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Electrolyte tolerant polymers
Which polymerics out there are electrolyte resistant/tolerant? Thanks!
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4 Replies
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Sepimax Zen
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Plenty of natural polymerics (xanthan is a good example), some even gel or get increased viscosity in the presence of electrolytes (gellan, carrageenan) . If this is for a rinse-off formulation, something like carbopol aqua sf-1 polymer (acrylates copolymer) will help thicken in presence of salt.
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I just had to remark on a guy named “mattthechemist”. Are you my alter ego? Just kidding there. As @evchem2 (No longer just “EVchem?) remarked the saccharide resins are most tolerant, including xanthan, tara, sclerotium, starches, etc., also the cellulosics. Seppimax ZEN - not tolerant, and acrylates copolymers work with surfactants (organic salts) but will crash if divalent or trivalent strong electrolytes are added as with all acrylic polymers, including Seppimax ZEN.
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As you did not give enough detail on what the intended use was…..it as difficult to give a thought. In the last year, I have almost swapped out all members of this category with Hydroxypropyl starch phosphate. Granted I only make emulsions. I was directed this way with my new affinity to cationic SPDMA, so this was the natural fit, and also allowed the inclusion of Sodium lactate in a formula.
The polymeric companies… that advertise … ‘electrolyte tolerant’ … is often just good comedy. A relative term. Yes… about any polymeric is ‘more tolerant’ than Aristoflex AVC…. but is that ‘additional tolerance’ worth anything and the end of the day…. ‘Ell No!
If you follow the normal formulating path/steps …. you often have no idea that you toasted your polymeric. There is an easy method to test. Just take water and a formula plausible amount of the gelling agent you are considering, hydrate, and evaluate viscosity. Then add the suspect ingredients….and see if any viscosity is lost. This will manifest almost immediately…..no waiting around.
Good luck.
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