Boosting effect of amphiphilic random copolymers for bicontinuous phases

Amphiphilic random copolymers, poly(oxyethylene)/poly(oxypropylene) butyl ethers (C4EmPn), have been used as raw materials for cosmetics. This paper reports on the influence of amphiphilic random copolymers on mixtures of n-decane, water, and a nonionic surfactant, hexa(oxyethylene) dodecyl ether (C12E6). Bicontinuous phases are formed from decane/water/C12E6 mixtures at high C12E6 weight fractions (> 70 wt%). Adding C4EmPn to decane/water/C12E6 mixtures brings about the formation of bicontinuous phases and a decrease in the amount of the surfactant required for their formation, indicating efficiency boosting. The bicontinuous phase formation region in the phase diagram of the decane/water/C12E6+C4E5P5 system is largest at a specific C4E5P5 weight fraction in the C12E6/C4E5P5 mixture. When a hydrophobic polymer, in which the poly(ethylene oxide) group in C4EmPn is absent, is added to decane/water/C12E6 mixtures, no efficiency boosting is observed. These results suggest that the adjustment of the hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity balance of C12E6/C4EmPn mixture causes the efficiency boosting.