Lubrizol enlarges surfactant range for natural formulators

The surfactants, Chemccinate LSC-K, Chembetain ACB and Sulfochem CS-BZ, can be used in a wide range of products, and with them Lubrizol is attempting to solve a number of problems formulators face when designing natural products.

Chemccinate LSC-K (INCI name Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate) can be used as both a primary and a secondary surfactant.

Sulfate-free ​

As a primary surfactant (the surfactant responsible for the foaming and cleansing effect of the product) it would be most suitable for products aiming to make sulfate-free claims, although the company’s global business director for surfactants, David Kreckman, said the resulting foam would be smaller than when using a traditional product.

Noveon claims that as a secondary surfactant (added to reduce some of the drying and irritant effects of the primary surfactant), Chemccinate LSC-K is a good choice for formulators as it is compatible with the anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants used in a wide range of products.

In addition, there is no ethylene oxide used in the manufacture of the ingredient. This, Kreckman explained, is related to formulators' attempts to reduce or remove 1,4 dioxane, a by-product of ethylene oxide that received bad press following a report released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics that claimed levels of the by-product in baby care products were high.

However, the FDA has said levels found during its monitoring of personal care products do not present a hazard to consumers.

Helps solubilize other surfactants​

The second of the new products, Chembetaine ACB (INCI name Coco-Betaine) has been designed to be particularly stable in high electrolyte systems which can be challenging to formulators. According to Lubrizol, the ingredient can help solubilize other surfactants in such formulations.

In addition, the company claimed that Chembetaine ACB can also help reduce irritation when used in conjunction with other anionic surfactants, while boosting foam and product viscosity.

No palm oil​

The third of the products, which were all launched at the recent Suppliers' Day trade show in New Jersey, is Sulfochem CS-BZ (INCI name Sodium Coco Sulfate).

Like the other two, this is wholly vegetable-derived, but with this ingredient Lubrizol can guarantee that the entire feedstock is derived from coconuts. This could help formulators wishing to avoid palm oil derived ingredients, Kreckman explained.