Porous Silica-Based Particles Having Smooth Surface, Method for Production Thereof and Cosmetic Comprising Such Particles

Abstract

Disclosed are porous silica-based particles having high surface smoothness, a method for producing the porous silica-based particles, and a cosmetic comprising the porous silica-based particles. The porous silica-based particles have an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 30 μm and have a surface smoothness of a level to such an extent that, when the entire surface of the particle is observed from a photograph thereof taken by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with a magnifying power of 10,000, a foreign matter attached to the surface thereof can be hardly seen.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing porous silica-based particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 30 μm and having a surface smoothness of a level to such an extent that, when the entire surface of the particle is observed from a photograph thereof taken by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with a magnifying power of 10,000, a foreign matter attached to the surface thereof can be hardly seen, which comprises the steps of:
 (a) spray-drying a dispersion of fine silica-based particles, or a mixture of the above dispersion of the fine silica-based particles and an aqueous solution of silicic acid with use of a spray dryer, to obtain a dried powder of porous silica-based particles having diameters ranging primarily from 0.1 to 50 μm; 
 (b) putting the dried powder of the porous silica-based particles obtained in the step (a) into water and then stirring a slurry of the mixture under pH conditions on which the zeta potential of the porous silica-based particles contained in the water comes to in a range of −15 to −70 mV, to obtain a dispersion of porous silica-based particles with a foreign matter attached to the surface thereof having been removed therefrom; 
 (c) subjecting the dispersion obtained in the step (b) to a wet classification device at which a supernatant containing at least porous silica-based particles having diameters of less than 0.5 μM is separated and removed, to obtain a dispersion containing porous silica-based particles having diameters ranging primarily from 0.5 to 50 μm; 
 (d) subjecting the dispersion obtained in the step (c) to a wet classification device at which a sediment or precipitates containing at least porous silica-based particles having diameters of more than 30 pin is separated and removed, to obtain a dispersion containing porous silica-based particles having diameters ranging primarily from 0.5 to 30 μm; 
 (e) filtering the dispersion obtained in the step (d) to separate solid materials contained therein, to obtain a cake-like substance of porous silica-based particles; and 
 (f) drying the cake-like substance obtained in the step (e) and then crushing or breaking up a group of thus obtained particles, to obtain a dried powder of porous silica-based particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 30 μm. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the step (b) above, the pH of the slurry containing the dried powder of the porous silica-based particles is in a range of 5 to 10. 
     
     
         3 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the step (b) above, the zeta potential of the porous silica-based particles contained in the water is in a range of −20 to −60 mV. 
     
     
         4 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 2 , wherein, in the step (b) above, the zeta potential of the porous silica-based particles contained in the water is in a range of −20 to −60 mV. 
     
     
         5 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the stirring operation in the step (b) above is performed for at least three minutes at a stirring speed of 10 to 5000 rpm. 
     
     
         6 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the wet classification device used in the step (c) above is a centrifugal separator, a liquid cyclone, or an elutriator (a natural sedimentation device). 
     
     
         7 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the wet classification device used in the step (d) above is a centrifugal separator, a liquid cyclone, or an elutriator (a natural sedimentation device). 
     
     
         8 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the drying operation in the step (f) above is performed for 1 to 24 hours at a temperature of room temperature to 200° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the drying operation in the step (f) above is performed for 1 to 24 hours at a temperature of room temperature to 200° C. 
     
     
         10 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 1 , wherein the dried powder of the porous silica-based particles obtained in the step (f) above is further calcined at a temperature of 200 to 800° C. for 1 to 24 hours. 
     
     
         11 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 10 , wherein the dried powder of the porous silica-based particles obtained in the step (f) above is further calcined at a temperature of 200 to 800° C. for 1 to 24 hours. 
     
     
         12 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 4 , wherein the stirring operation in the step (b) above is performed for at least three minutes at a stirring speed of 10 to 5000 rpm. 
     
     
         13 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 4 , wherein the wet classification device used in the step (c) above is a centrifugal separator, a liquid cyclone, or an elutriator (a natural sedimentation device). 
     
     
         14 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 4 , wherein the wet classification device used in the step (d) above is a centrifugal separator, a liquid cyclone, or an elutriator (a natural sedimentation device). 
     
     
         15 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 4 , wherein the drying operation in the step (f) above is performed for 1 to 24 hours at a temperature of room temperature to 200° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 4 , wherein the drying operation in the step (f) above is performed for 1 to 24 hours at a temperature of room temperature to 200° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 4 , wherein the dried powder of the porous silica-based particles obtained in the step (f) above is further calcined at a temperature of 200 to 800° C. for 1 to 24 hours. 
     
     
         18 . The method for producing porous silica-based particles according to  claim 17 , wherein the dried powder of the porous silica-based particles obtained in the step (f) above is further calcined at a temperature of 200 to 800° C. for 1 to 24 hours.