Hydroxyethyl Cetyldimonium Phosphate is a quaternary ammonium salt used as a hair conditioner, emulsifying agent, and solubilizer. It is miscible with water and ethanol and distributed as a 27 – 33% solution. The solution is a colorless to slightly yellowish liquid with a faint characteristic odor.
By virtue of its excellent solubility, its chemical stability, and its outstanding conditioning effect on the hair, Hydroxyethyl Cetyldimonium Phosphate is eminently used in hairdressing formulations, e.g., tonic rinses, conditioning foams, shampoos, permanent wave preparations, etc. Its excellent chemical stability permits its use in corrosive media, e.g., cold wave preparations.
Hydroxyethyl Cetyldimonium Phosphate facilitates combing and improves the gloss without leaving a visible film—even after repeated use. Its chemical structure ensures particularly low corrosiveness. It acts as an emulsifying agent and solubilizer and is, therefore, suitable for producing creams and lotions.
In aerosol foam preparations, a low concentration of Hydroxyethyl Cetyldimonium Phosphate suffices to ensure an adequately stable emulsion of the blowing agent in the solution of the active substance. When used with PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, it exerts a solubilizing effect. In many cases, this effect is synergic. For this reason, low concentrations suffice for solubilizing water-insoluble compounds.Hydroxyethyl Cetyldimonium Phosphate has a slight antibacterial effect and is thus placed on the market without a preservative. However, it usually loses this effect when diluted to the concentration in which it is used.
Toxicological studies have examined the use of Hydroxyethyl Cetyldimonium Phosphate in cosmetic preparations. The results obtained did not indicate toxicological hazards when the product was applied in the recommended concentrations for the recommended applications.
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