Together with our customers and partners, we find innovative, fast and practical solutions. Our work is widely recognized and the technologies used are applicable in a broad range of formulations. The published articles below are examples of some of the collaborative research projects we have been involved in.
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In the coating industry, achieving optimum dispersions of carbon black pigments is a challenging task with a crucial outcome. Different post-treatments on the same core pigment particles will have a drastic influence on their compatibility with wetting and dispersing additives, impacting their final stabilization. In this article, we showcase how Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSP) can be used to quickly predict the most compatible dispersant/pigment pairing out of a selected set of dispersants, leading to optimized performance of the pigments in the coating.
VLCI has collaborated with many companies to obtain a range of bio-based and green solvents that are spread across the HSP space. Via this workflow, it is possible to practically determine the HSP of products and thereupon, recommend suitable replacements or predict compatibility. The two articles below showcase the validation of our bio-based HSP workflow in cosmetic and adhesive applications.
Bio-based HSP Determination for Cosmetic Applications (.pdf)
Bio-based HSP Determination for Adhesive Applications (.pdf)
Texanol is currently the most widely used coalescent for latex paints in the world: despite sometimes not being the most efficient coalescing aid for a given system, it shows a good cost/performance ratio. Still with that in mind, coating formulators may still want to replace Texanol when taking into consideration other properties, such as gloss, hardness development, VOC level, odor, greener profile, etc. And finding alternatives is challenging because they have to meet many requirements. This article showcases how HSP can be an efficient route to find suitable coalescents in your coating formulations.
Sorption of flavor and fragrance compounds by plastic packaging materials is a major factor contributing to the quality degradation of foods and other products during storage. This causes changes in both the intensity and characteristics of the products flavors/fragrances. This is because of their absorption by the packaging material, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “scalping”. It has been shown many times that scalping can be predicted by comparing the HSP of polymer to the HSP aroma compounds. This is demonstrated in this article using bio-PBS and bio-PBSA.
Active ingredients are vital to many cosmetic formulations and yet they can be difficult to work with. They can destabilize formulations and loose efficacy during storage. By using a joint approach of practical Hansen Solubility Parameter (HSP) determination (using HSPiP), theoretical HSP predictions and then implementation using Formulating for efficacy (FFE™), this article will show an intelligent way to formulate for optimized active ingredient delivery.
The most common solvent to be used for the removal of nail polish is acetone, mainly because of its strong dissolving power and its very low price. Despite the positive aspects, acetone is not a perfect solution as it makes the nail and skin dry after use, has a strong odor and comes with the hazards flammable and irritant. Rather than proceeding by trial and error on a large number of solvents, determining the HSP of the nail varnish formulation will find the most suitable solvents quickly so that further testing and analysis can be performed.
VLCI has set up a synergistic collaboration together with Electric Ant Lab (EAL), in which HSP is used for the prediction of rheological behaviours.
The predictive formulation science for emulsion development HLD-NAC, helped to obtain a stable O/W emulsion for active ingredients to be delivered on the banana plantation.
The formulation of regular triphasic formulations is usually done by combining liquids of different densities that are immiscible. However, this method often involves the use of organosilicon or fluorinated liquids which are not always desired in cosmetic and personal care products. The HLD-NAC can be used to characterize (bio-based) surfactants and oils which then can be used to formulate, among others, the type III emulsions. Indeed, Type III emulsions are triphasic systems that are formed at HLD = 0 at low surfactant concentration. From there, by adding a higher amount of surfactant(s), the middle phase can be increased up to a single-phase system.
In the field of coatings, typical challenges can be tackled by using the HSP approach; for example, HSP can predict an optimal dispersant for a specific pigment/filler (blend), resulting in lower viscosity, as well as lowering the amount of dispersant needed. An optimal dispersant will impart maximal hiding power and color intensity, excellent stability against flocculation and will prevent issues such as pigment flooding and floating.
In emulsion polymerization, the replacement of standard monomers with bio-based monomers requires a firm understanding of the total system, if it is to be formulated properly. The HLD-NAC approach can be used to characterize the constituents in a polymer emulsion so that, more rational adjustments can be made to the surfactant system, while maintaining stability and performance.
A proof of concept has been developed at VLCI – Amsterdam to showcase the process of surfactant selection via the HLD‐NAC theory for emulsion polymerization. This approach, that has already been proven in the fields of personal care, household and EOR, allows a practical and fast selection of the right surfactants for the efficient development of any type of (micro‐)emulsions.
There’s clearly a desire to replace conventional surfactants with naturally derived, sustainably sourced or biodegradable alternatives. For the cosmetic scientists, the challenge of applying this switch to practice is a tough one. There are very few ways for determining which surfactant is the best green replacement, especially when working with micro-emulsions. Trial and error takes time, eating into a company’s competitive edge so it is clear that a framework for rational formulation design would be beneficial. Outlined here is a real alternative to the limited Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) approach; it’s called HLD-NAC approach.
When working with fillers or pigments, the selection of suitable dispersants can be time-intensive, with many physical and chemical factors coming into play. VLCI presents a new method that removes much of the complexity of dispersant selection, through the application of Hansen Solubility Parameters. It uses experimentally determined parameters to predict immediately the best dispersant for your paint, coating or ink development.
Talcs with different properties were evaluated as barrier fillers. Differences in performance could be found much more rapidly and clearly by using EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) methods than by salt spray testing. Pure, platy low oil absorption talcs gave excellent barrier properties in heavy duty protective coatings without the use of any other anticorrosive pigment.
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Surface resistance test (.pdf)
During the last two decades the pharmaceutical industry has been constantly using of automated and parallel workflows to increase their productivity in the R&D process. The use of automated high-throughput screening methodologies to develop new structures using fast identification systems has resulted in an important reduction of time-to-market and an increase in knowledge and cost savings. Also, researchers in the field of polymeric coatings and polymeric formulations started using these tools and this article shows the benefits in that area.
TDC – Bunge – Amorphic – Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
TDC – Bunge – Amorphic – Linear Polarization Resistance
TDC – Bunge – Amorphic – Accelerated Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
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