Preventing Glitter Settling in Liquid Soap Formulation
Question
I am formulating a liquid soap product that includes glitter powder, but I'm encountering a problem where the glitter settles at the bottom of the product. Could you please advise on how to prevent this precipitation and ensure the glitter remains evenly suspended in the liquid soap?
Answer
It sounds like you're experiencing glitter settling in your liquid soap formulation. To prevent this, we recommend using specialized thickening agents designed for suspension.
We suggest using either ClearClean™ (ID: 511) or ThickClean™ (ID: 7994). Both are Acrylates Crosspolymer type thickening agents that utilize a cross-linkage mechanism to effectively suspend various types of beads or pigments, such as Mica Glitter, Mica Powder, Pearls, Pearl Powder, and Scrubs, ensuring they remain evenly distributed in your liquid soap without settling.
Key Benefits of ClearClean™ and ThickClean™:
- Effective Suspension: They prevent glitter and other particles from precipitating, keeping your liquid soap clear and visually appealing.
- pH Compatibility: Both work effectively in a pH range of 4-6, which is suitable for skin-neutral pH formulations (pH 5.5 is generally most suitable for the skin).
- Ease of Use: They are liquid and can be easily mixed into your formulation without requiring heat, helping to save production costs.
Choosing Between ClearClean™ and ThickClean™:
- ClearClean™ (ID: 511) provides high transparency to your formula, making it ideal if you desire a crystal-clear liquid soap with suspended glitter.
- ThickClean™ (ID: 7994) offers medium transparency (comparable to Carbopol SF-1). If a glass-clear appearance is not essential for your product, ThickClean™ is a more economical choice.
General Mixing Instructions for Both Products:
- Avoid High-Speed Spinning: Do not spin over 2500 rpm, as this can damage the polymer and weaken the formula.
- Preheating: Preheating to 60-70 degrees Celsius during the mixing process can help both ClearClean™ and ThickClean™ dissolve into the formula more easily.
- Shake Before Use: Always stir or shake the product before use.
Specific Mixing Steps:
- ClearClean™ (ID: 511):
- Add ClearClean™ to water.
- Add any type of detergent.
- Adjust the pH of the formula to be in the range of 6.5-6.8 by adding an alkaline agent (e.g., triethanolamine).
- Add other ingredients (e.g., natural oil, silicone, Guar Cationic, WaterLock™, Vitamin B5).
- Adjust the final pH to your desired range, such as 5.5 (must be within 4-6 for a clear formula; outside this range, the product may become cloudy).
- Add various pigments or beads as needed.
- ThickClean™ (ID: 7994):
- Mix water and any detergent (surfactant).
- Add other ingredients (e.g., extracts, pearlescent agents, conditioners, beads).
- Add ThickClean™ (you can pre-mix ThickClean™ with some water from the formula for easier incorporation).
- Adjust the pH value to 6.2-6.6 for neutralization.
- If a lower pH is desired, add any acid (e.g., Lactic Acid, Citric Acid). If using powdered acid, dissolve it in water at a ratio of at least 1:1 before adding to the formula.
- You can add salt (sodium chloride) to increase thickness, but it should not exceed 2% of the recipe.
By incorporating either ThickClean™ or ClearClean™ into your liquid soap formulation, you should be able to achieve a stable suspension of glitter without sedimentation.
