• Formulating

  Caramel compatibility with cationic surfactants

  Posted by naturalchemist on February 20, 2017 at 9:49 pm

  Hi all,

  I have a conditioner base that I was trying to turn it a bit off white by adding caramel color, but this seems to be not compatible as the caramel forms chunks as soon as it gets in contact with the ingredients in the formula. 

  My formula contains Behentrimonium chloride and Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride as cationics. The rest of the ingredients are hexylene glycol, trisodium edta, cetyl esters, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol and MIT/MICT. 
  
  I have never seen anything like this happening with a regular cream or lotion without cationics so I’m thinking this is the cause but I would like to understand the science behind it. 

  Thanks in advance. 

  johnb replied 8 years, 2 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  johnb

  Member

  February 21, 2017 at 7:50 am

  Caramel is not a defined material and is available in different grades made by different processes. You could ask a caramel manufacturer if they have a suitable cationic compatible grade (there is a caramel making process which involves ammonia - this may be cationic compatible).

  A trick I used for caramel as a colour in cosmetic products, including a conditioner, was to disperse the caramel concentrate as the first component in the mixing process.

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