TURBISCAN MA 2000 Application Note

INTRODUCTION

Cosmetic preparations can be complex dispersions : With different kinds of particles in suspension
in an aqueous or an emulsion phase. For make-up and sunscreens, the colour, brightness, gloss and
physicochemical properties of the suspended particles, determine the final quality and stability of
the product.

The Turbiscan MA2000 determines the stability of

these products with respect to particle migrations
and particle size changes.

This study shows a comparison of the stability of

Sunscreens, with different pigment types.

SAMPLES PREPARATION AND EXPERIMENT PLAN

Two different dispersions have been prepared with two kinds of pigments :
- Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
- Zinc Oxide (ZnO)
Samples quantity 2 Temperature of analysis 40°C
Analysed volume 6 ml Duration of analysis 46 hours

Two hours are needed to bring the products to the required temperature (40°C).
So, the curve after two hours of analysis is selected as a reference : the subsequent traces then show
the changes in the back scattered light intensity (%, ordinate axis) and the height of the tube (mm,
abscises axis) as a function of time (NB. The last curve is always displayed in red).

!" #$ $ $ % !" #$ $ & ' (& ) ' *

&
RESULTS
 From the obtained spectrums, we can see a back-scattering decrease at the top of both samples (fig.
1 and 2). It is due to a decrease in the concentration of the dispersed particles in this zone, and is
characteristic of a clarification of the products.

TiO2 (21/12/97 12:23)

Delta Back Scattering 2h
4h
0.0% 7h ZnO (21/12/97 12:23)
10h
13h Delta Back Scattering 2h
-5.0% 4h
16h
0.0% 7h
19h
22h 10h
-10.0% 13h
25h -5.0%
28h 16h
31h 19h
-15.0%
34h -10.0% 22h
37h 25h
-20.0% 28h
40h
43h -15.0% 31h
34h
20mm 40mm 37h
-20.0% 40h
The drawing ofFigure
the 1destabilisation kinetics as function of time Figure
(fig. 3)2 allows a quantitative 43h

comparison of the phenomena to be made.

Delta Back Scattering TiO2

0.0% 47.9mm - 49.4mm DESTABILISATION OF THE DISPERSIONS AS A FUNCTION OF
THE PIGMENT NATURE
3,5

-2.0%
3
DESTABILISATION SPEED (deltaBS/d)

-4.0% 2,5
ZnO

2 TiO2
-6.0%

1,5

-8.0%
1

-10.0%
0,5
ZnO
49.5mm - 51mm
-12.0% 0

The calculation20hof the slope

40h over 24 hours allows a determination of the clarification speed as a
Figure 3
function of the pigment used (fig. 4). Figure 4

The dispersion, which contains titanium dioxide, is clearly more stable than the one with zinc oxide.
The only difference between the formulations is the pigment, so the Turbiscan is able to
quantitatively compare the influence of the pigment type on the stability of the sun screen product.

CONCLUSION

The Turbiscan is able to detect the destabilisation phenomena in a few hours. Furthermore it
allows a quantitative comparison of the results to be made for each sample.