It looks like everyone who is making alcohol gel is looking for alternative thickeners as Carbopol is getting very hard to find, especially the Ultrez grades.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
According to this
HPMC is soluble in up to 70% alcohol, while CMC and HEC are insoluble.
This patent advises to make a cellulose suspension in alcohol first and then add the water.
Has anyone read or tried to make alcohol gel with cellulose based thickeners?
Comments
Xanthan gum can hold up to 60% alcohol , but not more
FOr other thickener:
HEC: may gel but its soaping and foaming make it suck.
Xanthan gum: not work well.
Siligel: expensive and sticky.
Tested HPC high molecular mass, it works
I will try hpmc high molecular mass as soon as I have a little more time.
The problem with cellulose polymers is their ability to form noticable films, which will affect the sensory feeling.
What's the manufacturer name for Ulcatrez?
(Google ain't helping, it believes I'm looking for "Alcatraz", not Ulcatrez, LOL)
The suggested formulations was:
Ethanol / water / glycerine (final concentration of ethanol: approx. 80 % v/v) 1. Ethanol 95 % v/v: 80,00 g 2. Water : 16,00 g 3. Glyerin: 3,00 g 4. Tylose PSO 810001: 0,5 – 1 g (dependent on the required viscosity).
So take it with a grain of salt.
I did some test and they both did well similarly