| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
Hi Emily,
Formulations of products like nail polish are seldom found in books or
other "open literature", but mainly in patents. The choice of ingredients,
compared with other varnishes, is mainly limited by regulations concerning
toxicology. The classic "film-forming polymer" in nail polish is
nitrocellulose, which is of course derived from the natural polymer
cellulose. Camphor makes the film flexible. A typical patent summary is
reproduced here:
Colored nail polishes:
Kalopissis, Gregoire, Oreal S. A., France.
Patent US 3849547 A 1974/ 11/ 19
Nail polish vs lacquer consists of a soln. of nitrocellulose
[9004-70-0] film former 12-15 parts, arenesulfonamide formaldehyde resin 6-13,
plasticizer 5-8, coupler 1-15, diluent 12-32, sol. colored polymer 0.5-6
wt. % (in which a dye is bonded to a polymer by an amide bond) and the
remainder is solvent.
Thus, a colored (red) polymer is prepd. by treating Me vinyl ether-Bu
maleate copolymer with the basic dye I. A transparent red polish
comprises the red polymer 3, nitrocellulose 15, Santolite MHP [25035-71-6]
7.5, camphor 2.5, diBu phthalate 5, acetone 5, EtOAc 15, BuOAc 25, BuOH 4
and xylene 18 g.
("Me" stands for methyl, "Et" for Ethyl, "Bu" for butyl)
Modern nail polishes also contain acrylate/acrylic acid copolymers or
polyester urethanes.
Best regards
Werner Sieber
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