Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Carbopol® Polymers

Products Suitable for Topical Applications

 

Comparison Overview of Carbopol® and Pemulen™ Polymers for Topical Applications 
Self Wetting Polymers  Ultrez 10 NF   
 		          


 
Ethyl Acetate Polymers     974P NF      971P NF    
Cosolvent Polymers       5984 EP  980 NF  981 NF 
TR-1 NF, TR-2 NF 1, ETD 2020 NF

 
Traditional Polymers2    934 NF, 934P NF    940 NF  941 NF  1342 NF 
Properties in a Formulated Application 
Flow Characteristics  Short Short Short Very Short  Long Long
Relative Viscosity  High High High Very High Low Medium
Suspending Ability
(yield value)		 High High High High High High
Mucilage Clarity  High Medium Medium High High High
Relative Ion Tolerance  Low Low Low Low Medium High
Relative Shear Tolerance3   Medium Medium High High Low Low
Applications 
Clear Gels  •    •  •  •  • 
Hydroalcoholic Gels  •  •  •  •  •  • 
Lotions  •  •  •  •  •  • 
Creams •  •  •  •    • 
Surfactants Systems            • 
High Electrolyte Systems            • 


1 Pemulen™ Polymers (Pemulen TR-1 NF and TR-2 NF). All other products noted in the table belong to the Carbopol® polymer product family.
2 Traditional polymers are synthesized in benzene. The Carbomers Monograph in the European Pharmacopeia stipulates that benzene is limited to 2 ppm.
3 Prolonged exposure to high shear should be avoided for all carbomers.