintaining transparency and dispersibility.

Implementation Method 1

A zinc oxide powder has an ultraviolet-shielding function

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltraviolet shielding: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the zinc oxide powder is capable of suppressing the spreading of sebum by solidifying the sebum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSebum solidification: Freezing

Data Source

PatentUS11364185B2Zinc oxide powder, dispersion, and cosmetics
Publication Date: 2022.06.21 SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

In a zinc oxide powder of the present invention, a content of a water-soluble substance is 0.30% by mass or less, and a mass ratio between an alkali metal and an alkaline earth metal which are included in the water-soluble substance is in a range of 1:2 to 10:1.