Formulation science is an interdisciplinary subject where knowledge of material science, and physical chemistry

Physical chemistry

Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...

, joins with the art of formulating a formulations

Formulations

Formulation is a term used in various senses in various applications, both the material and the abstract or formal. Its fundamental meaning is the putting together of components in appropriate relationships or structures, according to a formula...

 that can have hyper activity towards a particular action. Whereas chemistry

Chemistry

Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....

 deals with chemical reactions between various substances, formulation science deals with co-existence of several components in a formulation and the combined and simultaneous activity of individual components. It is basically science of mixtures coexisting without real chemical reactions (breaking and forming of chemical bonds).

It is interactions between ingredient molecules and related physical chemistry and material science of various ingredients that governs this. Thousands of formulation scientists work worldwide in various chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...

, paint

Paint

Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...

, pesticide

Pesticide

Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...

, detergent

Detergent

A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with "cleaning properties in dilute solutions." In common usage, "detergent" refers to alkylbenzenesulfonates, a family of compounds that are similar to soap but are less affected by hard water...

 and similar industries to develop successful formulations. Most of the time, the formulations so developed are patented or kept proprietary.

Compared to pharmaceutical science, there are comparatively few universities teach formulation science degrees. Notable qualifications are the Masters course at the School of Science of the University of Greenwich

University of Greenwich

The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...

, the BSc Hons course at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the Bachelor at Monash University

Monash University

Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....

.

See also

• Formulations
  Formulations
  Formulation is a term used in various senses in various applications, both the material and the abstract or formal. Its fundamental meaning is the putting together of components in appropriate relationships or structures, according to a formula...
  
  
• Physical Chemistry
  Physical chemistry
  Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
  
  
• Patents
• Pesticide formulation
  Pesticide formulation
  The biological activity of a pesticide, be it chemical or biological in nature, is determined by its active ingredient . Pesticide products very rarely consist of pure technical material. The AI is usually formulated with other materials and this is the product as sold, but it may be further...
  
  
• Pharmaceutical formulation
  Pharmaceutical formulation
  Pharmaceutical formulation, in pharmaceutics, is the process in which different chemical substances, including the active drug, are combined to produce a final medicinal product.-Stages and timeline:...
  
  
• Galenic formulation
  Galenic formulation
  Galenic formulation deals with the principles of preparing and compounding medicines in order to optimize their absorption. Galenic formulation is named after Claudius Galen, a 2nd Century AD Greek physician, who codified the preparation of drugs using multiple ingredients...