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 tick   tick tick tick tick
Hydroalcoholic Gels  tick tick tick tick tick tick
Lotions  tick tick tick tick tick tick
Creams tick tick tick tick   tick
Surfactants Systems            tick
High Electrolyte Systems            tick


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.