Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Hair A hole in the mixture after cooled down

  • A hole in the mixture after cooled down

    Posted by hanyo28 on July 7, 2019 at 3:41 pm

    Hi guys!

    I just made a home made pomade and as the product cures, it’s forming a hole in the middle.

    Does anybody ever face this kind of problem? Is it due to the temperature when pouring?

    Photo attached!

    The ingredients are candelilla wax, hco peg 40, shea butter, carrier oil, and essential oil

    Do you guys have any solution to this?

    Many thanks!

    Doreen replied 4 years, 10 months ago 10 Members · 17 Replies
  • 17 Replies
  • Fekher

    Member
    July 7, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    @hanyo28 just  mix it at hot process then leave it at cool down.

  • hanyo28

    Member
    July 8, 2019 at 5:31 am

    @Fekher are you saying that I didn’t mix it enough?

    I mixed it then pour to the glass jar and leave it to cool down in a 23’C temp room. Is the problem lies in the mixing, pouring, or temperature?

  • UsmanAli

    Member
    July 8, 2019 at 6:29 am

    what was the temperature of mixture when you pour it in jar?

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    July 8, 2019 at 12:32 pm

    @hanyo28

    The problem is that you are pouring it too hot.  Let the batch cool down some before you pour.  It looks as though you are pouring it a maximum temperature.

  • hanyo28

    Member
    July 8, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    @UsmanAli i poured at 80 C

    @MarkBroussard ah i see

    Do you guys have any suggestion on what temperature range should i pour the mixture? and on what temperature range should I add the essential oil and tocopherol?

    Thanks guyss

  • Gunther

    Member
    July 8, 2019 at 6:36 pm

    It looks like it is shrinking on cool down
    it seems to adhere to the glass walls, and leaves a hole in the center when shrinking.

  • crillz

    Member
    July 9, 2019 at 3:41 am

    Agree with Mark. Probably pouring a bit hot. The outsides and what hits the jar dries or forms first, while the inner part is still very warm and creates a drip like hole in the middle. 

  • hanyo28

    Member
    July 9, 2019 at 8:40 am

    1st try I poured at 80C, second try I poured at 66-68 C, but still the hole was formed, perhaps I should pour at 50ish C temperature?

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    July 9, 2019 at 9:42 am

    @hanyo28

    Yes, you want to pour just above the set point … somewhere in the 45C to 50C range should work.

  • hanyo28

    Member
    July 10, 2019 at 8:34 am

    the problem is when i poured around 50 C, the mixture is already forming and its rather difficult to pour, do you guys have any tips for this? @MarkBroussard @Fekher

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    July 10, 2019 at 10:32 am

    Try pouring at 55C

  • mikethair

    Member
    July 13, 2019 at 6:49 am

    Experience the same. Have not found any solution.

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    July 13, 2019 at 8:56 am

    Happens to lip balms and lipsticks all the time. I just fill in the hole with more product after it forms.

  • UsmanAli

    Member
    July 13, 2019 at 10:08 am

    fill the half or 3/4jar at 50 degree and after cool down fill again at 50 degree it will be helpful for you as my experience 
    i was also facing this problem when i was filling jars for petroleum jelly.
    and i resolve this issue with this method 

  • UsmanAli

    Member
    July 13, 2019 at 10:09 am

    and the other solution is reduce the depth of jar 
    choose the jar which has minor depth and biggest dia
    sorry for my week  English 

  • belassi

    Member
    July 13, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    Presumably what is happening here is that the top part cools first and solidifies. Then as what’s below continues to cool — and contract — it pulls away from the top ‘plug’ leaving a hole.
    This is a simple mechanical issue. If I were going to solve this I would probably begin by designing a mechanical agitator in which I could stack a batch and have them continuously agitated as they cool. Or perhaps use a hot air blower to simply remelt the top layer.

  • Doreen

    Member
    July 15, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    Belassi said:

    Or perhaps use a hot air blower to simply remelt the top layer.

    This is what I always do with lipbalms that have a bit of an indentation (I use a hot air gun). It also gives a nice shine.

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