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Suspending particles in liquid soap
Hello everyone,
This is my first post here but I’m excited to see if anyone can help me out. I know there are companies out there I could pay to help formulate this whole solution, but I feel I am so close to my desired product I just need a little help from a knowledgeable person.
I created a liquid soap base using:
KOH
Coconut Oil - 55%
Lauric Acid - 35%
Olive Oil - 10%
The soap is great, cleanses well and does what I want it to. I am using it mainly for a degreasing hand soap after working in my shop. My problem is this:
I want to suspend small particles of pumice sand to create a scrub.
I have tried thickening with, salt, crothix, HEC, silica, xanthan gum, and more I cant even remember. None of which suspended the particles like desired, eventually the pumice always sank to the bottom and I would have to stir my product again. I would like an ingredient than can stabilize my solution enough to suspend the particles but keep it light enough to dispense out of a lotion pump container. Can some please recommend a more stabile thickener/suspender/emulsifier for this product?
Any help is much appreciated! Thanks
-Bryce
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17 Replies
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Hi Bryce,
You will need some kind of acrylic co-polymer. I use Aculyn 33 or Carbomer Aqua SF-1.Sarah-
Hi Sarah, I plan to buy Aculyn 33 as well. Do you somehow know a raw material supplier than can sell this material at a lower MOQ? Also, is it true that Aculyn 33 is non-tacky and has a good skin feel based from your experience?
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Bryce,
You can add in Carbomer Aqua SF-1 (as mentioned by Sarah) or Carbopol 980. Carbopol 980 provides good suspending properties and I’m using it in serum and Toothpaste formulation..
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Try Synthalen W400 from 3V Sigma.
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Interesting @milliachemist…
i found that it’s hard to find good suspending agent in Malaysia .. -
Thank you guys very much! I just ordered some Aqua SF-1 so I am excited to try that. I also ordered some Carbomer 940, but I’m not sure I have will has much success with that product? Do I need to add heat when adding the Aqua SF-1 or can I incorporate it at room temperature? Thanks!
-Bryce -
940 will absolutely not work with natural soap like you have there.
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@Belassi is right, 940 is a big no and but Aqua SF-1 might work for you. Generally it is a 30% TS dispersion and you can process it at room temperature. Although I use it for my back-acid thickening products and its fab.
@yongnn30 Carbomer 980 is just another grade of 940 which is Benzene free and it is also going to fail in such soap emulsions just like carbomer 940. -
That is very good information to know, thanks a lot @Belassi . Looks like I will wait until the Aqua SF is in. @milliachemist , when you say a 30% TS, are you saying to add it at 30% of the total solution?!?! That seems like a tremendous amount, I just want to clarify to be sure. Thanks a ton for all the knowledgeable information!
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I am saying that the material is supplied as 30% TS, you can start from 3% and see how it holds up and see if you need to go further up.
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Thanks for good information @milliachemist & @Bellasi… I will ask Lubrizol rep. to provide me more info on SF-1
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Carbopol EDT 2020 may can help you too.
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Grip, you’re not going to like this: the answer to your issue is none of the above. All of those acrylate polymers, even the much vaunted Aqua SF-1 are electrolyte intolerant - at the level you are working with, anyway. With a straight-up, low/no water soap system based on earth alkalis, your best bet is keep on with the colloids. I’d investigate Veegum, laponite, or good old bentonite even. You also have the disadvantage of using the scrub with the highest bulk density known: pumice. That’s suspending rock, dude. Your soap may not look as pretty with the bentonite holding up your pumice, but then pumice ‘aint so pretty either, am I right? Then again, without much water to work with, I’m unsure you’ll be getting anywhere with anything. Good luck.
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Hi chemicalmatt,
When you said none of the above, do you include Aculyn 33 as well in the non-electrolyte resistant materials? I read the brochure of Aculyn 33 and it says it has a good electrolyte resistance feature because of its non-ionic nature. I just want to confirm if it is true because sometimes supplier data does not always work on real-life applications.
Also, for o/w emulsions with high electrolyte content (around 2-5% NaCl), what’s your best pick of cold processable polymeric emulsifiers? I’ll be glad to hear back from you.
thank you in advance.
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Hello. Sorry. I rechecked the info. Aculyn 33 is anionic.
Aculyn™ 33 rheology modifier is an alkali-swellable anionic acrylic polymer emulsion (ASE) that is lightly cross linked to impart a short pseudoplastic flow. It is a liquid, cold-processable product that instantaneously thickens upon neutralization providing ease of handling and increased manufacturing efficiency. This thickener is offered at 28% solids and is compatible with peroxide and other oxidizing agents, electrolytes, polar solvents and zinc pyrithione. The polymer has a well-established toxicological profile and is safe in normal use
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Always a pleasure to read your comments @chemicalmatt, great insight. Priceless.
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I just received the SF-1 yesterday and started experimenting with it today. So far very successful results, but I definitely need more time to see the final results. I didn’t specify in my beginning post, but once the product is complete there is about a 65% water : 35% surfactant solution. I should have stated there was more water in the final product. Also, I have actually had bentonite in it as well, but didn’t list that as I thought people would have shot down that idea. With that being said I am still hoping the SF-1 is the choice. And well if not, then on to the next things like you suggest @chemicalmatt .
I am really aiming for a textured scrub with this soap, and pumice in my experience has been the best texture for the hands. It is a high density, but it is done in multiple brand name soaps such as GoJo, Fast Orange, ZEP, or Lava Soap. If I can get something close to that I will be happy. I also don’t care about the “look” at all, just how it performs at the end of the day. Everyones advice is greatly appreciated, I will keep you updated on the project!
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