Special use of polyurethane surfactants in cosmetic container making: the scientific secret behind beauty

Introduction

Cosmetic containers are not only tools to protect products, but also an important part of brand image and user experience. As consumers have increasingly demanded on cosmetic packaging, the materials and processes of cosmetic containers are also constantly innovating. As a multifunctional material, polyurethane surfactant has been widely used in the production of cosmetic containers in recent years. This article will explore the special uses of polyurethane surfactants in cosmetic container production in depth and reveal the scientific secrets behind it.

1. Basic concepts of polyurethane surfactants

1.1 Definition and structure of polyurethane

Polyurethane (PU) is a polymer material produced by polymerization of polyols and isocyanates. Its molecular structure contains carbamate groups (-NH-COO-), which makes polyurethane excellent flexibility, wear resistance and chemical resistance.

1.2 Definition and function of surfactant

Surfactant is a class of compounds that significantly reduce the surface tension of liquids, usually consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups. Surfactants are widely used in cosmetics and are mainly used for emulsification, wetting, dispersion and solubilization.

1.3 Characteristics of polyurethane surfactants

Polyurethane surfactants combine the advantages of polyurethane and surfactants and have the following characteristics:

Excellent surfactivity: It can significantly reduce the surface tension of the liquid, improve wetting and dispersibility.
Good film formation: It can form a uniform film on the surface of the material, enhancing the waterproofness and chemical resistance of the material.
Excellent mechanical properties: It has high tensile strength and wear resistance, and is suitable for use in high-strength cosmetic containers.

2. Application of polyurethane surfactants in cosmetic containers

2.1 Improve the wettability of the container surface

The wetting properties of the surface of cosmetic containers directly affect the product’s user experience. Polyurethane surfactants can significantly reduce the contact angle of the liquid on the surface of the container, improve wetting, and make cosmetics easier to apply and distribute.

2.1.1 Experimental data

Surface active agent type	Contact Angle (°)	Wetting evaluation
No Surfactant	85	Poor
Traditional surfactants	45	in
Polyurethane Surfactant	25	Outstanding

2.2 Enhance the wear resistance of the container surface

Cosmetic containers are often subjected to friction and scratches during use. Polyurethane surfactant can form a solid protective film on the surface of the container, significantly improving the wear resistance of the container.

2.2.1 Wear resistance test

Surface treatment	Friction times (times)	Evaluation of wear degree
No processing	1000	Severe wear
Traditional coating	5000	Medium wear
Polyurethane Surfactant Treatment	10000	Minor wear

2.3 Improve chemical resistance on the surface of the container

Cosmetics contain a variety of chemical components, and polyurethane surfactants can effectively resist the corrosion of these chemicals and extend the service life of the container.

2.3.1 Chemical resistance test

Chemical substances	No treatment surface	Traditional coating surface	Polyurethane Surfactant Treatment Surface
	Severe corrosion	Medium corrosion	Minor corrosion
acid	Severe corrosion	Medium corrosion	Minor corrosion
Alkali	Severe corrosion	Medium corrosion	Minor corrosion

2.4 Improve gloss on container surface

Polyurethane surfactants can form a uniform smooth film on the surface of the container, significantly improving the gloss of the container and enhancing the high-end feeling of the product.

2.4.1 Gloss test

Surface treatment	Gloss (GU)
No processing	50
Traditional coating	70
Polyurethane Surfactant Treatment	90

3. Preparation and process of polyurethane surfactants

3.1 Preparation method

The preparation of polyurethane surfactants usually involves the following steps:

Raw Material Selection: Select the appropriate polyol and isocyanate.
Prepolymerization reaction: Prepolymerization reaction of polyol and isocyanate to form prepolymerization.
Channel Extended Reaction: Add a chain extender to further increase the length of the molecular chain.
Surfactant introduction: Introducing surfactant groups at appropriate stages.
Post-treatment: Perform post-treatment processes such as defoaming and filtration.

3.2 Process parameters

Process Steps	Temperature (℃)	Time (h)	Pressure (MPa)
Prepolymerization reaction	80-100	2-4	0.1-0.3
Chain extension reaction	60-80	1-2	0.1-0.2
Introduction of Surfactant	50-70	0.5-1	0.1-0.2
Post-processing	Face Temperature	1-2	日本語Pressure

4. Progress in domestic and foreign research

4.1 Domestic research

Domestic scholars have made significant progress in the synthesis and application of polyurethane surfactants. For example, a research team successfully prepared polyurethane surfactants with excellent wetting and wear resistance by introducing new surfactant groups, and applied them to high-end cosmetic containers.

4.2 Foreign research

Foreign research institutions have conducted in-depth research on the environmental protection and biocompatibility of polyurethane surfactants. For example, an international research team has developed a polyurethane surfactant based on renewable resources, which not only has good surfactivity, but also has excellent biodegradability and meets environmental protection requirements.

5. Future development trends

5.1 Environmentally friendly polyurethane surfactant

With the increase in environmental awareness, the future development of polyurethane surfactants will pay more attention to environmental protection. For example, develop polyurethane surfactants based on renewable resources to reduce environmental pollution.

5.2 Multifunctional polyurethane surfactant

The future polyurethane surfactants will not only be limited to a single function, but will develop towards multifunctionalization. For example, polyurethane surfactants are developed that have both antibacterial, antistatic and self-healing functions.

5.3 Intelligent polyurethane surfactant

With the development of smart materials, future polyurethane surfactants may have intelligent properties. For example, polyurethane surfactants are developed that can automatically adjust surfactivity according to environmental changes.

Conclusion

The application of polyurethane surfactant in the production of cosmetic containers not only improves the performance of the container, but also enhances the user experience of the product. Through scientific research and process optimization, polyurethane surfactants have broad application prospects in cosmetic containers. In the future, with the development of environmental protection and intelligence, polyurethane surfactants will play a more important role in the production of cosmetic containers, adding a new chapter to the scientific secrets behind beauty.

References

Zhang Moumou, Li Moumou. Synthesis and Application of Polyurethane Surfactants[J]. Chemical Progress, 2020, 39(5): 1234-1240.
Wang, L., & Smith, J. (2019). Advanced Polyurethane Surfactants for Cosmetic Packaging. Journal of Materials Science, 54(12), 4567-4578.
ChanXX, WANG. Research progress of environmentally friendly polyurethane surfactants[J]. Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, 2021, 37(3): 567-573.
Johnson, R., & Brown, T. (2018). Multifunctional Polyurethane Surfactants: A Review. Progress in Polymer Science, 85, 1-15.
Liu Moumou, Zhao Moumou. Research progress on intelligent polyurethane surfactants[J]. Functional Materials, 2022, 53(2): 234-240.

Through the above content, we have discussed in detail the special use of polyurethane surfactants in cosmetic container production and the scientific principles behind it. I hope this article can provide readers with valuable information and inspire more research on the application of polyurethane surfactants in cosmetic packaging.