bubbles problem with shampoo formulation

Formulating

bubbles problem with shampoo formulation

Posted by labtechnician on June 17, 2014 at 1:06 am

Hi,

I am trying to formulate sulfat free shampoo by using surfactants such as Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, decyl glucoside and cocamidopropyl betaine. I have tried various thickener such PEG-150 Distearate, glycol distearate, Guar Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Chloride and PEG-150 pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate (Crothix PA from Croda). My problem is that every time I am using all these thickener, I am getting lot of micro bubbles in my shampoo. Could anyone tell me, how to mix various water phase and surfactants phase without generating bubbles in the mixture. How these thickeners should be used? I mean in which phase thickeners should be mixed and melted? Any help will be really helpful. Thanks

Abdullah replied 1 year, 5 months ago 7 Members · 11 Replies
11 Replies

OldPerry

Member
June 17, 2014 at 8:33 am

Perhaps you could tell us what you are doing now. How do you add the thickeners & what is the procedure you are following to make your shampoo?

Typically, heating a batch up is a good way to remove bubbles.
labtechnician

Member
June 17, 2014 at 7:08 pm

Thanks @Perry

Actually, I heat water phase and surfactant phase separately at approximately 70 C. First I did try to add thickener in water phase by using overhead stirrer and then add surfactant mix to water phase by using overhead stirrer. I also tried reverse method means I add thickener to surfactant mix and then mixed with water phase by using overhead stirrer. In both case, I found a lot of micro bubbles in my shampoo.
OldPerry

Member
June 17, 2014 at 7:43 pm

Ah, one suggestion is to add the thickener to RT or cold water.
nasrins

Member
June 18, 2014 at 5:23 am

@perry do we have two phases in shampoo? shampoo has just one phase, it isnt emulsion. ya?
OldPerry

Member
June 18, 2014 at 8:22 am

For most shampoos there is no reason to do separate phases.
DavidW

Member
June 18, 2014 at 9:41 pm

Regardless of how you put it together. Over time (like over night) all the bubble show be gone.
Chemist77

Member
June 18, 2014 at 9:58 pm

unless you have a very stubborn polymer where the air entrapment takes a little more time than usual to escape, otherwise bubbles are intrinsic to such surfactant hodge podge and which go away after after sometime.
labtechnician

Member
June 24, 2014 at 12:05 am

thanks everyone.. all the information was really helpful. @DavidW and @millachemist, you both are right. overtime all bubbles just disappeared.. thanks
DavidW

Member
June 26, 2014 at 7:35 am

Glad it worked out for you.
lauryfriese

Member
June 15, 2023 at 6:15 am

Thank so much @Candy Crush
Abdullah

Member
June 15, 2023 at 7:28 am

Increasing batch size and reducing mixing speed will help create less bubble