CAS Number 9003-01-4
INCI Name Carbomer 980
Carbomer 980 is a high molecular weight acrylic acid polymer used primarily as a thickening and gelling agent in cosmetics and personal care products. It is a white, fine powder that forms a gel when neutralized with an alkali like triethanolamine. Commonly used in gels, creams, lotions, and shampoos, it enhances texture, stability, and viscosity. Carbomer 980 helps create smooth, non-greasy formulations with improved spreadability and prevents ingredient separation. It is heat stable up to moderate temperatures and has a neutral pH after neutralization.
Purpose
The primary purpose of Carbomer 980 is to act as a thickening agent, gelling agent, and stabilizer in cosmetic and personal care formulations. It enhances the viscosity of products, helping to create thicker, more luxurious textures, and contributes to gel formation in products like creams, lotions, and gels. Additionally, it stabilizes emulsions, preventing ingredient separation and ensuring uniform consistency. Carbomer 980 is essential for improving the spreadability and texture of products, providing a smooth, non-greasy feel when applied to the skin.
Origin
Carbomer 980 is synthetically produced through the polymerization of acrylic acid. It is a high molecular weight, crosslinked polymer, typically created by polymerizing acrylic acid in the presence of crosslinking agents. This process results in a polymer structure that can absorb water and swell to form gels.
Crosslinked Polymer Structure:
The polymer’s crosslinked structure forms a three-dimensional network that provides enhanced stability and structure to products. This feature ensures that Carbomer 980 holds together even in challenging conditions, such as exposure to heat or fluctuations in pH. This stability makes it ideal for products that need to maintain consistency and texture over time, such as shampoos, conditioners, and moisturizers.
| Feature | Description |
| Name | Carbomer 980 |
| Type | Thickener, gelling agent, stabilizer |
| Source | Synthetic, derived from the polymerization of acrylic acid |
| Benefit | Enhances texture, stability, and clarity |
| Function | Adds thickness, suspends ingredients, and forms gels |
| PH | 2.7 to 3.3 |
| Concentration | 0.1% to 1% in formulations |
| Physical form | Fine white powder |
| Odor | Odoeless |
| Color | White |
| Solubility | Insoluble in water but swells and forms a gel in water when neutralized. It is soluble in alcohols and glycols |
| Boiling point | 141°C |
| Chemical properties | A high molecular weight crosslinked polymer of acrylic acid; neutralized with alkali (e.g., triethanolamine) to form gel |
Water Absorption & Gel Formation:
Carbomer 980 is insoluble in water, but it has the ability to absorb large amounts of water and swell to form a gel when neutralized. This property allows it to form viscous, smooth gels that are often used in clear gel formulations. Once neutralized, it creates a stable, cohesive gel structure, which is essential in creating products such as hair styling gels, facial masks, and medical ointments. The gel’s consistency can be controll based on the concentration of Carbomer 980 used.
Viscosity Enhancement:
Carbomer 980 is a potent viscosity enhancer. By increasing the thickness of the product, it improves the texture and performance of creams, lotions, and gels. The increased viscosity provides a luxurious feel during application, making products spread easily on the skin without being too runny or sticky. It ensures that the product stays in place, allowing for more controlled and targeted application.
Emulsion Stabilization:
As a stabilizer, Carbomer 980 ensures that oil and water phases in emulsions remain evenly dispersed and do not separate. This property is critical for products such as lotions, creams, and hair care formulations, where the continuous mixing of water and oil ensures a uniform texture and prevents any phase separation over time. The result is a more stable product with consistent performance.
Heat Stability:
Carbomer 980 can withstand moderate heat, typically up to 80°C, which makes it ideal for formulations that require gentle heating during processing. However, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can degrade its structure. To preserve its effectiveness and integrity, formulators typically add Carbomer 980 after heating or during the cooling phase.
Clarity in Formulations:
One of the standout features of Carbomer 980 is its ability to create clear and transparent gels. This feature is essential for products such as serums, face masks, and hair styling gels where transparency is not only desirable for aesthetic purposes but also necessary for showcasing the active ingredients in the product. The clarity of Carbomer 980 helps maintain the visual appeal of the formulation, making it attractive to consumers who prefer transparent, high-quality products.
Enhanced Suspension Ability:
Carbomer 980 has excellent suspension properties, ensuring that solid particles such as exfoliating beads, botanical extracts, and pigments remain evenly distributed throughout the product. This prevents the solid ingredients from settling at the bottom of the container, ensuring even distribution and effective performance every time the product is used. This is particularly important in formulations like scrubs, shampoos, or makeup products, where uniform particle suspension is key to the product’s effectiveness.
Non-Ionic Nature:
As a non-ionic polymer, Carbomer 980 is compatible with a wide range of ingredients, including both ionic and non-ionic surfactants, emulsifiers, and preservatives. This neutral charge ensures that it does not react adversely with other components, providing formulators with the flexibility to combine it with a variety of actives and other ingredients without the risk of destabilizing the formulation. It helps ensure that the product remains stable and effective throughout its shelf life.
Skin-Friendly & Non-Irritating:
When properly neutralized, Carbomer 980 is non-irritating and gentle on the skin. It does not cause any irritation or discomfort, making it a safe choice for sensitive skin products like moisturizers, anti-aging creams, and serums. Its gentle nature ensures that it does not disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, allowing the product to be both effective and comfortable for all skin types, including those with more delicate or reactive skin.
Water-Repellent Properties:
After neutralization, Carbomer 980 provides water-repellent characteristics, which help products remain intact and resistant to water exposure. This property is valuable in long-lasting products such as sunscreens, moisturizers, and foundation products, where the product needs to stay in place during physical activities or exposure to water. This feature contributes to the durability of the product, offering enhanced performance throughout the day.
Versatile for Both Oil-Based & Water-Based Formulations:
Carbomer 980 is most commonly used in water-based formulations, but its versatility also allows use in both oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions. This flexibility enables formulators to incorporate it into a wide range of products, including moisturizers, creams, serums, and hair care items, meeting diverse formulation needs. Its ability to stabilize emulsions enhances overall product quality.
Freeze-Thaw Stability:
Carbomer 980 tolerates freezing and thawing cycles without losing functionality, making it ideal for products exposed to extreme temperatures during storage or shipping. This stability helps formulations maintain their integrity and performance, ensuring reliability and effectiveness in various environmental conditions.
Applications of Carbomer 980
Cosmetic and Skincare Products
Carbomer 980 plays a critical role in the formulation of clear gels and other skincare products, contributing to their smooth texture and viscosity. It is frequently used in facial gels, hair styling gels, and moisturizing gels because it can form transparent, stable gels that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. In moisturizers, Carbomer 980 enhances the texture, making the product lightweight and non-greasy, while still providing the desired hydrating effect. Its ability to suspend active ingredients ensures even distribution of skin-benefiting actives such as vitamins and antioxidants.
Hair Care Products
In the hair care industry, Carbomer 980 is essential for creating products like shampoos, conditioners, and hair styling gels. It thickens the formula and helps to stabilize the oil and water components in emulsions, preventing separation and ensuring consistent texture throughout the product. In hair styling gels, it forms clear gels that are easy to apply and offer a non-sticky, smooth finish, allowing hair to maintain its style without feeling weighed down. Additionally, hair treatment masks and serums use Carbomer 980 to suspend nourishing actives like proteins and essential oils, ensuring even distribution and enhancing the product’s overall performance.
Sun Protection Products
In sunscreens and after-sun care products, Carbomer 980 is essential for creating stable, long-lasting formulations. It enhances the texture of sunscreens, making them easier to apply without feeling greasy. The gel-like consistency provided by Carbomer 980 helps create a barrier that is resistant to sweat and water, ensuring that the sunscreen stays in place during physical activity or water exposure. The water-repellent properties of Carbomer 980 further enhance the durability of these products, offering extended protection and enhanced performance.
Personal Care Products
In the personal care sector, Carbomer 980 is frequently utilized in the formulation of deodorants, shaving gels, and oral care products. In deodorants, it serves as a thickening agent, improving the gel’s stability and performance. For shaving gels, it helps create a smooth, lubricating texture that allows for easy razor glide, minimizing skin irritation and providing a comfortable shaving experience. In toothpaste and mouthwash gels, Carbomer 980 enhances texture, ensuring that the product is easy to apply, while also contributing to the suspension of active ingredients such as fluoride or antiseptic agents. Its ability to maintain consistent viscosity makes it ideal for personal care products that need to provide a smooth, uniform experience for consumers.
Cosmetic Masks
Carbomer 980 is commonly used in the formulation of peel-off masks and cosmetic face masks, where its gelling properties help create a smooth, thick mask that can be easily applied to the face. Once applied, it forms a gel layer that adheres to the skin, delivering actives like moisturizing agents, vitamins, or herbal extracts while also providing a pleasant, cooling sensation. The gel also allows the mask to peel off easily, providing a satisfying user experience and a clean, refreshed feeling after removal.