Beyond rheology modification: hydrophilically modified silicone elastomers provide new benefits

The development of silicone elastomers with hydrophilic functionality in the form of PEG substituents provides benefits beyond the rheology modification (thickening) that can be achieved with silicone elastomers that lack functional substituents. We have shown that PEG-modified dimethicone crosspolymer (PEG-DCP) is an effective emulsifier for water-in-silicone (w/s) emulsions where the continuous phase is cyclopentasiloxane. The utility of PEG-DCP for producing simple antiperspirant gels and also multiple emulsions (w/s/w) was demonstrated. Additional benefits for PEG-DCP such as improved compatibility with polar organic oils and reduced syneresis in anhydrous antiperspirants were also shown to be associated with the addition of hydrophilic groups to the silicone elastomer. The performance and physical properties of a series of PEG-DCP samples from a two-level factorial design were evaluated. The variables studied were the level of PEG substitution, the length of the PEG chains, and crosslink density. All of the PEG-DCP samples were synthesized and tested in the form of dispersions in cyclopentasiloxane. Variations in the composition of PEG-DCP such as the level of PEG substitution and the length of the PEG chain were shown to have a significant effect on the viscosity of the PEG-DCP and its emulsification performance in a simple w/s emulsion. Variation of a process parameter that affects the crosslink density of the elastomer also changed the emulsification properties of the PEG-DCP.