Determining Solubility of Nail Varnishes via HSP

Nail varnish is a solvent-borne system and traditionally is made of approximately:

 − 66-83% Solvents (e.g. Ethyl Acetate)
 − 15-18% Binder & Film Formers (e.g. Nitrocellulose)
 − < 10% Plasticizers (e.g. Camphor)
 − 2-5% Pigment (e.g. Bismuth oxychloride and mica coated with titanium dioxide)

When the solvent evaporates, the solids are left behind in a strong film on the nails. They are used for aesthetic purposes, to protect the nails or to deliver active ingredients to the nail.

To remove nail varnish, organic solvents are applied directly to the coating with some mechanical assistance, which is often achieved by immersion or by wrapping the fingertips in solvent-soaked cotton wool.

Is Acetone the best way to remove Nail Varnish?

The most common solvent to be used for the removal of nail polish is acetone. There are many advantages of using acetone, including:

 − It has a very low viscosity and molar volume, allowing it to very easily enter the polymer matrix of the binders within the nail polish
 − It is fully miscible with water, therefore aqueous blends can be made, which may help to tone down some of the unfortunate properties of acetone
 − It is VERY cheap

Despite all these positives, Acetone is not the perfect solution, as:

 − It has a strong odor
 − It makes the skin and nails feel dry after use, and
 − It comes with the following hazards:


So, how to find an efficient replacement for acetone?


 » Continue reading to understand the role of HSP theory in determining an efficient acetone-free solvent for removing nail varnishes!