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Structured surfactant systemRelated Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, Live Hair Or Scalp Treating Compositions (nontherapeutic), Two Or More Designated Surfactant ContainingStructured surfactant system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080095733, Structured surfactant system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to surfactant compositions, more particularly to structured surfactant compositions. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Structured surfactant compositions are liquid crystalline compositions that are useful in home care applications such as liquid detergents, laundry detergents, hard surface cleansers, dish wash liquids, and personal care formulations such as shampoos, body wash, hand soap, lotions, creams, conditioners, shaving products, facial washes, baby care formulations, skin treatments. Surfactants in the structured surfactant compositions exist in the form of lamellar phases that are planar and/or in the form of spherulites. Commonly, the surfactant phase is present as spherulites, i.e., lamellar droplets, dispersed in the aqueous phase. Spherulites consist of an onion-like configuration of concentric bi-layers of surfactant molecules, between which is trapped water or electrolyte solution. Exclusively planar lamellar surfactant phases or exclusively spherulite lamellar surfactant phases or the combination of both forms can co-exist in the same composition. Structured surfactant compositions are typically pumpable, non-Newtonian compositions that have the capacity physically to suspend water insoluble particles by virtue of the presence of these lamellar surfactant phases. [0003] Structured surfactant systems based on anionic surfactants, more typically branched (C.sub.10-C.sub.22)alkyl alkali metal sulfates, such as sodium trideceth sulfate, are known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,312 discloses structured surfactant compositions that comprise sodium trideceth sulfate, a fatty acid or fatty acid ester, and a zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactant and provide enhanced freeze thaw stability. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2003/0180246 A1 discloses structured surfactant compositions that comprise an anionic surfactant and an alkanolamide. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2003/0190302 A1 discloses structured surfactant compositions that comprise an anionic surfactant and a cationic surfactant. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2006/0135627-A1 discloses structured surfactant compositions that comprise an anionic surfactant and an amine oxide. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to an aqueous structured surfactant composition, comprising, based on 100 parts by weight ("pbw") of the composition: [0005] (a) from greater than 0 to about 40 pbw of a first anionic surfactant selected from isethionate surfactants, taurate surfactants, sarcosinate surfactants, and mixtures thereof, [0006] (b) optionally, a second anionic surfactant selected from anionic surfactants other than isethionate surfactants, taurate surfactants, and sarcosinate surfactants, [0007] (c) optionally, one or more surfactants selected from amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof, and [0008] (d) optionally, one or more non-ionic surfactants, and [0009] (e) optionally, one or more cationic surfactants, wherein the total amount of surfactants (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) is from about 10 to about 40 pbw, and [0010] (f) from greater than 0 to about 30 pbw of electrolyte in an amount effective to, in combination with components (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), provide a structured surfactant composition that comprises a surfactant phase having an ordered liquid crystal structure. [0011] In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to an aqueous personal care composition, comprising, based on 100 pbw of the composition: [0012] (a) from greater than 0 to about 40 pbw of a first anionic surfactant selected from isethionate surfactants, taurate surfactants, sarcosinate surfactants, and mixtures thereof, [0013] (b) optionally, a second anionic surfactant selected from anionic surfactants other than isethionate surfactants, taurate surfactants, and sarcosinate surfactants, [0014] (c) optionally, one or more surfactants selected from amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof, and [0015] (d) optionally, one or more non-ionic surfactants, and [0016] (e) optionally, one or more cationic surfactants, wherein the total amount of surfactants (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) is from about 10 to about 40 pbw, and [0017] (f) from greater than 0 to about 30 pbw of electrolyte in an amount effective to, in combination with components (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), form a structured surfactant composition that comprises a surfactant phase having an ordered liquid crystal structure, and [0018] (g) greater than 0 pbw of one or more personal care benefit agents. [0019] In one embodiment, the presence of a surfactant phase having an ordered liquid crystal structure of the surfactant phase is indirectly demonstrated by showing that the structured surfactant composition has an opaque visual appearance and a yield strength of greater than 0 Pascals. [0020] In one embodiment, the composition exhibits shear thinning viscosity [0021] In one embodiment, the composition is capable of suspending insoluble or partially insoluble components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0022] As used herein, the term "surfactant" means a compound that reduces surface tension when dissolved in water. [0023] The composition of the present invention comprises, alone, or, more typically, interspersed with an aqueous phase, an ordered liquid crystal surfactant phase, typically a lamellar liquid crystal surfactant phase, more typically a spherulitic lamellar liquid crystal surfactant phase. [0024] In many cases, it is possible to directly demonstrate the presence of an ordered liquid crystal surfactant phase by the technique of "freeze-fracture microscopy" in which sample of the composition is frozen by exposure to low temperature, the frozen sample is fractured, and one or more of the fracture surfaces of the fractured frozen sample are examined under a microscope. [0025] It is also possible to indirectly demonstrate the presence of an ordered liquid crystal surfactant phase through inference based on the unique combination of properties exhibited by a composition that comprises such a phase. [0026] Due to the presence of the ordered liquid crystal surfactant phase, the composition of the present invention exhibits, on visual inspection, an opaque appearance. The composition of the present invention exhibits an opaque appearance in the absence, as well as in the presence, of water insoluble components, such as oils. [0027] As used herein, the term "opaque" means not completely transparent to light and ranges from a hazy translucent appearance through a turbid appearance to a uniform, saturated white appearance. In one embodiment, the structured surfactant compound of the present invention ranges from a turbid appearance to a uniform, saturated white appearance. [0028] Due to the presence of the ordered liquid crystal surfactant phase, the composition of the present invention exhibits a yield strength of greater than 0 Pascals. As used herein, "yield strength" refers to the magnitude of the applied force required to induce the composition to flow. In one embodiment, the composition exhibits a yield strength of greater than 0.1 Pascals ("Pa"), more typically from about 1 to about 100 Pa, and even more typically from about 1 to about 10 Pa, as determined by measurements using a controlled stress/strain rheometer at two or more shear rates. The presence or absence of a non-zero yield strength may also be reliably determined on a qualitative basis by visual observation of the flow characteristics of the composition and the resistance of the composition to deformation caused by, for example, movement of a hand-held spatula a sample of the composition. [0029] In one embodiment, the composition of the present invention is capable of suspending water insoluble or partially water-soluble components. The ability to suspend such components may be viewed as one manifestation of the presence of a non-zero yield strength. [0030] As used herein in reference to a component of an aqueous composition, the terminology "water insoluble or partially water-soluble components" means that the component is present in the aqueous composition at a concentration above the solubility limit of the component so that, in the case of a water insoluble component, the component remains substantially non-dissolved in the aqueous composition and, in the case of a partially water-soluble component, at least a portion of such component remains undissolved in the aqueous composition. The water insoluble or partially water-soluble components may, for example, be in the form of solid particles, of continuous or discontinuous liquid phases, such as oil droplets, or of discontinuous gas phases, such as air bubbles. [0031] As used herein, characterization of an aqueous composition as "capable of suspending", or as being "able of suspend" water insoluble or partially water-soluble components means that the composition substantially resists flotation of such components in the composition or sinking of such components in such composition so that such components appear to be neutrally buoyant in such composition and remain at least substantially suspended in such composition under the anticipated processing, storage, and use conditions for such aqueous composition. The ability to suspend water insoluble or partially water-soluble components is one manifestation of the non-zero yield strength of the present invention, that is, the resistance of the structured surfactant composition of the present invention to deformation at low stresses is sufficient to balance the gravitational forces acting on water insoluble or partially water-soluble components, so that the components remain suspended in the structured surfactant composition. [0032] In one embodiment, the presence of the ordered liquid crystal surfactant phase in the composition of the present invention is demonstrated by showing that the combined water, surfactant, and electrolyte components of the composition exhibit, in the presence and, more importantly, in the absence of water soluble components, an opaque visual appearance and exhibit a yield strength of greater than 0 Pascals. [0033] As discussed above, the ordered liquid crystal phase, alone or more usually interspersed with an aqueous phase, provides a rheology which is sufficient, when the system is at rest, to immobilize any suspended particles but, upon application of a shearing force, is sufficiently low to allow the system to be pumped like a normal liquid. Such systems may display very low apparent viscosities when stirred, pumped or poured and yet be capable of maintaining particles, sometimes of millimeter or larger size, in suspension. Continue reading about Structured surfactant system... Full patent description for Structured surfactant system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Structured surfactant system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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