Patent Picks are compiled by the editors from publicly available sources. This edition features inventions related to rheology and thickening: from vibrating mascara to improve its viscosity during application, gel networks to thicken oral care, and natural oil polyester thickeners, to a "fracking" rheology modifier, composition to thicken ionic oil phases and more.
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Patent Picks are compiled by the editors from publicly available sources. This edition features inventions related to rheology and thickening: from vibrating mascara to improve its viscosity during application, gel networks to thicken oral care, and natural oil polyester thickeners, to a "fracking" rheology modifier, composition to thicken ionic oil phases and more.
Change in viscosity to optimize eyelash makeup application
U.S. Patent 8980240
Publication date: March 17, 2015
Assignee: L'Oréal
According to these inventors, there is a need for formulations whose rheologies are modified prior to or during use for a smoother application. In relation, it has been observed that, under the effect of vibration, the viscosity of compositions vary; either becoming thicker or more fluid. In the first case, such compositions afford good thickening, for example, of the eyelashes and thus provide a good loading effect. The second case affords a smoother deposit and better definition of the makeup, and thus a better quality of deposit and better separation of the eyelashes. Therefore, described here is an assembly containing: at least one composition containing platelet-shaped particles; at least one nonionic and/or ionic and/or polymeric surfactant, or at least one fatty-phase rheological agent; and at least one applicator having an application member and a vibrating source to make it vibrate.
Gel networks for improved oral care thickening
U.S. Patent 8980230
Publication date: March 17, 2015
Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
In the oral care category, there is an ongoing need for improved thickening or structuring systems as well as economical and convenient processes for making oral care compositions. The present invention relates to a process for making oral compositions comprising gel networks. These networks are formed from a fatty amphiphile dispersion and swelling surfactant. The fatty amphiphile dispersion comprises one or more fatty amphiphiles, one or more dispersing surfactants, and one or more solvents. A gel network is formed when the fatty amphiphile dispersion is combined with the swelling surfactant. A method of preparing the fatty amphiphile dispersion and oral composition is also included.
Polyglyceryl compounds as thickeners
European Patent EP2491916
Publication date: March 11, 2015
Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc.
This invention relates to polyglyceryl thickeners for a variety of applications including personal care cleansers. The inventors recognized the desire to replace synthetic ethoxylated thickeners with more natural and renewable materials. However, natural thickeners such as vegetable gums typically have a stringy, pseudoplastic and/or elastic rheology that is less desirable. The inventors have further recognized that thickeners that do not require ethoxylation are desirable, particularly those that are capable of thickening a range of formulations in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The present invention therefore describes polyglyceryl thickeners that overcome these disadvantages and are capable of enhancing the viscosity of compositions to which they are added.
Aliphatic polyesters from natural oils for thickening and more
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/027341
Publication date: March 5, 2015
Assignee: Trent University
Disclosed in this patent is the synthesis of certain medium and long chain ω-hydroxy esters and ω-hydroxy fatty acids derived from natural oils, whose corresponding polymers were obtained by melt polycondensation. Investigations of their structural and molecular parameters, thermal and mechanical properties, and co-polymerization indicated they may be utilized independently and/or incorporated into various formulations. Their applications include personal care, where they may serve as rheology modifiers as well as hair fixative polymers, specialty conditioning polymers, surfactants, UV absorbers, solvents, humectants, occlusives, film-formers and more.
"Fracking" rheology modifier for personal care
U.S. Patent 8969261
Publication date: March 3, 2015
Assignee: Rhodia
Described herein is a composition for enhancing fluid viscosity that includes a mixture of at least one cationic or cationizable polymer, and at least one anionic or anionizable (hydrolyzable) polymer. The composition has a zeta potential at 25°C in the range of 0.5 mV to 100 mV, or -0.5 mV to -100 mV—typically 1 mV to 60 mV, or -1 mV to -60 mV—or is a precursor convertible at a temperature of 100°C to 250°C to said composition. These compositions exhibit salt tolerance and interaction at high temperatures (> 300°F) such that they increase viscosity. These compositions are useful for hydraulic fracturing, enhanced oil recovery and subterranean acidization, as well as personal care, and home and industrial cleaning.
Alkyl ketal esters as dispersants and slip agents
U.S. Patent 8962597
Publication date: Feb. 24, 2015
Assignee: Segetis, Inc.
According to this patent, thickeners, which reside mainly or exclusively in the continuous phase of formulas, increase viscosity so there is a kinematic barrier to particle settling. However, determination of the most appropriate dispersant, slip additive or thickener can be time-consuming. Further, despite the number of dispersants, slip additives and thickeners available, there remains a need for materials that can be used in a variety of different systems, including liquid and semi-solid systems. Accordingly, these inventors have found that alkyl ketal esters of a given formula are excellent dispersants and slip agents for a variety of organic, inorganic and inorganic-organic particles in liquid and semi-solid dispersing media (continuous phases). Examples of these dispersions include paints and other coatings, and various types of cosmetic products. A particularly advantageous feature is that the alkyl ketal esters can also be bio-based; i.e., derived at least in part from a natural source.
Thickening ionic oil phases free of monomers
U.S. Patent 8937101
Publication date: Jan. 20, 2015
Assignee: Societe d'Exploitation de Produits pour les Industries Chimiques (SEPPIC)
According to these inventors, synthetic thickening polymers in the form of inverse latices have previously been described but most are incapable of thickening oil phases. The present patent application relates to novel compounds that thicken oil phases and processes for preparing them; as well as their application for skin, hair and scalp care products—especially w/o cosmetic, dermocosmetic, dermopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical emulsions. Disclosed is a copolymer that includes: a) more than 70% mol, up to 99.9% mol, of hydrophobic monomer units from stearyl methacrylate; and b) 0.1% mol to 30% mol of monomer units from at least one monomer of a given compound with a linear or branched alkyl radical comprising 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical.
