How to Use AccessTHIX 834 in Your Formulations
What AccessTHIX 834 Does
If you want to turn a watery liquid into a thick gel or a stable cream, you need a thickener. AccessTHIX 834 is a high-performance polymer thickener, known in the industry as a Carbomer. Think of it like a microscopic sponge that swells in water, creating a gel network that holds everything in place. This is what gives products like serums, creams, and hair gels their body and texture.
However, traditional Carbomers can be tricky for formulators. They often clump together when added to water (creating stubborn “fish eyes”) and require an extra chemical step called “neutralization”—adding a pH adjuster like sodium hydroxide—to activate their thickening power.
AccessTHIX 834 is different. It’s a special pre-neutralized and self-wetting grade of Carbomer. This means it has been engineered to solve those common problems. It disperses easily into water without clumping and starts thickening immediately—without needing a separate neutralization step. This saves time, reduces the chance of error, and makes the entire formulation process faster, simpler, and more reliable.
Formulation Tips
The amount of AccessTHIX 834 you use will determine the final thickness of your product. For a thin lotion or serum, start with 0.1–0.3%. For a standard cream or thicker gel, use 0.4–0.6%. For very thick, stand-up gels (like a hair gel), you can go up to 1%.
To incorporate, sprinkle AccessTHIX 834 slowly over the surface of the water while mixing continuously. Creating a vortex (a small whirlpool) and sprinkling the powder into the side of the vortex works best—each particle gets wet and disperses before it can form lumps.
One of the biggest advantages is that AccessTHIX 834 is a cold-process ingredient—no heat required. Add it to your water phase at room temperature. It performs best in formulas with a final pH between 5.0 and 8.0, covering the ideal range for most skin and hair care products.
Key Formulation Benefits:
- Effortless & Fast Thickening: Pre-neutralized—thickens on contact with water, eliminating a separate pH adjustment step and speeding up processing.
- Smooth, Clump-Free Texture: Self-wetting powder disperses easily to minimize “fish eyes,” yielding silky, uniform gels and emulsions.
- Excellent Suspension Power: Forms a robust gel network that suspends pigments, UV filters (e.g., zinc oxide), and beads evenly.
- Cold-Process Friendly: No heating needed—saves time and energy while protecting heat-sensitive actives.
- Crystal-Clear Gels: Produces high-clarity, clean-feel gels ideal for premium serums and styling products.
- Versatile Performance: Reliable thickening and stabilization across lotions, creams, gels, sunscreens, and color cosmetics.