{"id":556,"date":"2023-04-18T09:24:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T08:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/molecular-science-engineering\/?p=556"},"modified":"2023-05-02T16:56:52","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T15:56:52","slug":"formulations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/molecular-science-engineering\/2023\/04\/18\/formulations\/","title":{"rendered":"Engineering mayo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Or vaccines, or paint, or glue, or perfume, or dishwasher tablets\u2026 What do all these products have in common? The answer is they\u2019re all formulations: complex mixtures of substances which all contribute to how the final product works.<\/p>\n

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Mayonnaise contains mostly eggs, oil and flavourings. But most brands also contain antioxidants and preservatives, which contribute to giving the product a long shelf life.<\/p>\n

\"A
Mayonnaise is an example of a formulation: a complex mixture of substances, where the properties of each contribute to the behaviour of the final product.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dishwasher tablets contain surfactants (which do the washing). However they also probably contain colouring agents, binding agents, scent and anti-corrosion agents.<\/p>\n

Pharmaceutical products contain the active ingredient which treats the health condition. And they contain also other substances to increase bioavailability, improve storage, bulk up the product or make it more pleasant (perhaps I should say less unpleasant?) to take.<\/p>\n

For hair gel, the active ingredients are polymers, which stick the hair together. These are contained in a mixture of water for bulk, emulsifiers to stop the water and polymers separating, thickeners, fragrance and preservatives.<\/p>\n

These complex mixtures are everywhere in modern life. We use them to stay healthy, dry, warm, fed, clean and lookin\u2019 good 😉<\/p>\n

Training formulation scientists<\/h2>\n

Formulations are developed by chemists who specialise in creating these mixtures<\/a>. Only a few universities in the UK teach formulations chemistry. So there is a constant demand for graduates with this training.<\/p>\n

\"Examples
Examples of formulations from medicine and the home: an aerosol in an asthma inhaler, white painkiller tablets, clear hand sanitizer gel and opaque shampoo liquid.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Formulation scientists combine information from many branches of chemistry and engineering to make their products. This might include understanding:<\/p>\n