Granted Patent B2

US 9,962,321 · App. 14/971,608 · Granted May 8, 2018

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A consumer product comprising a composition, said composition comprising:

an adjunct material; and

a plurality of coated microcapsules, said coated microcapsule comprising

i) a microcapsule comprising a polymeric shell and a liquid core material encapsulated therein; and

ii) a metallic coating surrounding said microcapsule;

wherein the metallic coating comprises sterically stabilized nanoparticles of a first metal having a particle size of less than 100 nm adsorbed on said polymeric shell to form a discontinuous layer and a continuous film of a second metal overlaid onto the discontinuous layer by electroless plating catalyzed by the nanoparticles of the first metal;

wherein the sterically stabilized nanoparticles of a first metal are first neutral metal nanoparticles on the surfaces of which are adsorbed and coated a polymeric stabilizer;

wherein the metallic coating has a maximum thickness of 1000 nm

wherein the continuous film of a second metal is substantially uniform; and

the coated microcapsules retain more than 50% by weight of the liquid core material as shown by an ethanol stability leakage test comprising combining the coated microcapsules in an aqueous solution of one part water and four parts ethanol to form a test mixture, exposing the text mixture to heat at 40° C. for seven days, thereafter separating the text mixture into the coated microcapsules and an aqueous test solution, and analyzing the aqueous test solution to determine the amount of liquid core material that has leached from the coated microcapsules.

2. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the liquid core material is selected from the group consisting of perfumes; brighteners; insect repellants; silicones; waxes; flavors; vitamins; fabric softening agents; depilatories; skin care agents; enzymes; probiotics; dye polymer conjugate; dye clay conjugate; perfume delivery system; sensates; attractants; anti-bacterial agents; dyes; pigments; bleaches; flavorants; sweeteners; waxes; pharmaceuticals; fertilizers; herbicides and mixtures thereof.

3. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric shell comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polyethylenes, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyisoprenes, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyolefins, polysaccharides, epoxy resins, vinyl polymers, urea cross-linked with formaldehyde or gluteraldehyde, melamine cross-linked with formaldehyde, gelatin-polyphosphate coacervates optionally cross-linked with gluteraldehyde, gelatin-gum arabic coacervates, cross-linked silicone fluids, polyamines reacted with polyisocyanates, acrylate monomers polymerised via free radical polymerization, silk, wool, gelatine, cellulose, alginate, proteins, and combinations thereof.

4. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric shell comprises a polyacrylate.

5. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric shell comprises a surface-modifying agent.

6. The consumer product of claim 5 , wherein the surface-modifying agent is selected from cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), polyvinyl alcohol) (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and mixtures thereof.

7. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein at least some of said particles are adsorbed on said surface-modifying agent.

8. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric shell is obtained by an emulsification process in which a surface-modifying agent is employed as an emulsifier.

9. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the first metal is palladium, platinum, silver, gold, copper, nickel, tin or a combination thereof; and the second metal is silver, gold, nickel, copper or a combination thereof.

10. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the density of said particles on the polymeric shell is such that said particles cover from 0.1 to 80% of the surface area of the polymeric shell.

11. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein (i) the first metal is platinum and the second metal is gold; (ii) the first metal is gold and the second metal is silver; or (iii) the first metal is gold and the second metal is copper.

12. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the metallic coating has a maximum thickness of 500 nm; and the metallic coating has a minimum thickness of 1 nm.

13. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein the coated microcapsule has a particle size of from 0.1 micron to 500 microns.

14. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein said composition is a personal care composition and, wherein said adjunct ingredient comprises a mixture of materials, said mixture comprising:

i) from 50% to 99.9%, by weight of the composition, of ethanol; and

ii) from 0.5% to 50% of a fragrance.

15. The consumer product of claim 1 , wherein:

i) the polymeric shell comprises a polyacrylate;

ii) the polymeric shell comprises a surface-modifying agent, and wherein the surface-modifying agent is selected from cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), polyvinyl alcohol) (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and mixtures thereof;

iii) the particles of the first metal are nanoparticles, wherein said nanoparticles have a particle size of less than 100 nm;

iv) the first metal is platinum and the second metal is gold, the first metal is gold and the second metal is silver, or the first metal is gold and the second metal is copper;

v) the coated microcapsule has a particle size of from 0.1 micron to 500 microns;

vi) the liquid core material comprises a perfume oil; and

vii) the adjunct ingredient comprises from 0.01% to 98%, by weight of the composition of ethanol.

16. A method of making a composition, said method comprising the steps:

combining an adjunct material with a plurality of coated microcapsules to form a composition;

wherein said coated microcapsules comprise

i) a microcapsule comprising a polymeric shell and a liquid core material encapsulated therein; and

ii) a metallic coating surrounding said microcapsule;

wherein the metallic coating comprises sterically stabilized nanoparticles of a first metal having a particle size of less than 100 nm adsorbed on said polymeric shell to form a discontinuous layer and a continuous film of a second metal overlaid onto the discontinuous layer by electroless plating catalyzed by the nanoparticles of the first metal;

wherein the sterically stabilized nanoparticles of a first metal are first neutral metal nanoparticles on the surfaces of which are adsorbed and coated a polymeric stabilizer;

wherein the metallic coating has a maximum thickness of 1000 nm;

wherein the continuous film of a second metal is substantially uniform; and

the coated microcapsules retain more than 50% by weight of the liquid core material as shown by an ethanol stability leakage test comprising combining the coated microcapsules in an aqueous solution of one part water and four parts ethanol to form a test mixture, exposing the text mixture to heat at 40° C. for seven days, thereafter separating the text mixture into the coated microcapsules and an aqueous test solution, and analyzing the aqueous test solution to determine the amount of liquid core material that has leached from the coated microcapsules

wherein said composition is a component of a consumer product.

Assignments (12)