Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Microemulsion

  • Microemulsion

    Posted by XYZ123 on February 1, 2025 at 11:08 pm

    Is there someone here who knows the specific type of emulsifier that was used by Dow in the microemulsion on the right side? It appears to be blue.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LSM23P-q84

    I need to be able to create an almost clear microemulsion like the one in the video. Any emulsifier recommendation that can create transparent to almost transparent microemulsions?

    ketchito replied 3 days, 7 hours ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • ketchito

    Member
    February 3, 2025 at 5:16 am

    That blue-ish hue is typical of microemulsions. There’s are different ways to produce a microemulsion, and the easiest is to use high levels of very specific surfactants, like Ecosurf SA-9.

    • XYZ123

      Member
      February 3, 2025 at 6:47 am

      Do you by any chance know how much is typically needed to create a stable microemulsion of 5% of safflower oil in the water continuous phase?

      oil - 5 grams

      water - 60 grams

      surfactant required for microemulsion?

      thanks in advance

      • ketchito

        Member
        February 4, 2025 at 5:18 am

        I remember making a microemulsion with Ecosurf SA-9 years ago, it was for a laundry detergent, but it might as well work for a cosmetic. I remember I used between 10-15% of the material for a similar amount of oil (I recommend working in percentages). I’d suggest starting with 5% and make some small additions till you see a blue-ish color and total clarity of your solution.

    • XYZ123

      Member
      February 3, 2025 at 6:50 am

      By the way. the application is for cosmetics.

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