How to Use AccessQUAT PQ-10 J125 in Your Formulations
Understanding AccessQUAT PQ-10 J125
AccessQUAT PQ-10 J125 is a multi-talented ingredient that formulators love for its versatility. Think of it as a conditioner, detangler, and light thickener all in one. Its primary job is to make hair and skin feel soft and smooth. It works because it has a positive charge (it’s cationic), while hair and skin carry a slight negative charge. This difference in charge makes the ingredient deposit and form a very thin, smoothing film.
For hair, that film helps lay the cuticle flat to reduce frizz, boost shine, and improve both wet and dry comb-through. It also minimizes static and flyaways. For skin, it leaves a soft, moisturized after-feel in rinse-off products like body washes. Chemically, AccessQUAT PQ-10 J125 is Polyquaternium-10, a polymer derived from natural cellulose, offering high performance with a naturally derived backbone. It also provides a light viscosity build that gives formulas a richer, more professional texture.
Formulation Tips
AccessQUAT PQ-10 J125 is a fine, water-soluble powder that can clump if added directly to water. To prevent this, pre-disperse the powder in a small amount of glycerin or propanediol to form a smooth slurry, then add the slurry to your water phase under mixing. Use at 0.2–2.0%. For shampoos and body washes, start around 0.2–0.5%. For rinse-off conditioners, leave-ins, or detangling sprays, use 0.5–2.0% for more noticeable conditioning. It performs best in formulations with pH 4–8.
AccessQUAT PQ-10 J125 is highly compatible with common surfactants, including anionic (e.g., sulfates, isethionates), amphoteric (e.g., betaines), and non-ionic systems—making it ideal for 2-in-1 shampoos, conditioning cleansers, and sulfate-free concepts without compromising foam or stability.
Key Formulation Benefits:
- Superior Conditioning & Detangling: Leaves hair exceptionally soft, manageable, and easy to comb, reducing breakage during styling and improving slip on wet and dry hair.
- Anti-Static & Frizz Control: Cationic charge neutralizes static, taming flyaways and frizz for a smoother, more polished look.
- Multi-Functional Performance: Works as a conditioner, light thickener, and film-former in one, simplifying formulas and reducing the need for multiple additives.
- Excellent Surfactant Compatibility: Plays well with anionic, amphoteric, and non-ionic systems, including sulfate-free formulas, without compromising foam or stability.
- Enhanced Skin Feel: In body washes and facial cleansers, imparts a smooth, moisturized after-feel, counteracting the drying effect of surfactants.
- Naturally Derived Backbone: Based on a cellulose polymer, delivering high-performance conditioning derived from a renewable source.