Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating bubble bath

  • bubble bath

    Posted by Anonymous on September 29, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    I have been formulating for couple of years and i have made liquid bubble bath successfully for my boys for months. I have decided to take the bull by the horns and tried different ingredients. My formula contain sles, cocamide dea 2%, capb 10%, glycerine 5%, 0.5% peg-150 distearate and 1% peg-7 glyceryl cocoate. It turned out way too thick. I have noticed it only happens when i use this combination of formula. If i dont add either capb or DEA, it will be kinda runny. My question is what’s the chemistry behind this and why peg-7 glyceryl cocoate react this way even with tiny % in the formula without the peg-150 distearate? Please be kind and I am still learning. Thank you.

    Anonymous replied 8 years ago 1 Member · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • belassi

    Member
    September 29, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    It’s all about the salt curve. The CDEA and betaine are the thickeners.

  • Anonymous

    Guest
    September 29, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    Hi clive, thanks for replying. 

  • belassi

    Member
    September 30, 2016 at 12:06 am

    The PEG-7 GC really is just a refattener in this formula, and maybe a solubiliser for the distearate. Basically, to adjust the formula, you need to add or subtract electrolytes, in this case, salt.
    There is a (quite steep) salt curve of salt vs viscosity. It appears that your particular combination has hit it right on the nail. If you want to reduce the viscosity, I suggest first you reduce the amount of CDEA by 0.5% at a time until you achieve the desired result. Do this by means of preparing a batch without the CDEA. Test the viscosity. If you need it thicker, you can either add sodium chloride or CDEA. You add it progressively until you get the required viscosity and record the amount added for future reference.

  • Anonymous

    Guest
    September 30, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    Yes I can do that. I also thought about reducing CDEA, I will do that next time I make the bubble bath. Thank you :)

Log in to reply.

Chemists Corner