Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate

  • Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate

    Posted by David08848 on August 29, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    Greetings! 
    Has anyone here worked with Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate?  I am seeking a cocamide DEA substitute for my surfactant projects and came across this.  Stepan lists it like this: “Stepan-Mild GCC
    is a glyceryl caprylate/caprate , it is used as a thickener, foam
    enhancer , co-emulsifier, refatting agent and solubilising agent.
    Stepan-Mild GCC can be used in shampoos. body washes, facial cleansers
    and skin creams & lotions.” and it is available from some resellers.  I’m open to suggestions too!

    Thanks for any assistance you can provide!
    David

    thebrain replied 8 years, 6 months ago 5 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • manstra

    Member
    August 29, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    I would go for Amidet - N from KAO

  • David08848

    Member
    August 31, 2015 at 1:47 am

    manstra, thanks for the suggestion!  I actually saw this listed with two other options on a site for cocamide DEA replacements.  It seems that only one company is making PEG-4 Rapeseedamide and that is KAO.  A company called “Lincoln Fine Ingredients” in Lincoln, Rhode Island (only a few miles from where I grew up in Mass.!) has it listed on their website.  I did find it in some ingredients lists so that’s a good sign!

    Thanks!  David

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    September 2, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    StepanMild GCC worked well for me, its EO-free and it comes from Stepan at much lower cost than any other non-EO thickeners and many with EO. It does have limitations with the APGs, just like every other thickener out there that is neither a saccharide gum or mineral colloid.

  • David08848

    Member
    September 3, 2015 at 3:08 am

    Glad to hear that the cost is lower!  Since I’m not working with APG’s it shouldn’t be a problem.  I’m going to get some quotes for the products I have narrowed it down to then go from there.  No point in formulating with something if it is too expensive or not readily accessible!

    Thanks,chemicalmatt!

    David

  • thebrain

    Member
    November 7, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    I hate to bump an old topic, but I’ve been experimenting with StepanMild GCC, and so far I’m very happy with it.

    @chemicalmatt: Can you elaborate on StepanMild GCC’s limitations with APGs? I’m working on a product formulation that’s a mixture of APGs and anionic surfactants, hence my interest. The only problem I’ve seen so far is that I need more of the GCC than I’d like (2-3%), unless I add salt (which I try to avoid because it reduces foam).

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    November 13, 2015 at 10:02 pm

    Few traditional builders work with APGs.  These saccharide molecules don’t form the lamellar liquid crystal structures that anionic, amphoterics, cationics do. I’ll surmise that any viscosity building you are achieving is from your anionic component. I think 3% GCC isn’t all that much, either.  You’d use a similar level of alkylamide. BTW, I never knew salt to decrease foam much - what gives there?

  • OldPerry

    Member
    November 13, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    I’ve never heard of salt reducing foam either. That wasn’t my experience with anionic based detergent systems.

  • thebrain

    Member
    November 15, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    Actually it looks like I misinterpreted my tests. It’s not clear if the salt reduced foam; I think the conclusion of my tests is that GCC and Lamesoft increase foam volume.

    On a related note, for some reason I’m getting more of a foam boost from Lamesoft compared to an equivalent (by active surfactant matter anyway) amount of coco glucoside. That’s pretty odd considering Lamesoft only has two ingredients: coco glucoside and glyceryl oleate. It’s funny how you can make assumptions based on how ingredients work individually but when you combine them, it often doesn’t work out how you expect.

  • thebrain

    Member
    November 15, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    Oops, nevermind about salt not reducing foam: It looks like I had a baseline for my tests and I saw a 5% reduction in foam volume with the addition of salt. That being said, I was using kosher salt from the grocery store. It’s supposed to be 100% pure (no calcium silicate or other filler), but who knows. I’ll have to get some cosmetic grade stuff and re-test to be sure.

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