Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Conditioner Viscosity Loss

  • Conditioner Viscosity Loss

    Posted by Ron_93 on April 2, 2024 at 8:42 am

    Hey everyone. I hope you all are doing well. I am trying to make a simple conditioner with SPDMA but when I adjust the pH, I experience significant viscosity loss. I’ve tried adding lactic acid 90% in the heated water phase, as well as after adding phase B. The next day it builds a bit of viscosity. Is this normal? I’ve also tried an iteration with 2% cetyl alcohol, but still the same result. I’ve high sheared it briefly, as well as made iterations via low shear only. Any advice helps greatly. Thank you.

    Phase A:

    Water- QS

    Phase B:

    SPDMA- 3%

    Cetearyl Alcohol 70/30- 6%

    Babassu Oil- 2%

    Phase C:

    Euxyl PE 9010- 0.5% (Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

    Euxyl K12- 0.75% (Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Aqua, Water)

    Fragrance- 0.4%

    Unknown Member replied 3 weeks, 3 days ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    April 2, 2024 at 3:20 pm

    This should work just fine. I think you may be applying too much mixing there. Slow cool while slow mix and this should build, assuming your starting temp is > 75C. Finally, adding NaCl solution while at 25 - 35 C can build viscosity here too. A little bit o’ salt goes a long way and most formulators don’t know this works with cationic systems not just anionics.

    • Ron_93

      Member
      April 3, 2024 at 5:44 pm

      Roger that. I actually was heating to 75C and then adding phase B. I will increase temperature and mix under low shear. Thank you so much.

  • ketchito

    Member
    April 3, 2024 at 6:33 am

    I second @chemicalmatt. Low shear mixing during cooling is very important in these type of elulsions. Just out of curiosity, what’s your final pH?

    • Ron_93

      Member
      April 3, 2024 at 5:46 pm

      Thank you so much! I’ve been shooting for a pH of 4.5. Pretty much replicating the aussie conditioner. I have some here as a benchmark and the pH is at 4.53. However, they utilized glutamic acid as their buffer based on the LOI

  • Unknown Member

    Member
    April 7, 2024 at 11:37 pm

    I agree with you. How long do you spend on it, and I’ll start with wordle unlimited free

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