Carbomer

Carbomers are acrylic polymers used as cost-effective emulsifiers, stabilizers, or thickeners in skincare formulations. Its viscosity-building effect makes it suitable for use as a co-stabilizer in skin care applications, while its crystal clear appearance also makes it ideal for use in hair gels.

Carbomer is a fine white acrylic powder used in hair gels, and other gels, lotions, and creams. In addition, carbomer has good tolerance to electrolytes and can even be used in formulations with low pH values (AHA, DHA, whitening), as its efficacy range is from 4 to 12.

It is also very resistant to high levels of ethanol or aminopropanol (up to 75 %), supporting the development of bactericide hand gels with a pleasant smooth after-feel. The typical use level carbomer is 0.1-0.5% depending o­n the type of formulation and final desired viscosity.

With sodium polyacrylate, the carbomer exhibits interesting synergistic properties, a fresh quick-breaking effect balanced by the cushion, and very low-cost solutions to future gel cream, cream, and lotion formulations.
Functions
Emulsifier
Emulsion stabilizer
Thickener
Gel Forming
Viscosity controlling agent
CAS Number(s)
9007-20-9
9003-01-4
76050-42-5
9062-04-8
9007-16-3
9007-17-4
Synonyms
2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol 2-propenyl ether

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