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Caflon® Amphoteric Surfactants
Amphoteric surfactants, also known as zwitterionic surfactants, are a class of surface-active agents that possess both anionic and cationic groups in their molecular structure.
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Amphoteric surfactants are a unique class that can behave as either anionic or cationic surfactants depending on the pH of the solution. They are a class of surfactants that possess both anionic and cationic groups in their molecular structure, allowing them to interact with charged materials of either polarity.
Amphoteric surfactants have several key characteristics to remember when selecting a surfactant for your formulation.
Structure: They contain both a positively charged cationic group (often an amine group) and a negatively charged anionic group (carboxylate, sulfate, sulfonate) in the same molecule. Common examples include betaines, sultaines, amine oxides, propionates and acetates.
pH dependent behavior: At low pH, the anionic groups are neutralized leaving a cationic surfactant while at high pH the cationic groups are neutralized, resulting in an anionic surfactant. At intermediate pH, they exhibit zwitterionic behavior with both charges present.
Applications:
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Beaty & personal care formulations: Shampoos, body washes, hair conditioners
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Household and industrial cleaners: Hard surface cleaners, metal cleaners, bathroom cleaners
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Emulsifiers and solubilizers: Used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and various formulations.
Properties:
- Mild and low irritation potential compared to typical anionics
- pH responsive and can work over a wide pH range
- Good wetting, foaming and cleansing abilities
- Compatible with other surfactant types
Amphoteric surfactants offer unique benefits through their dual ionic character and pH responsive behavior, making them valuable ingredients in personal care, household and industrial cleaning formulations.
Examples of the Caflon® line of amphoteric surfactants include Betaines – Caflon COPB 35 (cocamidopropyl betaine), Sultaines – Caflon CAPHS (cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine), Amino Oxides – Caflon LAO (lauramine oxide); Caflon MO (myristamine oxide); Caflon MCO (myristyle/cetyl dimethylamine oxide). Check out the full offerings of the Caflon line of amphtoeric surctants below.
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Product Information
Betaines
Betaines are a class of amphoteric surfactants containing a positively charged quaternary ammonium cation and a negatively charged carboxylate anion in their molecular structure.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
- Household and Industrial Cleaners
Properties:
- Mild, low irritation
- Good foaming and viscosity building
- Substantive to hair and skin
- Compatible with other surfactant classes
Environmental Considerations:
- Generally biodegradable
- Toxicity to aquatic life at high concentrations
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cocamidopropyl Betaine is an amphoteric molecule with a hydrocarbon chain as the hydrophobic tail and a zwitterionic head group composed of a quaternary ammonium cation and a carboxylate group.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
- Household cleaners
Properties:
- Exceptional mildness
- High foam
- Thickening ability
- Hard water tolerance
Environmental Considerations:
- Biodegradable
- Lower eco-toxicity than many other surfactants
Sultaines
Sultaines are amphoteric surfactants containing both a quaternary ammonium cation and a negatively charged sulfonate anion.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
- Hard surface cleaners
- Emulsifiers
Properties:
- Low irritation
- Good foaming and wetting
- Stable in acids/bases
Environmental Considerations:
- Biodegradable
- Can be toxic to aquatic life at high levels
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaines are amphoteric molecules derived from fatty acids, containing the hydroxysultaine group attached to ahydrophobic hydrocarbon tail.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
Properties:
- Exceptional mildness
- High foam
- Viscosity building
- Biostatic
Environmental Considerations:
- Biodegradable
- Lower toxicity than many other surfactant classes
Amine Oxides
Amine oxides are amphoteric surfactants where the cationic amine group is combined with an anionic oxide group in the same molecule.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
- Household cleaners
- Metalworking fluids
Properties:
- Good foaming
- Emulsifying
- Mild
- Hard water tolerance
Environmental Considerations:
- Readily biodegradable
- Relatively low toxicity
Lauramine Oxide
Lauramine oxide is an amphoteric molecule with a lauryl (C12) hydrophobic tail attached to the amine oxide head group.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
- Household cleaners
Properties:
- High foaming
- Mild
- Acid and hypochlorite stable
- Hard water tolerance
- Emulsification
Environmental Considerations:
- Readily biodegradable
- Low toxicity to aquatic life
Myristamine Oxide
Myristamine oxide contains a myristyl (C14) hydrophobic tail and the amine oxide zwitterionic head group.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
- Industrial cleaners
Properties:
- Excellent foaming
- Emulsification
- Hard water compatibility
Environmental Considerations:
- Biodegradable
- Low eco-toxicity
Myristyl/Cetyl Dimethylamine Oxide
An amine oxide mixture containing both myristyle (C14) and cetyl (C16) hydrophobic tails with a dimethylamine oxide head.
Applications:
- Beaty & personal care formulations
- Home and Industrial cleaners
Properties:
- High foam stability
- Hard water tolerance
- Emulsification
Environmental Considerations:
- Readily biodegradable
- Relatively low eco-toxicity
Products Available
Betaines
| Product Name | Supplier | Grade | Package Type | Weight | Billing Price | Price (Package) | |
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| Caflon® COPB 35% - Technical Grade - 2205 lb Tote | Caflon Branded Surfactants | -- | IBC | 2,250.04 lbs | -- |
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| Caflon® COPB 35% - Technical Grade - 485 lb Drum | Caflon Branded Surfactants | -- | Drum | 450.00 lbs | -- |
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Sultaines
| Product Name | Supplier | Grade | Package Type | Weight | Billing Price | Price (Package) | |
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| Caflon® CAPHS | Caflon Branded Surfactants | Technical | IBC | 2,250.00 lbs | -- |
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| Caflon® CAPHS | Caflon Branded Surfactants | Technical | Drum | 449.99 lbs | -- |
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Amine Oxides
| Product Name | Supplier | Grade | Package Type | Weight | Billing Price | Price (Package) | |
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| Caflon® LAO | Caflon Branded Surfactants | Technical | IBC | 2,000.04 lbs | -- |
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| Caflon® LAO | Caflon Branded Surfactants | Technical | Drum | 450.01 lbs | -- |
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| Caflon® MO | Caflon Branded Surfactants | Technical | IBC | 1,999.99 lbs | -- |
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| Caflon« MCO | Caflon Branded Surfactants | Technical | IBC | 2,000.01 lbs | -- |
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| Caflon® MCO | Caflon Branded Surfactants | Technical | Drum | 450.01 lbs | -- |
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