A member of a broad group of compounds called PEGs, PEG-4 Rapeseedamide is a derivative of rapeseed oil. In products, it mainly acts as an emulsifier, thickening agent, solubiliser or detergent. It is used in shower gels, shampoos, shaving foams and dishwashing detergents.
PEG-4 Rapeseedamide is a non-ionic surfactant that belongs to the group of ethoxylated alkanolamides. PEG-4 Rapeseedamide is a name in the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) system. The compound is an ethoxylated rapeseed oil fatty acids monoethanolamide. The CAS number, i.e. the reference number assigned by the US organisation Chemical Abstracts Service, for this substance is 85536-23-8.
PEG-4 Rapeseedamide is a liquid at room temperature. Its colour varies from light yellow to orange. When added to water, it does not dissolve but forms a dispersion, i.e. it disperses as fine droplets throughout a homogeneous liquid medium. The density of a pure ingredient is approx. 1.00 g/mL, at the temperature of 25ᵒC. The liquid PEG-4 Rapeseedamide solidifies at the temperature of approx. 0ᵒC.
Due to its emulsifying properties, PEG-4 Rapeseedamide acts as a co-emulsifier in O/W (oil-in-water) emulsions. As an ingredient of an emulsion, it supports the other components responsible for generating the emulsion, which results from the formation of systems of two mutually insoluble phases. Those phases are usually oil and water. Due to the co-emulsifying effect of PEG-4 Rapeseedamide, emulsions are more stable and have the required consistency which facilitates their application.
As a surfactant, the compound is also a stabiliser and enhances the quality of foam in mixtures with anionic surfactants. Emulsions are thermodynamic systems that are unstable by nature; therefore, it is necessary to use stabilisers such as PEG-4 Rapeseedamide. The forces acting between the droplets of the dispersed phase may be strong enough to cause self-agglomeration of the dispersed phase particles, resulting in the separation of the product e.g. a cream into layers. This in turn will prevent its proper application. The role of a surfactant is to create as large boundary surface areas as possible and to spread the dispersed phase particles.
PEG-4 Rapeseedamide is an ingredient of delicate products for washing the skin and hair. Products that contain this surfactant have a reduced irritant potential and thus are designed for the care of especially sensitive areas.
It also has the thickening function in products. Its purpose is to give the product the appropriate consistency. Moreover, PEG-4 Rapeseedamide is effective both in preparations with an SLES (a strong surfactant) and in preparations without any surfactants.
Products that contain PEG-4 Rapeseedamide
