The UK arm of Safic-Alcan released the water thickening agent Sarigel 56CG in November 2007 and following requests from customers the company has now developed an oil thickener.
Make products easier to apply
The new product may be added to oil-based systems to improve their viscosity and make them easier to use. For example, sun care oil may need to be thickened to make it easier to apply and to avoid wastage.
Safic-Alcan UK spokesperson Ken Jones told CosmeticsDesign.com that the thickener may be used to improve the viscosity of a variety of oils including vegetable oils and grape seed oil.
He also said it is light weight to ensure its easy solubility in oil.
However, for certain oils including mineral oils a temperature of up to 80C may be required to guarantee complete solubility and appropriate thickening.
Technical specification
The thickener comes in the form of a white powder and its INCI name is Silica / Styrene / Isoprene Copolymer / Aluminium Stearates.
It should be used at an addition level of 2 to 10 per cent depending on the oil which needs to be thickened.
Safic-Alcan will be presenting its products for the personal care market at in-cosmetics in Munich later this month.