JIM BULLOCK
iFormulate Limited, West Croft, Main Street,
Keyingham, Hull, HU12 9SR, United Kingdom

Abstract

The protection and delivery of active substances are important features of formulated products from many industries. Microencapsulation and controlled release technologies are employed in household and personal care products in order to provide performance claims and optimum stability. Such technologies of interest can be beneficially adapted for HPC uses by seeking opportunities developed in “adjacent” industries such as pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, agrochemicals and coatings. This article takes a look inside and outside HPC and reviews selected technologies being used for microencapsulation, controlled release and delivery.

INTRODUCTION

The Objectives of Formulation for Household and Personal Care (HPC)
Formulators in the personal care and household products industries are faced with multiple objectives, which frequently conflict with each other. Like product developers in any industry, the formulator must develop, test and scale-up a product formulation in a finite period of time (usually short) and with finite budget and resources. Again for reasons of budget and time, the formulation developed must usually be suitable for scale-up and manufacture in existing production plant. A further important objective for every formulator is to ensure that the formulation complies with regulatory requirements, such as the EU Cosmetics Regulation for personal care; the EU Biocides Regulation for household products, as well as the EU REACH regulation.

Especially important objectives for the formulator which of course must be met are those of efficacy and product performance. These form the basis of the product claims which the formulator's marketing colleagues will depend upon once the product is launched. An equally important objective is that of product stability. Instab ...