Do you know these details about carbomer 940?

In the research and development field of cosmetics and personal care products, Carbomer 940 has become an indispensable ingredient with its excellent thickening and gel capabilities. However, to truly maximize its effectiveness, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of its unique properties and master precise processing techniques. Many people encounter problems such as insufficient transparency, unsatisfactory thickening effect, or graininess during use, often due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of the properties of Carbopol 940.

The mystery of acidic solution and neutralization activation

The aqueous solution of Carbopol 940 itself is acidic and does not have thickening ability before neutralization, resulting in a semi transparent liquid state. This feature is often overlooked, leading users to mistakenly believe that the product itself has quality issues. In fact, Carbomer 940 needs pH neutralization, which is a key step, to transform into transparent gel, and its viscosity increases rapidly. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for formulating high-quality products, as it explains why the performance of Carbopol 940 is so different before and after neutralization.

Swelling process

The swelling of Carbopol 940 in water is a process that requires patience and understanding. It can swell in both cold water and hot water, but the swelling rate in hot water is slightly faster than in cold water. Experiments have shown that it takes 1 to 3 hours for Carbopol 940 to fully swell 0.2% in 100g of water, and the larger the total weight and concentration, the longer the time required for complete swelling. The standard for determining whether swelling is complete is very intuitive: after neutralization, Carbopol 940 should be applied to the hand, and the material should be clear and transparent, with a smooth surface and no rough particle feel. If transparent circular particles are felt during the application process, it clearly indicates that Carbopol 940 has not fully swollen.

Optimize the process to ensure perfect swelling

In order to shorten the swelling time and ensure complete swelling, the industry has developed an efficient treatment process. Firstly, add Carbopol 940 to cold water and stir evenly, then homogenize at a speed of 2000-3000 revolutions per minute for 3-5 minutes. The homogenization time and intensity need to be adjusted appropriately according to the total amount of material and the concentration of carbomer, until the particles of carbomer 940 are evenly dispersed in water.

Subsequently, the water bath was stirred and heated to 80 ℃ -85 ℃. At this point, the swelling degree of the carbomer was already high, but there may still be some incomplete swelling. Repeated homogenization steps can ensure complete swelling of Carbopol 940. The criteria for determining complete swelling include: no visible block like particles in the material; The material is hung on the wall of the beaker, and the liquid is completely uniform without visible particles to the naked eye; After neutralization, there are no transparent circular particles when applied to the hand. Only by meeting these standards can subsequent process operations be carried out.

Mastering these key details of Carbopol 940 can not only avoid common usage errors, but also significantly improve the quality and stability of the final product. From the transition from acidic stock solution to neutral gel, from the judgment of slow swelling to complete swelling, to the accurate implementation of optimized process, each link contains the value of in-depth understanding of this multifunctional component.

Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. focuses on providing high-quality Carbopol 940 and other fine chemical raw materials. With a deep understanding of product characteristics and rich application experience, we provide customers with technical guidance and solutions. Whether it's cosmetics, skincare products, or personal care products, Desheng Technology can provide you with stable and reliable product quality and professional and timely technical support, helping your products stand out in the competition. Choose Desheng, choose professionalism and quality assurance.