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HELP! Carbomer turns into a complete liquid.
I have been able to successfully formulate a gel serum in a 990ml beaker before. Until… today I tried to make it in a 4 liters container and it all went wrong.
I normally just mix the main actives, adjust the PH 5.5 using citric acid, add preservative (liquid germall), add CARBOMER, leave overnight, then will be gel by tomorrow. It would normally work that way.Today, I went for a much bigger container (4L). The carbomer didn’t gel up. The only difference I made was use a sheer mixer since I was on a rush.I was told the following:1. I shouldn’t have used sheer mixer as it will break bonds of carbomer.2. I shouldn’t have used citric acid as it also break bonds.Here’s what I tried to save it:1. Added SODIUM CITRATE and SODIUM LACTATE thinking I mistakenly put too much citric acid that the PH dissolved CARBOMER.Here are some possible solutions I read from the internet:1. Use TEA, sodium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide to induce gelling of carbomer. However I’m not sure if this will work. Will it?2. I was told to add more carbomer, but I am afraid it will make the formulation very tacky.Any suggestion on how I can GEL IT UP again without being too tacky would so much be appreciated! Thank you very much!P.S. I am not a chemist. I pretty much like to imitate formulations on Youtube. -
3 Replies
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Any suggestions pls?
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Give people a chance to read your posts. It takes time to get an answer.
But you should also provide a list of all the ingredients in your system, otherwise people can only guess at what is going on. It’s likely your pH is off or you have too high a load of electrolytes.
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You really need to read some of the Lubrizol Technical Guides on Carbomer. They are extremely helpful.- https://www.ulprospector.com/documents/1017233.pdf?bs=76&b=3758&st=1&sl=116613021&crit=Q2FyYm9wb2zCrg%3d%3d&r=na&ind=personalcare
- https://www.ulprospector.com/documents/1017232.pdf?bs=76&b=3758&st=1&sl=116613021&crit=Q2FyYm9wb2zCrg%3d%3d&r=na&ind=personalcare
- https://www.ulprospector.com/documents/1017231.pdf?bs=76&b=3758&st=1&sl=116613021&crit=Q2FyYm9wb2zCrg%3d%3d&r=na&ind=personalcare
Without seeing your full Formulation it is difficult to weigh in with any confidence but I would imagine it comes down to electrolyte intolerance (which would direct you to proper grade selection), neutralization of the carbomer (requires a proper process), or even possibly a process issue unrelated..You do need to be patient as participation in this forum is voluntary and not a revenue stream for most Chemists. I also believe in the “give a man a fish approach” as a more universal study and reading not only would answer all these questions, but also grant you knowledge helpful in future Formulations.
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