Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Foam Quantity

  • Abdullah

    Member
    July 20, 2022 at 11:42 am

    What percentage and ratio have you tried?

  • starlord13

    Member
    July 21, 2022 at 5:59 am

    i am trying sles and capb in ratios 2:1 and 4:1

  • Abdullah

    Member
    July 21, 2022 at 10:33 am

    Try 10:1 ratio.

  • ketchito

    Member
    July 21, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    @starlord13 What’s the total surfactant level you’re using? Also, do you have a chelating agent? It’d be better if you post your formula, with percentages (at least for your main ingredients).

  • starlord13

    Member
    July 22, 2022 at 8:28 am

    @ketchito total surfactant level is below 10%. No I’m not using any chelating agent as of now. I’ve seen EDTA in other formulations so have been thinking of trying that. 
    70% SLES -10% 
    30% CAPB -5.83% 

  • Fekher

    Member
    July 22, 2022 at 9:01 am

    @starlord13 I guess the ratio is not bad however the total surfactant level is low try to increase it, then the quality of water effects the foam of your product lower minerals higher foam. 

  • starlord13

    Member
    July 22, 2022 at 9:03 am

    @Fekher thanks, will do that.
    would you recommend adding a third surfactant? 

  • Fekher

    Member
    July 22, 2022 at 9:08 am

    @starlord13 not necessary, the most important is working for the water’s quality and adding chelating agent sush EDTA as @ketchito mentioned can help little bit. 

  • starlord13

    Member
    July 27, 2022 at 2:52 pm

    @ketchito when we say total surfactant level do we mean total active surfactant as in if 70% sles so and we’re adding x amount so total surfactant level would be x or 0.7x?

  • ketchito

    Member
    July 27, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    Total active content is the content of the pure surfactant (as if you have it as a 100% material, not taking into account water present in commercial solutions).

  • Fekher

    Member
    July 27, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    @starlord13 as you said total active equal to  level of use of surfactant * concentration
    As example for N70 if the level of use is 10% then active surfactant is =70*0.1=7

  • Quimico

    Member
    July 28, 2022 at 2:22 pm

    @starlord13 the amount of SLES & CAP Betaine is fair for hand wash, but their are other factors that influence the foaming
    1. The water hardness (use EDTA ~0.1% )
    2. Add foam boosting Surfactants (CC DEA)

  • ketchito

    Member
    July 29, 2022 at 2:22 pm

    A total anionic content of 7% is a bit low for a hand wash. With that level of Betaine, I believe an increase of anionic surfactant would make a difference. 

    As @Quimico suggested, addition of a chelating agent can also work. The addition of a foam stabilizer (like CDEA) can give a more durable foam. If you want to increase flash foam, an amine oxide is recommended.

  • zetein

    Member
    July 30, 2022 at 1:34 am

    Polyquaternium-7 is good.

  • Rockstargirl

    Member
    July 31, 2022 at 12:20 am

    would something like foaming silk help?

Log in to reply.

Chemists Corner