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Rheology modifier can create shampoo formulations with fewer surfactants
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued patent No. 7,973,004 to K. Abraham Vaynberg, research scientist, Ashland Specialty Ingredients.
What is it?
Titled "Rheology modifier for aqueous surfactant-based formulations," the patent describes how hydrophobically modified polymers can be used to thicken surfactant-based formulations for personal care, oral care, household and institutional applications.
A surfactant is a substance, such as a detergent, that can reduce the surface tension of a liquid and allow it to foam, wet out dirt on surfaces and provide cleaning action.
This invention is especially useful in thickening formulations containing lower amounts of surfactants where the traditional thickening approaches (simply adding table salt) do not work. The produced formulations have the same feel (i.e. rheology, or viscosity profile) as the traditional formulations found on store shelves everywhere.
Applications
The invention can create shampoo formulations with fewer surfactants, making shampoos more gentle on the environment and potentially offering cost savings to the shampoo manufacturers by using less surfactant.
In addition industries involving hair care, skin care, household cleaners, wipes and detergents can derive benefits from the patent.
"It is always gratifying to find a technical solution that meets customer needs, but what was especially exciting in this case was that we were able to take the newly developed Aquaflow™ XLS technology for thickening paints and adapt it in an entirely different application," said Vaynberg. "Obviously, such adaptations are the most cost effective option from a product development standpoint and make perfect business sense."
