FAQ’s

1. What is microencapsulation?
   The book definition of microencapsulation is, to surround a solid, liquid or gas within a membrane or a matrix. Microencapsulation is a process in which tiny particles or droplets are surrounded by a coating to give small capsules many useful properties. In a relatively simplistic form, a microcapsule is a small sphere with a uniform wall around it. The material inside the microcapsule is referred to as the core, internal phase, or fill, whereas the wall is sometimes called a shell, coating, or membrane. Most microcapsules have diameters between a few micrometers and a few millimeters. Microencapsulation was invented in the 1950′s by National Cash Register in Dayton, Ohio for the carbonless copy paper industry. From there the uses for the technology seemed almost endless and a wide variety of industries began to utilize different shell materials, internal phases and techniques to manufacture microcapsules for their specific end use.
2. How do Scratch and Sniff stickers work?
   My favorite explanation comes from the How Stuff Works web site, “…if you have kids, you probably have a scratch and sniff book around the house. And even if the book is 20 years old, it still works! The reason the stickers last so long is because of the microencapsulation technology used to create them. The basic idea behind scratch-and-sniff is to take the aroma-generating chemical and encapsulate it in gelatin or plastic spheres that are incredibly small — on the order of a few microns in diameter. When you scratch the sticker, you rupture some of these spheres and release the smell. The smell is essentially held in millions of tiny bottles, and you break a few of the bottles every time you scratch the sticker. The tiny bottles preserve the fragrance for years.”
3. Do you have any non-animal derived microcapsule shell materials?
   Yes, we have several commercial technologies as well as tools in our “solutions toolbox” for non-animal derived shell materials. Some examples include: Cellulose, Agar, Alginates, synthetic polymers, etc. We also utilize fish gelatin for those companies that do not consider fish to be an animal source. Please contact us for further details on materials approved for your end use.
4. Are PMU microcapsules safe for cosmetic use?
   Yes, our PMU microcapsules (Polyoxy Methylene Urea) are approved for use on the skin, eyes and lips. Please contact us for further information on the use of our PMU microcapsules in cosmetic product lines.
5. How can I print a fragrance?
   Please contact us for assistance. We have many years of experience with various printing processes and have developed detailed press recommendations for our fragrance printing products. We will even send you a sample to run a press trial prior to your live job so that you will feel more comfortable with our product.
6. How do I suspend the microcapsules into my formulation?
   We have formulation guidelines that we can send to you to help you formulate with and suspend our microcapsule products. It is generally pretty simple and requires a small percentage of a rheology modifier.
7. Can my fragrance or active material be microencapsulated?
   We welcome your supplied fragrances and active materials. Please give us a call and we will be able to indicate if it is a material we have worked with in the past and if we had success with it previously. If it is a material that we are not familiar with we will discuss its chemical properties with you further and we will also discuss the intended use of the microcapsules and then we will likely ask you for a sample of the material to try in our R&D lab.
8. What is the difference between microencapsulation and encapsulation?
   Lipo Technologies does not distinguish between the two terms, but technically encapsulation can refer to any material that surrounds another material. For example, the term encapsulation is widely used for a process that involves covering and protecting electronic components with an adhesive. Microencapsulation specifically refers to the size of the capsules we produce. Our microcapsules range in size from about 5 microns average to about 3000 microns average.
9. What are the benefits, limitations and advantages of microencapsulation?
   Each different type of microcapsule has its own properties which contribute to its benefits, limitations and advantages. In general, when a material has been microencapsulated it is to provide the following types of benefits:
   • To provide oxidation stability
   • To hold onto volatile materials
   • To separate incompatible materials
   • To convert a liquid to a solid
   • To provide a targeted or sustained release of a substance
   • To improve flow characteristics / Ease of use
   • For functionality or for pure aesthetics

   We will have a discussion with you on your final application and we will take into consideration all of the chemical and physical obstacles that the microcapsule will need to endure and we will help you to choose the best microcapsule to start your evaluation, while taking into consideration the features, benefits and limitations of the microencapsulation system.

10. Are your microencapsulated products purely for aesthetics or are they functional?
    Our products can satisfy aesthetic and functional needs, or both at the same time. We have technologies to make your product look beautiful and we have technologies that are “Smart” and help your product to fulfill its intended purpose.
11. What are the mechanisms of rupture for your microcapsules?
    There are many different ways to rupture our microcapsules and the following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of the most common methods of rupture:
    • Mechanical Shear
    • pH
    • Temperature (Melting or Bursting due to internal pressure)
    • Slow release over time
    • Dissolution when a solvent/chemical is added
    • Pressure
12. What industries does Lipo Technologies work in?
    We break our customer’s down into the following categories:
    1. Fragrance Printing
    2. Cosmetic/Personal Care
    3. Food Grade/Nutraceutical
    4. Industrial – This is the broadest category and encompasses anything that does not fit into the other categories such as: adhesives and catalysts, flame retardants, phase change materials, insect repellents, pet care, lubricants, leucodyes, etc.
    The only industry that we do not work in is pharmaceutical. We consider versatility our greatest strength. By working in so many different industries we can apply our research and development advances to benefit so many of our customers.
13. Can you encapsulate any material?
    No, there are limitations to the technology and not every material can be encapsulated. Our team has years of experience in a variety of industries and is very good at developing a solution for even the toughest dilemmas so share your idea with us and we will do our best to develop a custom solution for you.
14. Do you have a standard line of products?
    All of our products are custom designed just for you and your application. We find that everyone wants something different, so with your input we will customize your delivery system for you. We have about 9 commercial technologies that fit most of our customer’s needs, but even within those technologies there are many variables including shell material, internal phase, color, size, shell thickness, etc. We also have many other materials that we utilize that we consider our “solutions toolbox”, so that if one of our more widely used systems does not work for you we have other options as well.
15. What fragrances do you offer for scratch and sniff slurries?
    We work with several different fragrance suppliers so we can find virtually any scent that you can imagine. The only scent that we do not work with is Natural Gas. Give us a call with your theme and we can help you come up with creative scent ideas.
16. How do you supply your capsules?
    We supply our capsules in a variety of forms:
    • Slurry in water (typically: 70% water, 30% capsules)
    • Slurry in binder system (Binder and percentage of capsules depend on end use)
    • Wet Cake (50% moisture; Not all of our capsules are available as a wet cake. Contact us for details.)
    • Dry Powder (Typically 5% moisture or less. Not all of our capsules are available as a dry powder. Contact us for details.)
17. What is the difference between Lipo Technologies and Lipo Chemicals?
    Lipo Technologies Inc. has some of the same owners as Lipo Chemicals Inc., but we are a completely separate entity. Lipo Chemicals sales representatives also sell Lipo Technologies products into the cosmetic/personal care and HI&I markets.
18. What conditions can a microcapsule withstand?
    Each microcapsule shell material can withstand various chemical and physical environments. Please contact us to discuss your end use and we will help you choose the most appropriate capsule system for your custom application.
19. How long has Lipo Technologies been around?
    Lipo Technologies Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and we are a privately held company. Before we became Lipo Technologies we were Djinni Industries, whose claim to fame was encapsulated liquid crystal for mood rings and thermometers. Once we became Lipo we expanded our technology platforms and our customer base. At LTI we consider our true advantage our versatility. We think of ourselves as a solution provider and we come to you with our “toolbox” to help you solve your toughest production dilemmas. Please visit our website to get a brief overview of just some of the technologies we utilize and contact us to discuss your project in further detail.
20. Why would I want to use microencapsulation?
    Each different type of microcapsule has its own properties which contribute to its benefits, limitations and advantages. In general, when a material has been microencapsulated it is to provide the following types of benefits:
    • To provide oxidation stability
    • To hold onto volatile materials
    • To separate incompatible materials
    • To convert a liquid to a solid
    • To provide a targeted or sustained release of a substance
    • To improve flow characteristics / Ease of use
    • For functionality or for pure aesthetics

    We will have a discussion with you on your final application and we will take into consideration all of the chemical and physical obstacles that the microcapsule will need to endure and we will help you to choose the best microcapsule to start your evaluation, while taking into consideration the features, benefits and limitations of the microencapsulation system.

21. How do I get a sample?
    Please contact your sales representative if you know who that is, or you can go to the Contact Us page of our website and send an inquiry to us. We will notify your sales representative to assist you with your project.
22. What are your lead times?
    Our typical sample lead time is about 2-3 weeks for a custom designed feasibility sample. Depending on your application we may have something off the shelf that we can send you for your initial proof of concept, so please contact us. Once a sample lot has been approved our standard production lead time is 3-4 weeks. Please contact us for more detail.
23. How much do your products cost?
    Microencapsulation offers product improvement, process improvement and increased efficiency. With results like these, it is truly an investment in your bottom line. Lipo Technologies has the versatility to make that investment both practical and cost effective. Typically what we will do is make an initial feasibility sample and if the results look promising for you we can give you a ballpark price based on that sample. All of our products are made via batch processes, so annual volume plays an enormous role in our pricing structure. We typically price our products with various volume tiers based on our batch sizes and encourage our customers to take advantage of those volume tiers by putting in blanket orders and taking releases as needed over a period of 6 months. Please contact us for more details.
24. How do we know what the best microencapsulation system to use is?
    That is where our expertise comes in to play. We will speak to you about your custom application and ask you some very specific questions about your expectations and desires and we will determine the best system for you to begin your evaluation. The first microcapsule sample we send you may not be exactly what you need, so we encourage open communication with our customers. We work the best when our customers offer us honest feedback and results from their testing so that we can determine how we can make adjustments on our end to find a solution for you.
25. What type of capacity can Lipo Technologies handle?
    We sell our products in a wide variety of sizes from pails to tanker trucks, so we can likely handle all of your needs. We even have room for expansion if necessary.
26. How can we ensure that our ideas will remain confidential?
    We regularly sign confidentiality agreements with our prospects and customers so that we can all feel comfortable sharing information readily. We have found that the more information that is passed on to us at the beginning of a project the more likely we are to be successful in achieving your desired results more quickly. Please contact us if you would like to initiate a CDA so that we can get your project started.