A Methodology for Multivariate Investigation on the Effect of Acrylate Molecular Structure on the Mechanical Properties and Delivery Efficiency of Microcapsules via In Situ Polymerization

In the field of encapsulation, microcapsules containing perfume have emerged as effective vehicles for delivering active ingredients across various applications. The present study employed a multivariate analysis framework to examine polyacrylate microcapsules for household products synthesized usin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mattia Collu, Edoardo Rossi, Marta Giamberini, Marco Sebastiani, Rita Del Pezzo, Johan Smets, Edoardo Bemporad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-10-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/20/4158
Description
Summary:In the field of encapsulation, microcapsules containing perfume have emerged as effective vehicles for delivering active ingredients across various applications. The present study employed a multivariate analysis framework to examine polyacrylate microcapsules for household products synthesized using different acrylate monomers. The advanced multivariate approach allowed us to quantify critical properties such as the <i>Molecular Weight between Cross-links</i> (<i>MW<sub>c</sub></i>), mechanical attributes, <i>Encapsulation Efficiency</i> (<i>EE</i>), and <i>On-Fabric delivery</i>. It is worth noting that the mechanical properties were gauged using a novel nanoindentation technique, which measures the <i>Rupture Force per unit diameter</i> (<i>RFD</i>). Both <i>Encapsulation Efficiency</i> and <i>On-Fabric delivery</i> were assessed using GC-MS. Our findings identified the optimal microcapsule system as one synthesized with 100% aromatic hexafunctional urethane acrylate, showcasing a 94.3% <i>Encapsulation Efficiency</i> and an optimal <i>RFD</i> of 85 N/mm. This system achieved an exemplary <i>On-Fabric delivery</i> rate of 307.5 nmol/L. In summary, this research provides crucial insights for customizing microcapsule design to achieve peak delivery efficiency. Furthermore, by designing acrylic monomers appropriately, there is potential to reduce the amount of active ingredients used, owing to enhanced delivery efficiency and the optimization of other microcapsule properties. Such advancements pave the way for more environmentally friendly and sustainable production processes in the fast-moving consumer goods industry.
ISSN:2073-4360