Difference Between Carbomer 940 and 980

The key difference between carbomer 940 and 980 is that carbomer 940 is important as a rheological modifier, while carbomer 980 is important as a thickening agent.

Carbomer is the market name of polyacrylate polymer. There are different types of carbomer materials based on their composition and applications. Some examples include carbomer 940, 941, 980, and 996.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Carbomer 940
3. What is Carbomer 980
4. Side by Side Comparison – Carbomer 940 vs 980 in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Carbomer 940?

Carbomer 940 is a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer material. It is very useful in personal care gels and creams, where it works as a highly efficient rheology modifier. This material is capable of providing high viscosity, excellent thickening properties, high suspending performance in a low dose. It is very useful in the production of clear gels, hydroalcoholic gels, creams, etc., due to its non-drip, short flow properties. We can get sparkling clear water or hydroalcoholic gels and creams upon neutralizing this material.

The most promising properties of this substance are short flow properties, high viscosity, high suspending, thickening and stabilizing ability, and high clarity. There are many applications of carbomer 940, including the production of hair styling gels, hydroalcoholic gels, moisturizing gels, bath gels, hand, body and face lotions, and other types of creams.

What is Carbomer 980?

Carbomer 980 is a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer made from the polymerization of ethyl acetate and cyclohexane in a co-solvent system. This material can provide high viscosity, excellent thickening and suspending performance in a low dosage. This substance has a short flow and non-drip property that is very important in applications, including the use of the material as clear gels, hydroalcoholic gels, and creams. We can neutralize this substance using alkali, which leads to the formation of sparkling clear water or hydroalcoholic gels and creams.

Figure 01: Structure of a Carbomer

Concerning the features and benefits of carbomer 980, it has short flow property, high viscosity, high suspending, thickening and stabilizing ability, and a high clarity as well. Therefore, the recommended applications of carbomer 980 include hair styling gel and moisturizing gel production, bath gel production, hand, body, and face lotions manufacture, etc.

Typically, the recommended dose of carbomer 980 in a cosmetic product is about 0.2 – 1.0 wt% (percentage by weight). We can obtain the ideal viscosity of this material at a pH range of 5.0 to 10.0 under neutralized condition. We can choose the correct neutralizer for this substance depending on the amount of alcohol to be gelled. After this neutralization process, high shear and lasting stirring need to be avoided in order to keep its stable thickening ability.

What is the Difference Between Carbomer 940 and 980?

Carbomer is the market name for polyacrylate polymer material. There are different types of carbomer materials based on their composition and application. The key difference between carbomer 940 and 980 is that carbomer 940 is important as a rheological modifier and carbomer 980 is important as a thickening agent. Moreover, carbomer 940 is used in the production of hair styling gels, hydroalcoholic gels, moisturizing gels, bath gels, hand, body and face lotions, and other types of creams, whereas carbomer 980 is used in hair styling gel and moisturizing gel production, bath gel production, hand, body, and face lotions manufacture, etc.

Below is a summary of the difference between carbomer 940 and 980 in tabular form.

Summary – Carbomer 940 vs 980

Carbomers come in different forms, such as carbomer 940, 941, 980, and 996. The key difference between carbomer 940 and 980 is that carbomer 940 is important as a rheological modifier and carbomer 980 is important as a thickening agent.