24/07/2026
Thickeners and How They Work ❓
Thickeners build the perfect viscosity, making shampoos and body washes easy to pour while ensuring a rich, stable lather. They also boost product stability, prevent phase separation, and keep the formula consistent under different storage conditions.
STEP 1: Micelle Shape Transition
The lauryl non-ionic thickener molecules insert into the micelles of anionic surfactants (such as SLES or AOS). This functions in two ways:
- Shielding electrostatic repulsion: The insertion lowers the charge density on the micelle surface and reduces the mutual repulsion. This allows the surfactant molecules to arrange themselves more tightly.
- Promoting molecular association: Due to their specific molecular structure, these thickeners increase the micelle aggregation number, causing the small, spherical micelles to transform into larger rod-like micelles that restrict fluid flow gradually
STEP 2: Forming a 3D Network
As the concentration of rod-like micelles increases, they begin to interact, entangle, and align with one another, forming a dynamic 3D network structure. This network binds a large amount of water molecules, increasing the internal friction during fluid flow to achieve the thickening effect.
STEP 3: Synergy with Electrolytes
When formulated with inorganic salts (such as NaCl or NH4Cl), the thickener works synergistically with the electrolytes. The salts compress the electrical double layer of the micelles and shield the electrostatic repulsion more intensely, promoting rapid micellar growth to further elevate viscosity.
