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Incompatibility/Browning with Arcylate Copolymer
been using Cosmedia ATC for many formulations never seen issues until recently. ingredients are:
Acrylamide / Sodium Acrylate Copolymer (and) Paraffinum Liquidum (and) Trideceth-6
We’ve put it with small (really small-0.05%) amounts of ascorbic acid and ferulic and we see over time or exposure to high temps a disturbing browning. has anyone used this thickener or one like it before, or have any idea what chemistry is causing this?
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6 Replies
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It is likely you have oxidation reaction with ascorbic acid and Ferulic acid at high temperature and probably slowly with time in storage at lower temps.
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agreed: ascorbic acid is notorious for browning in water-based formulations
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Even with such small amounts? It showed an extreme change in color, from a near pure white to a very tan brown (From what I’ve seen with ascorbic before, the oxidation is usually more of a yellowing in color). My other concern with the thickener is that I made up a base with water, ferulic, and ascorbic acid and tried several different thickeners. The one that contained the acrylamide copolymer broke down and turned the darkest by a large degree compared to the others.
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Yes, small amounts of ingredients can cause significant colors.
You could easily test this. Make a batch with only Ascorbic Acid and one with only Ferulic acid. If there is no color, then you know the problem.
Although, it sounds like you already did a version of this by testing other thickeners. Since the other thickeners also changed color (albeit a lighter color) you know there is at least some reaction going on.
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Yeah that’s true. I guess I was hoping to find out what role the copolymer could play in exacerbating the oxidation
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Ascorbic acid is as well pH sensitive, beside temperature, light sensitive, oxygen and heavy metals.
You can neutralize ascorbic acid with NaHCO3 to a pH 5-6.5 and if you add some EDTA in your formulation it will increase the stability more.Ferulic acid is a similar case with ascorbic acid.
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