GE Advanced Materials offers solutions for HPC: from cosmetic packaging to skin care formulas to wax and polish for cars and homes, the company has a full roster of materials for the household and personal care industry.

WITH THE RESOURCES of General Electric behind it, a wide array of novel materials in the market and a full pipeline of products in development, GE Advanced Materials offers a broad range of products for the household and personal care (HPC) industry.

"Organic growth via innovation is the path forward for GE," explained Paula Pinto, global business team leader, specialty fluids. "In 2003, GE received 1,450 U.S. patents and the company continues to invest heavily in its global research centers to provide more support for its R&D efforts."

The company's line of silicones help create silkier lotions, shampoos and conditoners; drier antiperspirants; smoother UV sunscreens and brighter, more spreadable cosmetics.

The benefits of silicones have been understood by cosmetic and household product formulators for many years, but company executives recently provided details on several new products during a visit to the company's research center in Tarrytown, NY.

A Gobal Business

The Advanced Materials business operates four global technology innovation centers in the U.S., Germany, China and India. According to Ms. Pinto, technology transfer between these centers, as well as other GE business units, has enabled the Advanced Materials unit to develop novel solutions for the personal care and household product market.

For example, by studying results derived from its coatings group, GE researchers have discovered new ways to diminish the appearance of wrinkles.

"All of our scientists realized that we've only scratched the surface of material science," added Ms. Pinto. "It is really in its infancy."

A Roster of Solutions

They may have a long journey ahead of them, but the GE Advanced Materials chemists have already rolled out an impressive array of products in a variety of areas. Vanessa Mirabile, industry manager, cosmetics packaging, explained how Xylex resin, a blend of polycarbonate and polyester, can replace elegant but fragile glass in a variety of packages for cosmetics and toiletries.

At the same time, GE Advanced Materials markets materials for what goes inside those cosmetic and toiletry packages. The company's Softouch boron nitride powder reduces the appearance of wrinkles, provides high lubricity and improves wear in color cosmetics, explained Sue Ellen Bennett, product manager, cosmetics.

"There are huge opportunities for growth in skin care," observed Ms. Bennett. "Boron nitride helps scatter light in anti-aging creams to reduce the appeance of wrinkles."

Ms. Bennett also noted that boron nitride also has applications in sun care: when added to sunscreen formulas, boron nitride aids in pigment dispersion keeps SPF values constant over time, up to two years.

New Ingredients for Cosmetics

The benefits of adding silicone to hair care formulas are well known--the material improves slip, enhances shine, provides protection and repairs damage. Building on that foundation, last year GE Advanced Materials introduced Silshine 151, a silicone film former that delivers high shine to lips and hair and boosts SPF, explained Beatrice Blanco, global marketing manager, personal and home care.

"Silshine 151 provides better gloss than phenyl trimethicone," noted John Nicholson, global program leader, skin care. In fact, according to one sensory panel test, eight out of 10 panelists preferred Silshine to phenyl trimethicone for its durability and non-migration properties.

Also in 2004, GE introduced SF 1540, a 40% actives emulsifier concentrate that affords formulation space in the oil phase of color cosmetics, AP/Deos, sunscreens and skin care products.

Also new from GE is Silsoft Q, a cationic amino silicone terpolymer hair conditioning agent that boosts color and shape retention and conditioning properties. According to Ms. Blanco, GE will launch at least four new products this year for skin and hair care applications.

But while silicones are probably best known for their applications in personal care formulations, GE Advanced Materials also supplies a range of ingredients for home care formulations.

Household Applications

Robert Ruckle, global market manager, home care, told Happi that the company provides a full product line that ranges from Silwet copolymers for wetting, anti-fog and foam-control properties to Formasil organo-modified silicone emulsions which have a variety of applications in household and industrial & institutional cleaners.

For instance, Formasil silicones can make ironing easier and impart anti-wrinkling properties and even boost whiteness, according to company executives.

One of the newest addtions to the Formasil line is Formasil 433, a specialty silicone that improves the penetration and spreading ability of both car and shoe polish.

Regardless of whether a chemist is formulating a new shoe polish or a skin care cream, the odds are that GE Silicone has an ingredient to enhance the formulation.