This is a national stage application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of pending international application PCT/EP2016/074729 filed Oct. 14, 2016 the entirety of which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to polished talc microbeads, i.e. polished talc particles with a largest average diameter of less than 500 μm and to methods for the preparation thereof. The present polished talc microbeads are especially suitable to be use as an alternative for plastic microbeads, such as polyethylene microbeads, used in cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Accordingly, the present invention additionally relates to body scrubs, tooth pastes and soaps comprising the present polished talc microbeads.

Presently, microbeads are solid plastic particles of less than 0.5 millimetres in their largest dimension. They are generally made of polyethylene but can be of other plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene. Microbeads have been used in personal care products, cosmetics and toothpastes as well as in biomedical and health science research. Sphericity and particle size uniformity create a ball-bearing effect in creams and lotions, resulting in a silky texture and spreadability. Smoothness and roundness provide lubrication.

Microbeads, after use, are generally washed down the drain and can pass unfiltered through the sewage treatment plants ultimately making their way into rivers and canals, resulting in plastic particle water pollution. The beads can absorb and concentrate pollutants like pesticides and polycyclic hydrocarbons. Microbeads have been found to pollute the Great Lakes in high concentrations, particularly Lake Erie. A study from the State University of New York, found anywhere from 1500 to 1 million microbeads per square mile on the surface of the Great Lakes.

Due to the increase in bans of microbeads in many countries such as the USA and in Europe, many cosmetic companies are phasing out microbeads from their production lines for exfoliates, cleansers and shower gels.

Considering the above, there is a clear need in the art for alternatives of plastic microbeads being readily applicable in cosmetics and personal hygiene products and being environmental friendly.

It is an object of the present invention, amongst other objects, to meet the above need in the art.

This object of the present invention, amongst other objects is met as outlined in the appended claims.

Specifically, this object of the present invention, amongst other objects, is met, according to a first aspect, by the use of polished talc microbeads with a talc content of more than 70% (w/w) such as 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95% as 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% and substantially 100%, and a largest diameter of less than 500 μm as substitute for plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal hygiene products.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that relatively small talc particles, i.e. less than 500 μm, of sufficient purity, i.e. >75% (w/w) can provide a suitable alternative for plastic microbeads. However, such talc particles can only provide an alternative if sufficiently spherical and smooth, or formulated differently, sufficiently polished. According to the invention, such polishing can be readily obtained by adding sieved talc particles of less than 500 μm into a revolving drum and allowing the talc particles to tumble, i.e. to roll over. Although a specific time frame depends on process conditions, suitable time frames to be contemplated are 5 minutes to 2 hours.

Considering the above, the present invention, according to a second aspect, relates to a method for providing polished talc microbeads, the method comprises the steps of:a) providing course talc with a talc content of at least 70, preferably at least 95% and an average largest diameter of between 1 cm to 10 cm;b) crushing the course talc particles;c) sieving the crushed talc particles through a sieve thereby obtaining talc particles with an average largest diameter of less than 500 μm;d) subjecting the sieved talc particles to tumbling thereby obtaining polished talc microbeads.

According to the present invention, polished talc microbeads with a largest diameter between 500 μm and 250 μm can be used in a body scrub; polished talc microbeads with a largest diameter between 250 μm and 125 μm can be used in a facial scrub; and polished talc microbeads with a largest diameter is between 125 μm and 0.5 μm such as 90 μm can be used in tooth paste, creams and soaps.

According to the present invention, polished talc particles can also be used in a liquid, i.e. water based, soap in an amount of 1% to 5% (w/w) in combination with one or more surfactants in an amount of 1% to 15% (w/w).

According to the present invention, the present polished talc particles can also be used in a dry soap comprising more than 50% (w/w/) of the present polished talc microbeads in combination with one or more surfactants.

