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Actives!
I’m teaching myself to work with surfactants using information Perry has provided and others on this site and am aware that I need to know the percent of “actives” in a surfactant or surfactant blend before I can determine what percentage I should use in a formula. I am finding it difficult to find the active percentage listed on MSDS sheets and online info from the cosmetic companies for individual products especially blends! I do see a “solids” listed on many of these that don’t list “actives” but I am unsure what that reveals. So far I have sent out emails from the chemical companies I am working with but none have replied. I would appreciate any assistance that anyone can provide.
Regards,
David -
6 Replies
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A real problem especially when you need to source the same raw matl from an alternative source.
I determine the required amount empirically, I must admit. -
Solids and actives denote 2 different properties, I am sure your suppliers would clear it for you.
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Belassi, what I seem to be getting from this is if a company has a surfactant blend they may be less apt to give out information like actives percentage? I am certainly aware that they wouldn’t give out the actual percentages of each ingredient in the blend but I would think it would be to their benefit to list an “actives” amount for the complete blend to make it easier for the customer to formulate! Chemist77, thank for clearing that up for me. I knew that in some surfactants that something like stearic acid would be an ingredient but not and active but I was trying to see if their was any link between the two.
Thanks!
David -
99.9% of the time, nothing volatile could be considered part of the active ingredient in a surfactant/surfactant blend.
Also, in a typical commercial surfactant, there’s no more than a percent or two of inactive but nonvolatile ingredients.So, %solids is at least a pretty good approximation of what % active you will be working with.Lastly, a SDS is not always the best place to get information on this. Tech Data Sheets and Specification Sheets are much more useful. -
I do use a surfactant blend and it’s true to say that no, I do not know the % actives. I went with the manufacturer’s recommended % usages for body wash, shampoo, etc and adjusted slightly to suit my needs.
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Robert,
So you’re saying there is somewhat of a link between “solids and actives” and it seems that the MSDS, Spec and Tech data sheets (which have become my new best friends) that don’t list “actives” do list “solids” which is why I suspected there might be a relationship between the two even though there may some exceptions!
Belassi,
You’re lucky when your get a manufacturer who lists suggested usage percents for body wash, bubble bath, shampoo but I have seen them and it seems that some of the literature that the chemical companies are handing out is becoming more user friendly these days as are their formularies. Sometimes it is just a matter experimentation which seems to be your approach. I have always done a ton of research then finally experimentation which works well for me but might be the best approach for everyone.
Guys, I appreciate your input! The puzzle may be a large one but you are providing some of the crucial pieces helping it go together more easily and more quickly!
Thanks again!
David
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