Triethanolamine is a colorless, transparent and viscous liquid at room temperature with a slight ammonia smell. It is hygroscopic and can absorb moisture and carbon dioxide in the air. Can be freely mixed with water and alcohol, soluble in chloroform, slightly soluble in benzene and ether. The pH of 0.1moI/L solution is 10.5. There is a danger of burning when exposed to high heat, open flame or contact with oxidants. Its aqueous solution is corrosive.
Triethanolamine is used as various auxiliaries in cosmetics:
In cosmetics (including skin cleansing, eye gel, moisturizing, shampoo, etc.) Used as emulsifier, humectant, moisturizer, thickener, and PH balancer.
Triethanolamine acts as a neutralizing agent in cosmetics. Used to neutralize with fatty acids to form soap, and to neutralize with sulfated fatty acids to form amine salts.
Triethanolamine is the most commonly used neutralizer for acidic polymer gels containing carbomer and other acidic polymer gels. Triethanolamine neutralizes with carbomer and other carboxyl groups to form a stable polymer structure to achieve thickening and Moisturizing application effect.
Triethanolamine is a commonly used emulsifier in cream preparations. Cream products emulsified with triethanolamine have the characteristics of fine and white paste.
In addition, the colloidal phase formed by triethanolamine and higher fatty acids or higher fatty alcohols has good stability, stable product quality, and can accommodate high proportions of external ingredients.
It should be noted that the content and raw material requirements of triethanolamine in cosmetics are very strict. Once the content is too high, it will cause great harm to people’s skin.