Carbomer 940 is a polyvinyl carboxy polymer used as a viscosity enhancer, gelling agent, or suspension agent. Carbomer 940 is cross linked with ethers of pentaerythritol, and is used primarily in systems where sparkling clarity or a sharp viscosity response is required.

Carbomer 940 will impart unbelievalbe softness and glide, comparable to the glycols, when added to your formulations.

Carbomer 940 can be used to thicken surfactant systems, and to create suspension products and is excellent when you need to suspend heavy particles. Viscosity actually has nothing to do with the ability of a product to suspend items such as jojoba beads or capispheres. For instance, a shower gel as thick as jello will allow the beads to either sink or rise …while a water thin product that contains Carbomer can suspend ball bearings. This is because the Carbomer forms a “Network” that suspends the beads very effectively.

Carbomer 940 can also be used to create gel products very easily and cost effectively and Carbomer viscosity stands up to the incorporation of different fragrance and essential oils much better than standard surfactant thickeners. When surfactant thickeners are used, fragrance and essential oils can get into the middle of the micellar structure of the gel formed and interfere with it to have a dramatic effect on surfactant systems. By contrast, the network created by Carbomer 940 is not influenced in this way.

SPECIFICATIONS

GUIDELINES

Usage:  0.25 - 1.0%
Add to room temperature liquid only
Compatability:  because Carbomer 940 is anionic viscosity is affected by cationic (especially sodium) you will need to neutralize prior to
                        the addition of other phase ingredients to minimize the impact, otherwise neutralize final formulation
Neutralization:  solution will not fully thicken until neutralized (pH raised) 
                        

We recommend using Tetrasodium EDTA or Suttocide A to neutralize the Carbomer. Test the pH of the formulation with your pH meter. Then add neutralizing agent until a pH of 5.5-7 (depending on preference) is achieved.

Other neutralizing ingredients (in ratio):

• •TEA (Triethanolamine)99%: Begin with 99% pure Triethanolamine, and create a 50%solution with distilled water. Of this solution, you would generally use 4 parts TEA toevery 1 part Carbomer 940.
• •NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide): Begin with Caustic Soda Pearls and make a 25% solutionwith distilled water. Of this solution, you would generally use 2 parts NaOH to every 1part Carbomer 940.
• •KOH (Potassium Hydroxide): Begin with Potassium Hydroxide and make a 25%solution with distilled water. Of this solution, you would generally use 2 parts KOH toevery 1 part Carbomer 940.
• •DOW Versene 100 (Tetrasodium EDTA): Generally, you would add 1 part TetrasodiumEDTA to 1 part Carbomer 940.
• •Suttocide A: Generally, you would use slightly more Suttocide A than Carbomer 940,for instance 0.9% Carbomer 940 and 1% Suttocide A will 1.) Preserve the formulation,and 2.) Neutralize the Carbomer. This is the exact ratio I typically use, and find I canachieve adequate suspension, viscosity, and preservation with these exact usagerates.