Personal-care products accounted for over 60% of European aerosol production, based on the number of cans produced. The components of Aerosol products are unlike a liquid product the packaging of an aerosol product is not simply a container, but is a functional part of the product. Many top beauty cosmetology colleges in Nashik integrate the uses of aerosols in the course curriculum to help students understand the uses of this product in the cosmetic industry. The components of an aerosol can be detailed as follows:
- Concentrate
- Propellant
- Container
- Valve and actuator
These various parts will now be examined in more detail.
Concentrate
The concentrate is essentially the ‘active part’ of the aerosol product. The type of and amount of resin in the solution will depend on the effect that the product is designed to give to the consumer. For an antiperspirant the concentrate will be a suspension of aluminium chlorhydrate, whilst for a deo spray it could be simply an alcoholic solution of a fragrance. The amount of a particular active material that is required for a product is determined by the relative proportions of concentrate and propellant, which cause a dilution effect, and also the valve/actuator combination, which controls the discharge rate.
Propellant
The propellant is the source of internal pressure by which the concentrate is expelled from the can. The sealed aerosol can is under internal pressure from the propellant and when the valve is opened this internal pressure drives the concentrate from the can. Thus an essential property of any propellant is that it can exert a pressure inside the can, which is greater than the pressure on the outside.
However, there are other properties which should also be considered. Ideally a propellant should be non-flammable, it should be odourless, it should be of low toxicity and be chemically inert. In recent years, as the problems of ozone depletion and global warming have become more understood, the stability of the propellant after it has been released from the can has also become an important property of a propellant. Supplementary properties which are important to the formulator are solvent power and convenience in a wide range of pressures.
Container
For aerosol containers, prepare a different range of materials such as aluminium, glass. tinplate and plastic. Tinplate containers are made up of tin-plated steel and are created from three pieces. These are like: 1. the container body 2. a base or cone 3. a top, also well-known as the dome. Depending on the formulation to be packed, the internal surface of the can may need to be given one or more lacquer coats to give protection against corrosion.
Aluminium cans are made in one piece from an aluminium pellet, which is shaped like a coin. The diameter and thickness of the pellet is determined by the size of the can to be produced. The pellet is shaped into a straight-sided tube, which is given an internal lacquer coating, formed into an aerosol can and printed on the same machine. The neck aperture can be of various sizes and the crimping may be internal or external depending on the actual aperture diameter.
Glass containers, which are normally used for perfume products, are often coated with a shielding envelope of plastic to avoid the risk of flying particles of glass if the container is inadvertently broken. All glass containers are externally crimped.
Plastic containers are made from PET and are not widely used, but like glass containers are externally crimped. Irrespective of the material of construction, the container, when sealed by the valve, must be capable of withstanding the internal pressure of the propellant. Since different formulations using different pressure propellants will exhibit different internal pressures, it is important to select a container suitable for the particular formulation.
Valve and Actuator
The valve is conceivably the most significant part of the aerosol packaging, since it is the means by which the product is released from the given can. Not only does it control the time at which the product is released, but also the rate at which it is released. The valve is composed of several components. The components are: actuator, valve cup, outer gasket, stem, gasket, spring, housing and dip tube. The actuator is the button on the top of the valve and although it is used as a safe and easy means of operating the valve it also controls the characteristics of the spray. It may contain an insert which can cause mechanical break-up of the product as it is released from the can. This will result in a finer spray.
Conclusion
These are some of the ways in which aerosol is used in the cosmetic industry. There is a constant demand for integration of aerosol in storage containers used to store cosmetic products due to its diverse properties. Candidates who pursue B.Sc. in Beauty Cosmetology can further understand the uses of aerosol in the storage of cosmetic products. There is a bright future for candidates who opt for this program at the undergraduate level in the ever-expanding beauty industry. Good luck!