Problem solving based on scientific formulation models

Creating formulations "by instinct" is not an approach I favour: I need to understand what is going on. If I need adhesion, then I need to understand the polymer physics of entanglement. If I need solubility, then I need Hansen Solubility Parameters. If I get mud-cracking in a nanoparticle coating, I need to understand the physics of capillary action during drying. If I can't cure a UV lacquer, I need to understand what's going on with the oxygen inhibition or the UV lamp power (or both). If I have to dry my formulation I need to understand the physics of evaporation. If I have to coat a formulation, I need to know how far from (or close to) a knife-edge I am in my coating technique.

I don't claim that everything about formulation can be reduced to pure science or computer models. But I am certain that if you don't use the best-available science and models then you are going to waste a lot of precious time and resource in the wrong direction.

If I can quickly solve your problem over the phone or by email, I'm happy to do so at no charge. Recently I was offered a day's consultancy on an urgent problem. As I was already under NDA I asked them for a quick summary of the problem. Providing them with the solution took me just the 5 minutes required to write the email reply. I knew the physics and chemistry involved so I was confident that I didn't need to spend a day with them to solve their problem. Indeed, after one quick experiment they confirmed that I'd spotted the cause and cure.

Sometimes my lack of expertise in a field forces me to learn new science. For the topical antimicrobial company Syntopix I had suggested that a specific type of microemulsion would be an elegant solution to a problem. Although my first formulation worked OK, the classical surfactant approaches provided no helpful tools for developing the formulation further. That's when I came across HLD-NAC theory and started my collaboration with Prof Acosta (see HLD-NAC page). Having written the software to solve my own formulation problems, I've made it available to the (micro)emulsion community in the hope that we can work together to get more of the key parameters that will help all of us formulate so much more efficiently.

The work was further developed when I became technical project leader for the Syntopix-led Intelligent Formulation "30 day challenge" ( See Green Surfactant 30 Day Summary). This involved working with VLCI in Amsterdam who offer High Throughput formulation services.. I am now working with VLCI on a range of HT projects, combining my technical software skills with their HT and formulation expertise.