COLLOID-CHEMICAL REGULARITIES GOVERNING THE FORMATION OF CARBOMER-BASED ANTISEPTIC GELS IN WATER-ALCOHOL SOLUTIONS
Rubrics: 1. CHEMISTRY
Authors:
1.
KNITU
2.
Kazan National Research Technological University
3.
KNITU
Type:
Article
Pages:
from 5
to 11
Status:
Published
Received:
01.03.2026
Accepted:
15.04.2026
Published:
05.05.2026
Language:
Russian
Keywords:
CARBOMERS, ANTISEPTIC GEL, HYDROALCOHOLIC SOLUTIONS, POLYMER SWELLING, SOL-GEL TRANSITION, VISCOSITY, SKIN HYDRATION
Abstract:
The colloid-chemical regularities of swelling and gelation of lightly cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) polymers (carbomers) in hydroalcoholic solutions of ethanol and isopropanol (70 wt. %) were investigated. The equilibrium swelling degrees of Carbomers 140, 141, 341, 341ER, and 750HD were determined by a gravimetric method. It was established that the maximum swelling degree increases with increasing molecular weight between crosslinks of the polymer network and reaches its highest value for Carbomer 750HD. It has been shown that replacing isopropanol with ethanol in a 70 wt. % water- alcohol medium leads to an increase in the equilibrium swelling degree of carbomers. The influence of triethanolamine concentration on the sol-gel transition and the degree of ionization of the carboxyl groups of Carbomer 750HD was studied. The optimal mass ratio of triethanolamine to carbomer providing the formation of a spatially interconnected polymer network was determined to be 2.5:1. The concentration dependence of the viscosity of gel systems was investigated. At carbomer contents above 0.8 wt. %, a decrease in viscosity was observed, which is attributed to charge screening effects and partial aggregation of macromolecular coils in the hydroalcoholic medium. A comparative analysis of the composition and consumer properties of five commercially available hand antiseptic gels within the same price segment was carried out. Based on the obtained results, formulations of antiseptic gels containing ethyl and isopropyl alcohols were developed. Their rheological characteristics, pH, effects on skin hydration, and antimicrobial activity were determined. The developed compositions were shown to comply with the requirements of GOST 31695-2012 “Cosmetic gels. General specifications”. No microbial colony growth was observed in an agar nutrient medium containing 1 wt. % of the gels.
The colloid-chemical regularities of swelling and gelation of lightly cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) polymers (carbomers) in hydroalcoholic solutions of ethanol and isopropanol (70 wt. %) were investigated. The equilibrium swelling degrees of Carbomers 140, 141, 341, 341ER, and 750HD were determined by a gravimetric method. It was established that the maximum swelling degree increases with increasing molecular weight between crosslinks of the polymer network and reaches its highest value for Carbomer 750HD. It has been shown that replacing isopropanol with ethanol in a 70 wt. % water- alcohol medium leads to an increase in the equilibrium swelling degree of carbomers. The influence of triethanolamine concentration on the sol-gel transition and the degree of ionization of the carboxyl groups of Carbomer 750HD was studied. The optimal mass ratio of triethanolamine to carbomer providing the formation of a spatially interconnected polymer network was determined to be 2.5:1. The concentration dependence of the viscosity of gel systems was investigated. At carbomer contents above 0.8 wt. %, a decrease in viscosity was observed, which is attributed to charge screening effects and partial aggregation of macromolecular coils in the hydroalcoholic medium. A comparative analysis of the composition and consumer properties of five commercially available hand antiseptic gels within the same price segment was carried out. Based on the obtained results, formulations of antiseptic gels containing ethyl and isopropyl alcohols were developed. Their rheological characteristics, pH, effects on skin hydration, and antimicrobial activity were determined. The developed compositions were shown to comply with the requirements of GOST 31695-2012 “Cosmetic gels. General specifications”. No microbial colony growth was observed in an agar nutrient medium containing 1 wt. % of the gels.
Keywords:
CARBOMERS, ANTISEPTIC GEL, HYDROALCOHOLIC SOLUTIONS, POLYMER SWELLING, SOL-GEL TRANSITION, VISCOSITY, SKIN HYDRATION
CARBOMERS, ANTISEPTIC GEL, HYDROALCOHOLIC SOLUTIONS, POLYMER SWELLING, SOL-GEL TRANSITION, VISCOSITY, SKIN HYDRATION
