Ashland Care Specialties introduces APShield™ 100, the first polymer to advance the performance of antiperspirants with a minimum of aluminum salt
Press Release
Ashland Care Specialties introduces APShield™ 100, the first polymer to advance the performance of antiperspirants with a minimum of aluminum salt
PARIS, France - Ashland Care Specialties, a business unit of Ashland Specialty Ingredients, today introduced APShield™ 100 polymer, the first commercially available polymer technology demonstrated to advance the performance attributes of antiperspirant products. Formulators may now use a functional polymer to create high-performing antiperspirants with significantly less aluminum salt, while maintaining the efficacy of products labeled as "enhanced duration." APShield 100 polymer, a PVM/MA decadiene copolymer, is optimized for use in anhydrous antiperspirant stick and roll-on formulations.
"A range of demonstration formulations containing the APShield 100 polymer indicates aluminum salt content may be reduced in anhydrous formulations from 25 percent to as low as 5 percent without compromising antiperspirant effects," said Sarah Thiewes, global marketing manager, skin care, Ashland Care Specialties. "Formulators and marketers focused on new, more efficient antiperspirant formulations with lower levels of aluminum salt may consider APShield 100 polymer as a 'drop-in' solution."
APShield 100 polymer is distinguished by its high-adhesion properties. High-adhesion properties offer efficiency in formulation and in use. Achieving efficiency in both areas allows formulators of antiperspirants to significantly lower the amount of aluminum salts in stick compositions and roll-on compositions, including those that typically contain higher levels of aluminum salt to support label claims such as "extra effective" and "enhanced duration."
Comparable performance
In vivo studies on five volunteers suggest a market-leading antiperspirant product with 20 percent activated aluminum salt performs equally with a demonstration formulation containing 5 percent standard aluminum salt and 2.5 percent APShield 100 polymer. The demonstration formulation containing 2.5 percent APShield 100 polymer, compared against anhydrous formulations with aluminum salt content ranging from 15 percent to 25 percent, also showed equivalent efficacy over the course of four applications.
"For the first time in nearly 20 years, a functional technology is now available to advance the performance and aesthetics of antiperspirants," said Thiewes. "Making a functional polymer available on a commercial scale - one that opens up new formulation options - will change the way marketers and formulators make and sell finished antiperspirant products."
Improved aesthetics
Ashland found that lowering the aluminum salt content of antiperspirant formulations helps to reduce residual whiteness at the site of application and to lower staining on fabric. Demonstration formulations suggest that roll-on products, one containing 18 percent aluminum salt and another containing just 5 percent aluminum salt and 5 percent APShield 100 polymer, leave markedly different levels of whiteness on skin:
Residual whiteness
"Today's consumers require high performance from antiperspirants, but often that means using formulations that produce a relatively high level of residue whiteness on skin," said Thiewes. "With lower levels of aluminum salt, however, it is relatively simple to reduce whiteness on skin, and staining on clothing. Using APShield 100 polymer, formulators may now address consumer needs for performance and aesthetics with significantly less reliance on aluminum salts."
- 0 -
About Ashland Specialty Ingredients
Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in key markets including personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings and energy. Using natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications.
About Ashland
In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media Relations
Anna Gripp
+1 973-641-1724
agripp@ashland.com