Thickener 6000DS is a powder that requires hot compounding, Thickener 638 is a liquid for cold compounding, and PEG-150 is easily soluble granules. The differences in their forms lead to significant variations in the addition process.
Detailed Explanation
According to the Guoli Chemical Product Database, although these three products belong to the same PEG-150 Distearate series, their appearance, morphology, and solubility characteristics differ, requiring tailored addition methods in actual production.Thickener 6000DS is a white to off-white powder that disperses in hot water and dissolves in ethanol and acetone. It is suitable for industrial fields such as water-based architectural coatings, water-based adhesives, water-based inks, and textile printing pastes. Its powder form facilitates precise measurement and long-term storage. The recommended method ishot compounding process: slowly sprinkle the measured powder into deionized water (or the water phase of the formula) preheated to 60–70°C while stirring at medium to high speed to avoid clumping. Since the melting point of 6000DS is about 50–60°C, the powder can fully melt and disperse within this temperature range. After the system becomes a uniform paste or transparent/semi-transparent viscous liquid, it can be mixed with other components. If added directly to room-temperature water, dispersion is extremely slow and prone to clumping.
Thickener 638 is a slightly yellow transparent liquid that can also disperse in hot water and dissolve in ethanol and acetone. Its greatest advantage iseasy dispersion, suitable for cold compounding process. In actual production, Thickener 638 can be directly added proportionally to the water-based system at room temperature with conventional stirring, achieving uniform thickening after 15–30 minutes without additional heating, significantly reducing energy consumption and process difficulty. This makes 638 particularly suitable for temperature-sensitive formulations and high-efficiency continuous production lines. PEG-150 is mostly white to slightly yellow flakes or granules, with the key property of being readily soluble in water, ethanol, and acetone. It is widely used in personal care products (shampoos, body washes, creams and lotions) and household detergents. It is typically added after the pH adjustment of the surfactant system at a medium-low temperature of 45–55°C, with continuous stirring until fully dissolved and transparent.
Technical Parameter Comparison
| Parameter | Thickener 6000DS | Thickener 638 | PEG-150 |
|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Slightly yellow transparent liquid | White to slightly yellow flakes/granules |
| Active Content | ≥98% | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Melting Point | 50–60°C | 50–60°C | 50–60°C |
| Solubility Characteristics | Dispersible in hot water, soluble in ethanol, acetone | Dispersible in hot water, soluble in ethanol, acetone | Readily soluble in water, ethanol, acetone |
| Ionic Type | Non-ionic | Non-ionic | Non-ionic |
| HLB Value | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| Recommended Process | Hot compounding (disperse in 60–70°C water phase) | Cold compounding (direct stirring at room temperature) | Medium-low temperature dissolution (45–55°C) |
Application Recommendations
Recommended Usage for Thickener 6000DS
- Recommended Dosage: Typically 0.3%–2.0% of the total formulation, with the exact amount determined through small-scale trials based on target viscosity.
- Dispersion Water Temperature: It is recommended to use deionized water at 60–70°C, slowly adding the powder while stirring, with the stirring speed sufficient to form a vortex but not introduce excessive air bubbles.
- Maturation Time: After the powder is fully wetted, continue stirring at constant temperature for 20–30 minutes until the system is uniform and free of particles, then cool down to proceed with subsequent blending steps.
- Addition Sequence: It is recommended to fully disperse the thickener in the water phase first, then add pigments, fillers, or emulsion to avoid poor dispersion due to the powder being encapsulated by resin.
Recommended Usage for Thickener 638
- Recommended Dosage: Typically 0.5%–3.0% of the total formulation; the liquid form facilitates precise pump metering.
- Addition Timing: It can be added at any step during the water-based system mixing stage. Under cold compounding conditions, direct stirring is sufficient without an additional heat source.
- Stirring Requirements: Use conventional dispersion discs or paddle stirrers, stirring at medium to low speed for 15–30 minutes to achieve uniform viscosity. Excessive shear may affect thickening efficiency.
Recommended Usage for PEG-150 (Household and Personal Care Systems)
- Recommended Dosage: In shampoos and body washes, usually 0.5%–2.0%; in creams and lotions, 1.0%–3.0%.
- Dissolution Temperature: Add the flake/granular PEG-150 when the surfactant system temperature is maintained at 45–55°C, stirring until completely dissolved and transparent.
- pH Adjustment: It is recommended to adjust the system pH to 5.5–6.5 before adding; within this range, thickening performance and system stability are optimal.
Precautions
- When handlingThickener 6000DS powder, it is recommended to wear a dust mask and protective gloves, and operate in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhalation of airborne dust. Spilled powder should be promptly cleaned to prevent accumulation that may form combustible dust clouds.
- Thickener 638 liquid may develop slight stratification after prolonged storage. It is recommended to shake or stir gently before use, but heating is not required.
- All products should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated warehouse, with temperature not exceeding 45°C and relative humidity below 70%, away from strong acids, strong bases, and active oxidizing agents.
- If the powder product is not fully used after opening, it should be immediately resealed tightly to prevent moisture absorption and clumping, which may affect subsequent dispersion.
- Unopened products are stable within the shelf life (two years). It is recommended to follow the first-in-first-out principle.
