Substituting Thickeners in Alcohol Hand Gel

Regarding your question about substituting thickeners in your alcohol hand gel formula:

Your original formula uses Viscolam mac 10, which is an acrylate copolymer, along with TEA (Triethanolamine) as a neutralizer.

Based on the available information, I couldn't find specific details on substituting Aculyn 33 directly for Viscolam mac 10. However, Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker) is a related type of polymer thickener (Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer) that can be used to create gel textures in water-based formulas.

Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker) is a good option for creating gel texture. It is generally resistant to electrolytes, which can be helpful in complex formulations. The description indicates it forms a gel when mixed with water, and for optimal thickening and stability, especially in a formula containing alcohol and other ingredients, neutralization with a base like TEA is typically required, similar to how Viscolam mac 10 works.

Pro Polymer™ Silk is another option, but it's a different type of polymer (Polyquaternium 37) with cationic properties, designed to give a soft, silky feel. It requires blending to form a gel and is less resistant to electrolytes than Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker). Given your original formula uses an acrylate copolymer, Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker) is likely a more suitable direct substitute in terms of thickening mechanism, although testing is always recommended.

In summary:

• Direct substitution of Aculyn 33 for Viscolam mac 10 cannot be confirmed with the available data.
• Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker) is a potential alternative thickener.
• If you use Pro Polymer™ (Gel Maker), you will likely still need to use TEA (or another suitable neutralizer) to achieve the desired gel consistency, similar to your original formula.

Always perform a small test batch when substituting ingredients to ensure compatibility and desired results.