Croda Inc. has introduced an eco-friendly hair conditioning agent that offers traditional performance and is biodegradable and non-toxic to aquatic life.Terraquat BD (INCI: Not Provided) is said to provide conditioning and detangling benefits to both rinse-off and leave-on hair care formulations and, unlike other biodegradable conditioning agents, it can be formulated into shampoos.
To determine the performance of the conditioning agent, the company compared formulations containing it against behentrimonium chloride, a benchmark conditioning agent commonly used in both shampoos and conditioners. The company then evaluated for conditioning and detangling benefits on both wet and dry hair.
The shampoo and conditioner formulated with the conditioning agent reportedly performed as well as, if not better than, the behentrimonium chloride formulations. The instrumental analysis on these formulations was also confirmed by half-head, double blind studies where a trained cosmetologist found the formulations performed similarly.
The conditioning agent was shown to be biodegradable when tested via the OECD 301B method. In addition, it was found to have an undetectable level of acute toxicity and did not exhibit aquatic toxicity when tested via the OECD 202 method on daphnia.
The conditioning agent is also said to be suitable for leave-on products. It is supplied in a pastillated form and is 100% active.
