# US 5,707,613 A · Spontaneously formed clear silicone microemulsions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,613 A - Document ID: US5707613A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/694,722 - Filed: 1996-08-09 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-11-20 - Assignees: Dow Corning Corporation - Inventors: Randal Myron Hill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707613A ## CPC - A61K 8/894: modified by a polyoxyalkylene group, e.g. cetyl dimethicone copolyol - A61K 8/068: {Microemulsions} - A61K 8/585: {Organosilicon compounds} - A61Q 5/00: Preparations for care of the hair - A61Q 15/00: Anti-perspirants or body deodorants (deodorisation of air A61L9/00) - A61Q 19/00: Preparations for care of the skin - B82Y 5/00: Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery - C08J 3/03: in aqueous media - A61K 2800/262: Transparent; Translucent - A61K 2800/413: Nanosized, i.e. having sizes below 100 nm - A61Q 5/12: Preparations containing hair conditioners - C08J 2383/04: Polysiloxanes - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61Q: SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) ## Abstract A method of spontaneously forming a highly stable clear microemulsion by combining (i) water; (ii) a volatile cyclic methyl siloxane or volatile linear methyl siloxane; and (iii) a silicone polyether surfactant. The amounts of each component are such that the composition is in the form of a microemulsion. The volatile methyl siloxane is present in the microemulsion in the form of particles having an average diameter of less than about 100 nanometers. The microemulsion is useful in personal care products. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating hair or skin comprising applying to hair or skin a microemulsion formed by combining (i) water; (ii) a cyclic methyl siloxane of the formula {(CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO}.sub.p or a linear methyl siloxane of the formula (CH.sub.3).sub.3 SiO{(CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO}.sub.q Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3 where p is 3-6 and q is 0-5; and (iii) a silicone polyether with a formula selected from the group consisting of ##STR8## where R1 is an alkyl group containing 1-6 carbon atoms; R2 is the radical --(CH.sub.2).sub.a O(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.b (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.c R3; x is 0-3; y is 1-3; z is 0-2; m is 3-5; n is one; a is 3-6; b is 4-20; c is 0-5; and R3 is hydrogen, a methyl radical, or an acyl radical. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the methyl siloxane is present in the microemulsion as droplets with an average diameter of less than 100 nanometers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the methyl siloxane is octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 in which the methyl siloxane is decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. ### Claim 5 A method of treating hair or skin comprising applying to hair or skin a microemulsion comprising (i) water; (ii) a methyl siloxane selected from the group consisting of cyclic methyl siloxanes of the formula {(CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO}.sub.p where p is 3-6, linear methyl siloxanes of the formula (CH.sub.3).sub.3 SiO{(CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO}.sub.q Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3 where q is 0-5, branched cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes containing difunctional units (CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO.sub.2/2 and trifunctional units CH.sub.3 SiO.sub.3/2, and branched linear volatile methyl siloxanes containing monofunctional units (CH.sub.3).sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2, difunctional units (CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO.sub.2/2, and tetrafunctional units SiO.sub.4/2 ; and (iii) a silicone polyether with a formula selected from the group consisting of ##STR9## where R1 is an alkyl group of 1-6 carbon atoms; R2 is the radical --(CH.sub.2).sub.a O(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.b (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.c R3; x is 0-3; y is 1-3; z is 0-2; m is 3-5; n is one; a is 3-6; b is 4-20; c is 0-5; and R3 is hydrogen, a methyl radical, or an acyl radical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5 in which the microemulsion contains 15-30% by weight of the silicone polyether, the proportions of methyl siloxane and water being between 40:60 to 80:20. ### Claim 7 A method of treating hair or skin comprising applying to hair or skin a composition containing a microemulsion formed by combining (i) water; (ii) a cyclic methyl siloxane of the formula {(CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO}.sub.p or a linear methyl siloxane of the formula (CH.sub.3).sub.3 SiO{(CH.sub.3).sub.2 SiO}.sub.q Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3 where p is 3-6 and q is 0-5; and (iii) a silicone polyether with a formula selected from the group consisting of ##STR10## where R1 is an alkyl group of 1-6 carbon atoms; R2 is the radical --(CH.sub.2).sub.a O(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.b (C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.c R3; x is 0-3; y is 1-3; z is 0-2; m is 3-5; n is one; a is 3-6; b is 6-12; c is 0-5; and R3 is hydrogen, a methyl radical, or an acyl radical. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7 in which the methyl siloxane is present in the microemulsion as droplets with an average diameter of less than 100 nanometers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7 in which the methyl siloxane is octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane or decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7 in which the microemulsion has a composition defined by and within the shaded area depicted in the annexed sole FIG. 1.