Silicone gel composition

Abstract: A silicone gel composition that comprises (a) a silicone oil, (b) a polyoxyalkylene group-containing organopolysiloxane with the formula wherein R is the methyl or phenyl group; A is the methyl group, phenyl group, or polyoxyalkylene groups with the formula -C₃H₆O(C₂H₄O) a (C₃H₆O) b R' wherein R' is the hydrogen atom, an acyl group, or alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a is an integer with a value of 5 to 50 and b is an integer with a value of 5 to 50; m is an integer with a value of 50 to 1,000, and n is an integer with a value of 1 to 40; and (c) water.

Description: The present invention relates to a silicone gel composition and, more specifically, relates to a silicone gel composition that gives a light, dry sensation or feel and that is very stable with respect to time. Silicone oils are nontoxic, highly spreadable, highly lubricating, and very water repellent, and for these reasons are employed in such products as cosmetics, makeup, skin-care cosmetics, hair-care cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. Silicone oils have been available in the form of water-based silicone emulsion compositions, silicone oil compositions, and silicone gel compositions. Silicone gel compositions have been used for sunscreen gels, moisturizing creams, antiperspirant creams, liquid foundations, and hair gels. Known silicone gel compositions include silicone gel compositions composed of silicone oil and wax and silicone gel compositions composed of silicone oil and silica or lipophilic silica. However, it is difficult to smoothly spread the wax-containing silicone gel compositions on the skin or hair, and once applied these compositions give a clammy feel. On the other hand, the silica-containing silicone gel compositions have poor keeping qualities because the silica aggregates and the silicone oil separate out. In response to this, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open [Kokai or Unexamined] Number Sho 61-113646 [113,646/1986] has proposed a silicone gel composition that consists of silicone oil, a polyoxyalkylene-containing organopolysiloxane, an organically modified clay mineral, such as dioctadecyldimethylammonium salt-modified montmorillonite, and water. Nonetheless, the compositions of Sho 61-113646 are still problematic. Furthermore, this silicone gel composition still provides a clammy feel when applied to the skin or hair. In Japanese patent applications JP-A 61 212 324, JP-A 62 045 656, JP-A 62 054 759 and JP-A 61 113 646 silicone oil containing gel compositions are disclosed which comprise a silicone oil, a polyoxyalkylene modified organopolysiloxane and as essential ingredient an organically modified clay mineral together with water. The polyoxyalkylene modified organopolysiloxane used in these compositions can be a compound which has polyoxyalkylene groups at the molecular ends of the modified organopolysiloxane. The molecules contain only one sort of polyoxyalkylene groups, either oxyethylene groups or oxypropylene groups. EP-A 0 076 146 discloses skin conditioning compositions which are in the form of an emulsion. The emulsion comprises a high amount of glycerine, 0,5 to 10 percent of a volatile silicone, 0,05 to 1 percent of a polydiorganosiloxane polyalkylene copolymer which contains at least one polyoxyalkylene segment, a surfactant and water. The description of the polydiorganosiloxane polyalkylene copolymer is very general. In a preferred embodiment the copolymer comprises dimethylsiloxane units and methylsiloxane units which carry polyoxyalkylene segments and as terminating groups trimethylsilyl groups. From EP-A 0 456 459, EP-A 0 435 483, EP-A 0 407 089 and EP-A 0 298 402 it is known to use a polymer of dimethylpolysiloxane with polyoxyethylene and/or polyoxypropylene side chains as surfactant for a water in silicone oil emulsion wherein the emulsion further comprises a volatile polydimethylsiloxane and other ingredients which are useful for such a product. The present invention takes as its object the introduction of a silicone gel composition that gives a light, dry sensation and that is very stable with respect to time. The present invention relates to a silicone gel composition that comprises: (a) 20 to 95 percent by weight of a silicone oil selected from the group consisting of dimethylpolysiloxane, methylphenylpolysiloxanes, dimethylsiloxane-methylphenylsiloxane copolymers; octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, tetramethyltetraphenyltetracyclosiloxane; cyclic siloxane solutions of dimethylpolysiloxane gums, dimethylsiloxane-methylphenylsiloxane copolymer gums, and dimethylpolysiloxane gums; trimethylsiloxysilicic acids and cyclic siloxane solutions of trimethylsiloxysilicic acids; diorganopolysiloxanes having C 6-50 alkyl groups; and amino-containing diorganopolysiloxanes; (b) 2 to 30 percent by weight of a polyoxyalkylene organopolysiloxane with a formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R is the methyl or phenyl group; R' is selected from the group consisting of the hydrogen atom, an acyl group, and alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a is an integer with a value of 5 to 50, b is an integer with a value of 5 to 50; m is an integer with a value of 50 to 1,000; and n is an integer with a value of 1 to 40; and (c) 0.2 to 80 percent by weight of water. The silicone oil comprising component (a) is exemplified by low- to high-viscosity diorganopolysiloxanes and is selected from dimethylpolysiloxanes, methylphenylpolysiloxanes, and dimethylsiloxane-methylphenylsiloxane copolymers; cyclic siloxanes such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, and tetramethyltetraphenyltetracyclosiloxane; cyclic siloxane solutions of high degree-of-polymerization dimethylpolysiloxane gums, dimethylsiloxane-methylphenylsiloxane copolymer gums, and dimethylpolysiloxane gums; trimethylsiloxysilicic acids and the cyclic siloxane solutions of trimethylsiloxysilicic acids; diorganopolysiloxanes having C 6-50 alkyl groups; and amino-containing diorganopolysiloxanes. Component (a) can take the form of a single species of silicone oil as exemplified above or a mixture of two or more such silicone oils. The content of component (a) in the silicone gel composition of the present invention is 20 to 95 weight %. Component (b) functions as gelling agent in the present invention. Component (b) is a polyoxyalkylene group-containing organopolysiloxane with the general formulas as defined in claim 1. The group R in these formulas is the methyl or phenyl group. The group R' in these polyoxyalkylene groups is the hydrogen atom, an acyl group, or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Acyl groups are exemplified by formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, acryloyl, benzoyl, and toluoyl. The C 1-4 alkyl groups are specifically exemplified by methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, tert-butyl, and n-butyl. Moreover, a is an integer with a value of 5 to 50 and b is also an integer with a value of 5 to 50. The ranges for the polyoxyalkylene group in component (b) are such that when a or b is below 5, component (b) is no longer able to provide a satisfactory thickening activity; and when a or b exceeds 50, the resulting silicone gel composition gives a clammy sensation. The polyoxyalkylene group content in component (b) is not specifically restricted, but the preferred polyoxyalkylene group content falls within the range of 20 to 70 weight % exclusive of 20 weight %. Component (b) has a sharply reduced thickening activity when the polyoxyalkylene group content in component (b) is ≤ 20 weight %. On the other hand, a content in excess of 70 weight % results in a loss of compatibility with component (a). In addition, m is an integer with a value of 50 to 1,000 and n is an integer with a value of 1 to 40. The thickening activity is unsatisfactory when m falls below 50 and n falls below 1. On the other hand, the resulting silicone gel composition gives a clammy sensation when m exceeds 1,000 and n exceeds 40. Neither the molecular weight of component (b) nor its viscosity at 25°C are specifically restricted. However, preferred viscosities for the 50 weight % octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane solution of component (b) fall within the range of 1,000 to 100,000 centistokes (mm 2 /sec) because this leads to the formation of a stable gel that gives a light, dry sensation. The component (b) content is in the range of 2 to 30 weight % and its particularly preferred range is 5 to 15 weight %. A stable silicone gel composition cannot be obtained when the silicone gel composition of the present invention component (b) content exceeds 30 weight %, the silicone gel composition will give a clammy feeling. The silicone gel composition of the present invention is prepared by mixing water into the components (a) and (b). The content of water in the silicone gel composition of the present invention preferably falls within the range of 0.2 to 80 weight % and particularly preferably falls within the range of 0.3 to 75 weight %. A stable silicone gel composition cannot be prepared when the water content falls below 0.2 weight %. When the water content exceeds 80 weight %, the water will separate from the silicone gel composition, and the preparation of a stable silicone gel composition becomes difficult. The silicone gel composition of the present invention is storage stable, and it affords a light, dry sensation when applied to the skin or hair. These qualities make it ideal for application in cosmetics. For its cosmetic applications, the silicone gel composition of the present invention may be blended as desired with such cosmetic additives as waxes, oils and fats, lower alcohols, lower polyhydric alcohols, higher alcohols, esters, moisture-retention agents, pigments, antiperspirants, UV absorbers, fragrances, and preservatives. Furthermore, due to its excellent keeping qualities and light, dry feel, the silicone gel composition of the present invention can be used in pharmaceutical products, automotive polishes, and furniture polishes. The present invention is explained in greater detail below through illustrative examples, but the present invention is not limited thereby. Table 1 shows the organopolysiloxanes used as component (b) in the examples. The structures of the organopolysiloxane referenced in Table 1 are shown below. organopolysiloxane type R m n a b R' L II methyl 400 8 25 25 H M II methyl 400 8 25 4 H O III methyl 300 - 30 15 H P III methyl 300 - 30 0 H Q III methyl/phenyl = 80/20 500 - 40 60 C 4 H 9 R III methyl/phenyl = 80/20 500 - 3 60 C 4 H 9 The stability with respect to time was measured as follows. Appearance The silicone composition was sampled into a 100 cc sample bottle, and the appearance was visually inspected after standing for 30 days at room temperature. Viscosity Using a VDA rotary viscometer, the viscosity of the silicone gel composition was measured both immediately after preparation and again after standing for 30 days at room temperature. Application sensation The apreadability and sensation were evaluated when the silicone composition was applied to the skin. Example 1 10 weight parts of the organopolysiloxane were dispersed into 90 weight parts of the silicone bil by stirring. Into this was mixed 1 weight part of the ultraviolet absorber Escalol 507 from Van Dyk and Company, Inc. followed by the dropwise addition of 2 weight parts water while mixing. A sunscreen gel was subsequently obtained by dispersion to homogeneity in a homomixer. These sunscreen gels were very spreadable and gave a light, dry feeling. Tables 2, and 3 show the appearance and viscosity for each product both immediately after preparation and after standing for 30 days at room temperature. Example 2 4 weight parts of the organopolysiloxane were dispersed in 60 weight parts of the silicone oil by stirring. 36 weight parts 50 % aqueous aluminum chlorohydrate solution ACH303 from Dow Corning Corporation were gradually dripped in while dispersing. After completion of addition, an antiperspirant gel was obtained by mixing for 5 minutes at 3,000 rpm in a homomixer. The resulting antiperspirant gels had a good spreadability and gave a light, dry feel. For each product Table 4 shows the appearance both immediately after preparation and after standing for 30 days at room temperature.

Claims: A silicone gel comprising (a) 20 to 95 percent by weight of a silicone oil selected from the group consisting of dimethylpolysiloxane, methylphenylpolysiloxanes, dimethylsiloxane-methylphenylsiloxane copolymers; octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, tetramethyltetraphenyltetracyclosiloxane; cyclic siloxane solutions of dimethylpolysiloxane gums, dimethylsiloxane-methylphenylsiloxane copolymer gums, and dimethylpolysiloxane gums; trimethylsiloxysilicic acids and cyclic siloxane solutions of trimethylsiloxysilicic acids; diorganopolysiloxanes having C 6-50 alkyl groups; and amino-containing diorganopolysiloxanes; (b) 2 to 30 percent by weight of a polyoxyalkylene organopolysiloxane with a formula selected from the group consisting of wherein R is the methyl or phenyl group; R' is selected from the group consisting of the hydrogen atom, an acyl group, and alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a is an integer with a value of 5 to 50, b is an integer with a value of 5 to 50; m is an integer with a value of 50 to 1,000; and n is an integer with a value of 1 to 40; and (c) 0.2 to 80 percent by weight of water.

Inventors: HARASHIMA ASAO, HARASHIMA, ASAO
Applicants: DOW CORNING TORAY SILICONE, DOW CORNING TORAY SILICONE COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: C08L83
IPC codes: C11D3, A61K8, A61Q1, A61Q17, A61Q19, A61Q5, C08L83, C08J3, A61Q15, C08G77