S. Taczak
Materic,
United States
Keywords: fire retardancy, thermal barrier, heat reflectivity, sweat resistance, cosmetic coating
Summary:
This cosmetic coating is a novel optimization of combining fire retardancy and heat reflectivity that can protect skin from flames, conform to skin, and be easily applied and removed. This research combines previously patented hydrogel technology for fire retardancy, heat reflective pigments additives for thermal protection, and face paints with metal pigment. When wearing the coating, it increases the time required to cause a second-degree burn from 2 seconds to 4 seconds with corresponding heat flux reduction of 40 kW/m2 to 15 kW/m2. This increases the amount of time one can respond to the heat flux. The coating also reflects near infrared radiation and uses an endothermic reaction of water in hydrogel additive to divert heat. The hydrogels provide another benefit of sweat resistance. The ingredients for the coating are based on everyday cosmetic ingredients and vary concentrations of emulsifiers and surfactants for desired performance properties. Assessments were made through visual inspection, optical microscopy, texture analysis, ballistic heating rates using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic light scattering. Hydrogels were screened for sweat resistance, proper rheology for storage, and feel. The most recent development in this research is the sweat resistance which is based on a film formed between the coating and the skin. The film and coating must allow sweat to pass through it without degrading. The degradation is varied based on hydrogel concentration. This sweat resistance characteristics does not change the coating’s ability to be removed with soap and water, hold its heat reflective properties, and increase time of wearer’s response to heat flux.