Dow Personal Care, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company has launched an opacifier designed to create creamy, conditioning body washes, shampoos and liquid hand soaps. Opulyn PQG (INCI: Ethalkonium Chloride Acrylate/HEMA/Styrene Copolymer) was created to have compatibility with cationic conditioning polymers and allows long-term stability of conditioning cleansing products.
According to the company, formulators previously had to choose between conditioning benefits and creamy textures in cleansing formulations. The opacifier reportedly allows the formulator to enhance to impart a luxurious, creamy effect to cleansers at low use levels.
The opacifier can be formulated with polyquaternium-7, polyquaternium-10 and cationic guar derivatives. It is also suitable for formulating body washes with high concentrations of amphoteric surfactants.
The opacifier is supplied as a milky liquid. It reportedly is easy to use, requiring no preparation. In addition, it allows for use of continuous production processes with in-line static mixers. Because the opacifier can be formulated at low use levels, it is said to be cost effective. The opacifier provides a dense, creamy-like, uniform opacity while hiding amber caste and haziness. It is also said to enhance the effect of dyes.
