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Suspending agent for exfoliating agents
Posted by aicha10 on February 17, 2024 at 2:58 amhello Chemists,
I’m trying to incorporate exfoliating agents into a cleansing gel, but I notice that these agents float. Can you advise me on a suspending agent for these beads (KAHLBEADS 2178P ( HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL)
Thank you
Light56 replied 7 months, 2 weeks ago 7 Members · 7 Replies -
7 Replies
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Beads floating sounds like the formula is not thick enough. A gelling agent would help with the viscosity. I’d use HEC (Hydroxyethylcellulose) or Sodium Hyaluronate twice as much as the recommended amount to create a thicker gel for suspending things. The surfactants you use must be compatible with those agents, though. Try milder surfactants because waxes are considered lipids, which might partially dissolve in the formula.
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HEC nor Sodium Hyaluronate do not have great suspending properties. It might work in emulsion, but for “heavy” beads/exfoliating particles it won’t suffice long term.
Better to go with a good grade of Xanthan Gum or similar or as suggested by @ketchito carbomers.
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They do actually, at higher concentrations.
2% HEC in water gets insanely thick and would suspend those beads if they’re not too heavy. But I agree with you on the Carbomer, though they’re mostly pH sensitive.
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To suspend beads you need shear resistance, and the most used polymers for that are moderarely-to-highly crosslinked polyacrylates (carbomers).
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Polyacrylamide crosspolymer-6, Acrylates Copolymer,
Carbopol ultrez 20, Xanthan gum, etc, they help with beads suspension.
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what is the appropriate percentage of triethanolamine to neutrlize a 7% carbopol aqua sf 1 (acrylates copolymer )
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