Teach Soap

Experiments with polymers:

I have three different cross-polymers here: Carbopol 940, Carbopol Ultrez-20, and Carbopol Aqua SF3

The problem with 940 and Ultrez is that you want the shampoo to be the pH that hair loves, say 5.5, and the cross polymers need neutralising to roughly 6.5 or even 7 to be able to thicken properly and be clear.
The problem with the Aqua is that I haven't been able to make it work. It is supposed to use something called back-acid thickening which means that you neutralise it with a base, it thickens and clears, and then you add an acid (typically citric) to move it back to say pH=5.5, and it actually gets thicker. I have tried and tried but I had to get it to like pH 12 before it cleared and then when I lowered the pH it precipitated.

I did make a pretty thick gel at pH 6, easily enough using Ultrez, but it is impossible to get trapped air bubbles out of it.

I was looking at some polymers myself, but thinking that they will just add another element for me to troubleshoot! Will try a new formulation for 2 in 1 the week after next when I get home!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Best of luck!
Let us know how it goes. The cream shampoo still baffles me.