AkzoNobel Personal Care Launches New Multifunctional Styling Polymer

AkzoNobel Personal Care launches new multifunctional styling polymer for greater formulating flexibility and more versatile performance

Bridgewater, NJ – Here is exciting news for formulators of styling gels and styling aids looking to achieve new product forms and performance benefits. A new fixative polymer that provides all the formulating flexibility, performance and special features they will need is being introduced by the Personal Care business of AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry at in-cosmetics 2014 (Stand 1J30). BALANCE RCF (INCI: Acrylates/Ceteareth-20 Methacrylate Crosspolymer) is an alkali swellable acrylic polymer that is specially designed to make crystal-clear hair gels. This unique polymer functions as both a fixative and a rheology modifier, allowing the formulator to replace two ingredients with one.

BALANCE RCF polymer features unsurpassed formulating versatility: it can be used alone, with Carbomer and with other fixative polymers and rheology modifiers to achieve a wide range of textures, rheological properties and product performance benefits. Formulators will be able to use BALANCE RCF polymer to develop high-performance gels, spray gels, styling creams, waxes, pomades, and other styling aids thanks to a number of unique benefits, including:

• Superior hold and humidity resistance compared to traditional gel polymers
• Provides both rheology modification/thickening and film formation
• Robust compatibility with Carbomer
• Forms crystal-clear gels and styling formulas
• Excellent gloss
• Cost-effective performance at low use levels
• Ease of use
• Wide formulating latitude

"The excellent efficiency of BALANCE RCF polymer allows formulators to use 50% less of the new polymer than PVP K-90, yet generate similar stiffness with improved on-hair sensory properties," notes Amanda Nelson, Technical Service Engineer II, Personal Care. In addition, BALANCE RCF polymer provides volume and frizz control while contributing to system viscosity. "BALANCE RCF polymer also has excellent curl retention under extreme conditions of humidity and temperature," Nelson adds.

BALANCE RCF is compatible with many common gel ingredients and provides the formulator extensive flexibility and ease of use. An emulsion polymer, BALANCE RCF polymer is soluble in both water and water/ethanol solutions when fully neutralized.