Stable surfactant compositions for suspending components

Abstract

A free-flowing surfactant composition comprising at least one anionic surface-active agent, an alkanolamide, an electrolyte, and water is described. In particular, the composition is a surfactant composition that has free-flowing non-Newtonian shear thinning properties and the ability to suspend components and is stable under at least one freeze/thaw cycle.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A composition comprising:
 (a) an anionic surfactant or a mixture of anionic surfactants, wherein the anionic surfactant or at least one anionic surfactant of the mixture comprises sodium trideceth sulfate,   (b) at least one alkanolamide,   (c) at least one electrolyte,   (d) at least one benefit agent, and   (e) water,   wherein the composition possesses non-Newtonian shear thinning properties and a stable viscosity under at least one freeze/thaw cycle and is capable of suspending water-insoluble particles or partially insoluble components; and   further wherein the initial viscosity of the composition is equal to or greater than 3,000 cps.   
     
     
         54 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition comprises, based on the weight of the composition:
 from about 5% to about 30% of the anionic surfactant or a mixture of anionic surfactants,   from about 2% to about 10% of the at least one alkanolamide, and   from about 1% to about 15% of the at least one electrolyte.   
     
     
         55 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises an anti-dandruff agent, a pigment or opacifying agent, moisturizing beads, a natural abrasive, a synthetic abrasive, a sunscreen agent, a vegetable oil, an animal fat, a mineral oil, petrolatum, a silicone oil, a polyalkylsiloxane, polyalkyarylsiloxane, an ester, a fatty acid, an alcohol, a depigmentation agent, a reflectant, a UV absorber, a thickening agent, a detangling/wet combing agent, a film forming polymer, a humectant, an amino acid or amino acid derivative, an antimicrobial agent, an anti-acne agent, an anti-aging agent, an antiseptic, an analgesic, a local anesthetic, an anti-hair loss agent, a hair growth inhibitor agent, an inflammation inhibitor, a protein, a deodorant, an antiperspirant, a skin emollient, a skin moisturizer, a hair conditioner, a hair softener, a hair moisturizer, a vitamin, a tanning agent, a skin lightening agent, an antifungal agent, a depilating agent, a counterirritant, a hemorrhoidal, an insecticide, a sunscreen, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises a vegetable oil comprising arachis oil, castor oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil, olive oil, palm kernel oil, rapeseed oil, safflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, soybean oil, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises:
 a fatty acid comprising behenic acid, palmitic acid, or stearic acid; or   an alcohol comprising behenyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, eicosanyl alcohol, or isocetyl alcohol.   
     
     
         58 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises a hair conditioning agent. 
     
     
         59 . The composition of  claim 58 , wherein the hair conditioning agent comprises a silicone, a silicone derivative, a natural oil, a nonionic surfactant, a wax, a synthetic oil, a cationic surfactant, or a polymer. 
     
     
         60 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises a skin treatment agent or a skin conditioning agent. 
     
     
         61 . The composition of  claim 60 , wherein the benefit agent comprises salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, a vitamin, a vitamin complex, an abrasive, a silicone, a silicone derivative, a natural oil, a synthetic oil, or a polymer. 
     
     
         62 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises a hair styling polymer. 
     
     
         63 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises a high molecular weight conditioning polymer or a conditioning polymer having a high cationic charge density. 
     
     
         64 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the benefit agent comprises a precipitated conditioning polymer. 
     
     
         65 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein said composition consists essentially of the anionic surfactant or mixture of anionic surfactants, the at least one alkanolamide, the at least one electrolyte, the at least one benefit agent, and water. 
     
     
         66 . The composition of  claim 55 , wherein said composition consists essentially of the anionic surfactant or mixture of anionic surfactants, the at least one alkanolamide, the at least one electrolyte, the at least one benefit agent, and water. 
     
     
         67 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition is capable maintaining the air bubbles in suspension after at least one freeze thaw cycle. 
     
     
         68 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition is stable under at least three freeze/thaw cycles. 
     
     
         69 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition has a lamellar liquid crystal structure. 
     
     
         70 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition comprises from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the anionic surfactant or mixture of anionic surfactants. 
     
     
         71 . The composition of  claim 70 , wherein the at least one alkanolamide comprises about 2% to about 5% by weight of the composition, and the at least one electrolyte comprises about 1% to about 6% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         72 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition comprises a mixture of anionic surfactants and at least one anionic surfactant of the mixture of anionic surfactants comprises an aliphatic sulfonate, an aromatic sulfonate, an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfate, an alkyl sulfosuccinate, an alkyl taurate, an acyl taurate, an alkyl sarcosinate, an acyl sarcosinate, a C 8 -C 22  alkyl phosphate, an alkyl phosphate ester, an alkoxyl alkyl phosphate ester, an acyl lactate, a C 8 -C 22  monoalkyl succinate, a C 8 -C 22  monoalkyl maleate, or an acyl isethionate. 
     
     
         73 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition comprises a mixture of anionic surfactants and at least one anionic surfactant of the mixture of anionic surfactants comprises an aliphatic sulfonate, an aromatic sulfonate, an alkyl sulfate, or an alkyl ether sulfate. 
     
     
         74 . The composition of  claim 73 , wherein the at least one anionic surfactant of the mixture of anionic surfactants comprises an alkyl sulfate or alkyl ether sulfate. 
     
     
         75 . The composition of  claim 74 , wherein the at least one anionic surfactant of the mixture of anionic surfactants comprises sodium laureth sulfate, magnesium laureth sulfate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         76 . The composition of  claim 53 , further comprising at least one additional surfactant comprising a nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic, or cationic surfactant, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         77 . The composition of  claim 76 , wherein said additional surfactant comprises a betaine surfactant, a sulphobetaine surfactant, an amphoacetate surfactant, or a diamphoacetate surfactant. 
     
     
         78 . The composition of  claim 76 , wherein the total amount of surfactants in the composition ranges from about 8% to about 30% by weight. 
     
     
         79 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the alkanolamide comprises a branched aliphatic chain, an unsaturated aliphatic chain, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         80 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the alkanolamide comprises a compound of formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein:
 R is a C 5 -C 24  saturated or unsaturated, straight chain or branched aliphatic group, 
 R 1  and R 2  are the same or different, C 2 -C 4  straight chain or branched aliphatic 
 x ranges from 0 to 10, 
 y ranges from 1 to 10, and 
 the sum of x and y is less than or equal to 10. 
 
       
     
     
         81 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition comprises from about 2% to about 5% by weight of the at least one alkanolamide. 
     
     
         82 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one alkanolamide comprises coco monethanolamide, coco monoisopropanolamide, or an alkoxylated cocamide. 
     
     
         83 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one electrolyte comprises a phosphate, chloride, sulfate, or citrate anion or a sodium, ammonium, potassium, or magnesium cation. 
     
     
         84 . A stable, multi-phase personal care formulation comprising a composition, wherein said composition comprises, based on the weight of the composition:
 (a) from about 5% to about 30% of an anionic surfactant or a mixture of anionic surfactants, wherein the anionic surfactant or at least one anionic surfactant of the mixture comprises sodium trideceth sulfate,   (b) from about 2% to about 10% of at least one alkanolamide,   (c) from about 1% to about 15% of at least one electrolyte,   (d) at least one benefit agent, and   (e) water,   wherein the composition possesses non-Newtonian shear thinning properties and a stable viscosity under at least one freeze/thaw cycle and is capable of suspending water-insoluble particles or partially insoluble components; and   further wherein the initial viscosity of the composition is equal to or greater than 3,000 cps.   
     
     
         85 . The personal care formulation of  claim 84 , wherein the formulation comprises a striped body wash, a hair shampoo, a skin cleanser, a child care formulation, a facial wash, or and skin treatment. 
     
     
         86 . The composition of  claim 84 , wherein the composition has a pH ranging from 4 to 6.5. 
     
     
         87 . The composition of  claim 53 , wherein the composition has a pH ranging from 4 to 6.5.