Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General Expired PVP/VA Copolymer Stability

  • Expired PVP/VA Copolymer Stability

    Posted by RobboAU on November 22, 2022 at 1:08 am

    G’day everyone,

    Due to supply chain shenanigans, I’m having to consider purchasing a batch of VP/VA copolymer that expired in September 2022. It is still in the manufacturer’s original packaging and the seal has not been clubbed or otherwise broken. 

    The ingredient is being used to provide hold in hair-styling products.

    I’ve asked the supplier if their QC team can test if the batch is still within specification, and I’m now trying to gauge the risk of the material failing afterwards.

    CIR report that it does not absorb in the UV/Vis range, so I am inclined to believe (or perhaps am recklessly hopeful) that it should be stable provided it is stored sealed tight, dark and dry (keep it clean).

    How stable do you believe polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer is?

    All opinions and risk assessments welcome!

    chemicalmatt replied 1 year, 11 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    November 23, 2022 at 2:56 pm

    Stable. No worries, mate. Only thing to look at is this ethanol based or water based? Even in sealed drums some of the ethanol may aspirate, leading to a gummy polymer solution, yet still useful.

  • chemistry

    Member
    November 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm

    agreed with @chemicalmatt

  • RobboAU

    Member
    November 23, 2022 at 11:50 pm

    Fantastic, thank you both!

    I haven’t got any confirmation on the manufacturing process (nor do I expect it), but industry standard is apparently to run the polymerisation in an ethanol solvent.

    When you say that it may aspirate, do you mean that ethanol vapours from the bulk powder may condense at the top and create a gummy-glue residue?

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    November 28, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    Affirmative, but the EtOH emanates out of the drum altogether, even within a HDPE drum. Be advised this is not a powder you have coming to you but a solution in EtOH, usually 50% solution. I’ve never seen PVP/VA solid state, even though I know it exists. Nobody uses solid state stuff, it being so difficult to dissolve. (PVP K30 or 90 is another story.)

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