DMF-2 (Dimethicone fluid 2cs, so-called as it has a low viscosity of 2 centistokes), can be used in a wide range of cosmetics products including skin care, hair care and sunscreens, according to the company.
In addition, Shin-Etsu claims the DMF-2 can work as a carrier for other ingredients as it is non reactive, easily rubs in and evaporates well off the skin, and offers the ingredient in conjunction with a number of other specialty silicone products in its portfolio including emulsifiers and acrylic silicones.
D5 replacement
The product is being positioned as a possible replacement for silicone D5, which some companies are looking to eradicate in their formulations.
“There are some concerns today with the US regulatory status of D5 with its use perhaps becoming limited, so some customers are choosing to replace it with something else,” Shin-Etsu’s marketing manager for North America Eric Bishop told CosmeticsDesign.com USA.
“The DMF-2 system represents a functional and versatile alternative for formulators. It allows them to formulate away from D5 siloxanes and D5 derivatives and still produce effective products that deliver many levels of the enhanced sensory properties of silicone,” Bishop said.
Not only does it not suffer the same regulatory concerns as D5, the company also claims that DMF-2 has processing benefits.
The ingredient has a higher flash-point than D5 meaning that it and can be heated to higher temperatures during formulation without concerns over it whether it will combust.
In addition, the derivative products the company offers where the DMF-2 has been formulated with another of the silicone-based ingredients, can be easily cold processed, the company claims.