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Industrial Liaison Group:
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 778797
E-mail: industry@diamond.ac.uk
Innovation and sustainability are two of the key drivers for the consumer products industry in today’s marketplace. With sustainability high on the consumer agenda and with rising raw material, water and energy costs, the development of efficient and “green” products, packaging and processes is vital to long term business success.
Increasing demand for product performance, product security and shelf life make the development of innovative products and technologies vital. Innovation requires a fresh approach, a good understanding of the science behind the product or process and access to the widest possible variety of research and development tools.
Diamond provides specialist analytical techniques for the atomic to microscale characterisation of materials ranging from personal care products, cosmetics, food and household products through to packaging and processing.
Characterisation of Formulations
Behaviour at Interfaces
Novel and Complex Materials
Packaging
The Problem
For many years, the skin care industry has been challenged with providing sun protection for its users whilst being environmentally friendly and both easy and safe to use.
Many existing products on the market use nanoparticles containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These have been known to provide a transparent coating when used in formulations spread onto the skin’s surface. This transparency provides an aesthetically pleasing result, not achievable with larger-particle formulations. However, the potential for solid nanoparticles to penetrate and to diffuse into the body raises a considerable health and safety issue. There has therefore been a drive for research in this area, to develop alternative solutions.
The Problem
The quality of ice cream is considered to depend on the size of constituent air cells and ice crystals, the smaller and rounder the better. Product quality and shelf life can be strongly affected by the temperature variations that can commonly occur during storage and distribution, including by the end consumer.
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The Problem
Hair care is a rapidly developing science. Consumers demand more from their products in terms of sensory perception and functionality. Rapid innovation into market is key to growth. Increased product complexity requires greater understanding of the interplay between components and an accurate description of the product microstructure and its rheological and dispersion properties are essential.
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The Problem
Only a very small proportion of the surfactant used in cleaning products is actually needed to provide the cleaning function. The majority of the surfactant used in formulations is added as a rheological modifier (thickener). Many surfactants are derived from petrochemicals so finding alternative and sustainable sources of ingredients with similar physicochemical properties is an important formulation challenge for consumer products manufacturers.
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Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
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Diamond House
Harwell Science & Innovation Campus
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0DE
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Industrial Liaison Office
