Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating SLS thickens at cold temperature

  • SLS thickens at cold temperature

    Posted by Yam on December 20, 2023 at 6:32 am

    I am formulating a normal SLS shampoo / bodywash. The formulation thicken and turn white when the temperature reach around 15C. I have added 0.2% SXS but still does not work. May I Know if anybody encountered this issue?

    ketchito replied 11 months ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • ketchito

    Member
    December 20, 2023 at 7:19 am

    Hi! We need to know what else is in your formula to properly assist you. You don’t need to write percentages, but at least list your inredients.

  • Yam

    Member
    December 20, 2023 at 8:46 am

    thanks for your reply. The formulation includes SLS,CAPB97, NACL, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, SXS, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate Benzyl Alchol Dehydoracetic acid sodium salt and EDTA

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    December 20, 2023 at 9:10 am

    It’s turning thick and white because you’ve reached the temperature below the cloud point of your solution. When the temperature drops below the cloud point, the solubility of some surfactants or other components in the formulation decreases. This reduced solubility leads to the separation and a cloudy appearance. This used to happen to some of the VO5 Shampoo formulas I worked on.

    There are a bunch of things you can try like adding a hydrotrope (sodium xylene sulfonate), reducing surfactant level, adding some non-ionic surfactants, adjust salt levels, pH levels, etc. Every system is different so no one answer will fix it.

  • Yam

    Member
    December 21, 2023 at 9:39 am

    Hi Perry, really appreciate your replay and explanation. The current formulation already has 0.5% SXS, surfactant level ranges from 8~12%, pH 5.2~4.

    May I know how high can we increase SXS? Re non-ionic surfactant, I am not very familiar with the type used in personal care products. Can you give me some suggestions? Looking forward to hearing from you.

  • ketchito

    Member
    December 21, 2023 at 2:19 pm

    Do you experiencia the same level of turbidity at pH 5.2 and pH 4.0? CAPB could show some issues in the presence of anionics at very low pH, depending on your system. SXS has to be added in higher doses (like 1%, 2%, 3%), again, depending on your system.

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